Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
This 10 bedroom family-run hotel, bar and restaurant is located on the shore of Loch Indaal, in the centre of a pretty conservation village on the lsle of Islay. It has a comfortable residents' lounge, a dining room open to residents and non-residents, cosy public bar and a conservatory and patio area overlooking the bay, with direct access to a sandy beach. We are very proud of our reputation for offering guests a comfortable, relaxing stay with a friendly welcome and the finest food and drink. A must for lovers of Scottish art and traditional music the hotel walls are hung with an eclectic collection of fine and modern art and the bar hosts regular live music sessions featuring Celtic tunes, folk music and singing. The a la carte restaurant is open in the evening and the changing menu reflects seasonal local produce accompanied by fine wines and champagnes. Diners can also choose to eat in the conservatory or bar, where they will select from bistro-style bar meals, which focus on showcasing the best local produce from the sea and land, as well as creative vegetarian options. Bar meals are available at lunchtimes or evenings. All are open to residents and non-residents. The bar at the Port Charlotte Hotel oozes charm and tradition. A bespoke carved wooden bar is home to an enviable selection of whiskies from Islay and Jura, as well as a full range of quality beers, wines and spirits including local ales and gins. A wood-burning fire ensures a warm welcome whatever the season. The hotel is recommended in Michelin & Good Food Guides and is highly rated in the Best of Scotland guide.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is officially classified according to VisitScotland standards.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Family dinner on a Tuesday evening. Had visited on a couple of previous occasions when visiting Islay and it seems that service has gone downhill slightly recently.
Food was excellent as normal. No qualms about that whatsoever.
Service was the issue. Seated in the restaurant and after menus were handed out and after a short while before any drinks orders were taken, one of the waitresses started collecting wine glasses off the table. Had to tell her that we were going to be ordering wine and the glasses were replaced.
The main waiter in the restaurant was very softly spoken and so was difficult to understand at times. Seemed awkward when serving.
I honestly think the evening was missing Lorna - the times we were there before she was managing the restaurant. When I asked at the end if Lorna still worked here, got a very vague reply that was "sometimes". The Lorna equivalent that evening (didn't get her name, assume she would be the restaurant manager for the evening) made one appearance at the start, seemed quite brusque and wasn't seen again throughout the evening. Total contrast to previous experience.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Isabelle Allison, Owner at Port Charlotte Hotel
Responded Nov 1, 2024
Thank you for your review and I am sorry to hear that your latest visit was not as you had expected. We do have several new members of staff being trained by Lorna. To allow them to gain experience and confidence then have to allow them to work and cover Lorna's days off. Your comments have been discussed with the staff and I do hope you will visit again.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A very warm welcome from Lorna and the team at the Port Charlotte Hotel. We were visiting as a group on a private tour for lunch and were very looked after.
Lorna personally welcomes everyone and ensures that everyone has everything they need- nothing is too much trouble. She is engaging and funny and makes everyone feel at home. Her team did a great job serving a delicious lunch and offering some traditional Scottish hospitality. I look forward to coming back again soon.
Specific mention to the outstanding sticky toffee pudding!
Read more
Date of stay: April 2024Trip type: Traveled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Isabelle Allison, Owner at Port Charlotte Hotel
Responded Nov 1, 2024
Thank you for taking the time to post your lovely review which Lorna and her team appreciate very much. It was a pleasure to have your group with us and we do hope you will make it back another time soon.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The Port Charlotte Hotel was a big part of our three-night stay on Islay. All of the staff go out of their way to be helpful, whether casually chatting with you about the local points of interest and whiskies, leaving you to quietly look out the window at dawn breaking over Loch Indaal, or helping you plan getting back to the mainland after popping a tyre on your rental late in the evening. The Port Charlotte was the home we came back to every night whether we spent the day on Islay's beautiful beaches, or ferrying across to Jura to see the red deer. Despite not planning it, we had dinner at the hotel every night. There was so much on the menu to try, and everything was delightful: a special mention to the Loch Gruinart oysters and the traditional fish and chips. The bar's whisky list is comprehensive, but there's a great selection of wines as well. Though we came to Islay for the sights and distilleries, meeting locals turned out to be a significant part of our trip, and Lorna from the Port Charlotte is a wonderful person to talk to if you get the opportunity. We will fondly remember our stay until the time comes to return to Islay and enjoy the Port Charlotte's special hospitality and atmosphere anew.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Isabelle Allison, Owner at Port Charlotte Hotel
Responded 3 weeks ago
Thank you for your lovely review, it was a pleasure to have you with us and to hear how much you enjoyed your visit despite the flat tyre! We look forward to welcoming you back again on a future visit.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We called in at the Port Charlotte for a drink on the way back to Bowmore. I ordered a pint and a half of very average ale and nearly dropped my glass when asked for ten pounds! The server noted my look of incredulity and said 'you're not drinking in Wetherspoons here you know'. I have a feeling that's not the first time he has had to use that line. He was quite right too - the beer in Wetherspoons is usually better too.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Isabelle Allison, Owner at Port Charlotte Hotel
Responded Nov 1, 2024
Thank you for your review. Our local ales are extremely popular and priced competitively in line with other island establishments and cannot be compared to Wetherspoons who have neither the beautiful location or atmosphere of our cosy bar from which to enjoy a pint.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This was a disappointing stay. When I arrived they put me in a room with two twin beds, even though I booked a 1 bed room. They told me the reason was that they thought I was coming with someone else. I have no idea where they got that idea, or where they got the idea that if I was coming with someone else, that I would want two beds.
