About Us:
In an age of standardisation and uniformity, The Western Isles stands out as a grand old lady looking out imperiously from her headland over Tobermory village, harbour and bay to the Sound of Mull and mainland Scotland beyond, as she has done for nearly 150 years.
She has quite a history, having played an important role in the Second World War effort, then becoming a Forties film star before returning to her true metier of making her guests welcome, comfortable, and happy. Under our new local ownership, she combines classic charm with contemporary amenities, boasting modern en-suites in all rooms and the friendliest staff.
For those seeking a hotel of real character with spacious rooms, world-class views, elegance, comfort, and the best food that our amazing local larder can provide,
The Western Isles offers the warmest of welcomes.
History:
The Western Isles Hotel was built in 1883 and has seen more ups and downs than a small boat on a choppy sea. Construction began in 1882, When Building News reported that the prestigious 35-bedroom hotel would be dressed entirely in Red Freestone from the Isle of Arran and set on foundations of locally quarried Blue Whinstone. The article continued: "the whole cost of the works is not expected to exceed £1,500" (the cost of replacing the building today is put at £7 million). The hotel was built by Mr. Theophilus Caldwell Sandeman who was 21 years of age at that time. Between 1889 and 1901 it was operated by David MacBrayne Ltd, which later became Caledonian MacBrayne.
The Hotel served the great and the good visiting the Isle of Mull in the wake of Queen Victoria, Felix Mendelssohn and Dr Johnson throughout the late victorian era until the then owner, David MacBrayne, closed it down in 1901, after which it remained forlorn and empty until 1933. It's revival as a hotel was interupted by the Second World War when it was taken over by the British and Allied Forces under the command of Vice Admiral Sir Gilbert Stephenson KBE CB CMG, aka the Terror of Tobermory. There is a plaque in the Cameron Room commemorating the 200,000 British officers and sea men, who trained on Mull, before setting out on their escort vessels to protect convoys from Hitlers' U-boats in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.
In the 1940s it also played its part as the location for the classic film I Know Where I’m Going.
Since then there has been a succession of owners of "The Grand Old Lady", as the hotel has become known in recent times. Some treated her with tender loving care, one stripped her of most of her finery before selling her on, and some found her too high maintenance and turned a blind eye as her health began to fail.
James Wright, the current owner, grew up in Tobermory until aged 11. His father, a renowned baker and grocer on the island from 1952 to 1963, dreamt of owning the Western Isles Hotel but due to his early demise, his family left the island and this ambition is what led "Jimmy Wright" to train and become a Hotelier.
After 10 years in varying management roles for Grand Metropolitan/ Intercontinental hotels working in different London hotels and in Jordan, he then left to build up a residential property portfolio in London. Jimmy has now returned to his roots to restore "The Western" as he remembered it as a boy.