Welcome to the Ship Inn, Handbridge, Chester

A short stroll over the Old Dee Bridge from the famous city walls lies The Ship Inn. Steeped in local history, you’ll find a hearty welcome into a relaxed environment, with quality home-cooked food and a fully stocked bar with everything from local ales to premium gins.

Whether you’re after a cosy pub atmosphere, a light and airy restaurant or a grandiose private dining room, The Ship Inn has them all! Perfect spaces on any occasion to enjoy our impressive food and drinks menus come rain or shine.

So if its a quick pit stop on your city tour, a family meal after a day out or a delicious Sunday roast, we will make your visit one to remember.

We look forward to seeing you soon,

The Ship Inn Team.

What’s On

Keep up to date with all the latest news and events that are happening here

2024-03-08T10:25:29+00:00

50% Off Food All Day

Every Monday
(excl. Bank Holidays)

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Pie and a drink – £16

Every Tuesday

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Dine & Quiz Night

Every Wednesday
From 8.30 pm
with 20% off when you dine and quiz
Please call 01244 678400 to book

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2 for 1 Gourmet Burgers

Every Thursday

Reserve Your Table

Booking is always recommended at The Ship Inn, so reserve your table now to avoid disappointment. Simply select your dates and times below. Please include any specific information about your booking; if you are bringing a dog, or require a ground floor table for access.

Photo Gallery

Take a virtual tour of The Ship Inn below, if you’d prefer to be in a quiet corner or you’d like to be near the bar, simply mention this on your confirmation and we’ll endeavour to find the perfect position for you.

Local Area

The largest example of its kind in Britain; from its Roman origins, this was a place in constant use from 275-350AD for recreations, public executions and military training. Via accessible paths around, and steps down into the arena you can see the Execution Stone and Shrine. Boards around the grounds explain more about its past, and loose artefacts discovered here are displayed at the Grosvenor Museum.

Spread across multiple floors, this historic building houses artefacts from pre-history right up to present day. Exhibitions include Chirotherium fossils, the skeleton of a young Roman soldier and a William Huggins painting from 1800. Galleries contain a range of interactive models, screens and activities, with exhibitions changing regularly.

Not created by Romans, but containing uncovered building fractures and replicas of structures such as columns from the Roman bathhouse, reconstructed Hypocaust (underfloor heating) and Roman bathrooms. These are set in historically rich surroundings pleasing to the eye with a relaxing ambience.

From its humble beginnings as a Benedictine Abbey, this dramatic Gothic Cathedral was rebuilt from 1250 onwards. An impressive building containing many beautiful stained glass windows, the tombs of Chesters Earls, a cafe and even a Lego version of itself!

No-one is quite sure why the magnificent two-storey shopping galleries exist, but the half timbered structures are at least 700 years old, stemming from Chester’s time as a booming Middle Ages market town. From the undercroft and stone crypts below street level to the covered timber walkways above there is plenty of retail therapy, food and drink to be enjoyed whilst soaking up the history around you.

In Roman times the park was a sandstone quarry, and still contains the Shrine to Minerva, the patron Saint of quarrymen. Gifted to the residents of Chester in 1892 by Hugh Lupus Grosvenor (Duke of Westminster) it is an attractive green space with a modern wooden playground area popular with local families. It is named after King Edgar who was allegedly rowed up the river Dee by 8 princes in 973AD. A short walk over the Old Dee Bridge from the Groves and the Ship Gate part of the Walls will bring you here, and to the Ship Inn!

The most complete city walls in the UK, the Roman wood and sand foundations along the river were added to with sandstone over 100 years, from 100AD. The circuit was completed after the Norman Conquest as a defence mechanism, was further added to by the Victorians to create a walking promenade and is now a Scheduled Monument and major tourist attraction. With unparalleled views of the city from every angle, this 3km walk will allow you to view sights like the Racecourse, the Groves along the river, Bonewaldesthorne’s Tower and Chester Cathedral. The Eastgate Clock was designed and erected to commemorate Queen Victorias’ Diamond Jubilee, and is the 2nd most photographed clock in the country!

This 20 acre, Grade II listed, Green Flag Park was created in 1867 as a gift to the citizens of Chester from Richard Grosvenor, 2nd Marquess of Westminster, and designed by Edward Kemp. The winding paths take you through relaxed grassy areas lined with trees, ornamental shrubs and seasonal displays to features such as the Quarry Garden and St Mary’s Nunnery Arch. The stunning grounds also contain a fabulous miniature railway and a seasonal open air theatre. The walkways can lead you down the the Groves by the river for an ice cream or boat trip along the Dee.

For over 40 years Chester Boat has offered 30 minute sightseeing cruises up the river Dee showcasing the Queens Park suspension bridge, Grosvenor Park, the Meadows and the adjacent suburb of Boughton.

Setting off from Sandy Lane in Boughton, you can either enjoy a mellow paddle with nature-spotting on a Calm experience, or turn up the heat with a Grade 2 White Water experience around the mighty weir.

An immersive and interactive tour through the weird and wonderful history of health and medication. Discover hidden bacteria, perform an autopsy on a civilian and experience the smells of days gone by as you discover the crazy remedies once thought best practice. This is a quirky and informative new attraction not for the faint hearted!

Get in Touch With Us

How to find us

The Ship Inn, Handbridge
Chester, Cheshire
CH4 7JE

Tel: 01244 678 400