Ship Tavern, London

The Ship Tavern is a classic British ale house and dining room on the edge of Lincoln's Inn Fields in Holborn, London. Established as a pub in 1549, it has been run by the Evans family and their team for the past 23 years, serving home-cooked British pub fare sourced from local markets alongside real ales and other drinks. The pub has been recognized as a finalist in the Great British Pub Awards in both 2025 and 2026 for Best Town Pub, and holds a Cask Marque.

The Ship Tavern was established as a pub in 1549. Its history is intertwined with mystery, involving English Royalty, the Masons, and the Clergy. The pub likely originated to quench the thirst of farm laborers working in the nearby Lincoln's Inn Fields. During the 16th century, the River Fleet ran through Holborn, likely supporting shipyards or dockyards near the pub, and rumours suggest The Ship's involvement in smuggling and piracy, explaining its original name. In King Edward the Sixth's reign, The Ship served as an "underground" church for London's hidden Catholics, with banned Catholic priests conducting Mass from a pulpit disguised as the bar. The Ship Tavern was consecrated as a Masonic Lodge in 1736 and remained a meeting house for the local chapter. For the past 23 years, the Evans family and their team have run the pub, returning to the essence of a great British pub by serving quality home-cooked British pub fare sourced from local markets, complemented by real ales and drinks.

Classic British ale house and dining room, described as Holborn's best kept secret.

Product categories. British pub fare · Real ales · Drinks · Gin

1. 1The Ship Tavern – Ale House & Dining Room, Londontheshiptavern.co.uk
2. 2History – The Ship Taverntheshiptavern.co.uk
3. 3Ship Tavern, Londonwikidata.org