The Shaftesbury Hotel is within five minutes of arterial roads north and south. Within easy walking distance of Dundee’s centre, main shopping area and most of its attractions the hotel made an ideal base. A former Jute Baron's mansion converted to a tasteful town house hotel it was perfectly suited to my purpose of exploring the city’s history. At one time called Juteopolis, Dundee had 50,000 employed in the jute industry.
The owner Dennis Smith on discovering that I had an interest in the building enthusiastically showed me around. All together the hotel has 12 rooms on three floors. Many rooms gave good views over the Firth of Tay. Some of the original features still exist, so the property keeps its essential character. A huge white marble fireplace dominates what was the Drawing Room and is now part of the restaurant. Room one contains a black marble Victorian fireplace. Period pieces tucked away in the building include the original ceramic fuse boxes and the system for communication with the domestic staff.
All the rooms are roomy, individually furnished and with different architectural features. Room 12, the Honeymoon Suite on floor three, is the largest. This room was the Billiard Room, and has the most wonderful Gothic window. It gives the occupants views over Dundee and the River Tay.
Strangely few of the rooms had showers installed. I found it a new experience to run a bath in the mornings for a quick shower is more my style. A bath though is great for getting rid of aches and pains in preparation for the day ahead. Each room has a television, radio and telephone installed.
A full Scottish breakfast can be had which includes juice, cereals and bacon, eggs, sausages, and black pudding. It prevents hunger pangs from returning for most of the day though it is thirst inducing. I’m sure it is full of cholesterol, which makes it a wonderful meal for those who wish to live dangerously.
My wife and I were there on St Valentines Day, which proved a mistake. We had booked the hotel on the Internet and hadn’t given the owner time to warn us the restaurant would be fully booked on this special day. Rather a pity for the hotel prides itself on the quality of its restaurants meals. Not to worry we managed to book a table in an Italian Restaurant elsewhere.
The bar on the ground floor being only available to residents and restaurant guests was intimate and quiet. Overall we were happy with the hotel though some of the wallpaper seemed dated in design and car parking was out in the street.
If you want a hotel with character it is well worth a visit.