A hotel with heritage
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Located on the shore of sheltered Busta Voe on mainland Shetland, Busta House Hotel is an ideal base to discover Shetland. Our fantastic location, paired with the rich history and heritage of the hotel, sense of community and service of the team come together to make a stay in Busta House Hotel a memorable experience. We look forward to welcoming you.
History
Busta House Hotel has an intriguing and storied history. It is a tale of class, love, tragedy, and deceit. Find out more about Busta House’s past, the story of the Gifford family and the ill-fated Barbara Pitcairn.




Our Team
Busta House would be nothing without all of those working both front of house and behind the scenes. Find out more about the team dedicated to making your stay as enjoyable as possible.
Reviews
- Stuart P
As a fairly regular visitor to Busta, we are always delighted and impressed with the very high standard of service and customer care they provide. Saturday was no exception and... read more despite how busy the hotel was we were very well looked after and enjoyed a superb meal. A beautiful and very well run hotel with a great team of enthusiastic and friendly staff. Thank you, and we are very much looking forward to our next visit.
30th January 2023Alipaulstaffs
We ate here twice during our stay on Muckle Roe after popping in for tea and coffee while waiting for our cottage, the staff are so welcoming, great service delicious... read more coffee and shortbread, the meals both nights were delicious, home made and plentiful. The long room is lovely for a pre dinner drink or coffee and the service is excellent they even recommended a place for us to visit as it was sunny when we first arrived we took the advice and had a lovely afternoon at Eshaness.
13th September 2022 - johnmY8834LI
The setting is charming; room was very comfortable. Food was very tasty. Long room experience was excellent. The internet was very fast; not only in common rooms but in bedroom... read more as well. Overall, terrific experience.
11th August 2021522alastairg
We only had one night here after a week on Unst, and we’ll definitely return for a longer stay. It’s a very atmospheric country house hotel with a friendly, enthusiastic... read more and very efficient staff. The dinner menu is comprehensive and the food is very fairly priced. The bedroom, though slightly on the small side, was comfortable with a well equipped bathroom. Great location for exploring the west mainland of Shetland.
2nd July 2022 - Chris1922014
somewhat of a 'curates egg'. There are some very positive features but also areas for improvement
Staff were helpful and lovely - 9/10
Location beautiful, shame the Voe couldn't... read more be easily seen from the hotel as there are mature trees in the garden, but as trees are almost non existent on Shetland it was nice to see some - 8/10
Building has an interesting history with the Queen visiting in 1960. However there needs to be internal maintenance as damp patches are evident, worn carpeting, flaking paint etc. Garden pleasant to sit in, providing the midges don't find you! However the long lounge is a lively room to sit in - 7/10
Room - We had a lovely light room of a good size. The bed was comfortable, but again improvements are needed, e.g. sash windows not in working order, carpet worn wallpaper coming off in a few places, electrics somewhat basic - 6/10
Bathroom, probably the worst I have experienced in a hotel. Lighting very poor. Shower fine for people less than 5ft tall! Shower in the bath, but no grab rails to assist getting in and out. No shaver point and the decor pretty dour. Needs modernisation!! - 3/10
Food was good, both evening meals were enjoyable and potions a good size, the breakfast menu had a good choice. 8/10
21st July 2021Anita J
Busta House Hotel is a fabulous atmospheric building with lovely comfortable rooms, some with sea views. The food is excellent and the staff are so accommodating. Love this place, will... read more be back again soon
2nd February 2023 - Tiderace
This was a return two-night visit after our first one in February 2021 and if anything service was even better this time if that were possible. Staff at Busta House... read more are very well trained and extremely attentive. Our room this time (Muckle Roe) was unexpectedly large and very comfortable with excellent heating and a very comfortable bed. The menu and food served were nicely varied and always of a high quality. Service was very quick and efficient at every mealtime and it was easy to see why so many locals had booked to dine here each night of our stay. The building has a lovely atmosphere and great character.
6th February 2023claphamwoman
This hotel was quite a distance from Lerwick, but with a beautiful view over the lake. The room at Busta House was smallish, but with good storage, although access to... read more the hanging cupboard was hampered by a trouser press hanging on the inside of the cupboard. The major problem was the shower, which did not produce hot water until the 3rd evening. We complained about it early on the morning of the second day to the staff (who in general were friendly and helpful) promised to look at it, but we think that it was our complaint to our tour company, which triggered action and I was finally able to enjoy a hot shower on the third evening. They gave us the 3rd evening meal “on the house” in recompense. Nice, but I would have rather had a hot shower. The water provided for the bath was not hot enough for my husband to have bath on the first evening, but was on the second evening. I can’t use a bath, because of 2 knee replacements. The standard of the restaurant meals (breakfast and dinner) was generally very good, of excellent value and served in huge portions. I was pleased that the restaurant offered a good choice of smoked fish dishes for breakfast. The COVID precautions were reassuringly thorough
15th October 2021 - CBANCSE
The warmest of welcomes at this quaint outpost of the truly magical island of Shetland. The staff are exemplary. The food is plentiful and delicious. The rooms... read more comfortable and in keeping with the age of the building. Not to mention the biggest selection of whiskey ever
9th February 2023Sophie S
Thank you for our AWESOME stay in February. Our group of 8 all had an incredible time; from the food to drinks to the lovely rooms and the fantastic service.... read more Everything was brilliant. I'd highly recommend the espresso martinis and the lasagne. The coffee is like rocket fuel too!
