QYPE*

The Ship is my favourite pub in Soho.

It's retained its traditional decor. No trendy up-marketing here. Wooden shelves and tall stools, cast-iron tables and short stools. But most importantly some simple, fine ales on tap and a sufficient variety of booze behind the bar. There's nothing fancy, just the necessities.

It's the vibe I like. I've seen everything from suited businessmen to goths to a Foo Fighter in there. The bartenders can be as punked-up as the clientele, but they're pros and a good laugh. They happily kept safe behind the bar - and for some weeks - a gift a friend left for me. I once asked them to pop an entire Black Sabbath CD in the player for me, and they did.

This isn't a beautiful pub, nor a quiet one, nor one for great food. It's for drinking, meeting people, watching people, and for the cool to try to act uncool (and vice versa).

There's only a few yards of cramped standing space outside, so don't come here for the fresh air. The toilets are tiny, too. Also: it's not open on Sunday. But if you want a funky downtown spot to meet friends and booze amongst a diverse crowd, you could do much, much worse than the Ship. And you might get to listen to some Sabbath, if you're lucky.

The Ship supports my theory that everything I need can be found on Wardour Street.