The Steamer Hotel in Fleetwood, located on Queen’s Terrace, is one of the town’s oldest public houses and a significant landmark in its early history. Opened around 1840, it was the third pub established in Fleetwood and took its name from the steamer services that connected the new town to Ardrossan and later Belfast. These early steamship routes were central to Fleetwood’s development as a transport hub, linking passengers arriving by rail from Preston with maritime routes across the Irish Sea.
Built during Fleetwood’s formative years, the Steamer was constructed with stables and an ostler’s workshop at the rear to accommodate travellers and horses. Its façade was designed to blend with the neighbouring terraced houses on Queen’s Terrace, reflecting the planned architecture of Decimus Burton’s layout for the town. Later alterations, including the addition of a wide doorway and bay windows, gave the building its present appearance.
The Steamer quickly became a key meeting place for travellers, sailors, and locals during Fleetwood’s 19th-century expansion. It stood at the heart of a thriving community shaped by the railway and the sea, offering hospitality to those passing through the busy port. Today, it continues to operate as a public house and restaurant, retaining much of its historic character and serving as a living reminder of Fleetwood’s maritime and railway heritage.
Images by © Deeper Blue Marketing & Design Ltd
