The Ship Inn

We found The Ship Inn almost by accident. After a long walk through Cobham Woods on a sunny October afternoon, our usual stop, The Leather Bottle, was full. Following our noses, we walked a little further. What began as somewhere to find a table and rest our tired legs became a place we return to after walking in the woods around Cobham and Ashenbank.

Sitting along The Street, before St Mary Magdalene Church, The Ship Inn is an unassuming village pub with ample parking and a terrace, with tables and umbrellas out front. Its painted white exterior gives little indication of how old the building is.

The Ship occupies a Grade II-listed building dating from the 17th century. Altered over time, research reveals much of the original timber frame survives across the first floor and attic, while the western aspect was extended during the 19th century. Records trace its life as a pub to at least 1847, and by the early 20th century it had connections to breweries closer to home: Dampier's Frindsbury Brewery and later Woodhams' Troy Town Brewery in Rochester.

Inside, things feel reassuringly informal. Low ceilings and small windows give it the proportions of an old country pub, while navy hues, rope wrapped around columns and a bright orange lifebuoy lean into The Ship Inn's name. The bar remains relaxed, with a dining area to one side and a mix of locals and walkers, some with dogs, passing through for a drink or two, or food. On weekday afternoons, you'll find parents meeting for a quick soft drink before collecting children from the village school.

Food is in familiar pub territory. Portions are hearty and the menu feels considered. Sunday roasts are particularly popular and can sell out, so it is worth ringing ahead. After a few laps of the nearby woods, we are equally happy with something less ceremonious: their loaded chips and battered onion rings have revived us on more than one occasion.

The pub reopened under new management following a refurbishment in May 2026, with an enlarged kitchen and a regular programme of quizzes, live entertainment and occasional fundraising events.

For us though, The Ship Inn remains somewhere simple: a welcoming village pub we come back to after a long woodland walk. After a few hours beneath the ancient trees of Ashenbank or following the paths through Cobham Woods, it has become a familiar place for us to stop, settle in and stay just a little longer.