The Northern Hotel is one of Aberdeen's Art Deco landmarks, an original and familiar presence, that I'd previously taken for granted as it had poor kerb appeal.
The belated decision to pay a visit to this hotel,had been made for me as I had an invite to a function there.

I had pre-booked my room stipulating that I required a quiet room with a decent shower and gave my card details some weeks previously.
Therefore upon arrival I was somewhat put off by the demand that I pay upfront and the signing of a non-smoking policy especially as I'm a non-smoker. These requests are un-necessary and give quite a seedy impression to any prospective guests.

My partner was already grumpy about the lack of car parking facilities and having to leave his car on street,so judging at face value things did not bode well.

Our room was a pleasant surprise,clean and spacious with secondary glazing to cut out traffic noise There is some traffic noise and you can hear the plumbing from other rooms but bear in mind this is a GRADE A Listed building,so the owners will have onerous restrictions placed on them regarding double glazing and insulation.
This was a minor inconvenience but considering the reasonable price charged,it was a pleasant surprise, a clean and traditional Scottish hotel that was excellent value.

One of the group who was severely inconvenienced by the lift use policy where the lift is not used between the hours of midnight and 7am were generously compensated,nothing was too much bother to the management,so brownie points there.

Our function took place in a charming room, festooned with thousands of twinkling little lights that emphasised the central oval in the ceiling, newly decorated with tiny bluebirds in true Deco style. None of the characterless decor found in many more upmarket hotels could be found here.

The tables were neatly set with crisp white Damask table linen but I would have avoided the silver candalabra as it had a whiff of the jilted Miss Haversham and her ghostly wedding feast as described by Charles Dickens.

Our meal was plain and hearty,consisting of lentil soup or melon fan,followed by a choice of 3 roasts (tender beef,succulent pork or turkey) at the carvery and a help yourself buffet of pigs in blankets,skirlie,piping hot roast potatoes,new potatoes,mashed turnip and cabbage(should have offered carrots,broccolli or peas as the choice of cabbage and turnip, though tasty, always reminds one of school food!).
The pudding was honeycomb ice cream in a brandy snap basket or a light cheese cake.
The food was not frivolous, but it was tasty.

Excellent service was provided from the waiting staff under the beady eye of the owner who was an amusing M.C.

The breakfast was a hot buffet of fried eggs,bacon,tattie scones,black pudding,beans,mushrooms and Lorne sausage,the quality of which needs to be improved even it means adding on a few pounds to the bill.
But the choice of assorted yoghurts,fresh fruit salad,prunes,grapefruit and a choice of cereals and fruit juices were more than satisfactory.

In these straightened times,don't let the exterior of the Northern Hotel fool you,come in and give it a try.

When I arrived, I was greeted by a very friendly receptionist. The hotel had a dated look about it, but nevertheless my room was very comfortable with a sofa, double bed, and large bathroom with a tub. This was all with a booking for a single room. I had a nice meal in the restaurant/bar, and they served me beer in the bar long after I was told it would be closed. There is also free wifi here. I asked for a late check-out and they gave me one without hesitation. You could hear some noise from the event going on, but not much, and ear-plugs make it go away.

Myself and my husband had our wedding reception at the Northern last week. Every thing and everybody were fantastic. Our weddng was quite large (around 100 to meal) however every one was treated as individuals and there were many nice touches. Nothing was too much for the staff.
Guests occupied over 20 rooms in the hotel and apartments and all were impressed. Breakfasts were great and the carvery is really not to be missed.
Overal we had a great time and hope to return many times during our married lives.

A room all the guests could have a meal together the night before the wedding, very nice and helpful staff, great food and wine. Rooms worked very well, grandchildren running down corridor from one room to other (safely) for extra sleep for Mum and Dad, before everyone going to breakfast, all family and friends took over the apartments which were very comfortable/clean/and spacious plus about 10 rooms in the hotel, so we can say our family enjoyed all the facilities of the Northern hotel, and the owner was very often around, quietly and efficiently making sure all was done properly a very nice chap, we used the bus for collecting from airport and our return journey, taken care of from 1st to last. When we are up in Aberdeen again we will be going there for lunch or evening meal, as it is around the corner from our Son and Daughter-in-law, they always use the hotel for functions and their parents before them. So the standard has obviously been carried down through the owners. Well done. Sheila and Don Smith.