The Olde Ship Inn in Seahouses is one of our longest standing clients and one which director Amy Park has worked with throughout her entire career here at Robson Laidler. Amy started working with this business when she joined the firm as a trainee in 2006, under the supervision of then-partner Andrew Robson. When Andrew departed Amy took over as director and has continued to work hand-in-hand with this family run business.
The nautically themed and fully residential Old Ship Inn also has its own unique history dating back to 1872 when it was first licensed. Uniquely privileged to be associated with Seahouses fishing heritage, The Olde Ship Inn provides a fitting setting for the memorabilia of these days.
Thoughtfully equipped, tastefully decorated bedrooms, with a four-star rating, this venue provides locally caught sea produce and traditional real ales in the main saloon and adjoining cabin bar, which have tremendous character lit by stained glass windows and an open fire.
In 1910 Hugh and Eleanor Lawson became licensees of the Olde Ship and together with their family, ran the bar and few letting rooms to visiting holidaymakers. When the widowed Eleanor retired in 1953, it was to her daughter May and her husband Davie Glen that took over the running of the Inn. On the death of Davie, the licence passed to his son Alan and his wife Jean. Currently, the Olde Ship is managed by Alan and Jean’s younger daughter Judith and her fiancé David Swan, who work closely with Robson Laidler accountants, who give an all-round service from bookkeeping to year end accounts to the directors’ tax returns.
Throughout the years The Old Ship Inn has enjoyed illustrious visitors such as the finest watercolour artist of his time Sir William Russell Flint who stayed with his family in room seven in 1920, and more recently HRH Prince Charles raised a glass and enjoyed banter with customers when he dropped in during his visit to Northumberland in 2012. As he joined regulars for a beer, one drinker piped up: “We’ve already had a drink”, to which Charles quipped back: “Only one?”
Talking of her client Amy Park said: She said: “What makes this particular client so enjoyable to work with is that everyone who is employed there is made to feel part of the family – whether you are bar staff, a cleaner or chef, the team work collaboratively as friends and I personally have been made to feel part of that family as the trusted accountant. This also includes customers – whether you are a first-time visitor or a regular you are made to feel welcome.
“I love to have meetings with Judith and David surrounded by the wide variety of nautical artefacts, model fishing boats, diving helmets, pulling oars, fish baskets, and oil lamps!
“The best meetings are in the summer, when we can read over the business accounts in the garden with unrivalled views of the boats and the Farne Islands.
“The Old Ship Inn is a well-run, profitable business and a must go to attraction for anyone visiting this seaside town. Its been a privilege to have worked with this business throughout my career and to have grown alongside it.”
