What a magical place Glenbervie House Hotel is. It probably had a lot to do with the fact that my…read moreguy plus 4 other couples celebrated New Years Even here together, but this really is a nice place. Driving up in a taxi, you're able to take in the grandiose castle like house that is the Glenbervie House Hotel. The long road up to the house makes for a magical feel, plus the lights on the house and the gravel road adds to it. We got out and were greeted at the door by the manager. She took our coats and offered us a glass of champagne. A very nice way to start off the evening. Since there were 10 of us in all, we were a bit on the early side as we were only able to transport a few of us at a time from the home we were staying in near by. It was no bother to the staff who were very accommodating from the start. We were left to do our thing and take pictures of everyone in their cocktail attire and kilts. (Those pictures got sent instantly to our families who were awaiting the fancy shots pre-new years eve celebrations). After a while of mingling we were all escorted in to the dining room to start in on drinks and the 6 course meal we enjoyed! Slowly the food started rolling out, everyone tucking in at the same time. The staff was friendly enough, all very young and obviously not thrilled to be there on new years eve. Towards to middle of the night, and a few drinks in, we ordered another round of drinks and noticed that my drink, which usually comes in a bottle with a glass of ice on the side, came already poured for me. Typically, with any other drink, that would have been a nice jesture, but we all knew from experience, that there's still a good amount of liquid left in the bottle after pouring a full glass. We asked the server where the bottle was, and suggested that we were getting cheated out of what we paid for. He kind of gave us a shrug of the shoulder and walked off. Later, he brought over a bottle that had a sips worth of booze in it, which I proceeded to push aside. We joked that they all probably spat in the bottle. Booze issue aside, the food was lovely. The first round was a smoked salmon with a quails egg, beet root and some greens. So delicious. The second round was a thick slice of haggis with mashed potatoes swirled on top with a luscious gravy on top of it all. My guy being a massive lover of haggis was hoping and praying I wouldn't touch my bit of haggis, but it was so beyond good, it too all my might not to lick the plate clean. He was pretty impressed and a bit shocked seeing as how typically I can't stand the stuff. What's even more funny is that he can't stand mashed potatoes (loves potatoes, just not mashed) and he basically licked his plate clean as well. Third round was a chicken soup with mushroom ravioli. We all swore it was mushroom soup with some no name ravioli, but it went down a treat over all. Fourth round was a palette cleanser of a lime sorbet with rose pearls. It really did freshen your mouth up to prepare you for the main course. My guy wasn't a fan at all, but it was ok. Wasn't the greatest tasting of flavours, but it went down easy enough. The main bit, which I literally was too full of booze and pre main bits, was a bit of steak, a ball of fried cows cheek, some rather hard veg shaped in to what one of our friends described as 'hard bullets', more mashed and a confit potato. Lastly, a plate of desserts for each of us came out, which was a treat. Obviously, no matter how full we all were, there's always a small pocket in the belly for dessert. After the meal, the dancing started and the drinks started flowing. The toilets were mega fancy with a wee chaise lounge in the female toilet. It would have been nice for the price we paid to be there to have a bit of toiletries on offer instead of having to bring our bags to the toilet every time, but it was nice enough either way. I even managed to find a private area to call my family on skype to wish them a happy new year before midnight (they're in the states and five hours behind, so it worked out well). What an amazing time! I even saw someone there with a 'selfie stick', ha! All in all, aside from the pricey drinks, we all had an amazing time and I would love to go back for a weekend away with my guy.

Was at a wedding here yesterday and although the weather played a big part it was a fab venue. The…read moreceremony was held outside which had beautiful views, only issues was the constant hassle from wasps around us all. The service was great and staff very friendly. Food was lovely and cooked perfectly the drinks however seemed a bit expensive but it was a grand hotel/spa. Definitely booking a spa weekend here soon.