I made a reservation for dinner and came down on time. I was sat at a small table in the corner, and prior to my entree they told me I would have to move because the band was there and going to play from that spot. So they moved me into the middle room that is somewhat like a lounge, but it was a strange room to be sitting in eating dinner. I asked if I could instead sit in the dining room and they said no, all the tables were reserved. About 10 minutes later they came back and said you can move to the dining room. So I got up to move twice during a single dinner. In the dining room there was a group at one table, but there were 4-5 other tables completely open. No one sat at those tables the entire time I was there.
There were no other attempts to make my stay nice. If I was staying here for more than one night I would have attempted to check out early and move to a different hotel.
Ultimately, service was poor overall, not just for the price. When factoring in the price I paid, it was downright atrocious.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Isabelle Allison, Owner at Port Charlotte Hotel
Responded Nov 1, 2024
Thank you for your review. I am sorry that you felt this way. I feel that you may have been confused over our dining options. We do encourage guest to pre-book dinner as both the bar an dining can be heavily booked and we do make every effort to give our resident guests their preferred time. We do not serve food in our lovely lounge area where guest can have a pre-dinner drink and look at the menu before being taken to the dining room. At the time of booking it may have been that we only had a twin room available which can be used for single or double occupancy. Our rooms are of a lovely standard with wonderful views across Loch Indaal towards the paps of Jura.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I booked this hotel due to other reviews and we were not disappointed. We went for my partner's 40th birthday. Gorgeous room appointed (Room 9). We booked dinner the first night and it was outstanding, then we popped to the bar for a wee nightcap. Gorgeous little bar with loads of choice of drinks including of course whisky! Everyone was so friendly and welcoming including David and Harris in the bar. They had a fire on most days which was lovely after a day out exploring.
We ended up having dinner at the hotel every night of our stay because we enjoyed the food so much, although we did ask to eat in the bar. Oh there is live music on Wednesdays and Sundays we the three person group we saw were delightful with lots of local music and a surprising cover of Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison!!! David also treated us to a nightcap on the house on my partner's birthday!
The ladies at reception couldn't do enough for us either throughout our stay. Another lovely lady who was looking after the bar shared her mother's 'tablet' with us - tablet is a type of Scottish fudge. Breakfast was included in the rate and the team at breakfast were delightful also and the food just delicious. I'm afraid we only met one of the chefs a wonderful gent from Liverpool - he and my partner had a great chat about e-bikes.
When we return to Islay we will definitely stay here again. We felt so comfortable, and at peace here. It is a beautifully run hotel with outstanding staff who all seem like they truly enjoy their job.
Oh a good point to note is that bus (450) stops very close to the hotel and runs into Bowmore and through to the airport!
Read more
Date of stay: May 2022
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Wonderful views of the sea and lighthouse in room 9
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Isabelle Allison, Owner at Port Charlotte Hotel
Responded Jun 10, 2022
Thank you for your lovely complimentary review, so lovely to hear that you enjoyed all that our amazing team of staff work hard to provide, good food and service with a warm welcoming atmosphere. Great to hear that you were able to enjoy a night of music and song always a popular evening. We do hope we can welcome you again another time.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The hotel has efficient but not overbearing Covid measures in place. Plenty of hand sanitisers around, perspex partitions at counters and the room had an unbroken seal to say it had been sanitised.
The room itself was great with exposed brickwork, partial wooden flooring and tastefully decorated with none of the usual Shortbread decor.
The food is highly recommended. Dinner had a wide selection but the seafood was a winner with us. Breakfast had all the usual items and every last one was delicious.
The hotel, food and location were all winners but the staff outshone everything. Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful and made us feel very welcome.