9th March 2023 - Pelupi
Stayed one night as part of a tour. Service and food fantastic. Would thoroughly recommend the lamb. Historic house in scenic location. Our only small quibble was that... read more the bathroom in our room was exceptionally small. Anyone larger or with mobility issues might struggle with the gap of only 1ft between the toilet and the accessible part of the bath / shower. Bathroom was recently refitted and immaculate but just a trifle snug.
10th May 2022turtlede
It’s said all the time but our stay at Busta House really was a highlight of our five week vacation.
Just a wonderful mix of old world service,... read more friendly helpfulness and charming accommodation.
The meals were fairly simple but very well done and nothing we asked for seemed to be too much. Being taken through to dinner after enjoying one of their many, many scotch selections in front of the open fire make each evening feel like a special occasion. The young people working at Busta House couldn’t have been nicer.
16th December 2022 - EmbsayBrian
We have dined once or twice each time we have visited Shetland over the last 15 years and have never been disappointed. So many things have changed permanently... read more since lockdowns with so many comforting extras removed. But not at Busta House. We enjoyed two evening meals at Busta House this year and found the welcome as friendly, the food as good and the service as professional as ever. Congratulations to Grant and Joel and their cheerful, efficient team.
12th June 2022mikee394
Although I’ve eaten here on previous visits to Shetland this was the first time I’ve stayed here and it won’t be my last. The hotel was clean and comfortable. It... read more is rustic and traditional and although it might be considered tired by those preferring a modern hotel I loved it.
The housekeeping of the rooms was excellent but what really stood out was the standard of customer service from all the staff. Made to feel incredibly welcome with a real can do approach. The meals were first class both breakfasts (wide choice) and the extensive dinner menu.
The attention to Covid 19 safety meant our stay was worry free.
Thank you for an excellent stay
10th October 2020 - Tom H
A welcoming place that is full of history and character. The kind and attentive staff made it a very special experience, especially for my son who is 7 and very... read more interested in ghosts. The staff were never too busy to listen to his ideas, and he was very sad to have to leave. In fact, I wish we hadn’t, as there is so much to see and discover in Shetland. Busta House is a hotel which is genuinely friendly to families, and where children have plenty of space to explore, both inside and outside.
24th August 2021alansW7254GL
We live in Shetland and do not often have the chance to try local hotels. Busta was delightful. We felt completely safe because Covid measures were perfectly applied. Staff were... read more universally charming. Dinner was very good and the wine list was exceptional. We had a Grand Cru St Emilion at a bargain price. Our room was immaculately clean and very comfortable. Busta has definitely become the best hotel inShetland.
5th October 2020 - 12172017
On arrival, it looked very quirky and it was, but in the best possible sense. It was well appointed, with beautiful characterful public rooms. We had a large bedroom, with... read more two brass beds, overlooking the garden and the sea. OK, the sashes on windows didn't work, but the view made up for it. But the food and service were impeccable. The choice of local products and the quality of cooking were outstanding, even if the portions were large. Somewhere I would love to return to.
1st October 2021Suey245
Now this the best restaurant we have been to in a long while it’s fabulous the food is amazing and the staff where very helpful wonderful atmosphere GO…..
Extremely... read more clean and a very wide menu…
We will definatly go back…
Super location right near the sea..
1st December 2021 - Thorr978
Myself and my now wife had our wedding here in 2018 we a magical day, Grant Joel and Alan made the day really special, the food was fantastic as was... read more the surroundings beautiful rooms and fantastic service. In whole this place is special to us. We love it.
22nd November 2020Tiderace
A very relaxing and cosy stay at Busta House at a chilly time of year. Staff were very welcoming from the start and gave us a choice of rooms on... read more arrival to our taste. Room was warm, well appointed and welcoming to arrive to. Staff were amongst the most efficient and attentive we have experienced anywhere. The building is quite historic which adds charm to a visit with interesting rooms and furnishings throughout. Food is excellent from a varied menu with a wide choice at breakfast too including locally sourced Smoked Haddock and Kippers, all delivered efficiently. Good adherence to covid guidelines at this tricky time too. Some renovations were taking place ready for the season but any fallout from this will presumably be cleared up prior to busy times ahead and it didn't impact adversely on our stay. Hotel is quiet and in a beautiful island location. We have booked for next year already. More
20th February 2022
