Have a pint of beer from the Badger range of real ales at the Ship and Shovell, then walk across the street to have another pint at the… Ship and Shovell.

The Venue
The Ship and Shovell is unusual because it comprises two sections located on opposite sides of a small alley called Craven Passage. The passage sits between the tube stations of Charing Cross and Embankment, near the many government offices of the area. The attractive exterior - rather exteriors - of the pub is painted red, gold and black.

The smaller section on the south side of the passage contains a little bar, a couple of booths and a small snug that can hold two people. Upstairs is a private hire room called the Crows Nest complete with a dartboard. The larger section of the pub on the north side includes a wooden floored area to the left of the bar and is empty except for a few stools and a drink shelf at chest height. A TV overlooks this area and is often tuned to sport. A two-tiered area to the right of the bar holds a number of tables and is laid with red carpeting while the walls are wood-panelled and adorned with etched mirrors, portrait paintings and pictures of landscapes and old buildings. Tedious pop music in the background presents the only detriment to the pub’s otherwise charming character.

The Atmosphere
The bar staff know their wares well. Without being asked, they describe the alcohol content, style and flavour of the available beers – and offer you a taste if you’re not sure what you want. Tourists and labourers visit the pub earlier in the day and as office hours finish, many civil servants and other suited workers from nearby government offices make their way here to unwind. Drinking tends to spill out into Craven Passage between the two indoor areas. The four red and black painted barrels scattered in the alley make a handy resting spot for pints or elbows.

The Food
The pub serves food only within a narrow timeframe, from 12pm-3.30pm Monday through Friday and 12pm-4pm on Saturday. Sandwiches (around £3.95) are served on a choice of thick-cut white bread, malted brown bread or a baguette and come with salad. Add chips to your sandwich order for £1.25 extra. For something a little spicier, try the chicken balti with rice, mango chutney and spiced Indian bread for £7.25. A veggie cobb salad is £5.95 and fish and chips costs £6.75.

The Drink
Independent brewers Hall and Woodhouse own the Ship and Shovell. As such, their range of Badger real ales take pride of place on the beer taps and in the fridges. Badger beers on draught include Tanglefoot, Badger and a seasonal special. A pint of seasonal ale costs £3.10 and a pint of Badger ale is £2.80.

Other draught options available include Peroni, HB Extra Cold, HB Export, Guinness and Blackthorn Cider. You can buy Badger beers, Blandford Fly, Golden Glory and Golden Champion in bottles. Wine seems to be an afterthought here. They offer a few wines but the focus is firmly on the beer.

The Last Word
The Ship and Shovell provides a great central location - actually two - to drink tasty real ale served by helpful, knowledgeable staff.

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