Popular pub in the main street of an attractive village on the shore of picturesque Chichester harbour. The cosy bar decorated with yachting memorabilia adds to the pub's character and is complemented by a pleasant front patio and further outside seating and a bar at the back. The separate restaurant area offers a wide range, including local seafood. Accommodation is available in a two bedroom apartment and a three bedroom cottage. Closed Monday and Tuesday from October until Easter.
Historic Interest
Rebuilt in 1933
One star - A pub interior of special national historic interest
Listed status: Not listed
Rebuilt in 1933 by brewers Henty & Constable of Chichester, the Ship retains three of its four rooms, all with fielded panelling, parquet floors and original fireplaces apart from one in the front room, now covered with replacement panelling. On the ceiling of this room you can trace how a thin partition wall once divided it into two. Whilst the counters may be original, work in about 2010 included the upper bar-back shelving and the rather exaggerated superstructures carried on supports made from an old yacht mast. The door to the middle room was removed in about 2010 with some opening out. Originally there was a folding partition separating the middle room and the rear right-hand room. The 1930s woodwork in the latter has all now been painted over.
Rebuilt 1933 by Henty & Constable and retaining three of its four original rooms all with parquet floors and original brick and wood surround fireplaces. The left main bar has a parquet floor and on the ceiling you can see where a thin partition wall split it in two in the past and note there is a door at the front (with the figure '4' on it) and another at the side that led to the rear room. The walls have fielded panelling all around, it retains the original bar counter front that slopes inwards with a conical corner and the lower bar back shelving appears original BUT upper shelving modern as are the superstructures over the bar with supports made from old yacht mast - all done c2010.
The front section has retained its original fireplace of 1930s brick and fielded panelling surround and mantelpiece but the rear fireplace (called the Anglers Den) has been replaced by modern fielded panelling in the same style as the 1930s ones. Look for the odd bell push, some original leaded glass, and the seat made from the stern of a boat where one panel can be removed to reveal a small painting.
An opened out section (done c2010) leads to the middle room with a carpet on the parquet floor, original panelled bar counter (new top), a 1930s brick fireplace and more fielded panelling but the bar back is modern. The area on the right of the counter with a new piece of back fitting (and a kitchen beyond) was originally the way to the toilets but a new toilet block was added on the rear left (note the slope up to the gents').
Originally there was a folding partition separating the middle and right-hand rooms but this is no longer in place so there is a wide gap with curtains across it. The right-hand room also has original fielded panelling on the walls, 1930s brick fireplace with a fielded panelled surround, though all has now been painted over.
You must be a Digital Subscriber or CAMRA Member to be able to view specially curated GBG descriptions
This Pub serves no changing beers and 3 regular beers.
Ship, Itchenor
Source: Regional