Islay House

Despite some of the below reviews my room was in great condition as were the downstairs rooms. However this beautiful old house does need some more TLC to restore it to its glory on the inside and out. The grounds are gorgeous and it’s well located for travelling south to port Ellen and the airport or west to Port Charlotte. Sadly the service was terrible. Despite contacting them in advance about dietary requirements I arrived and they hadn’t been factored in at all with no apologies. In general staff did not seem trained very well: couldn’t make drinks and made a lot of mistakes.

3 months ago · via Google

This hotel is an enigma. In terms of the positives. The building is old, grand and bursting with character. The room was big, well furnished with a massive bathroom. The staff at reception and breakfast were very friendly and helpful. The problem is that the more you scratch the more you find. The hotel is in need of some serious investment. There is faded and flaking paint all around the building and its easy to see that patch jobs have been done on the cheap. While the staff are lovely there isn't nearly enough of them. Our room was dusty and there were dead spiders surrounding the window. We mentioned this to reception on day 1, the receptionist took note and nothing happened. The housekeeping was limited to refilling the milk, coffee, tea and shortbread and nothing else. It showed all the signs of being understaffed. The breakfast was fine although I think the potato scones were not cooked properly. As far as I can tell there were 3 staff running everything and being pulled from pillar to post. When it comes to the price point the hotel is very much on the cheaper side of the island. I describe the place as an enigma as if you view it as cheap and cheerful then I'd give it a solid 4/5, if I view it from a place that claims to be 4* then I'd give it a 2/5. My advice to the owner would be. You have a handful of very good staff, if you give them yhe resources to run the place properly then this hotel will be able to live up to the grand setting it deserves.

3 months ago · via Google

Amazing place! No children at all. Just peace and calm. You’ll definitely like it. Huge area around for walking with stunning landscapes.

3 months ago · via Google

Room is run down with the walls and ceiling crumbling, lovely patches of black mold in the shower adds to the rustic charm. I particularly didn’t appreciate the breakfast offering, of cereal, toast and children’s cheese sticks. Coffee would have been at least passable but the single person working chose to not attend and disappeared god knows where and the coffee machine was out of water and milk. The website suggests that there is a functioning bar “peat cutter whatever bar”, I am still to find it on the premises. I would go for another place if I ever come to the island again.

5 months ago · via Google