Testimonials
Click here for the reveiws from October 2010
Review from the Bristol evening post - Aug 2009
Some of its original character has been retained in old fireplaces and low beams, but it feels contemporary at the same time. With a large garden next to a footpath along the River Yeo that runs through the village, it occupies a great spot 15 miles south of Bristol but also four miles from the M5, making it an ideal pitstop for weary travellers. There is an emphasis on the fact that everything is now prepared and cooked in the kitchen by the pub's team of chefs and there is a good use of seasonal West Country produce in specials board dishes such as Plymouth crab salad, south coast lemon sole and chips and local lamb cutlets served with crushed potatoes, steamed vegetables and a Stowford cider sauce.
There is also an amusing system with the specials board where the number of portions left of each dish is chalked up so people can order them as soon as they arrive to avoid disappointment later. A line at the bottom of the menu reminds customers 'don't forget... when it's gone, it's gone' - a nice touch. Although we could have ordered from the lunch menu that includes dishes such as local gammon with chunky chips and double eggs (£8) and brie and bacon jacket potato with homemade coleslaw (£6), we took advantage of the evening menu. It's a big one, with nine starters and 14 main courses, but one that touches all bases when it comes to choice and price, as well as catering for vegetarians and people with gluten intolerances better than many restaurants.
I started with the king tiger prawns (£7) which were enormous beasts, piping hot and served with a green chilli and mango salsa with a kick like a mule. My friend passed on the starters to leave room for the enormous beef and beer pie (£14) with broccoli, asparagus, carrots and chunky chips. The pie stood proud in a white dish with a buttery shortcrust pastry lid concealing a deep well of tender beef chunks in a rich sauce. The chips were crisp-edged and golden, but still fluffy and snowy white on the inside.
I struggled to finish my salmon and halibut fish cakes (£14), such were their enormity. There was a lot of fish packed into them with the herbs and mash and the three bean salad beneath was just as filling. Proof that even the ice cream (£6) is made on site came when I was informed that I couldn't have the strawberry one as it was still being churned. My chocolate substitute was well made and not too rich. An excellent crumble (£6) arrived with slices of apple in the mix as well as the advertised rhubarb, and a separate jug of cream for pouring completed the picture. Comfort food of the highest order.
As we waddled out into the car park, we should have hopped on to the towpath for a long walk instead of heading back to the city to work. After such a good feed in such convivial surroundings, a snooze under a tree was far more the order of the day.
Food and drink: 9 / 10
Service: 9 / 10
Atmosphere: 9 / 10
Value for money: 9 / 10
The hotel has just been taken over and is a credit to the new owners. They were extremely friendly and helpful and nothing was a problem. Food in the restaurant was of an extremely high standard and all freshly prepared. The decor throughout is very tasteful and the atmosphere both welcoming and relaxing. The room I was staying in was fantastic. Again very tastefully decorated and with many personal touches included. Nothing has been missed out at all. I would have no hesitations in recommending this establishment and will definitely stay again!
From start to finish the level of care and hospitality was great. This place has a really family feel to it. This is a working 500 year old pub so the rooms are quirky and very individual. The service is excellent and the food is proper home cooking at its best. I'll definately be back in the future. Thanks alot Guys for the nights stay!
Great hotel and friendly staff. The rooms are presented to a very high standard. Food was excellent and overall fantastic value for money. I will now use this hotel whenever I'm in the area. Highly recommended!
What an amazing find! This place has only had rooms open for 4 days when i stayed and i have to say I was amazed at the value and quality of my stay, the rooms have been designed to a very high standard with everything you could possibly need (including cleverly in this era an iPod station). Upon arrival I was met personally by the manager and after the formalities shown straight to my room. The room was a very good size and the ensuite was again to a high spec. As it is also a Pub/Restaurant so I thought I would try the facilities and was again surprised that the food served and the service was better than some 4/5 star restaurants I have visited. I then finished my evening with quick drink by the open fire and then had the great sleep in a very comfortable bed. Breakfast in the morning was again above my expectations to finish a great stay. I usually stay in the local 4 star up the road but through curiosity I thought i would try this place out, and I am looking forward to becoming a regular when I am in the area now as the personal touches and the warm welcome are just what the big hotel chains miss and the ship has got spot on! We had a lovely weekend in this country Inn. The young couple running it have pulled out all the stops in refurbishing the bedrooms. I think we were the first to use our room since the refurbishment, I hope they are able to maintain the high standard they have set themselves. The food was excellent, the staff very friendly and helpful. If we were to return to the area we would definitely make a point of staying with them again.
