If you are not worried about catching Covid 19, this is the pub for you! They have not created a…read moresafe environment for their customers.
A brief and unenjoyable visit never to be repeated.
My friend and I were looking for somewhere to have a pre-gig drink and meal at around 17:30 hrs (12.12.2020). We had phoned in advance to see if we needed to book a table and were told we could just turn up. When we arrived, we found a table near the empty DJ Booth. My friend went to the bar to order and after waiting for a while, was told abruptly, and my friend tells me, rudely, by a barmaid handwashing glasses that she would come to our table. While we waited for her to arrive, we checked the menu, which was pretty basic: Baked potato with a couple of topping choices; something that looked like a veg pie and one other item none of which looked in any way appetising, or filling! We waited for what seemed like 10 minutes and when the barmaid hadn't come to our table, I went to the bar and asked her when she would be coming to take our order. Her response, "Oh, I forgot."
Unsure of their lockdown procedure, I asked if she would be coming to our table to take our order or should I order from the bar. That's when the barmaid started getting messy, complaining that she was busy and said I was shouting at her. I wasn't. 2 other staff (?) started to get involved but wouldn't let me explain. Anyway, in the end, we were told we wouldn't be served, so we left.
Luckily, we found a lovely place called The Craft Beer Company near Limehouse Station and had a lovely Thai meal and drinks and were waited on by a lovely waitress, who had created a very safe, distanced environment, with all the staff wearing masks/visors, hand gel everywhere, etc.
There are lots of nice bars & restaurants in the area to choose from. Don't waste your time at The Old Ship unless you are looking for bad service.