Regulars at Stonehaven’s Shorehead hostelry, The Ship, will know Simon Cruickshank has decided to up anchors and the premises are on the market. He has kindly shared some reminisces of his years at the helm.
Well, they say “Time flies when you’re having fun” and I think they must be right.
I took over the Ship Inn 20 years ago this month and it has flown by.
Of course it hasn’t always been fun (being shut down for nine months because of Covid was trying to say the least) and it’s not much fun when the North Sea makes a bid for freedom over the harbour wall and tries to come in (it’s only succeeded once in my time) but it’s been a great privilege owning the Ship for all this time and very satisfying and rewarding – and there have been lots of laughs along the way!
Only three of us remain from that first day – me, Fiona Andrew (General Manager) and Helen Webster (Office Manager) but Craig wasn’t far behind and has been here almost ever since (he started as a glasswasher in the summer of 2004 and has been Assistant Manager since 2011).
Fiona worked for me at the Hook & Eye and Trouper’s Bar before coming to the Ship so we’ve been bickering and grumping at each other for about 24 years. She’s dealt with all the staffing and made sure everything runs as smoothly as possible, tried her best to give everyone the nights off and holidays they’ve asked for, and generally kept the place in tip-top order by insisting on high standards for all this time.
I’ve known Helen since the Station Hotel in 1988 and she’s been putting up with my grumbling ever since while calmly and patiently sorting out everyone’s wages, holidays, pensions etc. and making sure all our suppliers are paid and loads of other stuff (also for Trouper’s!). Everyone who has worked at the Ship for the last 20 years owes both Fiona and Helen a great deal for all they have done and I know that I couldn’t have managed without their great support and friendship for all this time.
Of course the Ship Inn is a very busy place – especially in the summer months – and it takes a lot of hands to make it all happen. We have about 35 staff at present and it will rise to well over 40 in the busiest time so I won’t name them all (and risk hurting somebody’s feelings by missing them out!) but I must mention Pedro, our Head Chef (since last summer but here at the Ship for about 10 years) who, ably assisted by many others unseen in the kitchen by the public, produces many thousands of great meals every year to hungry and appreciative customers.
Also Steph, Ann and Val, our great housekeeping team who keep the old place spick and span all year round.
I also want to thank the many dozens of former employees – again too many to name but not forgotten – who worked hard in all areas of the business to make the Ship Inn so successful.
Finally, many thanks to all our customers and friends, regular and occasional, local and from afar, who have supported the old place over the last 20 years (and many from long before that!)
Simon Cruickshank
Proprietor