"Good Class Company"
A review of The Ship by Colin Pascal Asby - Sunday 8th of February 2004
I was overjoyed to drop into the Ship one evening on a cold winter night; a homely light shone from the windows into the cold night. We saw a tip-top pub of the sort rarely found on our great island.
When we entered the pub we were greeted by the polite owner, Mr. Hickerly, a sturdy man of high intelligence. He led us into the main bar, whose main clientelle included some of the most impressive personalities of Cambridge: there were local merchants and city politicans, professors and well dressed students from good families, a few local workers sat drinking their pints quietly. In some it was a model of class harmony -- all the levels of society from the lowest to the highest drinking in true English equality.
I was struck by the interior -- most of it transfered faithfully from the old Ship which was extant on this site since the 14 century and probably a lot longer, according to Mr Hickerly. I found the beer of good quality and Tom, as Hickerly allowed me to call him, had a top class selection of whiskeys on offer.
I had a lively conversation with Mr. Allen, a delightful teacher from a school in the Midlands. We were joined by Ross Taylor, one of the local bigwigs in the judiciary. We had a truly splendid discussion on all aspects of life and love.
I didnt see any signs of drunkeness in the pub, a wellcome change to the sights I am forced to see on Cambridge's streets. All in all, I advise all good people, of good education and good family to try the Ship, or bring you sons and daughters for a quiet drink in good English company.
Colin Ashby
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