The Stromness Hotel by Paymán Club

With very little on offer in Stromness and much higher prices than across the ferry in mainland Scotland this was an ideal location right next to the ferry terminal in a historic building. I stayed in room 10 which was a smaller room at the back of the hotel and seems to have been forgotten. You can see wall partitions that this is not the original design of the room. There was an old carpet, old chair/wardrobe (not vintage). Door key is upside down, wardrobe hangers backwards, light bulb would hum. Bathroom was very Victorian with separate hot/cold taps. All of the windows are sealed shut. Only one plug outlet with an extension cord to run the tv and charge your phone. The tv kept freezing and pixilating until I got the guy at the front desk to fix the cables. Despite all that the hotel did grow on my. The dining room is prime location overlooking the harbour and is a good hot cooked buffet breakfast. When people checked out at 11am I looked in the other rooms at the front of the hotel which were much nicer than my room. Try to stay in those rooms instead of room 10.

I was here for a week for work. It rates as the 2nd worst hotel I've ever had the bad luck to visit. Plus points the Wi-Fi worked most of the time and the room was clean. The girl that was getting the breakfast area ready was friendly and helpful. Negatives, it's run down. It smells strongly musty/mouldy with a hint of sewerage. The reception staff where unwelcoming and unfriendly. There is no Bar. Breakfast was never ready before I had to leave for work at 8am. The rooms are dated and in severe need of refurbishment. It was like a cheap hostel and I've been in emergency homeless units (via work) and all of them where a much higher standard. The shower could be boiling hot, freezing cold or a 5-10 second cycle of the same. My laptop was bigger than the TV. Like stepping back in time to the bad old days. The people of Orkney where very friendly, talkative and helpful and the Islands are beautiful.

Hotel was run down. Was more like staying at a summer camp than a hotel. Furnishings, carpet, etc feels like it has been there a long time and not refreshed. For a family of 3 we had to each sleep in our own twin (husband and I had to sleep separately). No TV in the room. No fridge in the room. Hot water was not properly regulated and was dangerous-you’d have to quickly jump out of the shower multiple times to avoid scalding. Restaurant was not open each evening so you had to plan meals outside, and that isn’t always easy. Not a lot of other options in walking distance, and what is there books up fast. We had to eat Chinese on our first night because there were no other options. The door to the outside in the hallway of our floor was always found open, propped that way with a chair. We were told the cleaning staff goes out to smoke and leaves it that way. Did not feel secure. One plus- the food was very very good. Only caveat- they do not serve alcohol.

Absolute disgrace! Charged my card and then I found out, by chance I might add, that they have closed the hotel. No communication or arrangements. I had to request a refund, which I’ve yet to see. I never got to stay there so based on customer service alone.

As per The Orcadian newspaper.Closed down by the Scottish Fire Service on 27th July 2024 and prohibition notice issued to prevent it reopening. This also follows an incident on 27th July when an 83 year old guest fell down the lift shaft and required hospital treatment. All guests were required to leave and at the moment no indication when it will reopen

Closed down by HSE after elderly man falls down lift shaft. Thankfully, it's been shut after a horrid stay. The hotel claims that it doesn't know why it was shut down the day after an 83-year-old man fell down a lift shaft. Probably a 0 star hotel now has some hope to be bought by proper owners and turned around to a decent place.

Good and bad points at this hotel. Good: room was clean, beds clean and comfortable. Food quality was OK, full breakfast was nice. Parking was available at the rear. Location was perfect for catching the ferry. Bad: carpark wasn't obvious or signposted. We had to squeeze through a narrow gap past the skips left in the carpark to entet via a dirty metal fire escape. One waitress seems overwhelmed and is trying to learn on the job with no one to train her, this isn't helped by her also struggling with English. She was friendly and doing her best but service quality was badly lacking. An out of order sign on the fire escape in the dining room was an interesting feature. Overall we didn't find this place nearly as bad as other reviewers but would try somewhere else if we returned to orkney.

Greed, arrogance, and destain for a community. An old story, played out again at this hotel. A greedy outsider swoops in to buy a cherished landmark. A bargain. But only for him. Smart investors know to keep personal religious views (no alcohol) from business views (a pub that served both the community & visitors). I hope a smart caring person or group buys this stately old hotel and brings it back to life and brings genuine hospitality..like not cutting off water without notice to patrons, a fire alarm that rings for 6 hours unabated are two highlights of my recent stay. I'd sleep in a freezing tent on a ferry stuck in the Artic Ocean before ever staying here again

Very outdated hotel, with very limited facilities. No alocohol policy, no food served after breakfast, hotel website is misleading , photos do not reflect the shabby condition . Definitely the worst place i stayed in Scotland , one to avoid .