35 Combie Street, Oban, Argyll. PA34 4HS. Tel: 01631 565826.
Lochavullin Bar. 2008.
35 Combie Street, Oban, Argyll. PA34 4HS. Tel: 01631 565826.
Lochavullin Bar. 2008.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.