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9, Llandudno Rd, Rhos-on-Sea, Colwyn Bay, Clwyd LL28 4TR
Tel: 01492 540198
A SHORT drive from Rhos on Sea's dinky harbour, with its bobbing boats behind the breakwater and colourful dinghies propped up against the sea wall, lies The Ship Inn.
Apart from its superb vantage point, the area is known for Llandrillo yn Rhos Parish Church and its 17th Century lych gate. Looks-outs in its tower, rebuilt in 1552, once scoured the seas for North African pirates.
And perhaps the most famous grave in the church- yard is that of Harold Lowe, the heroic officer on the Titanic in charge of the only lifeboat that returned to try and save the drowning passengers.
I called in to The Ship on a Tuesday afternoon not expecting much more than a bog standard bitter and a lacklustre cod in breadcrumbs.
To my surprise, though, loads of customers - mostly canny pensioners - were tucking into a mid-week carvery. The place, if not exactly rocking, was swaying happily.
Then, like Mr Benn, up popped the helpful head waitress, wearing efficient black and a welcoming smile.
Boosting the feelgood factor and profit margins at a stroke, she introduced the ‘cask ales' which included Directors and Wellingtons.
I always find bitter far more varied, flavoursome and less gassy than lager. Things were getting better and better and I went for a half of Directors.
After loading my plate with succulent roast turkey and tonnes of trimmings, I returned to my table. I was facing the windows and a view of creeper-clad tree trunks and sun-dappled picnic tables in the grassy beer garden.
Other customers shuffled in, near me. To my right, an elderly couple, the old fella with his high cheekbones and sleeked back white hair resembling actor Peter Cushing's older brother. He might have looked a bit like Grand Moff Tarkin from Star Wars, but he and his wife were soon guzzling surprisingly youthful drinks: bright- coloured raspberry J2Os.
To my left, there was a table of maybe two couples and a widower. Above the general hubbub, I couldn't help but hear them chatter about trailing plants, a £40 pub quiz prize and arthritis.
Among them, a Ballard Berkeley type also waxed enthusiastically about the merits of employing your own cleaner.
"I used to do it myself," he could be heard was saying, "but then thought ‘SodBlow that for a game of soldiers!' "
However, a somewhat stern-faced woman was horrified when he said one cleaner had cost £9 for two hours work.
Great food, Great service, shame they didnt have any cabbage last time I went in there for a carvery, 10/10 tho …
comment by Rhys - 29/01/2009 09:05