The Kirkwall Hotel

Stayed for two weekend nights at the Kirkwall Hotel with family. We requested rooms at the back because we wanted quiet rooms. Both rooms were clean and well-appointed with nice contemporary touches. Rooms at the front of the hotel are much noisier especially when the bars and clubs close and only have a view of the harbor across the street. You can see boats and rigging, but I don't think it's worth an extra 100 pounds a night.

This is a good, comfortable, old hotel which has been tastefully renovated. Its location in the centre of Kirkwall is very convenient for both the town centre and for the inter-island Orkney Ferries. Good restaurant offering a wide variety of choice. No car park, but it is possible to park on street and in nearby car parks. being located in a town centre location, it can get a bit noisy particularly on Friday and Saturday evenings due to the pubs located nearby. If you are looking for a quieter location then the Lynnfield Hotel might be a better option. Despite this, I would be very happy to stay again.

We spent a really pleasant 3 nights at the Kirkwall Hotel. Yes the rooms are on the small side but perfectly appointed with everything you need to hand. As with most places it is the staff that often make or break your experience and they were fabulous putting up with our shenanigans, (party of four) Thank you to the lady at reception who let me bore her about my dogs and the man at the bar who remained patient and tolerant; it was an unforgettable stay.

Wonderful hotel with very friendly staff. It's right on the harbour and a short walk to shops and St Magnus Cathedral. The old lift provides character and the breakfasts are great. I had a very comfortable room facing west but my travelling companion was on the east side and got quite a lot of noise from the nightclub just across the small street.

***My thoughts are that the positive reviews on TripAdvisor are for the main hotel, and not The Shore. I cannot say there were problems with the Kirkwall Hotel, and my review is solely based upon The Shore Hotel.*** Arrived on business, to be met with a dingy looking building and a sign on the door of “The Shore” to go to the Kirkwall Hotel. Went over and was Met by lovely staff, who took me to my room over in The Shore. Walked in the front door of The Shore, and was met with an overwhelming stench of Damp and Mould, against a very run down 80’s sheek style of entrance. The smell followed all the way up to my room, and in my room. While the room was decorated nicely, and the bed was comfortable and clean, the bathroom bulb didn’t work, it was very dusty, had a room looking into someone’s kitchen, and the sound of pigeons chirping most of the night. The walls are thin, and the floors are creaky, so could hear everyone who also stayed here. I was supposed to be in for 2 nights, but my health and breathing has been affected by the damp and mould, I just couldn’t stay any longer. The Kirkwall Hotel seemed very nice, and I’m sure it would be a different review if I had stayed there, but I would encourage anyone looking, to make a request to not stay in The Shore when booking, or stay somewhere else if the main hotel is full. I love Orkney, the people, and the Islands are lovely, but sadly on this occasion, I cannot say my time was enjoyed because of the accommodation. My recommendation would be that Work needs to be done, or close it down.

I stayed at this hotel for two nights as part of a coach holiday so was not expecting much. I will start with the lift which does need looking at it is the old fashion type were you pull the doors across and if not pulled shut on leaving would stay on that floor. The room we stayed in was beautifully decorated and furnished. Very bright and lovely clean comfortable beds. Steading in the room very useful. Plenty of tea and coffee supplies lovely mugs and a teapot. Also nice supply of biscuits. We were on the side of the building above the entrance to the pub did not find this a problem. The dining area and the bar very nice but a tight fit when packed. This made it very difficult to get out when you were sat against the wall. Ie to go the bar. This is a real negative point. A member of our coach party asked if they could seperated the tables to make it easier and were snaped at no. This member of staff was not very cheery everything seemed to be an effort. The food was very good considering the amount of people that are being served The hotel is in a very good position . I really enjoyed my stay and would stay there again [lift and tables sorted out]

My room is directly above the pub. We cannot sleep because of the loud music, screaming, and noise outside my window from the smokers hanging out just beneath my window. The night manager, Stevie, just told me "There is nothing I can do. I have been here for 16 years and they (the management he works for) will not tell guests about the loud pub before putting guests in the hotel. The hotel management owns the pub." Good to know. It's a bit late to change to change hotels. But I certainly would if I could.

This hotel is a mixed bag: scores well on some things, and poorly on others (things that could easily be rectified/improved without much effort). The room was kitted out nicely, the bed very comfortable. Good shower. However, breakfast was no more than adequate. The menu displayed on the hotel website cites "Pastries", but we couldn't see any pastries beyond a few bite-sized croissants. The "Vegetarian breakfast" contained all the items listed, but were done blandly. The spinach was dry (there are better ways to do spinach at breakfast). When we asked if a cappuccino (rather than filter coffee etc) was possible, the waitress said simply — and I quote — "Not in the morning, no". You don't say that to a guest, ever. The general feel of the place was that it could do with a deep clean; you could tell it hadn't been thoroughly cleaned for a long time, in fact. While the rooms clearly had been renovated/redecorated relatively recently, the public spaces felt and looked tired. One telling sign of the standards that apply at this hotel is the empty Highland Park whisky bottles that sit on the interior window sills in the dining room (see photo) in an apparent attempt to "decorate". This was one of the tackiest things I've ever seen in a hotel. Astonishing that management would think this is acceptable. The Kirkwall Hotel is a historic building with valuable heritage. This is nicely reflected in the many old framed photos on the walls as you mount the stairs. But it's a pity that the overall effect is spoiled by things like the Highland Park bottles on the sills in the dining room, because that's the one thing you tend to remember. This stuff and the other things I've mentioned can easily be fixed with a bit of effort, imagination, taste and good design sense. Please, get on to it!

This is an historic building right on Kirkwall’s sea front. Some attempt has been made to upscale it, with pleasant new bathroooms and the usual Scottish fabrics, old black and white prints of local scenes and memorabilia . But it’s still utterly grim. At an eye watering January nightly rate of £167 what was offered was no food at all not even a sandwich ( the ‘flooring men’ were in) which even ruled out the cooked breakfast included in the price. A jar of stale coffee grounds in a jar with a label imploring you not to steal it ( as if) no tea bags or milk. A cold room with one radiator in the peculiar ante room ( probably classed as suite) not working. Since there was no food was directed to a pub/restaurant next door where a smug young woman with a Phd in passive aggression took enormous delight in saying they were fully booked despite there being space at the bar. Eventually found sustenance at the Ayre Hotel, next one along , where a pleasant but bewildered person in a bleak wooden church hall-style bar sold me some scampi chips and peas with a tasty local bottle of ale for £38. Yes. £38. Now please don’t let this waterfront ***** of inhospitable misanthropic misery put you off Kirkwall. A mere block behind reveals streets of pretty shops, chic little cafes and decent restaurants. Plus the local Orcadians are utterly charming and friendly and boast islands of stunning beauty and incredible culture. Just steer clear of this ghastly overpriced relic.