Address: 5 King’s Staith, York, YO1 9SN (now Lil’s on The Waterfront)
Description
On the north-facing side, white block capital letters read ‘Ship Inn’ against a red brick background. On the east-facing side, a black wooden sign reads the same name.
History
The Ship Inn has a rich history that dates back to at least 1787. The pub was rebuilt in 1851 as part of the first clearance of the Water Lanes. BBy 1902, it had three bedrooms, all of which were used by the landlord’s family.
On the ground floor, the pub featured a small smoke room, a bar, a taproom, and two private kitchens that provided food. The only toilet was shared by both the family and the customers.
1965 Source: York Press
Throughout the 19th century, The Ship Inn changed hands several times.
This frequent change of ownership was typical for pubs of the era, reflecting the volatile nature of the hospitality business.
According to Kelly’s Directory in 1861, Richard Booth was listed as the landlord of ‘The Ship’ on King Street (now King’s Staith).
Richard later took over another pub in York, The Saddle, on Mount Street.
By 1867, ‘The Ship’ was run by Joseph Booth, Richard’s son and great-great-grandfather of the current family.
Joseph slightly altered its name to ‘The Ship Inn’.
1974 Source: York Press
The Ship Inn remained open throughout the 20th century, and in 2017, it was transformed into a restaurant and hotel, ‘Lil’s on The Waterfront.’
Lil’s on The Waterfront, which is now Grade II listed, continues to captivate visitors with its historic charm and rich heritage.
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