Lorraine loves to create a home from home for guests.
The bathroom suites would not be out of place in a deluxe hotel with Italian tiles, romantic roll top or slipper bath tubs and stylish showers
Businesswoman Lorraine Pun, the owner of Inverness’ only five-star, award-winning guest house, Trafford Bank, has a very simple secret behind her success.
“I don’t think of Trafford Bank as a business, I think of it as my home,” Lorraine says.
“I let people stay in my home and I want them to have everything I would want if I was staying somewhere.”
It is this approach that has set Trafford Bank apart and the reason it has won numerous accolades since it opened its doors in 2003.
A former bishop’s residence, Trafford Bank is a beautiful historic property set in a mature garden yet the house itself perfectly combines the traditional with the contemporary in its furnishings and facilities.
More like a boutique hotel, each of the five guest rooms has been individually designed by Lorraine and finished in luxurious fabrics, sumptuous soft furnishings and original artwork to create a stylish but welcoming retreat for visitors.
The Thistle Room and Tartan Room, for example, might sound traditional but they definitely take a modern twist on two Scottish icons with luxurious throws and cushions from Anta in Tain in warm muted tones, while the grand thistle wallpaper was handmade by the exclusive Timorous Beasties: Glasgow.
The bathroom suites would not be out of place in a deluxe hotel with Italian tiles, romantic roll top or slipper bath tubs and stylish showers.
Guests will also find all the latest conveniences to make their stay as comfortable as possible with iPod docking station, LCD flat screen television, coffee maker, mini fridge, hair straighteners and an iron station.
But it is the thoughtful touches that really makes Trafford Bank stand out with complimentary homemade shortbread and oatcakes from The Forest Kitchen, fresh ground coffee in the rooms, served in beautiful, hand thrown cups from Anta, and gorgeous floral bathrobes, face towels and mitts from Cath Kidston (there are plain white ones for the boys!).
Lorraine is also keen to promote the high quality, local products that the area is famed for to ensure her guests receive a full Highland welcome.
Guests will find mouthwatering toiletries from Arran Aromatics Ness Soap and Strathpeffer Spa Soap Company in their bathrooms while at the award winning breakfasts, Lorraine offers only the best seasonal produce including Ardersier’s Connage Dairy cheeses, Nairn’s Rose Cottage Country Kitchen jams and preserves, hand made spelt bread from local baker Kevin Macleod of Leachin Bakery and organic milk, eggs and butter.
It should come as no surprise that Trafford Bank continues to draw regular visitors year on year from around the world. One family from Tokyo has been visiting Trafford Bank annually for the past seven years and the guest house is also particularly popular with travelling business women who really appreciate the thoughtful home comforts.
Maintaining such a high standard is a genuine labour of love for Lorraine.
In May 2011 her husband Koshal. with whom she had established Trafford Bank when the couple relocated to Inverness for a new life, passed away after losing his fight with cancer.
The pair had been together for over 20 years and after making the Highland capital their new home, married two years ago at Loch Ness Lodge.
Very much a partnership, Koshal and Lorraine ran Trafford Bank seamlessly with Lorraine front of house and Koshal behind the delicious breakfasts – as well as fixing any electrical problems from guests’ laptops to lighting thanks To his background as an electronics engineer.
Lorraine is determined to fulfil Koshal’s wishes and continue to make Trafford Bank the wonderful success story it has become.
“We ran Trafford Bank together and I feel Koshal’s spirit is here. It was Koshal’s wish that I keep it going and that’s what keeps me going.”
