Stornoway, Castle Street58.208358,-6.390465(Show on Map)
7.6
Good
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+5 Photos
+ 3 Photos3
Checkin - Checkout dates
1 Room2 Guests
Info
Summary of reviews
The Crown Inn in Stornoway is celebrated for its exceptional location, situated centrally with easy access to the ferry terminal, surrounding restaurants, shops and the serene Lews Castle grounds. Many rooms offer superb views of the harbor and castle, making it a favored choice for guests wanting to explore the town and islands. The hotel also provides convenient parking, enhancing the overall accessibility.
Guests frequently commend the hotel for its breakfast, noting the diversity and quality of options, including a delightful mix of continental and cooked choices starting as early as 5:30 am for early risers. The breakfast experience is further enhanced by the picturesque view from the dining area and the friendly, professional service.
The restaurant at The Crown Inn earns high praise for its high-quality food, especially the outstanding pizzas and burgers. Despite being slightly pricey, the dining experience offers good value with a varied menu catering to vegetarians and gluten-free diets. The inviting atmosphere overlooking the harbor, efficient service and availability of a cozy pub and lounge bar contribute to memorable meals, although temporary closures have occasionally disappointed guests.
Room feedback is mixed with many guests appreciating their cleanliness, comfort and functionality. Family rooms receive high marks for their size and comfort, but individual rooms, though clean, are often described as small and in need of refurbishment. Issues such as dated furnishings and minor maintenance problems have been noted. Public areas, however, are well-decorated and inviting.
Cleanliness is a strong point with numerous reviews highlighting the spotless condition of rooms and public areas. Guests appreciate the hotel's dedication to maintaining a hygienic environment, though minor issues like exterior stains were mentioned.
The Crown Inn staff are frequently praised for their friendliness, helpfulness and professional conduct with several staff members receiving special mentions for their exceptional service. The accommodating and welcoming nature of the staff significantly enhances the guest experience.
Free Wi-Fi is available but often criticized for its inconsistent reliability and speed, particularly in bedrooms. Some guests find it necessary to move to communal areas to access a more stable connection.
The Crown Inn is noted for its family-friendly atmosphere, offering spacious family rooms that comfortably accommodate larger groups and even pets. The hotel’s dog-friendly policies receive commendations with amenities like water bowls, treats and specific dog-friendly rooms contributing to a welcoming environment for pet owners.
Overall, The Crown Inn provides a comfortable, welcoming stay with excellent food, a central location and friendly staff, though improvements in room updates and Wi-Fi connectivity would enhance the experience further.
Categories
Dog Friendly
The Crown Inn stands out for its dog-friendly facilities and services, ensuring both guests and their canine companions feel welcomed and well-cared for. The staff's dedication to accommodating dogs is evident with many reviews noting how well both they and their pets were looked after.
Free Wi-Fi
The Crown Inn features free Wi-Fi and is a family-run hotel and pub in a central location. It offers comfortable rooms and convenient access to the internet.
Small
Offers pet-friendly accommodations and is centrally located in Stornoway. It is known for its delicious pub food.
Family
Room Types
Single RoomThis single room has a tea/coffee maker and free WiFi.
Double RoomThis double room features a tea/coffee maker and free WiFi.
Family Room with Shared BathroomThis family room has a tea/coffee maker and free WiFi.
Guest Reviews
7.6
Good
Review Summaries
Location
The Crown Inn boasts an excellent and central location that's highly praised by guests for its convenience and accessibility. Situated right in the heart of Stornoway, this hotel is just steps away from the ferry terminal, making it an ideal choice for travellers arriving by sea. The hotel's proximity to restaurants, shops and the picturesque Lews Castle grounds enhances its appeal.
Guests frequently highlight the superb views of the harbour and castle from certain rooms, adding to the charm of their stay. Many appreciate how easy it is to explore the town and tour the surrounding islands from this central hub. The convenience of parking and close access to the ferry terminal are specific advantages that make the Crown Inn an optimal base for both short visits and extended stays.
