I don't understand all the negative reviews of this hotel. The rooms were wonderful, the view amazing, the service very helpful and the food lovely. Can't ask for more really. I stayed there for a night with my father in two single rooms. One of these was amazing (possibly in deference to dad's age), but the one I stayed in, which I assume was a standard room, was great too. Yes the hotel looks awful from the outside, but that's hardly a major concern. As soon as you get in it is wonderful. Its quite expensive (we booked it as part of a travel package with Leasks, so didn't find out the exact place), but the facilities and standard are more than up to scratch.

The dismay starts when you walk into the lobby and inhale a musty, unclean smell. This odour is not exclusive to the lobby area, mind - if anything it grows more pungent once inside the hotel room. It has possibly not had a thorough clean since it was last decorated. In 1983. The light in my cheap lino-adorned bathroom didn't work and the bed looked as though it had seen better days (presumably in the crack-den it formally inhabited). I did momentarily stop to wonder what the locked door in my room concealed, but found no clue at this point.

The restaurant offers little respite from the gloom inherent in every corner of this building. I ordered a pint of Stella Artois, which was the best of a bad bunch of lagers - a bunch in this case being two - the other was Tennants. It was off. Or, given the ineptitude of the staff, possibly just Tennants. The mushroom soup was edible, but lukewarm, the club sandwich was warm but inedible and the chips tasted like they'd been lifted out of a bin around the back of a a greasy-spoon. Escapism couldn't even be found on the Internet as the wifi didn't seem to reach beyond the lobby (possibly avoiding the worst of the smell).

Later, whilst trying to get to sleep, I found out where the mysterious locked door lead to. Apparently it leads straight to the bloke in the room next door who snored and kept me awake all night. A snoring guest may well be considered to be outside of the control of the hotel, but the separation of the rooms clearly is not and a door with all the insulative properties of sheet of paper probably isn't the best barrier to erect between guests.

The one positive that I'll take from my stay at the Lerwick hotel is that I'll never have to go through it again.

Stayed here for one night on business. Paid £95 for single room including breakfast. Although obviously some effort and money has been spent on modernising, it seems that this has not been done throughout, hence there is a slighted dated feel about the place - if I had to be precise about that date, I would say the 1970's. Some very odd things, like a flat screen TV and a modernised bathroom, but no duvet on the best - just a cotton sheet and a scratchy blanket, which I was worried about in case i rolled over too quickly in the night and gave myself a static shock. Reception staff reasonably friendly. Great view from the room. Biggest dissappointment was breakfast - I sincerely hope the management read these reviews - for £95 a night, they are putting themselves in the same price bracket as a decent 4* hotel in Edinburgh or Glasgow. To serve up a "traditional Scottish breakfast" on a cold plate, with one sausage, once slice of bacon and some just warm toast really isnt good enough. Visitors from other parts of Scotland, and more importantly foreign tourists want and deserve more. Trust me, this wasnt a "traditional Scottish breakfast" by any stretch of the imagination. Please to god, anyone staying here from other parts of the world - it gets much better than this. Improve your standards, or lower your prices (and customers expections). Overall - distinctly average.

We had a most enjoyable stay at the Lerwick Hotel and as soon as we stepped through the front door we were greeted by very friendly, smiling reception staff who seemed to continue smiling all of the time as did the other staff in whatever capacity they were employed.

The food was wonderful with a great variety of choices whatever the time of day. The outside of the building gives the wrong impression as to the decor inside. We had two very quiet seaview rooms which was great as we watched with interest the many activities of the birds and seals. The view of the lighthouse on the Isle of Bressay was very impressive and so were all of the cruise liners that sailed into port.

The bathrooms could have been slightly bigger but then who spends much of their time in this area but the towels and toiletries were second to none and the bedrooms were exceptionally clean and tidy throughout.

We hired a car and travelled extensively around the island and one day took the ferry to Bressay which certainly was an adventure.

Three cheers to all the staff at the Lerwick Hotel and hopefully we shall return one day.