Dave, It took me 12 years to notice it, but the old Ship was (and still is) in Harton Village, although it's not recognisable as the same place nowadays. Before the Marsden club moved there, the upstairs room was the scene of a weekly musical Saturday night.
There was Billy Waugh on the piano, also a mandolin player and a maestro musical saw player (Moonlight & Roses' was his speciality). I can't recall their names, sadly- it was well over 40 years ago now. Seppie Broughton, the local gravedigger, used to sit on top of the piano and perform with his dancing dolls, and there would be several local singers- one I recall was a Mr Mackie, who sang the 'Cliffs of Old Tynemouth' among other things.
I've been at many informal sessions and still attend these in Ireland, but the 'Ship sessions were as good as any, only about half a mile from my house. There are some great and very different live pub recordings- e.g at the Blaxhall Ship in Suffolk, and the 'Favourite' Irish session, just off Holloway Road but the Harton Old Ship Saturday night was as good as any- what a shame it only now exists in the memories of old gadgies like me!

nb Dave- there was a 'Ship Inn' in Cleadon about two miles away, but it was known locally as the 'New Ship'