Covid-19
Everyone’s safety is our top priority – our guests, our team and the wider community. Here are a few details of our ‘new normal’.
Your health : it goes without saying that should you feel unwell with COVID19 symptoms (high temperature/fever, a new continuous cough, and loss of taste/smell) prior to your arrival at the Royal, that you self-isolate immediately, and you should contact us so we can reschedule your reservation. Should you feel unwell with these symptoms during your stay with us, then we will follow Government guidelines and ask that your return to your primary address immediately.
One way system : please enter the hotel through the lounge bar door (underneath the flowers), follow the arrows through the sitting room, and exit through the conservatory.
Within the Royal : Clear Perspex screens have been installed across our bars, our staff will be wearing appropriate PPE, hand sanitisers are available throughout the hotel for you to use and we ask that you please respect social distancing. We also ask that you wear a face mask or covering whilst walking throughout the hotel.
Lunch & dinner : to comply with social distancing measures, we’ve had to reduce the number of tables in our restaurant so we recommend you book a table. We have increased our outdoor seating area so if the weather is nice, you may wish to eat alfresco at either our sea-front tables or in our new Courtyard area which is sheltered from the prevailing west wind. We are fortunate to have areas within the hotel which are naturally separate and we'll be utilising these to ensure our guests feel as safe as possible.
Cleaning : At the Royal, we already had high standards of cleanliness and this has been increased to improve everyone’s safety. Please be assured that all areas of the hotel are cleaned and sanitised daily, with additional cleaning of high touch surfaces (door handles/banister/light switches etc) throughout the day, using recommended detergents.
Hotel guests…
Contactless check-in : to save you queuing at reception, and to reduce contact and touch points, we will phone you before you arrive to check you in. We’ll confirm your dinner arrangements (in the past, booking a table for dinner wasn’t necessary but now our restaurant capacity has been cut by 60%, we do recommend you book in advance). We’ll also confirm your time of arrival so we can stagger our guests’ arrival times. We will also ‘check in’ on your wellbeing before you arrive in Cromarty to ensure you aren’t putting yourself or others at risk by travelling to the Royal Hotel – we are all in this together! You are welcome to check in any time after 2pm on your day of arrival and we ask that you check out by 10am on your day of departure, to give us plenty time before the arrival of the next guests.
Arrival : we’ve introduced a one-way system so please enter through the lounge bar door (under the flowers) where you’ll be welcomed by a member of staff wearing a face-shield. We are no longer able to take you to your room but we will give you directions and the rooms are well sign-posted. To keep everyone as safe as possible, we prefer not to touch your bags, but if you do need assistance then please ask a member of staff.
Breakfast : we’ve moved our breakfast tables into the bedrooms for the time being, and are delighted to offer you the Royal’s continental breakfast hamper served in your room at the time of your choice, so you can relax in your pjs whilst enjoying a home-baked croissant. You’ll find a breakfast menu in your room. Please fill this in and hand it to a member of staff before 8pm the night before.
Lunch & dinner : Our hotel guests will have priority for bookings, but we do ask that you reserve tables before you arrive, especially at weekends. You are also welcome to have lunch/dinner in your room overlooking the Cromarty Firth, please just order at the lounge bar.
Housekeeping : to minimise outside contact with your room, we’ll be operating a ‘Light Touch’ service. This means no one will enter your room for the duration of your stay but our housekeeping team will still drop off fresh towels and anything else you need. A traditional housekeeping service will still be available but we would ask that you are not in the room whilst this is carried out. If you would prefer this traditional housekeeping service, please let us know in advance.
Cleaning : between room changeovers, we have adopted a number of measures in addition to our already high standard of cleanliness. This includes putting pillows and soft furnishings in isolation between guests, washing laundry to NHS standards, using recommended sanitisers and detergents, etc. You’ll notice your alarm clock has been removed – should you require one, please ask a member of staff.
Your health : Should you have any concerns during your stay at the Royal, we ask that you stay in your room and contact us via email or telephone asap.
Out and about : Whilst Cromarty has always welcomed visitors, we ask that our guests respect our community both within Cromarty and throughout the wider area. Many people in the community are vulnerable and are understandably nervous, so please be sensitive to their concerns and follow guidelines with regard to social distancing, facemasks etc whilst out and about.
Despite all of these measures, you can be assured of a warm (socially distanced) Cromarty welcome from all of our team.
Please note: this is an evolving situation, and our policy will be updated as necessary.