Stay, Eat, Drink, Discover……
Stay
Nestled on the shore of Loch Indaal in the heart of Bowmore, The Lochside is an Islay institution which has been warmly welcoming locals and visitors since 1884. Retaining its historic charm, this independently-owned inn now boasts 12 recently-refurbished cosy guest rooms, a bustling bar and a stunning restaurant and outdoor terrace overlooking Bowmore’s picturesque harbour and Loch Indaal.
Of course, Islay is known for its whisky distilleries but there is so much more to see and do on Islay, and The Lochside’s location in Bowmore makes it the ideal base for exploring all this beautiful island has to offer. And after an action-packed day there’s no better place to relax and unwind than The Lochside – a true home from home!
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Eat
Enjoy delicious food, wonderful wines and spectacular views of Loch Indaal and Bowmore harbour from The Lochside’s restaurant.
Designed to cater for all dining tastes and requirements, our menus showcase the abundance of local produce Islay and the surrounding area has to offer, with seafood naturally playing a starring role. Much of our seafood is supplied by local fishermen – from the fresh langoustines delivered straight to our kitchen door to stunning Islay scallops simply served in a caper butter sauce to let the beautiful seafood take centre stage.
And there’s a fresh, local flavour running throughout the rest of our menu, from Islay Ale-battered fish and chips or Islay venison steak to our ever-changing catch of the day or Bunnahabhain chocolate cake.
We also offer a fantastic vegan menu, and a great range of ‘wee plates’.
Drink
Islay is, of course, renowned for its whisky, and The Lochside, which is just a stone’s throw from Bowmore Distillery, is home to an incredible collection of over 300 bottles.
From the teenage spirit of Ardbeg’s Very Young to the mature flavours of a 42 year old Black Bowmore, The Lochside’s whisky range showcases the fascinating range of styles and flavours that makes Islay whisky so captivating. Our range also captures moments in time – from Bowmore 1979, created from whisky distilled in the 1950s and 1960s and released in 1979 to commemorate Bowmore Distillery’s bicentenary; to more recent Fèis Ìle releases and distillery exclusives.
The Lochside also boasts a great selection of gins, including local Islay gins Nerabus, Jukebox and The Botanist as well as Lussa from the neighbouring Isle of Jura; an excellent range of cold, crisp lagers and local beers; and a wonderful wine list!
Discover
Flowers and fishing boats, heritage and history – Islay is rich in things to do and see all year round.
With Bowmore virtually next door and Islay’s other distilleries all within easy reach, The Lochside is the perfect base for anyone looking to visit the island’s distilleries and everything else the beautiful Isle of Islay has to offer.
The hotel is 100m from Bowmore Distillery and its state-of-the-art visitor centre, the perfect place to start getting to grips with what makes Islay single malt singularly special.