An advertisement photograph of the Grange Hotel at 395 Great Western Road in around 1970.

Great Western Road is a primary route out of Aberdeen to Royal Deeside and the west. The street was originally mostly residential with large granite houses and individual mansions. Over time, some of these were turned into bed and breakfast establishments and hotels. The location provided holidaymakers with an excellent potential base for touring Deeside and the wider North East.

One such hotel, as shown here, was The Grange. For some years it had been a busy unlicensed hotel before renovation in 1971, which saw an extension to the dining room, new toilets, 5 new bedrooms and a car park.

The owner, Orcadian Magnus T. Spence, had acquired a licence and a new lounge bar was officially opened in November 1971 by Herbert W. Scott, general manager of North of Scotland Orkney and Shetland Shipping Co. Ltd., Aberdeen.

The bar, which could seat 70, was a popular meeting place for teachers, doctors and businessmen. The hotel, which had 11 bedrooms and could take 25 guests, was described as "warm and comfy" and having "the glow of hospitality".

Spence sold the property in 1972 and in the later 20th century it was known as the Edwardian Hotel. The building has since been converted back into private housing, with a significant extension to the rear, and now contains a number of flats.

Location

Ruthrieston

Keyword

Hotels

Photographer