Bowmore55.75727900,
-6.28649700,
20 Shore Street, Bowmore, Isle Of Islay(Show on Map)
8.2
Very Good
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1 room2 guests1 room, 2 guests
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Summary of reviewsLochside Hotel, located in the heart of Bowmore on Islay, consistently impresses guests with its exceptional location, making it an ideal base for exploring the island. Its close proximity to the Bowmore Distillery and stunning views over Lochindaal greatly enhance its appeal. Guests appreciate the convenience of nearby amenities and the availability of parking spaces right in front of the hotel.
The hotel's breakfast offerings are generally well-received, featuring a variety of high-quality cooked and continental options served in a charming setting with scenic outdoor terrace seating. The freshness and local produce used in the dishes are commended, despite occasional issues with organization and consistency in service.
Dinner at Lochside Hotel also garners positive reviews with guests highlighting the excellent quality of food, generous portions and reasonable prices. The restaurant and bar provide an enjoyable ambiance, often praised for their attentive staff and outdoor dining with picturesque views.
Rooms at the hotel are frequently described as clean, comfortable and well-decorated, offering amazing views over the loch and harbor. While some rooms are noted to be on the smaller side, they are still considered cozy and adequate for short stays. The hotel's overall cleanliness and modern amenities contribute to a welcoming atmosphere.
The staff at Lochside Hotel receive high praise for their friendliness, dedication and excellent customer service. Their proactive approach to accommodating guests’ needs and ensuring a pleasant stay significantly enhances the overall experience. Minor issues, such as firm mattresses and the use of down pillows, are mentioned but do not detract from the predominantly positive feedback.
Overall, Lochside Hotel stands out for its fantastic location, picturesque views, excellent dining options, clean and comfortable rooms and warm hospitality. These elements combine to create a memorable and highly commendable stay for visitors to Islay. Show more
Read review summaries for all categories
Categories
Small Hotel
Located on the Isle of Islay, this hotel offers a cozy and intimate experience. Its location provides beautiful views and a tranquil atmosphere.
Luxury Hotel
Family Friendly Hotel
Room Types
Deluxe Single RoomFeaturing free toiletries, this single room includes a private bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. This single room has a tea and coffee maker, flat-screen TV with streaming services, city views, as well as chocolate for guests. The unit has 1 bed.
Double Room with Sea ViewProviding free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. This double room features a tea and coffee maker, flat-screen TV with streaming services, sea views, as well as chocolate for guests. The unit offers 1 bed.
Deluxe Double or Twin Room with City ViewOffering free toiletries, this twin/double room includes a private bathroom with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. This twin/double room features a tea and coffee maker, flat-screen TV with streaming services, city views, as well as chocolate for guests.
Deluxe Double or Twin Room with Sea ViewProviding free toiletries, this twin/double room includes a private bathroom with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. This twin/double room features a tea and coffee maker, flat-screen TV with streaming services, sea views, as well as chocolate for guests.
Superior Double or Twin Room with Sea ViewFeaturing free toiletries, this twin/double room includes a private bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. This twin/double room has a tea and coffee maker, flat-screen TV with streaming services, sea views, as well as chocolate for guests.
Guest Reviews
8.2
Very Good
Location
Nestled in the heart of Bowmore, Lochside Hotel boasts an exceptional location that consistently impresses its guests. Centrally placed on Islay, this hotel is ideal for exploring the island with local buses readily available for convenient travel. Its strategic positioning also puts it right next to the famous Bowmore Distillery, offering visitors a unique cultural experience just a stone's throw away.
Guests particularly enjoy the stunning views offered from both the rooms and the dining areas, overlooking the beautiful Lochindaal. This proximity to the water and the picturesque bay views add to the overall charm and appeal of the stay. The central location ensures easy access to nearby amenities and attractions, making it a superb base for exploring the island. Additionally, there are parking spaces available right in front of the hotel, which is a significant advantage for those driving.
Apart from the strategic location, the hotel is praised for its comfortable and clean rooms, friendly staff and excellent food. Although some rooms are noted to be on the smaller side, the majority find them cozy and well-maintained. Overall, Lochside Hotel offers a combination of fantastic location, beautiful scenery and warm hospitality, making it a preferred choice for visitors to Islay.
Breakfast
The breakfast experience at Lochside Hotel is generally praised by guests for its quality and selection, often described as excellent, very good or even incredible. Many reviews highlighted the appeal of having both cooked and continental options that are of a high standard, as well as the choice from several types of breakfast. Guests appreciated the inclusion of a complimentary breakfast, which was seen as a notable perk.