Overall, the Crown Inn's great location, combined with its friendly staff and budget-friendly pricing, makes it a perfect choice for visitors wanting to experience the best of Stornoway.
Breakfast
The Crown Inn consistently impresses guests with its extensive and high-quality breakfast offerings. Many highlight the plethora of choices, especially praising the range of continental and cooked options available. The continental breakfast, included with the booking, frequently receives praise for its rich selection of fresh fruits, yogurts, cereals, smoked salmon, croissants and toast, ensuring a satisfying start to the day. Early risers catching ferries appreciate the hotel’s provision of an early breakfast service, starting as early as 5:30 am.
Guests also commend the breakfast buffet's variety and freshness, often describing it as phenomenal, fabulous and exceptionally good. The inclusion of fresh fruit and the availability of both hot and cold dishes add to the positive feedback. The view from the breakfast area, particularly overlooking Stornaway harbor, enhances the dining experience for many.
Service during breakfast receives positive remarks, noted for being friendly and professional. Several guests enjoy the hearty portions, high-quality food and accommodating nature of the staff. While a few guests found certain aspects to be average or disappointing, the majority of reviews reflect a favorable experience, underscoring The Crown Inn’s reputation for delivering an excellent breakfast spread. Overall, the breakfast at The Crown Inn is described as a significant highlight of the stay, offering a flavorful and diverse selection to suit various tastes and dietary requirements.
Dinner
The Crown Inn impresses with its dining options, drawing rave reviews for its high-quality food and varied menu. Guests found the food in the restaurant to be excellent with a special nod to the magnificent pizzas and outstanding burgers. The varied menu caters well to vegetarians and those requiring gluten-free options, such as the highly recommended gluten-free pizza.
Despite being a little on the pricey side, the restaurant is considered to provide good value for money. Its charming atmosphere with views overlooking the harbour, adds to the dining experience. Diners enjoyed the fast service and the friendly, accommodating staff, making meals memorable even for those traveling with pets.
The bustling restaurant tends to be busy, but guests appreciated the thoughtful reservation process and the availability of a cozy pub and lounge bar for a more relaxed setting. Additionally, the variety extends from the main meals to the inclusive breakfast, where items like the Cullen Skink and sausages were particularly praised.
Though disappointingly closed on a couple of occasions, the restaurant overall is celebrated for its excellent, tasty and well-presented dishes, making The Crown Inn a highly recommended dining destination for visitors.
Rooms
The Crown Inn has garnered a mix of feedback regarding its rooms. Generally, many guests found the rooms to be clean and comfortable with some even describing them as cosy, warm and well-maintained. The family rooms, in particular, received high praise for their size and comfort, being deemed excellent and spacious enough for groups.
However, a common theme across the reviews is the small size of the individual rooms and bathrooms. Despite being compact, the rooms are noted for being very tidy and equipped with comfortable facilities, including being well-stocked with tea and coffee. Some guests appreciated the rooms’ functionality and appreciated specific features like nice showers and comfortable bedding.
Criticism tended to focus on the dated and worn furnishings with some rooms showing signs of wear and tear requiring refurbishment and repair. Issues such as a collapsed ceiling, lack of amenities like shower gel or shampoo and minor maintenance problems like room locks nearly coming off also surfaced in the feedback.
The inn’s decor split opinion; while public areas were decorated to a high standard, room interiors were sometimes described as tired and in need of a refresh. Additionally, some rooms experienced noise disturbances from the outside traffic and were unusually warm, especially given the lack of air conditioning.
Conclusively, while the rooms at The Crown Inn are generally clean, comfortable and functional, there are areas that could benefit from improvement, primarily concerning room size and updating the furnishings.
Beds
The beds at The Crown Inn receive a mix of opinions, but the majority of guests highlight their comfort. Many reviews consistently mention comfortable, very comfortable and really comfy beds, suggesting that overall, guests tend to sleep well. Specific mentions of warm and clean accommodations bolster this perception of comfort. Some reviews point out small or less-than-ideal conditions, noting that a few beds are too small or of poor quality and some mattresses could use an upgrade. Despite these occasional drawbacks, the predominant sentiment is that the beds provide a pleasant and restful experience. The friendly staff and added touches like a complimentary continental breakfast contribute to a generally positive stay. In summary, while there are areas for improvement, the comfort of the beds at The Crown Inn leaves a favorable impression on most guests.
