Ipswich Steamboat Tavern
opening hours
- Mon: closed
- Tue-Thu: 1200-2100
- Fri-Sat: 1200-2300
- Sun: 1200-1700
food times
- Mon: closed
- Tue-Fri: 1200-1400
- Sat-Sun: closed
guest beers
typically beers such as:
- Earl Soham Victoria Bitter
This pub serves 4 guest ales.
Local licensing authority for Ipswich is Ipswich Borough Council
CAMRA Ipswich & East Suffolk branch.
last updated Oct 1st, 2023.
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Ipswich Steamboat Tavern
formerly Steam Boat
North East, 52.0491,1.15906
Cask Ale is sold here.
78 New Cut West, IP2 8HW
grid reference TM 167 436
music bar, opened victorian
The Steamboat is a popular riverside single bar pub which serves up to four cask ales. Real cider is also usually served.
The pub serves home cooked food and features regular live music events.
Externally there is a beer garden. Live music includes Jazz on Sundays & Folk, Blues & Punk sessions - see the pub's website for details. Suffolk song writers play here monthly.
The pub is located close to the impressive (Grade 2 listed) Felaw Malting buildings - one the largest traditional malting sites ever built in East Anglia (built in 1904 and 1911 respectively). Malting finished here in 1981. Now the two buildings are used as offices. The malting buildings replaced the even earlier St Peter's workhouse (erected in 1836-7) to accommodate up to 400 inmates.
Facilities
Beer garden or other outside drinking area: River view at front
Beer served through handpumps
Cider (real draught, not keg) available: 2-3 ciders, e.g. Sandford Orchards
Dogs welcome: very welcome
Evening meals
Family friendly: up until 20:00
Live music: also plays vinyl. Customers are welcome to bring along their own records.
Lunchtime meals (not just snacks)
Smoking area: Covered
Special events: Folk at the Boat (annual day long event)
Sport TV
Traditional pub games available
WiFi available: Free
Railway station about 0.7 miles away (see transport links for details)
Gallery
Nearest railway station
Ipswich: 0.7 miles (1.1km)
Silver Star 0.19 mile
Waterfront 0.23 mile
Isaacs 0.27 mile
Salthouse Harbour Hotel 0.27 mile
Briarbank 0.30 mileHistorical interest
The pub is shown on this OS town plan from about 1880 (larger map).
Owner/operator: Pubmaster
Riverside pub with pleasant beer garden. Refurbished in an antiquarian theme. Extensive menu of freshly cooked food.
Beers: Ind Coope Burton Ale; Tetley Bitter; Tolly Bitter.CAMRA's 1997 Suffolk Real Ale Guide
At a Petty Sessions hearing on September 29th 1860 'The Steamboat Tavern, near the new landing-stage' was refused a new spirit licence. Out of the twenty four applications only three establishments were granted licences.
At the Ipswich Petty Sessions held in September 1865 Mr C T Hancock made an application was for a spirit license for the Steamboat tavern, adjoining the waiting room for the Great Eastern River Boats. The house belongs to Mr Cobbold. Application rejected…
Landlords
(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)
Petty Sessions info from Ipswich Journal (Kim Jennings).
(** historic newspaper information from Stuart Ansell)
