BAR Talk has tracked down York's longest serving landlady - we think! Dee Ralph - one of only a handful of women running pubs in the city - started at the Bay Horse, in Blossom Street, 19 years ago.

The bubbly pint-puller, who is joined behind the bar by her son, "big" Dave Edley, believes she may have served the most consecutive years at the same pub.

The Grade II listed premises is a popular haunt for rugby league fans and film buffs visiting the Odeon opposite.

Pop in there before or after any big race meeting and you're sure to battle through a scrum to get to the bar.

"If I'm not the longest serving I won't be far away," said Dee, who serves up a delicious cask John Smith's Bitter and has regular guest ales - including locals' favourite, Speckled Hen.

"I think landladies bring a varied attitude to pubs, particularly with our ability to deal with men, women and children.

"Sometimes it feels like a counselling service in here - we've got some great characters.

"I try to maintain a traditional look to the pub - too many places in York look like wine bars."

Have you clocked up more woman hours than Dee at the same pub? If so contact Bar Talk on 01904 653051 ext 305.

u WELL, here's a thing. On our last visit to riverside favourite the Ship Inn at Acaster Malbis, we found Sean Singleton and his wife Diane happily ensconced behind the bar.

They'd slashed beer prices, revamped the conservatory restaurant and turned The Wheel House into a steak house.

Locals were coming back to the troubled pub, Sean told us in October. "It's starting to turn around already. We aren't moving on now," said, adding that they planned to stay there for at least 15 years. They left last month. Hopefully they will enjoy a more settled stay at the Red Lion in Poppleton.

The new face behind the Acaster Malbis bar comes from the high-octane world of showbiz. She's former professional country singer Sandi Hart.

She was offered the Ship by the Local Heroes pub company, which leases it from Enterprise Inns.

Sandi, who is Scottish, has worked in the licensed trade for ten years, mostly in her adopted North East, although she did do a three-week stint at The Windmill in York "years and years ago".

She was thinking of leaving the business when her Ship came in.

"You know when you get a feeling for a place? So I decided to say yes.

"The people are real around here, there's no facade which enables me to be myself rather than Sandi Hart, the entertainer," she said.

During her singing career, Sandi, 54, was named best female entertainer in Scotland and was nominated as best female country music singer four years in a row.

She still does the occasional charity gig, often for cancer research. Both her mum and dad were victims of the disease. And she has promised to "get sequinned up" to perform at the Ship in future.

She's already introduced a karaoke disco on Saturday nights, as well as turning the Wheel House into a non-smoking family room. The a la carte menu's gone and she now serves traditional, home-cooked grub.

Sandi has until the beginning of June and then, if she's met the revenue targets, she should take over permanently.

"It's been really hard but I'm a very strong character. I have never failed yet.

"But I'm going to need more staff to be able to give the customers the service they deserve."

Anyone interested in a job should contact her.

She is acutely aware that she is the fifth manager at the Ship in two years.

"The regulars are a bit vulnerable. As I have said to them, 'I am the fifth - make me the last. Vote with your feet and come in'."

Updated: 09:35 Saturday, April 06, 2002