Cleanliness
The Crown Inn has received high praise for its cleanliness from numerous guests. Visitors frequently comment on the well-maintained and spotless conditions of both the rooms and public areas. Many reviews highlight the rooms as exceptionally clean and comfortable with particular praise for the bathrooms being quite new and pristine. The hotel’s dedication to cleanliness extends to well-maintained rooms and public areas, ensuring a pleasant and hygienic environment for guests. Additionally, rooms are not only clean but also tastefully decorated with practical amenities such as shower gel and shampoo, adding to the positive experience. A few mentions of minor issues, such as stains on paintwork and the building's exterior needing attention, do not overshadow the generally excellent standards of cleanliness and comfort that guests consistently appreciate.
Staff
The reviews for The Crown Inn consistently highlight the exemplary service provided by its staff. Guests frequently describe the hotel team as obliging, pleasant and extremely helpful. The reception staff, in particular, were noted for their friendliness and politeness, making check-ins smooth and welcoming. Individuals such as Tom and Veronica received special commendation for their outstanding assistance, showing that the hotel's personal touch does not go unnoticed.
Guests appreciated the staff's accommodating nature and noted their flexibility and willingness to go above and beyond. The hotel service was deemed efficient with every team member contributing to a genuinely pleasant experience. Reviews also emphasized the welcoming atmosphere with nothing being too much trouble for the dedicated staff. Additionally, guests found the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff to be a significant aspect of their stay, contributing to a sense of hospitality and comfort.
Overall, The Crown Inn's staff are recognized for their kindness, attentiveness and professional conduct. Their dedication to guest satisfaction shines through, affirming that the staff truly make the hotel a delightful place to stay.
Wi-Fi
The Crown Inn provides free Wi-Fi for its guests, but feedback on its performance indicates there are areas needing improvement. Guests have noted that Wi-Fi access is available, but it often falls short in terms of reliability and speed. Issues such as poor connectivity, slow speeds and difficulty connecting, particularly in the bedrooms, are recurring themes. Some guests mentioned that they had to move to shared lounge areas to access the internet, as upstairs zones were particularly lacking in coverage. Although the service is free, it seems to suffer from frequent interruptions and technical hiccups, making it less ideal for those who depend on a consistent internet connection during their stay. Despite these challenges, the hotel strives to provide some level of internet access through various methods, even if it means navigating the Sky Cloud login process.
Family
The Crown Inn offers a beneficial location for those needing ferry connections, making it a convenient choice for traveling families. Guests have commented positively on the comfortable and well-sized family rooms. Many appreciated the spaciousness and considered it great value with some even noting the extra room for dogs, adding to the overall family-friendly atmosphere. Despite a few remarks on the need for paint or storage improvements, the clean and sizeable family rooms have left a positive impression on guests seeking comfortable and accommodating lodging for their family stay.
Dog Friendly
The Crown Inn stands out for its dog-friendly facilities and services, ensuring both guests and their canine companions feel welcomed and well-cared for. The staff's dedication to accommodating dogs is evident with many reviews noting how well both they and their pets were looked after. The inn provides thoughtful amenities such as water bowls and treats, adding an extra touch that many pet owners appreciate. Dogs are welcomed in various areas, including the bar and during breakfast, making it convenient for guests to keep their pets close.
The environment is consistently described as dog-friendly with guests highlighting the spacious family rooms and cozy accommodations. Specific rooms are available to cater to dogs, enhancing the experience for pet owners looking for suitable lodgings. The overall atmosphere is one of inclusion and warmth with many guests noting how their pets were not only accepted but were made to feel as comfortable as they were. The Crown Inn takes pride in creating a pet-friendly environment, ensuring a pleasant stay for all its visitors.
FAQ
No, The Crown Inn doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at The Crown Inn.
Yes, The Crown Inn welcomes dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at The Crown Inn.
