On Thursday 15th July I sailed into Conyer with my sister and two friends as none of them had been up the creek before.
We had food aboard and one of the crew got a bolognese sauce on the go on the way round the Swale. Visiting the Ship Inn, for a pre-dinner beer or two, we were asked if we were eating. My eyes lit up!
On a previous visit the mate and I had been told that the galley was being revamped and that they were finding it difficult to obtain the services of a chef, so I was surprised. We declined…
I was told that full table service and menu was now available. With this news I booked a table for six – crews of a Finesse group from my club planning a visit the following weekend.
A warning about an afternoon catered party which might still be going on was given, but would not affect the evening catering.
You can imagine the horror I felt and my fellow crews too when upon arrival and being shown to a table that the menu did not ‘exist’ for it was a scratch lunch snacks (Cheesy chips etc) and what were clearly bought in frozen pizzas.
No apology was given other than that a party had been taking place. I remonstrated and repeated the assurance I was given…
We contacted the Conyer Cruising Club, found the galley open and promptly left.
The next day, I fired off an email asking for an explanation…
It received NIL RESPONSE…
After the passage of nearly two weeks, I fired off a repeat. This also has NOT been responded to.
The pub changed hands around a year ago.
I think it needs to change hands again and let’s hope a new management has the decency to respond to customers.
The mate and I are rather saddened for we have been extolling the virtues of visiting Conyer and the Ship Inn for many years.
My advice, currently, is don’t use it.
We shall not be rushing back to use the Inn. There is a prfectly well stocked Co-op in Teynham up on the old A2 – it is a pleasant walk along the old brick works tramline and up through the modern spill down to the station, which has been well walked by Whimbrel’s usual crew for some decades…