Having eaten in your restaurant last Friday I thought I would drop you a quick note to say thank you and well done. It was my father's birthday and we chose your restaurant on a recommendation from a friend who had visited a few weeks ago. With the choices of eating establishments restricted in the local area it is delightful to have a quality restaurant on our doorstep. What you have achieved is nothing short of remarkable with the design and the menu that of something you would expect in the city or Clifton. Your staff made the evening one to remember being friendly and efficient whilst not overbearing. My father had a great night and we will now be regular visitors in the future.
In these days negative comments I thought I would write to you to express my praise for what you have done to the ship & castle, as I am sure you are well aware it has been somewhere to avoid in the past but having visited your new business last Sunday for lunch I am still amazed at the huge change that has been made by yourselves. One problem I have had in the past is finding a restaurant that serves a quality Sunday lunch for my family. Our visit to your place last Sunday was a joy for our family the food and ambience were top class and I struggled to eat all that was put in front of me, your staff are a credit to you as although young they were professional and polite to both me and my husband and our children! Congratulations on your efforts and i wish you every success in the future.
Beautiful little hotel This is one of the nicest small hotels I have ever stayed in. The room was beautiful with nice little touches, the atmosphere was great and the staff couldn't have been more friendly or helpful. My only suggestion is that I think they could have thrown in a bit of a cooked breakfast - but having said that I have never had a hotel breakfast fruit salad with raspberries, figs and strawberries before - and the most beautiful yoghurt ever. Overall it's definitely a top place .
A QUALITY HOTEL EXCELLENT QUALITY HOTEL WHERE THE STAFF COULD NOT BE MORE HELPFUL AND WHERE THE ACCOMMODATION WAS EXCELLENT AND WHERE THE FOOD WAS ABSOLUTELY SUPERB
Thank you for the wonderful evening we had with yourselves on Valentine's Day myself and my partner had the most romantic evening and your restaurant was the perfect venue. Your food is first class and the atmosphere you have created is equally as impressive, we will see you again very soon
excellent Lovely friendly staff, upon arrival great welcome , everthing was clearly explained, being a woman on my own I felt very comfortable sitting in the bar area accessing my emails and working. For the first time in ages I didnt feel confined to my room. In the morning I had a lovely latte to take away - thankyou for an amazing stay would definitely recommend this hotel
Wonderful find - a hotel to provide great value and definately worth 4 stars What a fabulous hotel. First impressions on entering the hotel from the car park led me to think that I would enjoy the dinner if nothing else, as the decor was excellent and the ambience of the downstairs area relaxed and friendly. A good start for a single female traveller. Booking in to the hotel was easy accompanied with a friendly introduction to the staff who showed me up to my room (this is a first!). What a beautifully decorated room, complete with cuddly toy to keep me company through the night. The detail of the decoration, furniture and little luxuries was exceptional. Dining in the restaurant was another pleasure - the food was freshly cooked and very well presented. Reasonably priced for home-cooked food in a quality restaurant and not your chain-food pub meal type menu. Breakfast was also nicely served, and for an early bird eating a 7.00am, just right! I would look forward to another stay here if in the area again, and I may even suggest this as a stop over for a weekend break with my husband to try out the special weekend menu
A perfect visit to this hotel but this time i brought my family to visit the area, the hotel did not let us down with a brilliant room and a travel cot already prepared for us on arrival, the little touches are what make a big difference and the staff at the ship are more than happy to go the extra mile to ensure that our every need was catered for, my expectations are met each time i visit. Looking at previous reviews about the speed of breakfast then i think this is unreasonable as each time i stay i am told that as the food is all freshly made to order so does take a little longer than normal but the quality is excellent and you can tell it has all been made for you personally so is worth the extra few minutes. Thank you to all at the ship you made our weekend even more special and i highly recommend this to anyone!
I have previously stayed at the cadbury house hotel just up the road but this was always as i had not heard of the ship and castle, i stayed just to try somewhere a bit different as i stay in the area quite often, the place was a real find with the staff and owners making every effort to ensure i was welcome and it was a home from home the rooms are superb and the food was second to none with the taste proof in itself that in the modern day fresh food can be done at the right price i am now a regular and i never get dissapointed by the welcome i recieve
