Folks in downtown St. John’s, N.L. have been coming to The Ship for nearly 50 years. Evolving from a simple pub, over time The Ship developed a community of loyal regulars and a reputation for supporting the local arts scene. Now offering drinks, food and a variety of live entertainment and events, the pub remains true to its simple roots.

The first pour

After moving to Newfoundland from Great Britain, Peter and Sheila Perham decided to open a small pub in downtown St. John’s in 1977. Originally named The Ship In, its building at 265 Duckworth Street never actually was an inn. Before becoming The Ship, it was Dirty Dick’s bar from 1972-1976 and a printing room for the Telegram newspaper for 50 years prior to that. However, like many buildings downtown, there was living space above the pub, which was occupied by the Perhams.

The Ship started as a place for patrons to socialize over a pint of beer, whiskey or other easy drinks.

Supporting tunes

Lyndsey Hamen, current manager of The Ship, says the pub’s support of local artists began sometime in the ‘80s. Initially, solo artists would play for the room and this evolved into full bands putting on a show for crowds that can reach over 100 people. While most of the physical space has remained the same over time, a significant change was the construction of a proper stage for performers and live events. Hamen explains that the pub’s support of artists isn’t limited to musicians; they’ve hosted poetry readings, comedy shows, book launches and more.

After years of only serving drinks, between the late ‘90s and early 2000s, The Ship introduced its food menu (and made necessary upgrades to its space to accommodate this change). Since then, its menu has stayed largely the same, however, the pub keeps things fresh with a new weekly specials menu. Hamen says they’re best known for fish and chips.

The Ship has also changed hands a few times over the years. About 20 years after opening, founders Peter and Sheila passed the pub down to their daughter, who managed operations until selling it to current owners Terry O’Rourke and Colin Dalton in 2002. It was O’Rourke and Dalton who changed the establishment’s name to The Ship Pub & Kitchen.

Staying traditional

Today, The Ship remains a go-to spot for many locals in the downtown area, especially those involved in the art scene. Although some changes have been made over time, Hamen says the pub intentionally remains in the past in many ways. For example, instead of using Spotify to play music, they use their large collection of CDs.

Sharing some final thoughts about the value of the pub to the local community, Hamen commented: “The Ship is one of those neighbourhood bars where friends and family have come for generations. It’s always been a gathering place for locals downtown and, of course, artists.”

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