Excerpts from issue 54/02 31 October 2026
Port Charlotte Hotel sold
Port Charlotte Hotel has been sold to Mike Clark, also the new owner of Islay House, and the Allisons have now moved off the island.
Isabelle and Grahame told the Ileach, "It is with a heavy heart that we have finally retired after a wonderful, almost 24 years as owners of the Port Charlotte Hotel. We have now returned to the mainland to be closer to family and friends. We have experienced the ups and downs of hospitality along the way, always supported by our awesome staff, Port Charlotte residents and the wider Islay community as well as our customers and guests from all over the world, with many of them returning year after year.
"We will always cherish the opportunity we were given to move to Islay and experience the warmth and unique character of the Ileach community. We will miss it enormously.
"We are proud to have built a strong reputation around our service, food and warm hospitality along with our music sessions and our Scottish art collection throughout the hotel. We have happily handed over to Mike Clark and family, who are the current owners of Islay House and Kilchoman House and cottages. Mike and his team have said it is "business as usual" for the Port Charlotte hotel.
“It is with heartfelt thanks that we want to thank our friends, customers and suppliers for the beautiful cards, gifts, good wishes and messages we have received. It is truly humbling. Islay is a special place.
"We look forward to returning as tourists soon."
New owner, Mike Clark said, "We're delighted to be taking on the Port Charlotte Hotel. It holds a special place in the hearts of locals and visitors alike, and we appreciate the responsibility that comes with that.
"The Allisons and the team have built a great business. Our focus is on building on what already makes the hotel so well loved, preserving its character and warm welcome."
Photo: Mark Unsworth
...........................................................................................................................................................................................................
Like ships in the night
An Ileach reader recently expressed their dissatisfaction with CalMac's winter timetable when it came into force on Monday 19 October.
Intending to board the 12:45pm sailing departing Port Askaig and catch the 15:15 Citylink bus to Glasgow, they fortunately checked with Citylink to book a place on the coach, only to learn that there is, in fact, no 15:15 service to Buchanan Bus Station on a Monday.
Nor, indeed, is there any such service on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, despite initially being included on CalMac’s online timetable.
When contacted, a Citylink spokesperson told the Ileach, "The 15:15 service from Kennacraig operates daily during the summer season and on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays during the winter timetable, as it has done for a number of years.
"Throughout the winter, customers continue to have morning and afternoon journey options providing connections with ferry services in both directions.
"We work closely with CalMac to co-ordinate timetables wherever possible, while also regularly reviewing passenger demand across our network. "We have identified that CalMac's current winter timetable incorrectly shows the 15:15 service operating on weekdays, and we have contacting CalMac to have this corrected."
This has probably been hidden in plain sight in recent years, when the winter timetable has been operated by a single vessel service, obviating any ferry arrival at Kennacraig mid-afternoon.
A CalMac spokesperson responded, stating, "An error was made when uploading the winter timetable, but it has now been rectified. We are sorry for any disruption this may have caused to customers."
And closer examination of the winter timetable shows that a 15:30 sailing from Kennacraig operates only on Tuesdays and Fridays.
...........................................................................................................................................................................................................
In this week's issue:
Còisir Ghàidhlig Ìle gains success at Mòd Glaschu, A&B Council Gaelic Plan, The Rest and Be Thankful debacle continues, CalMac's winter timetable errors, Islay remembrance services, Lifeboat crew awards, Islay Quilters' Charity Quilt, An afternoon at the Opera, Foraging, Port Charlotte Hotel sold, New Ileach crossword, This (electric) island life, Celebrating Hallowe'en, Book review: Tea and Grit - Helen Watson, Album Review: Which Direction? - John Donegan Trio, Album review: Live in Dublin - Tommy Flanagan.
...........................................................................................................................................................................................................
Music review
Made in Dublin. Tommy Flanagan Livia Records.
This is one of those recordings which, if it didn't exist, you'd have to invent it. And that's almost exactly what Irish drummer, John Wadham, did.
Tommy Flanagan was an American pianist visiting Dublin in 1984 to perform a concert with Wadham and American bassist, Lindsey Horner. At Wadham's suggestion, the trio entered the studio for an impromptu recording session.
The tapes from that session were only recently discovered, leading to the release of this superb album, featuring tunes by Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk and George Gershwin, to name but three.
Aside from the trio recordings, Flanagan, again at John Wadham's suggestion, included three solo piano pieces. However, the album opens with Charlie Parker's 'Relaxin' at Camarillo', immediately heralding Flanagan's impressively fluid style and the ease with which his two accompanists offer musical support.
I have long been of the opinion that American jazz musicians have a different approach to the idiom than those on this side of the pond. Wadham's inclusion with the two Americans, in my opinion, tends to confirm that particular theory, but in a good way.
Wadham's drumming has a sense of precision, contrasting the American styles of Flanagan and Horner, resulting in the whole being greater than the sum of its parts.
Parker's 'Donna Lee' is little short of masterful, offering room for Wadham to demonstrate just why he was considered one of Ireland's top drummers.
Flanagan's solo work shows evidence of his Bud Powell and Art Tatum influences, particularly on Kern's 'The Way You Look Tonight', yet remaining true to his own inimitable style.
Standout track for me is Monk's 'Straight No Chaser', on which bassist Warner advertises himself as the perfect foil for Flanagan before Wadham stretches on a short solo.
This is a landmark release, easily approachable by a majority of listeners, shining a spotlight on three wonderful musicians who just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Just listen to their reading of 'Summertime', and you too will believe.
bp
'Made in Dublin' is available direct from livia records
...........................................................................................................................................................................................................
This is Islay
2026 Podcast of the Year featuring individuals, personalities and features of Islay and Jura. Listen now at https://anchor.fm/thisisislay
...........................................................................................................................................................................................................
to subscribe or advertise, contact ileach@ileach.co.uk