Fan bar. Great banter. Staff awesome. All latest sports plus monthly live actaread more

Goblin Ha is based out in Gifford, so it's going to be a drive for anyone who isn't local. I'd…read moreheard good feedback when I spoke to friends who had visited, but had never made it out there myself. In days of yore, when the SR and I were a-courting, we would often drive up to the moors, through Gifford, to watch the stars (and avoid sheep wandering around the roads) and see the warm lights of Goblin Ha beckoning, but never entered. I can imagine, in the depth of winter, this being a fantastic place to spend a cosy evening. Driving home - well, you might just want to book a room in the hotel.... Online, the menu comes across as quite intriguing, but in some weird Jekyll and Hyde way, when we got to the hotel and sat down at the table, it was more pub grub than I was expecting (graphic design for ya kids!). The menu definitely goes for standard pub fare (fish pie, hunters chicken, prawn pasta) and there is quite a massive selection - more than comes across online. Massive menus usually make me quite suspicious. However, what we had was totally fine - it's not. as the previous reviewer commented, adventurous, but it's half decent and felt like a 'safe' option for taking groups of mixed eaters out. There are quite a few vegetarian options (although very carb heavy), and if you like a good sized portion, then this place is for you. Between us, we checked out the ABC salad (chicken, avocado and bacon); potato skins (decent filling); calamari and prawn cocktail (not too watery, always a plus for me); followed by chicken and ribs for the smallest person at the table - all successfully polished off though - duck confit; cajun chicken and a salmon hollandaise for yours truly. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meals - I would note that the salmon was pretty bland, and the Hollandaise almost lacking entirely in flavour (it looked like mayonnaise, which didn't help), so I wouldn't go with that again. We polished things off with a very tart lemon tart and creme brulees, which all were pretty good. Service was pretty good - and for a very busy Saturday night, prompt. Drinks were kept topped up and we never felt rushed or pushed out the door at any time. Goblin Ha feels like it is one of those places that does the classics well and best to stick by that rule when you go there and you will enjoy it. Just don't cast great expectations at it and you will enjoy it.

A lovely find in the small but beautiful village of Gifford. Set in the middle of East Lothian…read morecountryside, the location for me is just perfect, a great escape from Edinburgh and so many country walks. My partner was the happiest man alive when we walked in and he discovered they serve real ales, and summer lightening in particular!! The menu was slightly too large and I found it hard to choose so I just opted for the curry special, red Thai prawn. Food was served promptly, presented well and great portion sizes. I would probably go for something more traditional next time, maybe steak pie or fish and chips. My meal tasted fine, but only fine, I think a smaller menu of higher quality dishes is always preferable to quantity. Good prices too, we had 3 courses and a few drinks and it was around 50quid! Next time I'll definitely sit outside in the beer garden which I discovered on route to the ladies! It's big, loads of tables, lovely flowers and outlook and gets the evening sun, just the ticket after a long walk in the country! If highly recommend to anyone who's in the area!

This is the place my sister chose to have her wedding. Owner is very friendly and staff amazing as…read morewell. Nothing was too much hassel. Food was amazing. Great venue for a wedding. Lovely grounds for having pictures taken.

Large red sandstone Victorian gothic hotel on the outskirts of Galashiels. The hotel is a very…read morepopular place for weddings, and they have a beautiful conservatory at the back of the hotel much used for wedding receptions. There are 2 different eating styles, either bar food in the Courtyard Bar, or a la carte in the restaurant. The bar food is good, although the setting is a bit 'ordinary' compared to the rest of the hotel. Usual bar meals - fish and chips, steak pie, roast dinners, salmon etc, all freshly cooked and served by friendly and helpful bar staff. They have a good selection of malts.

Loads of fun; "Don't touch that plate, I told you yesterday it's hot."…read moreWe had a smashingly good welcome here and were well cared for by Sean and family. On arrival we were given tea or coffee while we filled in our registration and a bucket and brush to clean our hiking boots (which remain strictly in the foyer, not the hotel.) Acerbic wit with a smile was the standard and it suited us to the ground. Sean's well practiced spiels are a comedy routine in themselves so pay attention and don't miss a word. He was very helpful on tide and bus and taxi information. Our room was nicely proportioned and the bathroom spacious. I visited in another room upstairs which was equally nice. Furniture is simple, stout, workable and unpretentious. All rooms have only showers. Our towels were rough but this is probably local hard water, They were new and thick and clean. Breakfast was excellent and if you are not awake on reaching the breakfast room, I assure you that you soon will be. There is lovely art around and some of it is for sale by Sean's son. Tea service in the rooms was generously stocked with a wee biscuit or two. Check the website to see other options like renting the entire place or having a wheelchair accessible room. Fabulous choice for staying on Lindisfarne. I would most certainly return here.

