The Ship Inn is a 15th century pub located in the beautiful village of Kingswear, Devon, with views on the River Dart. Hannah Canu and her husband Leo only came into possession of the pub in March 2023, but they have already made progress in turning it into a sustainably run business.This riverside pub focuses on having home cooked pub food, and with that comes the freshest ingredients from local and sustainable suppliers. Both food and drink options come from local traders, helping them support the community along with reducing their carbon footprint. As the seasons change, so does the pub menu. Hannah and Leo will switch up menu options to accommodate what is available in each season, along with adapting their portions and menus to reduce any food wastage, such as unwanted side salads. Customers and staff also have access to a re-fill station, promoting the use of reusable bottles.
Within The Ship Inn team, a staff member has been elected “energy champion”, to make sure the pub is using the minimal required energy. There has also been an investment into waste usage reduction with sensor taps, water-efficient cleaning methods and low-flow toilets. Alongside this, Hannah has also invested in two new DEFRA approved stoves, which burn wood more efficiently, produce less smoke and harmful emissions and are also more energy efficient.
The team at The Ship Inn are encouraged to use sustainable transport to work, such as walking, cycling, or taking the bus, and in return are given incentives like discounts and rewards. The importance of reducing energy consumption is often stressed to the team to help cut down their carbon footprint and their costs.
Hannah and Leo’s next project is the upcoming refurbishment of their cottage, making them into letting rooms with a heavy focus on being energy efficient and sustainable. We are delighted to award The Ship Inn with our Sustainability Champion Award.
You can visit The Ship Inn website here