The Airds Hotel and Restaurant

Had a great lunch today at the Airds Hotel. Great food. Great value. Had venison carpaccio & the best fish & trips ever. Everything was so fresh. Quality is the word I have. It’s a shame that perhaps some of the bad reviews happened during transition affected attendance. Go try it. The setting is also so beautiful. Port Appin is forever charming.

I’m so sad to write this review. We have been very loyal customers of Airds for very many years and have eaten in the glorious garden innumerable times, celebrated birthdays and anniversaries, and enjoyed many dinners there with visiting friends who were blown away by food, decor and service. Having visited for lunch today it is tragic to see what has been allowed to happen to the hotel. The immediate impression when walking in is of the space which was the conservatory (which fell down in December) still with a fallen-down wall lamp on the ground, broken furniture and general detritus lying about. It doesn’t take money or effort to sort that out. Just some thought and common sense. First impressions are so important. In the interior things aren’t any better. It’s not clean (the floor in the West Coast Kitchen was filthy and clearly hadn’t even been swept or hoovered before lunch service), it’s tatty and in dire need of complete refurbishment. Anything which has been done in the last few years has clearly been done very cheaply (veneer flooring which is already looking worse for wear as an example). It is such a shame that a place so much loved by so many people has been allowed to deteriorate to this extent. While I fully accept that hotels and restaurants must adapt and reflect market changes and customer preferences I must say again that what has been allowed to happen at Airds is tragic.

We had previously been to Port Appin but had stayed at The Pierhouse. We decided to give Airds Hotel a try this time. For such a beautiful location this hotel leaves a lot to be desired. The rooms are tired and there appears to be a distinct lack of management responsibility. The staff are good and helpful but appear overworked and stretched. The garden across the road could be a beautiful addition were it not so unkempt. A note on the summer house at the bottom says that guests wishing to play croquet or putting should collect the equipment from the hotel reception ------ with the length of the grass the equipment is probably still in situ but hidden in the lush undergrowth!!! I am led to believe that The Airds was seen as THE hotel in Port Appin, perhaps they are living on past glories because it certainly is not Number One now. The food, it must be said, is good although is not helped by the spartan decor of the dining room where you feel that you could be dining in a transport cafe. Having said the food is good the dining experience was derailed somewhat by the eye watering cost of the wines. This is not an hotel that we will be returning to any time soon

While we stayed the hotel seemed to lack a manager with attention to detail. The walk to the hotel door from the car park took us past some dreary lace curtains to a tiled entrance, which had not been swept for a good while, two empty planters that were full of cigarette butts, and tables and chairs, many of which had not been put out (most of which were heaped in the unkempt garden). The fire, which we were told was lit in the evenings, was not lit on two of the three evenings. Understaffing or laziness or perhaps penny pinching, or just no leadership? Certainly a false economy as not cozy enough to want to sit and sample a whisky or two after dinner The was next to no information on things to do in the area, maps or walk suggestions, in fact there were few nice touches that one might expect in a hotel. The food was nice, the service was fine, the staff were pleasant and perfectly competent. Overall though this hotel was lacking something except the fabulous location. If we return to Port Appin we will stay along the road at Pierpoint, where the food is better and there is a feeling the staff actually care that you have an enjoyable time.

We stayed here very happily 9 years ago under a previous ownership and felt that the hotel has some way to go to recapture what made Airds so special. Attention to detail is missing. Our original room had the heating on full blast on the hottest day of the year but we were moved without fuss. The second room had a loo with a broken valve. The refurbishment is ongoing but the new dining room lacks atmosphere and no bread for breakfast until the delivery man came after 9. That is ridiculous. The location is still sublime but it needs some careful thinking to keep it modern whilst not losing the luxurious atmosphere. The Pierhouse down the road is serious competition and is succeeding to bring in a younger, more sophisticated crowd.

Lovely hotel for a peaceful getaway. Staff are very friendly and very professional at what they do. Food and beverages are very good and the hotel is very clean. The surrounding area is very good for lovely walks to take in the scenery. I would recommend Airds hotel for a visit

Working trip and stayed in hotel . Sean Smith made sure I had everything I needed to do my business. Sorting WiFi , a quiet room etc. I must admit I was really surprised how much attention to detail he gave me. Making sure I had water , coffee and snacks , he was excellent .

Just back from an overnight stay at airds, highly recommend , room was spotless and the food was amazin , Carolyn and her staff went out there way to help us enjoy our stay will definitely visit again

Hidden gem of Scotland. Beautiful hotel, in stunning location. Staff couldn’t do enough for you and really made the weekend. Can’t wait for my next visit