Inverness riverside hotel and restaurant to be renamed under new plans lodged with Highland Council for former Strathness House Hotel and Tiger on the Wall eatery in Ardross Terrace on the banks of the River Ness
A mothballed riverside hotel and restaurant look set for a rebrand after plans were lodged with Highland Council.
Inverness’s Strathness House Hotel, and its popular on-site eatery Tiger on the Wall, are currently closed - although long gestating plans have been in the works to return them to use.
In recent months a host of planning applications for those Ardross Terrace businesses - and a nearby address earmarked for possible staff accommodation - have been working their way through the planning process.
And now, new advertising applications suggest they will be getting a notable rebrand when they finally reopen.
For artwork included in the new application shows signage for the Ambassador Hotel and a rebrand of the restaurant from Tiger on the Wall to its new title of Talk of the Town.
Separate applications have also been lodged seeking permission to install a range of floodlighting on the exterior of the building which will likely make it stand out on the riverside at night.
Describing the lighting, a supporting statement said: “The proposed façade lighting scheme for 3 & 4 Ardross Terrace is modest, respectful of the building’s character, and seeks to enhance its night-time presence within the conservation area. It contributes positively to the streetscape and has been developed in line with planning policies and conservation principles.”
Meanwhile, revised plans to turn a former bed-and-breakfast in nearby Kenneth Street into staff accommodation for the hotel are now working their way through the planning system.
Plans had originally been lodged at the turn of the year to build a new annexe containing staff accommodation at the former West End Guest House at 20-22 Kenneth Street, carry out some internal modifications of the existing building, and demolish outbuildings in the grounds at the rear of the site.
However, this was subsequently withdrawn, and has since been replaced with a new, revised proposal. Under the new plans, the rear outbuildings will again be demolished but a new smaller building will erected in the open space for use solely as a manager’s office, instead of additional staff accommodation as originally proposed.
The existing building meanwhile, would be modified internally to increase the number of bedrooms from eight to 13, for use by staff. A new conservatory extension would also be built on the rear for use as a staff lounge - the existing dining and other social space in the former B&B having been given over to the new bedroom layouts.
In a supporting statement lodged with the new application, the hotel’s agents Convery Prenty Shields, said: “The proposals seek to demolish all existing outbuildings/sheds located to the East boundary of the site. It is proposed to refurbish the existing building to provide updated dedicated staff accommodation for Strathness House Hotel.
“This accommodation is required to sufficiently staff the Strathness Hotel, restoring it to an operational hotel.
“The internal layout will be reconfigured to provide additional staff accommodation, a new conservatory to the rear will provide a new staff lounge area, and a new single storey outbuilding will provide a new office for the manager. The existing site access will be retained and the proposals will not affect any existing access rights or requirements.”
Describing the internal modifications of the existing building, they added: “The proposals will provide an additional two bedrooms on the ground floor, along with a reconfigured kitchen space, and new conservatory lounge and office outbuilding.
“The first floor will be slightly reconfigured to provide updated en-suites to the existing bedrooms. On the second floor, a dormer extension will allow stair access to the rooms above, with ensuites also proposed in these new bedrooms.”
However, despite the revised plans, there have been several local objections. These include concerns that the new office building will remove three of five car parking spaces at the rear, increasing the likelihood of more vehicles parking on Kenneth Street itself. Coupled with the increase in the number of bedrooms, they are worried this could lead to increased congestion on an already busy road.
They also raised concerns about the number of people who would be living and/or working on the site, with one objection saying: “Seventeen people may be using the proposed office. This number is highly excessive for a residential setting and would significantly increase noise levels, especially during working hours.”
The application has yet to be decided by Highland Council.
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