Sadly we didn't stay here, but we did eat in the restaurant twice. It was delicious. Great variety…read more Helpful staff. The whole place looked newly renovated and was beautiful. We asked a lot of questions about local fare and got great explanations. Wed love to return to the area and stay here next time!

Just stayed at this lovely little hotel. The staff are very helpful & friendly. The evening meal…read morewas divine, newly started Steak night on a Friday. £30 pr couple, including a bottle of house wine. The room was clean and tidy, and very warm. During this cold snap. Bathroom was nicely modern with a great shower, plenty of hot water. Breakfast was included in the room rate, plenty of choice, from the full monty Northumberland style to a more healthy option. Well deserved 5 Stars. Limited parking at the front door for 6 cars. Great views of the Castle & not far to walk to the beach.

so far upon our stay here, we have been highly disappointed. We travel a lot and stay at a lot of…read morevery high-end places and considering how much money we are paying to stay here we find the staff not very friendly or helpful. The only staff member that has helped us is Ashlee the front desk, girl. When I first called about my son who got a bug bite and it was swelling up really bad and we needed help. The concierge told me that there was no one here to help us and that we could attempt to take him to the emergency room but because we were from out of the country, they probably wouldn't see us. I am so glad I called back and got Ashlee the front desk girl because she is actually a nurse. She came to our room, examined the bites, cleaned them and then wrapped them and sent us to the emergency room where we were completely taken care of without any charge! I do not know why the concierge would have not helped us and gave us more to worry about when we were already stressed out. We also received a $250 smoking charge letter because the housekeeping saw My Husband's cigars and smoking stuff out when he was leaving to go play golf he got his stuff out to take his cigars with him. I took my two year-old son for breakfast and came back to only my bed being made in my room and with a letter under my door stating that we had smoked in our room and we were being charged $250. I called the front desk, asked to speak to a manager and was told that they would call me right back. I had to call three times and wait for two hours before anyone even called me. I am now in my room, waiting for the management to contact housekeeping to see if the charge will be reversed. I find this extremely frustrating, considering how much money we have paid to stay here. I also feel that the rooms are outdated and rundown compared to all the other Fairmont I have stayed in.!

I found moldy water in my coffee maker...... The first thing I smelled was a pungent rancid hot…read moresteam emerging from the water. When I brought this issue to the staffs attention, they didn't even offer me anything. Other than that though, the staff was nice. Moldy water just isn't something you should receive at a 5 star hotel... The breakfast selection was abundant and delicious and the facilities were alright. Overall would recommend, but next time I would definitely look at the other options nearby.

Lovely, lovely place, crowded, obviously popular. An old building but very updated, very stylish…read moreand clean. Possibly a good place to stay if it were not for Chillingham. Dinner and the service was nothing short of excellent. The carrot and coriander soup was delicious, garlic mushrooms and a roasted vegie tart were memorable. David and Joyce had lamb, Bobby had halibut, I think I had salmon. The desserts were equally scrumptious. Sometimes a place of this nature will be too stiff and formal for our liking, making us feel out of place. We want to relax and enjoy our food, not feel we are on display to the ever so watching servers. Dunstanburgh had all the qualities of an upper class establishment but without the stiffness. We felt welcomed and right at home.

This is a great 4 star hotel for food, activities and surroundings. There are loads of activities…read morein and around the hotel. In winter you can use the hotel's curling rink and there are numerous golf courses in the area. As well as a swimming pool and jacuzzi there is a gym and thermal suite. From 15th October 2010 they are launching a music venue. There is fishing on Loch Leven. The hotel has it all and there is easy access to Perth to the north and Edinburgh to the south. Kinross and the surrounding area is a great place to visit. There is Loch Leven Castle and Falkland Palace to visit. There is an RSPB reserve at Vane Farm and beautiful countryside all around.

