Greenwich’s newest pub The Ship looks set to soon open

Plans for a new pub called The Ship near the Cutty Sark may not be sunk after all following rejected plans in recent years.

Work is well underway on site for the venture by Frank Dowling who also operates the nearby Trafalgar Tavern which saw planning battles over outside tables.

I wasn’t aware things were so advanced until a reader emailed in with images recently taken of the site. The inside looks far advanced with a number of shop models hanging from the ceiling.

Proposals for The Ship first hit the rocks (yeah, I’m stopping the tedious ship-based refences now) after being covered back in August 2022. Signage and rooftop canopy proposals were rejected on appeal.

Fast forward to March 2024 and further details were submitted. Then in June 2025 more details emerged.

Approved – partly

In a decision made a month later Greenwich planners partially approved and partially rejected the signage. South-facing signs and artwork were given the green light while west-facing was rejected, due to:

“The proposed advertisements in respect of the West facing fascia sign and the two projecting signs by reason of their siting, scale, scope, design, and materiality would constitute an unsympathetic and uncharacteristic alterations”.

The planned pub sits on the former Frankie & Benny’s site near the Cutty Sark and Greenwich Pier. The neighbouring Byron burger unit is also part of the project.

Opening appears imminent and a website went live but as yet there’s no information contained within. Well, there is a logo stating “est. 1855”. Not this building that’s for sure.

Perhaps it’s a reference to the Ship Tavern which existed in the same general area until hit and demolished during the second world war. But even that predates 1855.

Regardless, the new pub in a modern structure is likely to be a fair bit more successful than the prior restaurant occupants ever were. Passing tourist footfall will be huge.