John Gorevan

The Great Western Hotel

June 11, 2017 by John Gorevan 1 Comment

Oban, Argyll.

The Great Western Hotel was established in 1886, and was one of the finest hotels for entertainment in the North of Scotland. When it was built it might be said that it was ahead of its time, as no hotel approaching its size or class was to be found within a long distance. The Great Western Hotel entertained Royalty, King and Queen of Portugal stayed there, they were so pleased with the service they stayed for a fortnight, a valuable tribute to the management. The hotel stood on its own ground commanding a splendid view of the bay.

The dining-hall was one of the finest, as it was one of the largest, dining-halls in Britain. The arrangements were of the very best, and the decorations worth going a distance to see. The still-room opens off it, and is in direct communication with the kitchen, which gave every opportunity for the serving of the viands “hot” and in the best style. It dines two hundred guests comfortably, and had an ingenious device, the idea of the late proprietor, Mr Sutherland, which is, that on the walls the dadoes open and are pressed, where a supply of crystal is kept. To those who are practical hotel-keepers the great advantage of this will be at once apparent, as after the first a relay of crystal can be put on the table without leaving the room.

The billiard and smoking-rooms, adjoining one another, were on the ground floor, and can be entered from the grounds. In there was a trophy of Indian armour, arranged by Mr Sutherland, the son of the proprietrix, and who so ably took the management of this large undertaking.

A captain in the volunteers, a yachtsman who capably and successfully designed his own craft in 1894 and took an interest in every movement for the good and advancement of the town, that Mr John Sutherland was a popular man. An educated, refined gentleman and a thoroughly capable businessman, conducted his business on the highest principles of honour.

Grand Hotel

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Oban.

Nicholas Bradley Oban

Manager of the Grand Hotel, Nicholas Bradley. 1896.

There was perhaps, in all Oban no finer site for a building of the kind than that of the Grand Hotel. It stood high up on a hill, with a view to kill for, overlooking the town of Oban and the seascape. The Grand hotel stood on it’s own ground which contained every luxury that the most fastidious traveller could wish for.

Manager of the hotel in 1896 was a gentleman called Nicholas Bradley a native of Oban. He was educated there, first in what was then called Skinner’s School, and latterly in the St. Columba in Columba Street. After finishing the rudiments of his education, he entered the service of His Reverence Bishop McDonald, at that time Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, then the Archbishop of the Edinburgh Diocese. He remained with his lordship for nearly five years, receiving as education which had stood him well.

He then went south to Sheffield and entered the Trade. Joining the eminent and well-known firm of Messrs Duncan Gilmour & Co., of Sheffield, no better opportunity of learning his business and gained experience in its every department could have been afforded him, and, realising the fact, he applied his mind and energies to acquiring it. Beginning at the lowest rung of the ladder, he assisted in the cellars blending and mixing whiskies, and so assiduous to his duties and attentive was he, that in a short time he was promoted to take a charge. In such a large concern the work was hard, but young, zealous and determined to fit himself for any position in the Trade, he worked with a will which gained him the confidence and approbation of his employers.

After two years he was offered, and accepted, the position of boots in the Grand Hotel in Oban, a post which he so worthily fulfilled, that in a short time he was promoted to the responsible appointment of manager, the position he held in the 1900.

The George Hotel

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Oban, Argyll.

Mr John McNeill. 1895. Resembles the villain in a Charlie Chaplin film.

In the centre of the bay, commanding a splendid view stood the George Hotel, a building which had been licensed for a long number of years. It was tenanted by Mr John McNeill, a model landlord, who, with his long experience and knowledge of Gaelic as well as English.

Mr John McNeill was born in Tobermory, where he was educated, showing a liking for his studies. On leaving school he came to Paisley and was apprenticed by Mr Neil McLean to learn the trade of Baking.

On completing his apprenticeship, with credit to himself and satisfaction to his employer, Mr McNeill thought he would like to see the world, so joining the Anchor Line service in the old ‘Europa’. Curious enough, on her first voyage after he left her, the Captain and first and third mates were washed off the bridge and drowned.

Wishing to see more of the world and better his position, he joined the S.S Alps, belonging to Messrs. Langlands & Wilson of Glasgow. In her he traded to the South American ports, and took the position of assistant steward. Again changing for the better, he joined the crew of the City Line, in whose steamers he sailed for three years.

Leaving the foreign trade, though not the ‘Life on the ocean wave’, he came nearer home and accepted the position of cook, the position he had held in the City Line, in MacBraynes’ Highland boats, where he remained for seven years. Thinking he had sailed long enough, and that a life ashore might suit him, Mr McNeill took the George Hotel, Oban, and at once, with characteristic energy, set to work to improve the premises and bring them up-to-date.

His cellars, built as an addition, are kept in a way that would do credit to establishments of much greater pretentious. He also added, as who was better able to do so?, a kitchen and a handsome new bar. The hotel accommodates twenty sleepers, just a nice number to obtain the personal attention and care to the genial landlord and his comely wife, who ably assisted him in the conduct of the hotel.

Mr McNeill was a zealous Freemason of Lodge No. 413, “Athole” Glasgow, a keen sportsman, fond of the gun and rod, hard-working, upright, and industrious.

Columba Hotel

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North Pier, Oban, Argyll. PA34 5QD. Tel: 01631 562183.

Columba Hotel. 2008.

Columba Hotel with the Oban Inn on the right. 2008.

Columba Hotel with the Harbour Inn on the ground floor. 2008.

The Harbour Inn. 2008.

Caledonia Hotel

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Station Road, Oban, Argyll. PA34 5RT. Tel: 01631 563133.

Caledonia Hotel. 2008.

Mr John Thomson, manager of the Caledonian Hotel. 1896.

John Thomson was a native of Glasgow, where he received his education at the old St. Enoch’s School, under Mr Sim, who became rector of the Bellahouston Academy. On completing his studies he joined the firm of Messrs. James Pattison & Co., drysalters, West George Street, where he served an apprenticeship of five years. Having attained as a position as he could secure in the services of that firm he accepted the appointment of cashier in the Western Club, a responsible position in, as everyone knows, the senior and premier club in the West of Scotland.

Remaining there for three years and gaining the goodwill and respect of all with whom he came in contact, he thought he would like to see more of the world, and entered the service of the British India Steam Navigation Company as purser, trading between Calcutta and Bombay.

The Egyptian War was going on at that time and Mr Thomson was on board the S.S. Ethiopia when the Indian Government chartered her to carry troops to Ismalia to engage in the battle of Tel-el-Kebir. After three years he returned to Glasgow, and was offered again his old position in the Western Club, but at an increase of salary, which he accepted and again remained for three years. In 1887 he was fortunate enough to get married to Miss Galt, daughter of the late Mr George Galt, glazier and glass merchant, Eglinton Street, Glasgow.

He was appointed at this time the first club master of the Imperial Union Club. When the club was opened they took the premises of the old Junior Club in Sauchiehall Street, a very select coterie of our young men of the best families in the West of Scotland comprising the members. Mr Thomson, besides inaugurating the club, had to superintend their removal to their new premises at 82 St. Vincent Street only three months after, an undertaking he accomplished with credit to himself. In 1890, after three years, Mr Thomson went to Killin as manager of the hotel there, where he remained for a year and went north to Sutherlandshire to manage the Lochinvar and Culag Hotels for MacBrayne.

With pleasure to himself and the satisfaction of his employer, he remained there till the expiry of the lease, when the houses changed hands and he came to Oban to occupy the position of manager of the Caledonian Hotel.

In 1904 Jasper Anderson had the Caledonian Hotel and the Spean Bridge Hotel.