The Plough Hotel - New owners 2016 have refurbished the seven bedrooms on the 2nd floor…read more The function suite on the first floor caters for up to 120 persons at wedding, and other celebrations. Without dance floor up to 150 persons. On ground floor bar lounge and resturant that provides fresh prepared meals. Details available on hotel web site www.ploughhotellarbert.co.uk

the restaurant here is lovely. it is seperate to the bar. they do high teas, and lunches. the food…read moreis always delicious and fresh, i have never had cause to fault it at all. they have a big tv screen in the restaurant too for all those important sports events! the bar is quite big and always busy. they have 2 or 3 funtion rooms upstairs that you can hire out for private functions, this is where the do the food on those busy days, like mothers day etc.

I'll be honest, I was puzzled by the location of this boutique hotel and wine bar. Having lived in…read moreStirling for five and a bit years, I knew that Friars Street was the street which students ascended/descended to reach either the club on the street at the bottom or the club at the street at the top. After all, I was a Stirling student for four years - a reasonably well-behaved one! - and had seen firsthand the havoc that takes over Friars street in the wee hours. So, I was a little perplexed that they'd picked such a central location for the hotel, all things considered. And, not long after Friars Wynd had opened its doors, there was a deadly attack on the street. Jeez. Forgetting the location, Friars Wynd is completely different from its much-loved predecessor, The Junk Rooms. And they have done such a good job of making the place look so fresh and bright. There's a lovely bar in the corner and ample room for seating, and a selection of fresh cakes displayed by the window. You can tell instantly that Friars Wynd is worthy of the 'Boutique hotel' title because it feels so luxurious from the moment you step inside. And if the rooms are adequately soundproofed then I'm sure a night's stay would be a blissful one. I've had both lunch and drinks at Friars Wynd and I was impressed by both. The owner is a really lovely, passionate lady who, on both my visits, welcomed me and even remembered me the second time. Lunch was delicious and it was just the spot for the kind of evening drink we were after. My only comment would be that some background music would really do good in creating even more of an atmosphere, especially in the evenings. I do know that the owner is looking to branch out to live music and jazz would be just perfect for Friars Wynd! I do hope Friars Wynd grows, because they've got just the right attitude for a new business; in aiming to impress absolutely everyone that comes through their doors.

I'm. Never this quick at adding a review but this place deserves it. Early on a Sunday morning…read morewell 8am. In the back and beyond of sterling in search of an elusive breakfast we stumble upon what is apparently the only place that seems to realise that people want to eat before 10am. We came in and both ordered the full Scottish breakfast and wow was it worth it. Locally sourced meats and cooked to perfection. My only slight down point is my tattie scone was a little hard for my liking however the other half likes hers hard enough to hit a nail with so I won't mark them down for this. The food was freshly cooked and bacon was crispy. Coffee was nice and well made. The service was impeccable. While we were in another customer came in and asked for something off the menu and it was instantly accommodated. If I could give 6 stars I would.

My first time at this place tonight and it was quite a pleasant surprise :) I was heading in to…read moremeet a writing group and wasn't sure what to expect, but I found is very charming. The setting is a mismatch of industrial and retro with a hint of old world. The staff were all lovely and friendly, and very accommodating to the abundance of laptops. I decided to call the boyfriend and have him pop in to save me cooking a late dinner (and the food looked amazing!) I had the burger, best in the town apparently, with cheese and bacon. It was pretty awesome actually. I usually struggle with burgers but this was just right, and the fries were perfect too! His mixed grill however, left a lot to be desired. The waitress was very apologetic however for the tough meat, and gave him a reduction on the price. She insisted it's usually better, and it must be the 'end of the day' meat, since we just caught last orders. It was a little pricey for my taste, considering what it is, but I would be tempted to try some of their other dishes. Overall, a pretty good place for a drink and a bite to eat, with a great ambiance suitable for dates, friends and writing groups :) The side streets behind it are great for parking on an evening, but there is no direct parking and you'd struggle throughout the day.

