A COUPLE are celebrating 10 successful years of running a pub in Pensarn.

Husband and wife Ursula and Graham Cowie run The Yacht, on Marine Road, together, and have put “blood, sweat and tears” into improving it.

Open seven days a week, from 12pm until 12am, The Yacht has been Graham’s since November 2014, while Ursula came on board in the following year.

Ursula said: “Graham signed the tenancy blind in November 2014. He has been in Wales for 30 years, and all he’s ever done is run pubs.

“He met the Punch Pubs representative, Craig Roberts, in McDonald’s in Abergele, signed for it, and then came to see the pub.

Inside The YachtInside The Yacht (Image: Ursula Cowie) “He originally signed a tenancy at will, and we are now on full tenancy.

“Since taking over, we have had two huge investments from Punch to update it, as well as investing ourselves to build the place up.

“Over the years, we’ve worked hard to build a good reputation for both our food and drink, maintain a five-star hygiene rating, and get some fantastic reviews.

“We’ve made some amazing friends, and have hosted a few faces from TV - Spencer Wilding being our favourite.

“We have hosted former Abergele mayor Alan Hunter and Cheryl Hunter for Christmas, as well as our current deputy mayor, Tracey Brennan.”

On the menu, Ursula said the pub’s Sunday carvery is particularly popular, while it also serves dishes such as a ploughman’s lunch, Cumberland sausage with mash and onion gravy, lamb steak with chips and peas, liver and onion mash with vegetables, and a mixed grill with side salad.

It also hosts a range of events such as Christmas parties, wedding receptions and charity fundraisers, and counts former Coronation Street star Bruce Jones as one of its many regulars.

The couple will celebrate 10 years at The Yacht with a part at the pub on November 28, meanwhile.

Ursula added: “When Graham signed for it, Punch said they were never going to invest in it, because it was too run-down.

“So, their two big investments are actually a massive achievement for us.

“It’s been hard work, but we’re really proud of what we’ve accomplished here.”