If you’ve ever come up Burns Walk in Lerwick Town Centre, the first building you’ll see is 165 Commercial Street, best known as the home of Dennis Coutts Photographers, a name familiar to many across the islands.

As a peerie boy, I remember being very excited as we climbed the narrow stairwells up to the photographic studio on the top floor for family photographs.

The entire building is now under new ownership and is operated by Shetland property management firm ‘Shetland Stays’. The ground floor is to remain as a commercial entity, but the rest of the property is being divided up into three separate flats.

Dennis Coutts himself has often popped along during the development, sharing tales of its past. From its beginnings as a tiny residence, the building expanded and adapted, reflecting the changing times and occupants. It was once a bustling shoe shop (bottom floor), knitwear shop (middle floor) and later served as a telephone and radio repair shop during the war (top floor).

Today, the building has undergone a stunning transformation, with Malcolmson Architects thoughtfully segregating the space to balance its historical character with modern living.

I was excited when Director of Operations at Shetland Stays, Ruairidh Mackenzie, got in touch with me to photograph the first completed flat which you see in the images below.

The apartment features king-size beds, a fully equipped kitchen, a sleek modern bathroom, and a private garden. Just 200m from Lerwick’s harbour, shops, and cafes, it’s an ideal base for exploring what Shetland has to offer.

For bookings and more details, visit the Shetland Stays website listing at https://bookings.shetlandstays.com/listings/295159

-Ben