The Nethercliffe Hotel

The Nethercliffe Hotel is one of the oldest buildings in Wick.

The original building dates from c1826, when an extension to the existing harbour was being built as Wick was growing into the busiest herring fishing port in the world. The ground was bought at auction in 1823 by John Kirk , then treasurer and, later, Provost of the Royal Burgh of Wick.

John Kirk (1785 - 1863) was a notable resident of the town. He was the first chairman of the Wick and Pulteneytown Chamber of Commerce and also Provost from 1833 - 1836. He was a merchant who had many properties in the town. He was a partner in the establishment of Pulteney distillery in 1827 and remained so for 25 years. Kirk's Lane which is along from the hotel is undoubtedly named after him and probably ran adjacent to property owned by him.
A portrait of him hangs in Wick Town Hall.

Another notable resident of the house was Dr Eric Sinclair who was using chloroform for operations during the 1850's shortly after James Young Simpson had pioneered the use of the gas as an anasthaetic.
He was great humanitarian and during the cholera outbreak in Wick in 1833 - 34 tended to the victims without charge.

The house remained a private dwelling called Montpelier House until 1935 when it was renamed Nethercliffe House.
In April 1940 a table license to sell alcohol was granted and the conversion to a hotel was complete. The business has been in the Hill family since 1964.

When the house was turned into a hotel many of the original internal features were lost, though there is cornicing in the reception area and owners' private lounge which is likely to be original. The cellars have changed little over the years and have flagstone floors.

In 1952 an adjacent building, a former butcher's shop and house, was annexed and converted into the function hall in use today, with letting rooms above.

There have been many internal alterations since, but the main external southern aspect has changed little since the 19th century.

• En-Suite Rooms
• Lounge Bar
• Private Garden
• Function Hall
• Home Cooked Meals
• Internet Access
• Off Road Parking
• Railway Station Five Minutes Walk
• One mile from airport