Exeter. Located on a narrow cobbled street near Exeter Cathedral, The Ship dates back to the 15th century and features a 16th century Tudor style exterior. It is said to be Sir Francis Drake's favorite pub, and Sir Walter Raleigh was a regular patron. During the English Civil War (1642-1651) the Royalist Captain Benet billeted his troops here while the city was under siege from General Fairfax. In 1719 the pub was threatened by an unruly mob who tried to burn it down because they thought clergy who were in alliance with the Whig government were being sheltered here. Beginning in 1939, landlord R. Pring owned a black spaniel named Sam who became well known to patrons during the war. Sam would greet customers at the door and take beer and pasties to them at their tables. Once the order was delivered the customer would pay Sam with the correct coinage, which he would flip into his mouth and drop them into a tin behind the bar. The interior features a couple of large open rooms, a couple of smaller rooms, and large beams in the ceilings. My beer of choice was an Avocet Ale from Exeter Brewery.