restaurant ship hispaniola - the story so far
THE MAIDS
The R.S. Hispaniola, formerly Maid of Ashton , started her career with the Caledonian Steam Packet Company as a passenger ferry on the famous Clyde & Isles route around the west coast of Scotland.
Maid of Ashton was the first of four similar vessels. Constructed at the famous yard of Yarrow & Company and launched on 17th February 1953, she entered service at the end of May that year.
The remaining "Maids", the Argyll and Skelmorlie (built by A. & J. Inglis) and Cumbrae (Ardrossan Dockyard Co.), followed later that summer.
They were aptly named, being truly "maids-of-all-work". In addition to the normal service from Wemyss Bay to Rothesay or Millport they were also frequently employed on other routes, notably Craigendoran to Rothesay, Millport to Rothesay and Gourock to Holy Lock. It was with this last route that the Maid of Ashton is most closely associated.
Since 1973 she has rested at anchor alongside the Victoria Embankment in the heart of London. With stunning views upstream towards the Houses of Parliament and downstream through the arches of Hungerford Bridge to St Paul's, the R.S. Hispaniola offers a haven amid the city bustle.
In 2002 ownership changed again and she became part of the City Cruises fleet.
R.S.HISPANIOLA TODAY
Today the R. S. Hispaniola betrays little of her working pedigree, having been thoroughly refitted to provide two decks of purpose-built restaurant and function room facilities.
The Main Deck, which once accommodated more than five hundred passengers, now offers capacity for 150 seated for luncheon, dinner or a fork buffet. With its floor rising gently towards the bow, this Main Deck lends itself superbly to all manner of events, from an intimate dinner for two or a business lunch, to a grand reception or a corporate launch.
Adjoining the Restaurant is the charming Cocktail Bar. Here guests may enjoy a drink while they consider our extensive menu, or it can be cleared to form a dance floor should the occasion demand.
The upper deck has its own bar and outside areas with seating to the front and rear.
Our kitchens specialise in preparing European-style dishes with a Mediterranean twist, though we are not averse to offering flavours from further afield.
We are also particularly proud of our wine cellar, which includes wines from many of the world's best vineyards.
The R. S. Hispaniola is air-conditioned throughout, making both decks warm in winter and cool, when necessary, in summer. She is also stabilised, rising and falling gently with each tide. Her days of tackling an ocean swell are, we hope, long behind her now, and though the view from her decks has changed these forty years, it is no less stunning today than it was when the Maid of Ashton sailed the Western Isles.
LOCATION
The R. S. Hispaniola is moored alongside Victoria Embankment by Hungerford Bridge. Embankment under-ground (tube) and Charing Cross (main line and suburban) stations are nearby.
