This was a delightful stay in a place of great character and period feel, made special by the kindness and welcome of staff. Food was excellent, room comfortable and bath deep.
The hotel is quite dated and could do with a refurb but the rooms are very big, the bed was really comfy and the breakfast was good. The location is excellent and really handy if you're getting the Stromness ferry.
For me this was a one star hotel charging five star prices. £676 for three people for three nights. Historic on the outside with potential I thought, but 1970's mostly on the inside. Green mold on light switches all along the hall, damp patches and peeling wallpaper. Some lovely original furniture certainly, but not in rooms. The bathroom was similar to a nursing home. In three days we weren't checked on once to see if we needed more towels etc. If we wanted breakfast, the charge was an additional £10-15. It seems to me that the owners are excellent at charging exorbitant prices for a poor experience- but the bright side I'm sure is more money for them towards refurbishment.
The hotel is lovely! Some of the original signs are posted and it was a nice touch. There were printed signs, making sure the viewer knew that the original signs were not valid for the current owners probably because enough stupid people complained when they couldn’t get a drink at a clearly stated temperance hotel. I loved all of the old wooden features that were maintained in the hotel. I’m glad it wasn’t modernized. I had a lovely room overlooking the harbor. In spite of being located right at a busy intersection in the harbor, it was a very quiet night. The bed was so comfortable and everything was spotlessly clean! Breakfast was fabulous, although a little confusing. At first, I didn’t see the buffet set up at the far side of the room. I asked the waiter if I should place an order at the bar or sit down. He told me to sit down which I didn’t do until I explored the buffet and picked up some food thinking that was all I was going to get. Then he came over to take my order. Breakfast was delicious! It was a wonderful stay, and I highly recommend the Stromness hotel!
Starting on a good note, the exterior of the historic building is beautiful, and the hotel is well-situated in the heart of Stromness. The hotel was recently taken over, as I understand it, and the new owners currently are not offering meals beyond breakfast (which I did not have the time to sample), and alcohol is banned. Whilst I'm not one for consuming alcohol, I found this a surprising move considering the hotel (given its cost to stay here) is most likely to attract middle-aged to elderly clientele, the majority of whom will favour an afternoon or evening beverage during their stay. The hotel makes their links with the nearby Ferry Inn clear - which can provide meals - but I cannot imagine this will appeal greatly to guests staying in the hotel when there is a torrential downpour outside. The large entrance and hallway has been beautifully decorated with ornate wallpaper. The owners have retained the historic wooden boards detailing old information about the property; the boards are clearly ancient and much of the information they provide is no longer relevant, but they're still a lovely feature to see. The owners, however, have decided that all of their customers must have the intellect of a garden gnome, because they have stuck up crudely printed sheets next to each and every board clarifying that they're for historical purposes only. You don't say... I was disappointed with my bedroom with its seventies decor and mattress from the same era. I recognise that taking on a hotel and renovating it takes time, but I would have thought that the first thing to replace would be ancient mattresses, for what is a good hotel if not a provider of a decent bed to sleep on? The mattress was ghastly, with springs protruding into me at every angle and, in the end, I slept on top of the duvet and blanket to try and add some cushioning. Thank goodness I was only staying for the one night.
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Stromness, Orkney, KW16
Stromness, Orkney, KW16
4.3/5
Situated on the harbour front in Orkney's gateway port, the Ferry Inn provides an ideal base for business or leisure stays, great all day food and a cracking community bar.
Dounby, Orkney, KW17
4.4/5
