The two redeeming features of this hotel were the view of the harbour from my room, and the helpful and friendly reception staff. The rest of the hotel was pretty mediocre.

The bed was one of the hardest that i have ever slept in, although there was some impressive art-deco era furniture, echoing the more grand past of the hotel in the room.

The dining experience was most unsatisfactory: the breakfasts were terrible, lumpy porridge, inedible sausages, runny eggs etc., and the service was extremely poor, with frequent errors, long waits etc. The service was even worse at dinner, and the prices were too high, and did not reflect the quality of the dining room, nor the food served. There was an extremely long wait, and service was ropey. For some reason this restaurant is very popular, and unless you book a table (even if you are staying at the hotel) you will be rudely turned away.

I got woken up at about 7am, by the constant ringing of the telephone in an adjacent room. When i telephoned reception to complain there was no answer. The noise from the road below was also extremely loud, when the windows were opened for ventilation.

Should you decide to stay at the Kirkwall, i would definately request a room in the original building (not the grim 60s extension, which has nasty modern furnishings), and also a room with a harbour room. The best rooms, with high ceilings, big windows and grand furniture seem to be on the first floor, and in the original part of the building (which is an impressive looking building)