Ardbeg whisky inspires bold new Islay retreat crafted by Tho…

You know how Ardbeg has always marched to its own beat? Well, their new hotel venture is no different. The distillery – now under the LVMH umbrella – has just opened Ardbeg House on Islay, and it’s exactly what you’d expect from the makers of that beautifully uncompromising dram The Times called “bold” and “modernist.”

They’ve taken the old Islay Hotel in Port Ellen and completely transformed it into a 12-bedroom retreat that’s apparently as characterful as the whisky itself. Thomas Johnstone Ltd handled the fit-out work, collaborating with Russell Sage Studio on the design, and by all accounts they’ve created something pretty special.

What caught my attention is the attention to detail in the guest rooms. TJL’s joinery team crafted all the furniture in-house – headboards, wardrobes, desks, bedside tables – across three room categories: House, Superior, and Premium. Each piece is designed to capture that distinctive Ardbeg spirit, which if you know the brand, means bold and unapologetically different.

Kevin Pick from Thomas Johnstone put it nicely: they’re honoring Ardbeg’s place in Islay’s story since 1815 while creating something for this next chapter. It’s not just about the rooms either – there’s a whisky cave (naturally), games area, courtyard bar, and a ground-floor restaurant, all built to showcase Islay’s rugged character while keeping things comfortable for visitors.

For those of us who’ve always appreciated how Ardbeg refuses to play it safe with their whisky, seeing them take the same approach to hospitality feels perfectly on-brand. The hotel’s already taking bookings if you fancy experiencing it firsthand.