Calgary’s iconic Ship & Anchor Pub, located on 17th Avenue near 5th Street S.W., hasn’t changed much over its three decades in business. After all, there’s no need to change when you get it right the first time.
With its easygoing vibe, consistently great pub-style food, musical offerings on select days and nights, and one of the city’s best patios for people-watching during Calgary’s four-plus seasons, there’s been no need to change a thing.
With room for 247 people inside and another 130 on the patio before factoring in summer boardwalks and extensions, The Ship consistently feels like a party where there’s room for a few more to join.
Marketing & Promotions Manager Nicola Trolez, who’s been at The Ship in various roles for over 34 years, recalls the venue’s early days. “The Ship rose out of the empty tables of an old-school Italian restaurant that was stuck together with string and duct tape, then decorated by the Iranian owners with the entire contents of a nautical junk shop in Hawaii,” Trolez says. “In the early days, the pub was populated with a wonderful collection of new and old Calgarians, many of whom were Brits looking for something a little different from the Electric Avenue days in Calgary. Those original customers were the first ingredients of a unique recipe of cultural collision which blended soccer, ska, punk, ABBA and much more with all things Calgary.”
Part of what made The Ship unique from the very beginning was the wide assortment of people who showed up, unlike the more uniformly minded and arrayed patrons of those Electric Avenue-type places.
“We welcomed and were respectful of any individual who came to the pub as long as they welcomed and were respectful of all of the other individuals who came to the pub. This policy alone created a diverse crowd with an eclectic nature who typically appreciate the people around them, which in turn contributes to a relaxed and positive ambiance. Thirty years ago, this was not everyone’s scene, which perhaps led to our early non-mainstream feel.”
To foster a diverse community, The Ship has always supported local music by providing a stage for Alberta indie bands, and also sponsored One Yellow Rabbit, CIFF, Artwalk, the Calgary Folk Music Festival, and some fondly remembered festivals of yore like Infest and Stony. “We maintain many of these sponsorships today, and continue to be the only music venue in Calgary that operates without charging a cover, ever,” says Trolez.
While Trolez has fond memories of appearances by Fishbone, The Pack a.d., SNFU and The Weakerthans, The Ship is also known for recurring theme nights like the Hank & Patsy night in July, The Summer Sing A Long Monday evenings in August, and Punk Rock Bingo Tuesday evenings. “We inherited Punk Rock Bingo from The Castle – although it has greatly morphed into a Ship version of what that was,” notes Trolez.
The menu offers mouth-watering pub staple nibbles, including nachos, wings, and deep-fried pickles, as well as meals and an all-day breakfast.
The Ship burger has stood the test of time since opening, with consistently delicious beef and fixings — it never misses! The Ship fries are legendary; they deserve their own social media accounts. And newer menu additions don’t disappoint — the tempura cauliflower is delightfully crispy and flavourful. And of course, there are many drink options with a focus on Alberta-made beverages, as well as some zero percent staples.
Trolez has a special place in her heart for one offering. “Our seasonal homemade eggnog is a stand out for sure! It is a long-honoured recipe of one of our early managers, Mike Phelps. It has grown from being mixed in house to being batched and bottled in a much larger scale at Confluence Distillery, and has raised over $400,000 for charity over the years.” She also recommends the evolving summer sangria program available on weekends.
“We will be celebrating 35 years in 2025 and are one of the few left standing independently owned spaces. Something we could not have done without all of the wonderful and colourful characters that have supported and continue to call us home over the years.”
For more information, visit shipandanchor.com.
