Shipwrights Arms, Hollowshore, FAVERSHAM, ME13 7TU [Map]
01795 590088 
11-15, 15-23 (11-23 summer) MO-FR (closed winter MO); 11-23 SA; 12-15, 18-22:30 (12-22:30 Summer) SU
Car Park, Evening Meals, Real Fire, Beer Garden, Lunchtime Meals, Quiet Bar, Campsite At / Near Pub

My sister Nicola and I outside the
Shipwrights Arms in the spring of 1999

What I call a proper pub, an unpretentious drinking establishment where no matter how scruffy and dishevelled you are, they'll welcome you in, serve you and you'll certainly get good value for money.

It's a 17th Century traditionally white-weatherboarded inn that for the fussy may need a lick of paint here and there, but is that really important? Although huge pylons pass merely 225 m to the north, the pub has no electricity of its own and relies on a generator. (Quick hint, if you need the loo, and you're a bloke and it's dark outside, leave via the front door, turn left and head towards the sound of the generator turning left just before it and the gents are just around the corner. The ladies are within the pub). Waterwise, Faversham Creek lies just to the east and Oare Creek to the north and west, but fortunately it is not drawn from these muddy waters, it comes from an artesian well below the pub. The pub is next to the Hollowshore Cruising Club and lots of sailing boats. The Saxon Shore Way also passes by the pub, and the salt marshland that it passes through is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It's regarded as one of the most important marshland areas in Europe and is full of rare birds.

The interior is oozing with character. Low beamed ceilings, narrow doorways, lots of places to hide and have a quiet drink, all sorts of seating and hop bines and boating pennants hanging from the ceiling.

Great beer can be had here including Shepherd Neame Master Brew, brewed a couple of miles away in Faversham and Goachers Mild, brewed a dozen or so miles away in Maidstone. The often also offer a guest beer served straight from the cask. They also offer local Pawley Farm cider.

They've a good range of cheap food on offer from sandwiches up to the curry special that I ordered for under 6 pounds.

All sorts of pub games are played and they often have live music on a Saturday though we unfortunately had to leave before they started just as the pub was rapidly filling. Pub's been doing pretty well as it's won the local CAMRA Pub of the Year award in both 2001 and 2002. In 2001 it very nearly won the much coveted CAMRA National Pub of the Year award.