Sneak peek of what the inside of a new Inverness city centre hotel is going to look like
Here’s what the inside of one of the city’s next hotels is set to look like when it finally opens on summer 2026.
Despite Bridge House in Church Street still having window art stating it was expected to open in 2020, work on the premises is now going to be making progress once again.
Delays due to the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis pumped up the estimated cost of the 72-bedroom project.
KIN is the brainchild of Tony Story, the owner of Kingsmills Hotel and Ness Walk.
“We are very excited about it,” he said. “It’s going to be very different from what we offer at the Kingsmills and Ness Walk.
“The design is very good that will fit for this city centre project.”
The increase in costs have soared by millions of pounds due to inflation, so the plans have changed slightly from the original design.
Work on the former council service point will include replacing the roof and putting in an extra floor.
Mr Story believes its 72 rooms are sustainable in a difficult market.
He also hopes the city centre location will not just pull in leisure travellers, but business travellers too.
“With the Green Freeport announcement and the growth of other industries we hope to see more business travellers coming,” he said.
Mr Story believes that it is still a prime location for a hotel, despite occupancy rates in August being down by 10-12 per cent across the city.
Highland Council’s planning portal reads: “This prominent Highland Council office block in Inverness is to be converted into a hotel by Patio Hotels to meet growing accommodation demand in the city.
“The unloved Church Street block occupies a prime city centre spot but is in need of extensive refurbishment, converting existing office space to hotel rooms and adding an additional upper storey, recessed from the street.
“Proposed work will see window sill levels lowered to maximise views and light with a new staggered façade finished in porcelain rainscreen with light grey cladding panels used for the upper level extension.
“The project will transform this key corner at the junction of Church Street and Bank Lane and augment the growing hotel accommodation required to meet the needs of the expanding tourism market in the city and wider Highland area.”
According to Hotelchains.com there are currently 45 hotels in Inverness, with plans for the former Ironworks to also be converted into a hotel and another to be built on the site of the now-demolished smaller Rose Street car park.
However, the last year has seen a decrease in occupancy rates, with 9,542 fewer visitors in the city in August this year compared to the same month in 2023. In August there were 68,299 guests, compared to 77,841 at the same time in 2023.
Speaking about the addition of KIN hotel to the city centre, Inverness BID co-chairman Colin Craig, of Oil & Vinegar, said: “This is great news. As well as providing much-needed quality accommodation for visitors to Inverness, this considerable investment will see a key city centre building being revitalised.”
Colin Marr, chief executive of Inverness Chamber of Commerce, commented: “Inverness consistently attracts more tourists than most cities of its size, so we welcome this new offering from Patio Hotels, led by tourism industry expert and business leader, Tony Story.
“We know from Tony’s other hotels in Inverness – the Kingsmills and Ness Walk – that we can expect the highest quality from his newest venture. The addition of premium accommodation will enhance our capacity to attract high-end visitors, adding to the appeal of our city.
“In recent years, we’ve seen remarkable progress in revitalising the River Ness and City Centre areas. With the highly anticipated Inverness Castle Experience set to open in 2025, Inverness is well-positioned to strengthen its role as the gateway to the Highlands.”