The venue itself received positive remarks for featuring outdoor terrace seating with scenic views, adding an enjoyable element to the dining experience. The freshness and use of local produce in the dishes were also commended. Additionally, the service during breakfast was often seen as satisfactory with some guests specifically mentioning the friendly chef and well-done meals.
However, not all reviews were uniformly positive. A few guests noted issues such as an unorganized breakfast setup, the absence of certain offerings like cooked breakfast without a refund and occasional lack of consistency in service, such as the availability of cappuccino. There were also mentions of specific incidents that detracted from the overall experience, including disappointing full breakfast and poorly prepared scrambled eggs.
Overall, while the majority of guests found the breakfast at Lochside Hotel to be a standout aspect of their stay, there were occasional lapses that affected the experience for some visitors.
Dinner
The Lochside Hotel has received positive acclaim for its dining options with guests frequently highlighting both dinner and breakfast as notable aspects of their stay. Diners have reported excellent food quality with freshly prepared and cooked meals that cater to a variety of tastes. Portion sizes are generous, whether enjoying a delicious steak, flavorful seafood specials or a satisfying breakfast of bacon, pancakes and maple syrup.
The hotel's restaurant and bar emerge as standout features, praised for their great food, attentive staff and reasonably priced meals. Guests specifically mention the tasty and hot dishes with some describing their dinner as outstanding and superb. The ambiance is enhanced by the ability to dine outside with scenic views, which adds to the overall positive dining experience.
While the majority of reviews emphasize good to excellent meals, a few notes mention the food being of a standard quality or having some cold dinner service issues. Nonetheless, the overall feedback suggests that the Lochside Hotel offers a commendable dining experience, highlighted by excellent options, attentive service and a pleasant atmosphere.
Rooms
The rooms at Lochside Hotel largely received praise for their cleanliness, comfort and scenic views. Many guests appreciated the spacious and beautifully decorated rooms, often highlighting the stunning views over the loch and harbor. Descriptions of rooms frequently included terms such as cozy, modern and spotless. Some visitors noted excellent features like good-sized bathrooms, large beds and charming bar and restaurant areas associated with their stays.
However, several reviews mentioned that certain rooms were particularly small, sometimes limiting space for hanging clothes or storing luggage adequately. Despite these size constraints, guests often found these small rooms to be comfortable and equipped with everything needed for short stays. The consistent emphasis on clean, comfortable accommodations and amazing views suggests a generally positive experience for those staying at the Lochside Hotel.
Beds
At Lochside Hotel, guests will find that the beds are often praised for their comfort with many describing them as very comfy or even large and comfy. Visitors can expect clean and modern bathrooms that are frequently highlighted alongside the comfortable beds. The general consensus emphasizes the beds being very comfortable, adding a touch of relaxation to their stays. However, there are occasional notes on minor annoyances such as somewhat firm mattresses and the use of down pillows that did not meet some guests' preferences. Additionally, a few reviews mentioned beds being two singles pushed together, which did not provide optimal comfort for all. Despite these minor issues, the overall impression is that guests can look forward to a restful night's sleep at Lochside Hotel.
Cleanliness
Located in the heart of Bowmore, Lochside Hotel impresses with its remarkable cleanliness. Guests frequently note that the rooms are very clean, comfortable and well-decorated. The modern amenities and good, abundant breakfast also receive praise. Cleanliness extends beyond the rooms with the entire hotel described as tidy and welcoming. The friendly and helpful staff contribute significantly to the positive experience, offering top-notch customer support and making guests feel very accommodated. In addition to the clean surroundings, the hotel's central location offers lovely views, making it a notable destination for travelers seeking both comfort and picturesque scenery.
Staff
Lochside Hotel in Bowmore consistently receives high praise for its staff, who are often described as courteous, friendly and dedicated. Guests commend the team for their hard work, attentiveness and willingness to go the extra mile to ensure a pleasant stay. The hospitality extends beyond just the hotel with many noting the overall warmth and friendliness they experienced on the island.
The staff's ability to handle pressure and their proactive approach to accommodating guests’ needs, such as making meal adjustments and ensuring restaurant availability, stands out. Their dedication to cleanliness and providing excellent food further enhances the guest experience.
While the majority of feedback highlights the staff’s friendliness and helpfulness, there are isolated mentions of less positive interactions. However, these do not overshadow the overwhelmingly positive sentiment regarding the team, who are frequently described as amazing, excellent and considerate.
The welcoming atmosphere created by the hotel's staff significantly contributes to the commendable reviews and is a key factor in making guests' stays exceptionally memorable.
No, Lochside Hotel doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Lochside Hotel.
No, Lochside Hotel doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at Lochside Hotel.