Lerwick Hotel, South Road, Lerwick, Shetland Review

lerwick hotel shetland review

One night in Lerwick

The Lerwick Hotel is not the prettiest of hotels from the outside, or inside at parts. It’s what I imagined a hotel designed for Cumbernauld would look like (I survived growing up there so I’m allowed to be cruel!).

Lerwick hotel Shetland review

Located on the sea-shore on the outskirts of Lerwick. The best feature of the hotel is the view out to the North Sea. Stunning – actually very scary waves can be seen from your room as it was wet and windy when we visited.

Lerwick hotel Shetland

Checking in was easy but staff did seem a bit disinterested and bored. The hotel was a bit ghost-like at this time of year so they probably didn’t have much to do.

Lerwick hotel Shetland

Past the howling wind that could be heard in the connecting room, down some dull corridors to our room to the night.




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Room

Small and dated sums the bedroom up. I was expecting the in-room tea set to be “eternal beau“!

Lerwick hotel Shetland review

WiFi, hospitality tray, TV and the thinnest and most incidental notepad I’ve ever seen – it looked like the remains of a takeaway order pad, possibly left by a previous guest!  However, this was overtaken in the wow stakes by the used hairbrush beside the hairdryer in the drawer!

Lerwick hotel Shetland review

 




Bathroom

It looked like some money had recently been spent on the bathroom. New Lino, toilet, shower and a really small bath, which I struggled to fit lengthwise into, and I’m a shorty! It was the most uncomfortable bath I’ve had in a while but at least you had the option I suppose.

Lerwick hotel Shetland review

After a day out exploring Lerwick we returned to our room late so decided on sharing fish and chips from room service. We weren’t expecting much…




Food

But it was actually pretty good: two pieces of fairly fluffy, non-soggy fish with a crisp batter and what looked like proper chippy chips! The tartare sauce seemed to be just salad cream with some gherkins chopped in it – personally, I like the vinegary taste of salad cream so this was OK and not just the pretend tartare sauce served up which is all mayonnaise.

Lerwick hotel Shetland review

The peas came with bacon and onions  and again tasted good. We were pleasantly surprised, considering the quick service, on the quality received. We ordered a pint of beer too, and they had one ale from the Valhalla brewery on cask (Simmer Dim). Sadly it wasn’t great, Mr Foodie reckons this is the weakest beer they brew.

The wind picked up, and we could hear it passing through the building. So maybe not the best of sleep overnight.




Breakfast

Next morning it was time to try out breakfast. A selection of cereals and fruit, fruit juices, some ham and cheese plus teas.

The hot breakfast selection was limited with fried items, a selection of eggs and grilled kipper. However, all were cooked to order with the kipper and poached egg tasty.

Lerwick hotel Shetland review

Lerwick hotel Shetland review

Lerwick hotel Shetland review

Lerwick hotel Shetland review

 

Lerwick hotel Shetland review

The Lerwick Hotel seems like a hotel primarily for those working on Shetland – just don’t expect a long soak at the end for your shift! The rooms are small, dated and the whole atmosphere is that of a place to lay your head and not much more.

Lerwick hotel Shetland library review

You might want to read a book as there’s a “library” (shown above) and shoe polisher available in the common areas. A one night B&B stay for two people cost us £89, making it cheaper than anywhere else we saw in Lerwick. The room service meal cost an additional £17.60.

The historic Broch of Clickimin (FREE entry, open all year), a Tesco supermarket and fjara cafe restaurant bar, Lerwick are all a mere 10 minute walk away. Lerwick town centre is only a 10-minute walk in the opposite direction.

The Lerwick hotel Lerwick Shetland review
View from hotel grounds © Foodie Explorers

TL;DR

+ view of the sea
+ room service surprisingly decent
+ breakfast was decent
+ walking distance to town centre/sights of interest
+ cheapest hotel we found in Lerwick

– staff seem distant
– dinky rooms
– small bath
– dated look
– woodlouse wandering about lost in our room

The Lerwick Hotel
15 South Road
Lerwick
ZE1 0RB

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Emma

Emma

Hello!

I am Emma and with my husband Mark write Foodie Explorers, which is a food and travel website.

I am a member of the Guild of Food Writers and British Guild of Travel Writers.

We have a wide range of judging experience covering products, hotels and have judged, for example, for Great Taste Awards and Scottish Baker of the Year.

Along the way Mark gained WSET Level 2 in Wine and I have WSET Level 2 in Spirits as well as picking up an award with The Scotsman Food and Drink Awards.    

Usually I can be found sleeping beside a cat.

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