20 George Street, Oban, Argyll. PA34 5SB. Tel: 01631 562294.
Palace Hotel. 2008.
Oban
Oban Inn
Stafford Street, Oban, Argyll. PA34 5NT.
The Oban Inn. 2008.
The Oban Inn on the right with the Columba Hotel. 2008.
Marine Hotel
Oban, Argyll.
Another hotel was added to that already long list of splendid hostelries to be found in Oban in 1896. At the beginning of the esplanade, adjoining the old pier, Major McCaig has erected a magnificent building, to be called the Marine Hotel and designed exclusively from the foundation for the purpose of carrying on the business of hotel-keeping of the very highest class. Erected, fitted up, and furnished without regard to expense, containing every modern convenience, the Marine Hotel was opened in 1896.
The erection of an imposing structure, built in the modern style of architecture and commands, besides a beautiful view of the bay and town, a magnificent prospect of the whole Bay and Island of Mull. On the basement is situated that most important adjunct of a hotel, the kitchen, with the scullery adjoined. Large, well lighted and with every convenience experience can suggest, the chef should feel happy who presides over such splendid accommodation, and so far as room, light and ventilation are concerned, he will have every advantage.
Ample cellar room for all purposes, even for the storage in tanks of sea water, also occupy this flat, as well as a boot room, servants’ bedrooms and hall. On the first flat the entrance is by a noble flight of steps, introducing us to an imposing hall and confronting us with the office and strong room. An elegant bar, morning room with appliances for both coal and gas cooking, the billiard room and three bedrooms are also on this floor, as well as the dining-room, elegantly furnished in dark oak.
In this room, as in every part of the hotel, refined taste and skill are exemplified, reflecting much credit on Messrs. Gray & Co., of Burnbank, Terrace, Oban, who executed the work. The Drawing-room was furnished in Chippendale mahogany, and is a large, pleasant apartment, the tender colours of the upholstery, as well as the furniture itself, making a desirable retreat to linger in. The writing-r00m is quiet, cosy and comfortable, the cathedral glass windows giving a subdued light, most grateful to the eyes of those who like to write.
The bedrooms of which there are about sixty, are all tastefully as well as elegantly and substantially furnished, supplying just what is wanted in a first-class hotel patronised by the higher classes, as the Marine Hotel is bound to be. Comfortable rooms for the servants of the guests and others occupy the top flat.
The first lessees of this magnificent establishment was Mr & Mrs Downie.
Lochavullin Bar
35 Combie Street, Oban, Argyll. PA34 4HS. Tel: 01631 565826.
Lochavullin Bar. 2008.
Kings Arms Hotel
103 George Street, Oban, Argyll. PA34 4NT. Tel: 01631 570552.
Kings Arms Hotel is now called the Kings Arms Holiday Flats.
Kings Arms Holiday Flats. 2008.
The original King’s Arms Hotel was owned by Alexander McTavish. Right in the centre of the bay and town of Oban was convenient of both tourists and businessmen. Mr McTavish was an ideal host, who seemed intuitively to have the happy knack of knowing exactly what his patrons required, and giving them happy recollections of their stay in Oban.
Mr Alexander McTavish. 1895.
Mr McTavish was born in the bonnie village of Crieff and spent his youth in Killin, where he went to school. His aunt, Mrs McTavish who brought him up, had the inn there for a long period of thirty years, and under her careful and experienced eye he learned the business of hotel-keeping in its every detail.
At the age of twenty-two years, having worked his way up through all the grades to the position of head waiter, he was fortunate in winning the hand of Miss McNeil, a Crieff lady.
In 1864 the younger generation went to Rowerdennan, Mr McTavish entering the service of Mr A Blair. From thence he went to the Trossachs, where he remained for eleven years, a popular and well-known figure to tourists, proving himself to have all the qualities required for his arduous position.
The Kings Arms Hotel. 1895.
In 1887 Mr McTavish took over the Kings Arms in Oban, and active, attentive, and with such a wide-spread connection, so well did he prosper, that in 1886 he found himself in a position to become his own landlord, and two years afterwards pulled it down and presented an elegant structure, so well known to all sojourners in Oban.
Mr McTavish was a gentleman of striking personality; an unmistakable Highlander of the best type, fond of all outdoor sports, he was an authority on many of them. A keen Freemason, he was a member of the Lodge Commercial, No 180. A curler, golfer and more than usually successful fly fisher, he was a gentleman whose versatility had made him known fat beyond the North of Scotland. Making his customers his friends, his connection extends to every quarter of the globe; taking a lively interest in every movement for the good and advancement of the town, he was a prince of good fellows and a model host.
The Great Western Hotel
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.