Columba Hotel Inverness by Compass Hospitality

The price was great, and the location was very convenient and beautiful. The hotel looks lovely outside, but the interior is very dated. We had no flexibility on early check-in: despite asking at 1pm and again at 2:30pm, we couldn’t get in before exactly 3pm, even though we explained we were very jet lagged. It was off peak and the hotel didn’t seem especially busy, so it felt disorganised and unprofessional. While we waited, we overheard two women at reception arguing. We thought about leaving our bags, but they seemed likely to be left in a corner of reception rather than a secure, locked room, and the desk wasn’t staffed all the time. The hotel’s security was poor and worrying too. There was no lock on the main entrance, so anyone could come in. One night, I was asleep when my friend went out and forgot our only room key card. The receptionist handed them a card late at night without checking who they were.

I booked a river view for an extra charge, but the window was so small the good-sized room was quite dark. I wanted a relaxing night before doing Etape Loch Ness the next day, but the shower was unusable. As soon as I turned it on, it was clear that even 30 seconds more would flood the bathroom. My husband went to reception and the receptionist said she’d get someone to look. It took 40 minutes for her to come upstairs, then she went away and returned 20 minutes later with a key to their only empty room so we could shower there. She offered free breakfast as an apology, but with my early start I couldn’t eat at 5am. So much for a restful night. I emailed the next day and heard nothing for over two weeks, so I followed up. The General Manager replied that it was an old hotel with old plumbing and the water drained more slowly than in a domestic system. This was far more than slow drainage. Leaving the water on any longer would have flooded the bathroom and the carpet just outside. That carpet was already damp from previous guests flooding it, and the whole room smelled damp. The shower in that room is totally unusable, so it shouldn’t be sold to guests. For what we paid, I expected hotel standards, not hostel standards that mean going elsewhere for a shower in the middle of the night.

The menu was limited, but the food was delicious. The room met and even exceeded my expectations. It felt cold on our first night, though to be fair it was -3. I went to reception, and within 10 minutes staff brought extra bedding and a portable heater just in case. Everyone was friendly and helpful, especially Lee and Ruban, who gave excellent customer service with a bit of scottish banter.

The castle view from my room was lovely, and the room itself was clean and spacious. I arrived around midnight after a very delayed flight, but the night warden (?) was still really kind and friendly, which I appreciated. It’s Scotland, so the cold wasn’t a surprise, but it’s worth keeping in mind. Such a pretty, cool hotel.