Former Royal Hotel, Albert Place, Rothesay, Bute

The former Royal Hotel, dating from the mid to later 19th century, is a classically-detailed, rectangular building situated on a corner plot in Rothesay. It has five bays facing Albert Place to the north, four bays facing East Princes Street to the east, and six bays facing West Princes Street to the south, with prominent bowed corners. The exterior is rendered and painted, with horizontal channelling at ground level. A raised base course, architraved string and cill courses, and a dentilled eaves course are present. The windows on the north and east elevations feature architraves and cornices; those on the north and east elevations at the first floor also have consoled details. Windows at the second floor on the north and east elevations have bracketed sills, scrolled details at the base, and stone pilaster mullions. Round-arched windows with pilastered reveals are set into square-headed recesses on the third floor.

The north elevation, facing Albert Place, is asymmetrical at ground level. The central entrance consists of a two-leaf timber panelled door set in an antis, flanked by detached columns and pilasters, with an advanced entablature above. Large single windows are found at ground level in two bays to the left of the entrance, and in the bays to the right and outer right. A later doorway has been added in the penultimate bay to the outer right. Bipartite windows are consistent across the central three bays at the first, second, and third floors, while single windows are in the bays to the outer left and right. A slightly recessed full-height bow is present at the outer left angle, featuring bipartite windows and a decorative anthemion parapet.

The east elevation has a doorway at ground level in the outer left bay, with large single windows in the remaining bays to the right. Fenestration is generally regular, with some blind windows on the third floor. A slightly recessed full-height bow, featuring a large ground floor window and bipartite windows above, is present at the outer left angle.

The south (West Princes Street) elevation has a central ground floor doorway. Bipartite windows are positioned at the first, second, and third floors in the bays to the left and right of centre, with flanking single windows. Single windows are found on all floors in the bays to the outer left and right.

The windows are predominantly two- and four-pane timber sash and case, with ten-pane windows to the rear, and some later box dormers. The roof is covered in grey slate, and tall corniced wallhead stacks are present on the north, south, and east sides. Decorative fluting, dentil detailing, and various circular cans are also notable features.