Evening street scene with pub sign, pink flowers, visible moon, and streetlights.
Group of men posing on a soccer field with some in sportswear
People gathering outside a building with English flag and street signs
Smiling person with colorful hair
Group of people dressed in themed suits and hats outside a pub, holding drinks and an oyster box.
Bartender handling glass at busy pub
Group of four men posing in a bar, one holding a drink, another wearing sunglasses, vintage style photo.
Two people sitting in a restaurant with a framed picture on the wall behind them, smiling.
Man in a black sweater with a white collar in a room with framed artwork on the wall.
People sitting outside a pub on a sunny day
Group of people in a pub holding glasses of beer, smiling and posing together.
Man with unusual haircut behind a bar with liquor bottles
Pink and purple flowers with a St. George's flag and blue sky background.
Group of people standing in front of a pub with hanging flower baskets and colorful bunting, outdoors.
Group of people outdoors, including a man in a suit with a ceremonial chain, a woman in a floral dress and hat, and a man holding a box, standing near a pub with flower baskets.
Person wearing a curly wig behind a bar, decorated with gold holly leaves.
Live band performing in a cozy pub with musical instruments including saxophone, clarinet, keyboard, ukulele. Warm atmosphere with audience seating, wall decorations, and drinks on tables.
Group of people in traditional Bavarian attire at a festive gathering.
Old-style pub building with a double rainbow in the sky, flags hanging, and vine-covered walls.
People in themed clothing outside a pub with hanging flower baskets, celebrating with drinks.
Two people in costumes at a party; one dressed as a blue character with red hat and pants, the other with a sunflower headband.
Elderly woman seated in cafe, wearing green outfit with red scarf.
Bitburger beer display with tap, bottle, and promotional sign on a bar counter.
Woman behind a bar smiling and waving, with various liquor bottles displayed on the wall.
Two people wearing festive hats in a pub setting with drinks on the table.
Two people wearing hats holding beer mugs in a pub setting.
Group of people in colorful suits with brand logos, standing outside a pub, holding drinks and a box.
People sitting outside a pub on a sunny day.
Group of people standing outside a pub with flower decorations and bunting on a sunny day.

our story

The Ship Centurion is a welcoming, family-run pub in Whitstable with a proud history, a distinctive character and a genuine sense of community. Situated at 111 High Street, we bring together traditional English pub hospitality, authentic German influences, quality food and carefully kept beer.

More than simply a place to eat and drink, the Ship Centurion pub is somewhere people come to meet friends, share stories, celebrate special occasions and feel part of the local community. Whether you are a familiar face at the bar or visiting us for the first time, our staff and regulars will always do their best to make you feel at home.

The Birks Family Story

The Birks family took over The Ship Centurion in 1996 after returning from Germany. Their experiences there helped shape the pub’s distinctive identity, combining everything people enjoy about a traditional pub in Whitstable with authentic German beer, food and hospitality.

Armin and Janet “Jan” Birks brought determination, warmth and a strong understanding of what makes a successful community pub. Through their hard work, The Ship Centurion Whitstable developed a loyal following and became known for its friendly atmosphere, traditional English favourites and German influences.

Over the years, the pub has also established an excellent reputation for its cask ales. Our commitment to serving carefully kept beer has received support and recognition from CAMRA and Cask Marque, while The Ship Centurion has appeared in The Good Beer Guide throughout the family’s ownership.

This combination of quality beer, enjoyable pub food and a warm welcome has helped make The Ship Centurion a distinctive choice among pubs in Whitstable, Kent.

Continuing a Proud Family Legacy

Armin and Janet have both sadly passed away, but their influence remains at the heart of everything we do. Today, their son Roland continues the family tradition, running the pub alongside Bar Managers Jemma and Cadi and our loyal, hardworking team.

Together, we are committed to protecting the character and values Armin and Janet established while continuing to move the pub forward. Their belief in hospitality, quality and community still guides us every day.

We want The Ship Centurion to remain the kind of pub in Whitstable where people feel comfortable walking through the door, pulling up a chair and joining the conversation. It is a place for regulars, visitors, families and friends, with a team that genuinely cares about the experience every customer receives.

The People Behind Our Pub

Our regulars are an essential part of The Ship Centurion story. Some have been visiting us for many years, while others have only recently discovered our pub on Whitstable High Street. Each person contributes something to the atmosphere, character and community that make the pub what it is today.

The relationship between our team and customers goes beyond serving drinks or pub food in Whitstable. We share conversations, celebrations, laughter, difficult moments and countless memories. Our regulars support us, encourage us and help create the welcoming atmosphere that new customers experience when they visit.

We are proud to be a family-run pub in Whitstable, but our wider pub family includes our staff, regulars, occasional visitors and everyone who has supported us over the years.

Photographs That Tell Our Story

The photographs featured on this page are incredibly important to us because each one represents a significant part of our story.

The first photograph shows our much-missed landlord and landlady, Armin and Janet Birks. They are the reason we continue to do what we do today. Their determination, business sense and ability to build such a tremendous community continue to inspire us. We miss them every time we open the doors, but their spirit remains present throughout the pub they worked so hard to establish.

Another photograph was taken during lockdown. It is not a period we particularly enjoy revisiting, but it is important to remember the challenges we faced and the extraordinary effort made by our team. They worked tirelessly to stay connected with our family of regulars because The Ship Centurion has always been about more than the building itself.

During that difficult time, the support of our team and our wonderful “delinquents” gave us the encouragement to keep going. It reminded us how much the pub means to people and how strong the relationships formed here had become.

Reuniting at Whitstable Carnival

The final photograph captures Whitstable Carnival after the most difficult restrictions had passed. It represents one of the first occasions when we could properly gather again, laugh, dance and enjoy the community we had missed so much.

That moment reminded us why a traditional Whitstable pub matters. Pubs provide places where people can come together, reconnect and share experiences. They are woven into the life of the town and can provide a sense of belonging that is difficult to find elsewhere.

Being able to enjoy the carnival together and embrace the spirit of Whitstable once again was incredibly special. It celebrated not only the return of a much-loved local event but also the strength and resilience of our community.

A Traditional Whitstable Pub with a Community at Its Heart

We are proud of the history behind The Ship Centurion, but our story continues every day. It can be found in every pint poured, every meal served, every conversation at the bar and every new customer welcomed through our doors.

Our aim is to preserve the qualities people value in a historic Whitstable pub while continuing to offer the food, drinks, events and hospitality our customers enjoy today. From traditional cask ales and authentic German beers to satisfying pub food, live entertainment and community occasions, everything we do is shaped by the people we serve.

To everyone who has supported The Ship Centurion Whitstable, thank you. Whether you visit us regularly, call in while exploring the town or join us for one special occasion, you become part of our continuing story.

Whether you are here for a moment or a lifetime, we do all of this for you.

The pub is a confessional, where secrets are told and shared, where souls torn are bared. A watering hole where ideas ebb and flow, friendships are strengthened and ever grow. It’s more, much more than just a pub, it’s a community social hub. While fraternising with neighbours, making new friends, a job exchange and where courtship depends. It’s the last bastion of our speakers corner, so use it or lose it, or you’ll become a mourner.

-John Brooks