Famous Argyll hotel celebrates 250 years – award-winning pub, restaurant and boutique hotel has new owners
Stepping through the doors of The George Hotel in Inveraray is truly stepping back into history.
It may share its founding year with America’s declaration of independence, but whilst 250 years ago America was struggling to bring some order to a chaotic and violent place, customers at The George Hotel were enjoying comfortable rest, refined dining, good ales and excellent hospitality for themselves and their animals.
This Georgian gem – which was owned and run by the same family for seven generations – now has new owners, who are putting their hearts and their souls into not only keeping all of its unique character and charm – but giving it a little extra polish too.
“We’re back, and The George is as good, if not better, than ever,” says co-owner Sam Wignell. He’s is delighted that they have picked up two Highly Commended Awards in the 2026 Innis and Gunn Prestige Awards for Best Country Hotel and Best Historic Hotel.
If you’re a local or have been a regular at The George, you’ll be pleased to see everything you love preserved – and if you’ve never stepped inside, well now is the time to discover what you’ve been missing.
The George gives a meal or a stay a sense of occasion, but also a sense of fun. We’ve thought everything through very carefully, from the food suppliers we work with to the finishing touches, tableware and overall guest experience
A ‘hidden’ gem
With an address of 1, Main Street, it’s hard to argue The George is exactly hidden, but still it’s easy to have driven past without knowing just what you’re missing – you really have to step through that unimposing front door to discover its treasure.
Built originally as two houses it is part of the main terrace of properties in this neat, planned town. Once inside you are immediately immersed in its history, its warmth, ambiance and welcome. Stone floors worn shiny with the constant foosteps of centuries of weary travellers’, or locals popping in for a pint and a blether; small square paned Georgian windows allowing a glimpse into other rooms, roaring fires, low beams twinkling with lights, and an eclectic mix of polished wood tables and chairs.
There are 24 individually styled rooms and suites over three floors. A glorious staircase and the pictures on the walls showcase the hotel’s history and characters associated with it. There is a contemporary but sympathetically designed extension at the back, with a high beamed ceiling making a light and airy breakfast and dining room. And in the summer, the outdoor area – complete with cover and patio heaters – offers an extra space for making the most of glorious days and evenings.
Celebrating 250 years
There are various events planned to celebrate the hotel’s quarter of a century – keep checking the website and socials for details – and the outdoor space will host live music events for bank holiday weekends at the end of May and August and again in September.
The clientele can be as diverse as the town itself. A local family, fisherman or farmer could be sitting next to a table of American whisky tourists, a regular will say hello when you approach the bar. Despite this being a seriously comfortable boutique hotel, the initial vibe is a warm and welcoming pub, which does great food and great service – and has rooms too!
Food, glorious food
Best-selling dishes on the menu here are fish and chips, steak pie, beef burger and venison burger. This is quality gastro pub grub and you won’t go home disappointed or hungry. But there’s also fine dining, fresh fish and daily specials including the seafood which Loch Fyne is famous for. Your haggis bon bons will come with a home-made brown sauce (is that a smoky Islay whisky we can taste in there?) and quality produce is where it all starts.
We obsess about the product and sourcing the best we can buy. When we chose our meat supplier we did a blind tasting of samples from six different local butchers so that we chose from what was the best tasting, regardless of the cost.
New owners – same spirit
The George was famously run by the Clark family for seven generations until 2025, when it was bought by Sam Wignell and Charlie Maclachlan, after a brief period in administration – a state Sam knows struck fear into the hearts of The George’s legions of loyal customers, who feared it would be lost.
But on the auspicious date of the Glorious Twelfth – August 12, 2024 – Sam and his cousin Charlie started a new chapter in The George’s history.
“There is so much love for this hotel,” says Sam, who is a local Loch Fyne man and has known The George and its owners and clients for most of his life. The two are part of local history – you’ll find Maclachlan ancestors buried all over this part of Argyll. But, whilst they both love the building and all that it stands for, this has not been a sentimental journey.
“We’ve not just done this from a sense of nostalgia,” says Sam, who has a strong career in the hospitality industry behind him. The two want to maintain The George’s popularity for both locals and tourists, for special events, live music most Friday and Saturday evenings, or just a weekend drink.
“That spirit runs through everything we do,” says Sam. “You might have a couple celebrating over lobster, Chateaubriand and a great bottle of wine sitting beside two young people on a first date enjoying burgers and mac and cheese — and before long they’re chatting together. That’s the kind of atmosphere The George creates.”
It’s these little touches, the extra polish here and there, quality napkins or flowers on the table, that have elevated the whole place and make you feel looked after, without being fussed over.
The fantastic bar –with over 500 whiskies to choose from – is a treat in itself. Then there are the specialist gins and beers, an interesting, and inexpensive, wine choice from renowned suppliers Corney and Barrow – you won’t find these bottles in your local supermarket but you might be pleasantly surprised by what you pay.
Sam says he knew everything was coming together the first night the restaurant had every table full, half of them local Argyll folk and half tourists or visitors.
“There was just a lovely buzz, so I called the team together and said ‘this is it, this is the night’, and it was, everyone was on top of their game, the whole service went brilliantly and it’s carried on.”
What’s new at The George
There is no major restructuring or building work here. The outside has a new paint job, some underused areas – such as near the toilets – now boast a welcoming seating area complete with umbrellas and walking sticks.
Always dog friendly, canine guests here get their own toys and even a doggy menu, children too get special treatment with their own sets of toiletries and a highland coo teddy. Kids can even make their own waffles at breakfast time, although Sam says the grown-ups tend to want to do that too!
“We are looking forward and want The George to now be in our family for the next 250 years,”
Check out the Hotel’s new website to find out more, check out the menus and book a table or a stay.