Orkney Hotel in Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, United Kingdom | Hotel

Welcome to the Orkney Hotel, Kirkwall, United Kingdom. The Orkney Hotel originally dates back to 1670 when local merchant John Richan built it as a family home. John’s family made their fortune from a long history of sea life, land ownership and litstering (dyeing). John’s uncle, Robert Richan, introduced John into the litster business, which became quite a successful enterprise. In addition to his status as merchant burgess of Kirkwall, John also served on the Session Court until his early death in 1679 at the age of 35. His sons continued the litster business, however, the family home was eventually sold as became an inn sometime in the 18th Century.

While sympathetically renovated, the building has retained most of its original features, including the remnants of the original entrance way known as Richan’s Arch, which can be seen to the left of the entrance to the Orkney Hotel.