Read more
Date of stay: May 2021
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Isabelle Allison, Owner at Port Charlotte Hotel
Responded Jun 14, 2021
Thank you very much for your complimentary review which is very much appreciated by all our staff. The comfort of our guests is so important to us and we do hope to make our guests feel relaxed and looked after throughout their stay and in particular during these strange times we have additional measures in place to add to the well being of our guests. I do hope we can welcome you again another time.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The village of Port Charlotte is far from the relatively bustling Bowmore, thereby making it a hotel destination for an ideal boutique experience. The proprietor Isabelle has a knack for the personalized experience, so your time in the hotel feels like a homecoming. The kitchen is fabulous, much better than perhaps necessary, and the atmosphere around the deep whisky bar is worth spending a few drams a night around. I couldn’t have hoped for a finer Islay lodging.
Read more
Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Isabelle Allison, Owner at Port Charlotte Hotel
Responded Oct 21, 2024
Thank you for our lovely review. We aim to make our guests feel at home while enjoying great service, good food, in comfortable surroundings. It is so nice to hear that you experienced all that during your stay. Your compliments are very much appreciated by all our staff. We look forward to welcoming you again another time.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This hotel is pricy, but well worth it. We had a lovely room overlooking the bay. Outside the hotel there is a seating area which leads out on to a small beach. The food is very good, especially the seafood - scallops and crab were particularly tasty. We stayed 4 nights and found that that was adequate to explore the island. There was a live band in the bar on Sunday, which was a bonus. All the staff were friendly and helpful, especially, Kate, Lorna and Marianne. Throughout the hotel there is an eclectic mix of paintings on the walls. One bugbear of mine is the pillows in hotels. Frequently they are like lumpy bricks. However, these were lovely and soft and could be moulded to the shape required. We had a good nights sleep after all the good food and wine.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Isabelle Allison, Owner at Port Charlotte Hotel
Responded Nov 1, 2024
Thank you for your very kind review. It is lovely to hear that you experienced a comfortable stay with us and enjoyed our food and hospitality. We are so fortunate to be able to provide locally sourced meat and seafood for our guests and a helping of traditional music by local musicians to end the evening makes for a memorable experience. We hope to welcome you again another time.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed here for 5 nights, a family of four (2 adults & 2 children aged 6 and 2). The hotel is lovely and spotlessly clean and as the lockdown restrictions had just eased it was pleasing to see the great lengths that the staff and owners have went to to keep their guests safe. The location is a huge plus as we could see out to Loch Indaal and across to Jura (on a clear day) from our room window. It is situated right next to a lovely beach which the kids enjoyed and there is a play park which was 10 minutes walk away. The staff went to great lengths to ensure that tables were well spaced throughout the hotel so that social distancing rules could be adhered to. The food was fantastic and the highlight for me was the oysters which come fresh from Gruinart a short while away, they were by far the best I've ever had and I've eaten hundreds around the world. We had the seafood platter for dinner one night which is highly recommended, fresh seafood galore including lobster, crab, mussels, and oysters. The staff were so friendly, polite and professional and we were well looked after during our stay. The pub is legendary for its local folk music which we unfortunately missed due to current circumstances but I thoroughly enjoyed the great selection of Whisky. We have truly fallen with the place and look forward to coming back again.
Read more
Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Isabelle Allison, Owner at Port Charlotte Hotel
Responded Aug 4, 2020
Thank you for your lovely review which is very much appreciated by all the staff. It was a pleasure to have you with us especially after the disappointment of having to cancel your earlier booking due to the lockdown. It is lovely to know that our efforts to ensure the safety and protection of our guests while allowing them to enjoy a relaxed holiday were appreciated by you. Our beautiful location so close to the beach Is certainly a great place for children and adults alike to have some fun in the water or enjoy a bit of crab searching round the rocks. We are so lucky to have our local oysters and seafood on our doorstep and of course a dram at the end of the evening is just the thing before a good nights sleep listening to the sound of the waves from your bedroom window. We do hope to welcome you again on a future visit
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Yes we are open all day for coffee/tea. Lunches are served between 12 noon and 2.00 p.m. and evening bar meals between 5.30 and 8.30 p.m. Our restaurant menu is served between 6.00 p.m. and 9.00 p.m.
Hello thank you for your enquiry. Our family room has two double beds and views towards the sea and Port Charlotte pier. It also overlooks our garden which has direct access to a sand beach where children love to play and go rockpooling for crabs.
There are more places to choose from in the Port Charlotte area.
PRICE RANGE
$310 - $318 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
United KingdomScotlandThe HebridesIslayPort Charlotte
NUMBER OF ROOMS
10
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.