Welcome to Islay’s Eco Hotel
The Islay Hotel is a charming hotel nestled in the village of Port Ellen overlooking the harbour, marina and two sandy beaches.
- Perfect Location – the start of the ‘Whisky Path’ to Islay’s southernmost distilleries – Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg
- The hotel has been completely rebuilt to high modern and environmentally friendly standards with a 4 Star rating
- It is close to the ferry and only a 10 minute drive to the airport
- 13 individually designed bedrooms with luxury ensuite bathrooms
- Acclaimed restaurant offering fresh, local seafood, beef, lamb and pork
- Whisky bar with over 100 malt whiskies – awarded the Most Unique Whisky Bar in Argyll this year!
- Relaxed atmosphere and friendly service
- The only hotel in Scotland to have an integrated ground source Eco Heating and hot water system based on 9 boreholes 120 metres deep
- Outside garden area for eating and drinking
- Live local music twice a week in our Whisky Bar
- Weekly ‘Whisky Challenge’ with mystery prize for entrants and a bottle of malt for the winner!
Our History
The Islay Hotel has an interesting history. Built in 1888 it was the hub of Port Ellen - a popular and busy hotel for many years through different owners. The 2 McLeod sisters owned it the longest. During their time, one of the more famous guests was Sir Harry Lauder, whom Sir Winston Churchill described as 'Scotland's Greatest Ambassador'. One of his well known songs was 'Keep right on to the end of the road'. It is reputed that he wrote this song in the early 1900's while staying in the Islay Hotel after taking a long walk from Port Ellen to Ardtalla which is at the end of the road, 5 miles beyond Ardbeg. In more recent times, the hotel became known for paintings by the talented Irish artist, Shaun O'Leary, who lived in Port Ellen from the 1960's. Some of his paintings can be seen in the hotel.
In 1991 the hotel closed and stayed closed for 20 years. In 2004, two individuals, Roland Worthington-Eyre and Kathleen Cuninghame purchased the hotel. The building had become unsafe and so was demolished. Finances were put into place with assistance from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and local investors, who purchased preference shares. Rebuilding started in 2007. Every effort was made to build it using the best of Island labour. it was not without its' challenges, but on 1st October 2011 the new Islay Hotel re-opened.
In the new hotel there are some interesting features. Apart from our ground source heating and hot water system, the gantry in our Whisky Bar is built of Burmese Teak, which came from part of the Trading Floor in the original London Stock Exchange, which Roland purchased when it was demolished in 1966. The teak has the markings of Steel Brothers, a Scottish Company for whom Roland's father worked out in Burma in the 1920's.
The Islay Hotel is now once again the hub of Port Ellen. With the increased popularity of whisky it is as busy as ever - popular with Islay residents and visitors from all over the world.