01294 279722

The oldest pub in Irvine. Licensed 1754

120-122 Harbour Street, Irvine Ayrshire KA12 8PZ

Welcome to The Ship Inn, Irvine

Welcome to the oldest pub in Irvine. If you would like to book a table, bookings are available Monday - Friday and can be made by calling 01294 279722 Ext 21. Please note that due to our high custom volume we do not take bookings via email.

Saturday and Sunday places are available on a "first come first served" basis. During Monday-Friday the Main Menu is served from 12:00pm-2:15pm and 5:30pm-9:00pm. On Saturday and Sunday the Main Menu is served all day.

New opening time - Sunday 12.00pm - 11.00pm. Bookings will be taken for parties of 8 or more.

From 2:15pm - 5:00pm Monday - Friday an Afternoon Menu is available. Please refer to Menus.

To be kept up to date with all our future events & themed evenings please enter your details here to be added to our mailing list ...

History

Built in 1567 of Dundonald whim stone and slate, the original cottage marked the northern boundary of Wallace's Lands. A large paddock was built in 1597 and an extension linking this to the cottage was added in 1650 (see gable above bar).

From 1688 - 1707 it was the Burgage cottage collecting customs duty for the Royal Burgh. After the union of Parliaments it became the Customs House and from 1745 was owned by Charles Hamilton.

In 1750 a new customs house was built further down the Harbour and after a 4 year battle "The Ship Inn" was finally licensed - with a monopoly of liquor sales this side of the river.

The owner Charles Hamilton became Provest of Irvine on six occasions between 1758 - 1786. His son, John befriended Robert Burns during his stay in Irvine in 1781 and was a subscriber to his Kilmarnock edition of poems.

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