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Public House named after the 'Steam Packet' service which opened in 1863 at the railway wharf (just north of today’s footbridge) to take advantage of the newly arrived tourists. Several companies, including the railway ran services to the French Ports of Honfleur, Le Havre and St Malo as well as Jersey. Passengers were charged by the mile with the option of going 1st, 2nd or 3rd class. Most of the passengers travelled in the cargo hold and there was never a great demand and in the end the operator either went out of business or switched to cargo only as this was more profitable. The cross channel service closed in 1882 but for a number of years after that coastal steamers like the Brighton Belle still visited Littlehampton.