Sisters act to reopen Flamborough’s Ship Inn after 18 months closed
A village pub is set to get a new lease of life after being closed for 18 months – with an opening date for the venue slated for mid-July.
Sisters Hannah and April Emmerson, of the locally renowned fishing family, are taking on The Ship Inn pub in Flamborough, together with Hannah’s husband Tom Davison.
A £320,000 refurbishment by Heineken-owned Star Pubs 2 and the sisters will see The Ship transformed into a family and dog-friendly seaside pub, benefiting from a fantastic supply of locally caught crab, lobster and seafood fresh from the family cobles.
The funds are being spent on a complete overhaul of the interior and exterior of the pub including redecoration of walls, new flooring, furniture and lighting.
Ten new jobs will be created on the back of the transformation which will see an increased focus on food, and upgrade of the pub’s sports offer.
The new landlords will also be adding two en-suite bedrooms a family and a double room soon after the official opening.
Hannah also runs her café Boathouse at North Landing, which has become a success since she opened it in 2020.
She said: “People are always asking me if we can open somewhere in the village itself as The Boathouse can be tricky for some customers to visit due to its steep access.
“I started The Boathouse with no prior experience of operating a hospitality business at the time, this led to me and Tom taking on our second business East Coast Shellfish, a shell fish merchant also in Flamborough.
“These successes have given me the confidence to take on The Ship with April.
“We both worked in the pub when we were young – it was my first job aged 11 – and were regulars ourselves at one time, too.
“It’s really exciting that we’re making it our own, reinstating it at the heart of village life, and that we’ll be introducing a brand-new restaurant to the village specialising in locally sourced produce from local farms and suppliers. Our menu will ensure there is something for everyone, changing with the seasons and will support local businesses, too.”
April recently returned to Flamborough after seven years in the navy, which she joined aged 18, followed by a more recent role as a manager at The Port of Liverpool.
She said: “I am looking forward to this next chapter of my life and our family’s life. It is something different for all of us. Villagers are excited at the prospect of The Ship reopening this summer and love that it’s a local family taking it on.
“Once we’re up and running, we’ll mark the occasion with a fun celebratory event.”
In the autumn once the peak summer season is behind them, Hannah and April plan to introduce pizza nights, quiz evenings and host regular live entertainment ensuring the pub is buzzing all year round.