Met a friend for a catch up .... Lovely and welcoming staff in a very open and sunny new extension…read moreto the hotel bar/bistro - mixed feel with brick, metal wood and eclectic artefacts .... Enjoyed the 2 course menu for £9.95 ... Although I'll try the steak pie next time .... Xx

Not a bad place but not great. Arriving late, we decided to…read moreeat in the restaurant. Their selection of beer was minimal. I wanted their pork-chop and was told they were out of them as well as T-bone steaks. So fish and chips it was. Breakfast was fine. I had the Scottish breakfast, wife selected from the continental buffet. We did have to ask twice for bread. Breakfast second morning was also ok, however wife did see ants on one of the buffet tables and the coffee had the consistency of having sat in the pot overnight. When asked for a new cup, they offered hot water to dilute what I had. The room was fine, large enough for us. Only down side was the worn carpet. I can live with that. I'm general, the place has, based on looks and atmosphere, great potential. Unfortunately it looks tired. Staff was mostly young and with the exception of the desk clerk, didn't deal with issues well.

Note: This location is prime in the heart of Stirling, 5 min walk to castle, and 3 minutes away…read morefrom restaurants and bars. Just stayed here one night as I was exploring the country. Wanted to see the heart of the country and Stirling. SO glad I did. Got a fantastic rate on this hotel and it looked gorgeous so I thought Id give it a go. I was not at all disappointed. The location as mentioned was key. It is literally right there. Walk to everything you'd want within minutes. To top it off they had a great restaurant and bar in the lobby. The room was huge and the bathroom spectacular with very modern amenities, a giant glass shower and spa tub. The people were super welcoming and accommodating. I'd absolutely recommend a stay here as it simply could not have been any better.

Just needed a hotel in the area for one night whilst on business, and its a little gem. Polite and…read moreefficient staff, lovely clean modern rooms with freeWireless Internet, and a good sized TV. Dinner is unbelievable, a full three course meal for £10 - I dont know how they do it. Good choice too. Ok not haute cuisine, but very acceptable. Would have been at least £20 anywhere else. They could possibly go up market a bit with the food, and might get more locals coming out for an evening meal it could be they don't bother because its so cheap ! In otehr words, maybe counter - productive. But what a let down at breakfast. Not many hotels do a hot buffet successfully and this was one of the worst. Too much bacon in the tray meant all the stuff on top was cold, and its was poorly cooked , anaemic, fat not cooked at all , and also horrid sausages, which seemd to have no meat content, and be primarily filler and monosodium glutamate. Egg was gelatinous scrambled stuff. I realised too late that a fried egg was possible only to special order, but then it would have been a wait , and I already had a plateful of stuff. Why didnt the breakfast receptionist mention fried eggs were available ? The fried bread was also the worst ever, the crust around it was so solid it couldnt be cut without the table shaking so then your coffee (mediocre) spills over . What a pity , a good breakfast would have meant a 5 star rating. I can barely bring myself to score it with 3 stars

lovely place, lovely staff, they do great themed xmas nights at very reasonable pricesread more

I was a paid guest through an Expedia Bundle at the HIE-Stirling for three nights from 25 May 2019…read moreuntil check out on the morning of 28 May 2019. The hotel gives FREE parking for it's guests. I turned in my Hertz car rental info when I checked in. After I returned home I received TWO parking fines for 100 GBP each from a company that HIE Stirling employs called "Parking Eye." Parking Eye charged Hertz who turned around and charged my credit card. I was a GUEST at the hotel and yet I'm being wrongly fined to park there? I wrote HIE Stirling on 22 June 2019 but they have not replied. I expect them to fix this mistake with Parking Eye and give Hertz UK their money back. I do NOT feel this is how any Holiday Inn Express should treat their customers. Otherwise I liked the hotel, the rooms and breakfast were nice and I would stay there again depending on how quickly they fix Parking Eye's mistake. BUT CUSTOMER BEWARE: There is a good chance if you are a guest at the HIE Stirling and park for free in their parking lot you WILL get a fraudulent fine from their hired company, Parking Eye.

The bar is open til 3 am?! As crazy as that seems to someone used to the HI Express at home in the…read moreStates, I'll take it. Staff was very helpful. Room was clean, with adequate space. The location of this hotel is convenient to most of the Stirling sights like the Wallace Memorial and the Stirling Castle. Drawbacks: wireless was finicky, and only available in the lobby area/breakfast room. No free business center, just a public computer available for a pound an hour. C'mon, this is a Holiday Inn. No need for all these petty charges. In the room it's £5/ hr!! At this level, WiFi should be free. Otherwise, decent place, and Eating Inn next door is handy for a bite.