Posting my reply below in here as it's not really about the Arran Ferry.
Not doubting your own recollections's in any way Bill, but personally speaking I don't really recall the Ormidale's Bar or Greenhouse lounge being particularly 'rough'.5siamese7 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2017 3:47 pm It was gey rough place at one time with some scary guys from Glasgow. They did cheap lunches and there best was roast pork,great tatties and veg. Don't remember a coal fire in my time. Preferred the Brodick bar and the Douglas which was very civilised. The Gen Sannox in the sixties looked as though it had at list. Wee England is still a great place and thank goodness the ferry will still go from Ardrossan
Sure, you'd get the odd one or two dodgy drunken character's, particularly during busy holiday periods, but you could get that almost anywhere at times - Brodick Bar and the Douglas included.
The overriding memories I have of the place during the mid 70's are all good. The Jukebox in the Greenhouse belting out the Eagles 'Hotel California' .. or Lynyrd Skynyrd's 'Freebird' along with many more classic songs.
Then there were the numerous impromptu but often excellent guitar and vocal renditions etc from folk who were simply out to have a good time - that's the way I'll always remember the Ormidale.