Maybe a 4.5 star experience but I can't bring myself to round down, so up it is!…read more An absolutely stunning hotel and restaurant. Well worth the 35 mins drive from Edinburgh city centre. Impressive to say the least. We took my mum there for Mother's Day as they had a reasonably priced set menu on offer (I say reasonably in the sense that I'd have expected to pay more at a chez roux restaurant!). The mains of confit of duck and beef were fabulous. My Yorkshire pudding was a bit greasy but I'm picking fault here. I ate the whole thing! My pâté starter was tasty, kind of terrine like, wrapped in pastry. Yummy. My mum and brother both had the haddock. It seemed to go down well (i don't eat fish so couldn't try) although Simon said he didn't think what he had was representative of the menu description. Clean plates all round though! My cheese board was the star of the show for me. Check out the picture I posted. Yes! It was ALL mine! I liked that you didn't have to pay a supplement for the cheese as all too often greedy restaurants attempt to do. Not here! 6 small but adequate bits of cheese each of which are explained upon serving. Top it off with quince jelly, a generous portion of crackers, grapes, celery AND chutney... Drool..... The food was gorgeous, not without tiny faults here and there but you'd have to look very hard to pick at anything really. The small touches really made the experience 5 star for me. Homemade canapés, warm bread and homemade treats with our coffee inc macaroons, blackberry jellies and chocolate covered walnuts. I was so stuffed by that point but it would have been rude not to....:) The only thing I could criticise was the service. It was a bit slow. I don't mind having a lazy Sunday lunch but why they moved us from our comfy fire seat to the dinner table but took another 15 mins to serve the starters is beyond me. Move us when the food is nearly ready next time please. Unfortunately it started to snow as we left - I had really wanted to take a walk around the grounds. From what I could see of the garden from the window I know it will be beautiful in the summer. I took a peek at the afternoon tea menu and I will definitely be back! The prices seemed quite reasonable. You must go here! It's more of a special occasion place but if you have loads of money or just fancy a blow out then what the hell!

This place is located far away from all the turmoil of every day's life, but still close enough to…read moreget into Edinburgh under half an hour. A hidden gem stone! Get first class servings, walk along the sandy beaches, view parts of the Firth of Forth, experience some of the surrounding golf clubs...... That's what I did. As soon as you drive into the private pathway you feel like being sent back in time. The staff welcomes you with elegant courtesy and you are accompanied to your room, feeling at home straight away (some less or more I assume :-) ). The rooms are adequately decorated and very clean. We had a cheaper priced room, but be wary that the cheapest room during off peak season is about £240 for 2 people sharing. Lol. If you can call this cheap..... For single occupancy I think you pay from £210 upwards. it's outrageous that single people are always charged more. As we have the money.... When dining you are being served with gallant mannerism ensuring that your needs are being met satisfactory. The food is very tasty and delicious, but take into account that if you eat in the a la cart restaurant you might be hit by a higher than £50 bill charge per person. So be prepared! The menu changes, such expect to get something different another time around. If you want to spoil your other half - then do! There is no doubt that because of its prestigious and expensive existence this place might only be affordable for special occasions or if you are not hit by recession. But if you are able to go there, enjoy the tranquillity that it has to offer. I know I will be back soon for Afternoon Tea, which is around £18.50 and therefore "just" affordable.

You would not notice it from the outside, but behind these massive doors, hidden away from the main…read moreroad, there lies a gem of a spacious Hall that can be used for all sorts of events. The one I went to was a Celeidh. The hall can easily hold about 200-300 people. I believe, we were about 70 -90 people and of which there was still plenty of space left for all the Celeidh dancers in the middle and plenty of tables on both sides. At either end of the room you could find the bar and the stage with the band playing the rhythms of traditional folk music. This Hall can be used for plenty of purposes, like weddings or parties or galas or......Upstairs are the toilets that are in ok conditions. Overall the place is clean and was nicely presented. Nothing fancy when I was there, but I can imagine it can be dressed up for special occasions. Personally I don't know the room rate or other costs, but I'm sure if you inquiry you will find out. The location is very central and only a 5-10 min walk from Grassmarket. Buses 2 and 35 pass by as well as plenty others.