Sisters Hannah and April Emmerson of the locally renowned Emmerson fishing family are taking on The Ship pub in Flamborough together with Hannah’s husband Tom Davison.
The pub is set to open in mid-July in time for the summer holidays, following an 18-month closure. A £320,000 refurbishment by Heineken owned Star Pubs and the sisters will see The Ship transformed into a family and dog-friendly Yorkshire seaside pub benefiting from a fantastic supply of locally caught crab, lobster and seafood fresh from the family cobles.
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 ensuite bedrooms – a family and a double room – soon after.
Hannah also runs her café – The Boathouse at North Landing in Flamborough, which has become a runaway success since she opened it in 2020. Says Hannah: “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 have given me the confidence to take on The Ship with April.”
The Emmerson family have been fishing off Flamborough Head for centuries. Today, the family including Hannah’s husband Tom Davison, continue the family business and supply businesses across the country with fresh fish, lobster and crab.
“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 adds: “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. We’re really looking forward to welcoming the community and breathing life back into the pub. It’s been missed these last 18 months. Once we’re up and running, we’ll mark the occasion with a fun celebratory event.”
Inside the layout will consist of a sports bar and snug, a local’s bar and a restaurant / lounge area. Customers will have the choice of eating anywhere in and outside the pub.
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. The look and feel will be traditional with wooden tables and lots of leather covered chairs and stools, original wooden beams, and in the dining area painted panelling and a new wood burner. The walls will be painted in shades of blue and red sand, in keeping with the pub’s seaside location, and local Flamborough and fishing related bric-a-brac, including old Emmerson family fishing photos, will adorn the walls.
The sisters’ future plans include creating more seating in the garden and converting the various outdoor sheds into snug seating areas and a games room. The Ship exterior will be redecorated in a smart cream and blue with new signage.
Star Pubs Business Development Manager, Matt Williams said: “We’re delighted that Hannah and April are taking on The Ship with their hyper local knowledge and combined organisational, customer service and marketing skills.”
