Dark Island Hotel, Benbecula

A large modern hotel built next door to the even larger and equally modern college/school/sports complex that serves this part of the Western Isles. There's a public bar with its own entrance round the back, but, ignorant of this fact, I went into the lounge bar through the central main entrance in front, and couldn't be bothered to change. The bar is quite pleasant, with upholstered banquettes in booths and alcoves, but the close presence of the banqueting-sized dining room gives a hint of what this place can be like when a couple of coach parties pull in - I would definitely have shifted to the other bar then. There's a solitary hand pump on the quite large and traditional wooden bar, but it had an air of neglect so I didn't get my hopes up. The barman confirmed that it's "just for show", but as further conversation with this individual elicited the fact that he had no idea of the origin or meaning of the terms 70/- and 80/- and the differences between them, I wouldn't place too much reliance on his assertion regarding the availability of real ale (local Camra says it is served here, but I would guess either only seasonally or it's been tried and dropped). There were no bottled beers either, which is doubly disappointing when one considers that Orkney Brewery makes a very good beer called Dark Island. I ended up with a pint of McEwans 80/-, which wasn't improved any by being served in a John Smiths glass.

Isles Hotel Group site - www.isleshotelgroup.co.uk

Isles Hotel Group site - www.isleshotelgroup.co.uk