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11-13 April 2025
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The Ship Inn is a charming intimate pub located in Southwick. At the bar you will find a assortment of ales and beers which can be enjoyed with friends in the warm and relaxing atmosphere. Still retains its Watneys/Tamplins 1963 refit in the two bars giving the pub its unique atmosphere.
Two star - A pub interior of very special national historic interest
Listed status: Not listed
Pub interiors of the 1960s with anything like intactness are now very rare, but here is one, refitted in 1963 by brewers Watneys who had taken over Tamplin’s ten years before. The public bar has a contemporary, illuminated bar back, advertising the now-infamous Watneys Red Barrel, which symbolised the keg beer CAMRA was founded to fight. The curved counter has a Formica top. However, there are some 1930s survivals too – panelling, brick fireplace, door glass and a Bisset automatic darts scorer (which saved on mental arithmetic), no longer in use and attached, for some strange reason, to the bottom of the wall behind the door. The saloon bar is intact from 1963 with ply-panelled walls, a counter with a beer barrel-style theme, and another illuminated bar-back fitting.
A remarkable survivor having an interior revamped by Watneys/Tamplins in 1963 which is largely intact. Thousands of pubs throughout the country had similar internal refits but virtually all of them have subsequently been refurbished. The Ship still retains 2 small bars as the locals refuse to allow the owners to make changes! The Ship is a 19th century building which was also refurbished in the 1930s. The public bar has old panelling on the walls and ceiling, a 1930s brick fireplace and it was only the bar counter and bar back that were changed in 1963. the bar back fitting has an illuminated red barrel insignia and the wording 'Watneys' and 'Tamplins'. The curved bar counter has a Formica top and the front has a nautical-style rope at the top. 'The Bisset Automatic Darts Scorer', from the 1930s which requires you to use a finger to mechanically reduce the score from 501, is no longer used and has been attached, for some strange reason, to the bottom of the wall behind the door! The former leaf (swing door) entrance now made into one door but retaining original leaded glass 'Public Bar'.
The saloon bar was completely revamped and slightly extended in 1963 and has floor to ceiling ply panelled walls completely covered in nautical items. The bar counter is of panels joined by strips of copper so as to resemble a straightened barrel and has a Formica top with copper edging. the bar back has the wording 'Watneys' and 'Tamplins' in the illuminated top section and only part of the lower shelves is missing having been replaced by fridges. The stone fireplace is from the 1960s which is the date of the nautical-style circular windows in the doors. In 1963 new toilets replaced the former outside ones. All the windows on The Twitten (south side) were replaced in 1990s with double glazed ones but with old style lettering proclaiming 'Tamplins Ales', 'The Ship Inn' and 'Cask Ales' (saloon window). The panelling in the entrance lobby to the saloon bar is from 1990s. All bar furniture is quite modern. The building was 3 cottages until 1890's.
This Pub serves 1 changing beer and 2 regular beers.
Ship Inn, Southwick
Lunchtime Meals
Garden
Parking
Games
Separate Bar
Smoking
Real Ale
Real Heritage Pub
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.jpg "Exterior. by Michael Schouten. Published on")
.jpg "Illuminated Watneys Tamplins Signage Public Bar. by Michael Schouten. Published on")