The first Licensing record for the Locomotive Inn dates back to 1850 with Emmanuel Hayton the licensee. Maria Pike held the licence in 1856.
![](http://southshieldslocalhistorygroup.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Pubs-Heritage-04-Steamboat-01-Ron-Lawson.jpg)
On the 4th December 1947 it changed its name from “Locomotive Inn” to “The Locomotive”
![](http://southshieldslocalhistorygroup.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Pubs-Heritage-04-Steamboat-02-Ron-Lawson.jpg)
It changed its name from The Locomotive to The Steamboat in the late 1970s.
![](http://southshieldslocalhistorygroup.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Pubs-Heritage-04-Steamboat-03-1983-Lubi-STH0004507.jpg)
![](http://southshieldslocalhistorygroup.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Pubs-Heritage-04-Steamboat-04-Ron-Lawson.jpg)
Joe Mooney was the Landlord from about 1990 for over 30 years.
![](http://southshieldslocalhistorygroup.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Pubs-Heritage-04-Steamboat-06-Landlord-Joe-Mooney.jpg)
The pub extended into the old Post Office which had belonged to John Gaddes.
![](http://southshieldslocalhistorygroup.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Pubs-Heritage-04-Steamboat-10-Post-Office-DSC-0306.jpg)
![](http://southshieldslocalhistorygroup.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Pubs-Heritage-04-Steamboat-09-Gargoyles-All-4.jpg)
One of the many characters in the pub was Erasmus Bottle also known as Dave Walker a former BBC man who used to give humorous and interesting talks in the Steamboat.
![](http://southshieldslocalhistorygroup.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Pubs-Heritage-04-Steamboat-05-DSC-0836.jpg)
![](http://southshieldslocalhistorygroup.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Pubs-Heritage-04-Steamboat-06-DSC-0842.jpg)
![](http://southshieldslocalhistorygroup.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Pubs-Heritage-04-Steamboat-07-DSC-0829.jpg)
![](http://southshieldslocalhistorygroup.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Pubs-Heritage-04-Steamboat-08-DSC-0820.jpg)
Between 2008 and 2018 it won the Local CAMRA Pub of The Year 8 times! In 2020 Kath Brain became Licensee.
It is a Grade II listed building. The Steamboat is still a great pub now.
![](http://southshieldslocalhistorygroup.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Pubs-Heritage-05-Steamboat-10-DSC-0476.jpg)
Sources:
British Newspaper Archives
Licensing Records
Terry Ford
Trade Directories
Photos:
Ron Lawson, Sunderland Antiquarian Society
South Tyneside Libraries
Terry Ford