Scotland’s Art Deco Heritage 21: Loch Lomond Hotel
Posted in Art Deco, Dumbarton at 13:00 on 1 October 2011
I took my photos of this over a year ago and have only just got around to posting them.
The Loch Lomond Hotel is in the village of Balloch which as its name suggests is at the foot of Loch Lomond. The loch is only five or so minutes from the hotel.
Balloch and Loch Lomond are only a few miles from Dumbarton.
This one shows the doorway with its nice rounded portico but the windows have been mucked about with.
These two old postcards show how it used to look. It seems once (in the 1960s, judging by the cars) to have had a pointed pediment above the doorway.
Edited to add:- some more of my photos of the hotel are on my flickr.
Tags: Art Deco, Balloch, Dumbarton, Loch Lomond, Loch Lomond Hotel
Martin McCallion
3 October 2011 at 12:56
Or “The Round Hotel”, as we always used to call it. Funny to note that, from your photos at least, the round (curved) section is far less dramatic than in my memories. Must have a look the next time I’m back up that way.
Also if I remember correctly, it’s not a hotel any more, but the “Lauderdale Apartments”, or some such, after Harry Lauder.
jackdeighton
3 October 2011 at 17:58
Yea,
It doesn’t say Loch Lomond Hotel on the frontage any more anyway.
As to the curvature, I couldn’t say.
Dolores Degan
11 October 2011 at 01:42
This old hotel was being worked on the last time I was back there. To the right and across the street was ……. McDonalds……I agree about the windows being mucked over. I wonder who the contractor was. Mmmmmmmm! Maybe the same one who mucked over the whole of Dumbarton.
jackdeighton
15 October 2011 at 12:06
Thanks for commenting, Dolores.
Sorry to be take so long to approve the comment and to reply. I’ve been away and without secure internet connection.
How long ago was the work being done? It certainly needed some attention last summer.
On my trip I have seen some good attempts to replicate the old deco window styles in new glazing, so it is possible.
Jack
Raymond Mason
26 November 2018 at 18:36
Hello
I was interested to see these pictures of the old hotel.
My grandfather, William Mason built it in the thirties and it was in the family until the mid fifties when it was sold to Scottish and Newcastle Breweries.
It used to be very popular in the forties with many well know jazz bands playing there. I recall a picture of my sister presenting Humphrey Littleton with flowers on his visit to the hotel.
We lived in Lomond Road so the hotel was always in our view from the house.
jackdeighton
26 November 2018 at 23:11
Raymond,
How great to hear from someone with a personal connection to the hotel and memories of its glory days. It was a great view you had from your house!
Thanks for looking in and commenting.
Bernard McKenna
22 January 2021 at 11:52
I used to drink in the Lomond Hotel in 1962 (I was 17!). I ran ‘the Powan’ snack bar further along the old Luss road. It was a tiny wee hut of a place owned by Patrick Telfer-Smollet but it had a large outside seating area. I closed at 6.00 in the evening and went for a couple of pints in the Lomond Hotel bar. I knew the barmen well and he’d come to The Powan for his afternoon tea break.
Beautiful building.
Happy memories.
Bernard McKenna
jackdeighton
22 January 2021 at 19:06
Bernard,
I’m glad to remind you of it.
Thanks for looking in and commenting.
Paul Dixon
5 June 2022 at 00:41
Hi Bernard, really interesting to hear you mention the Powan. I was always told that my Gran worked at the Powan “milk bar”. I wonder if you knew her?
Alan Renfrew
15 July 2023 at 11:37
I remember sneaking in there for a pint in 1980 when I was 17, on the way to the last real loch lomond festival. Beautiful building which will stay with me for the beauty and the memories.
jackdeighton
15 July 2023 at 18:27
Alan Renfrew,
Glad I brought those memories back for you.
Thanks for looking in and commenting.