You know what McBob, you're awesome…read more The MacRobert is perhaps one of those under appreciated places which just always comes through when people need it too. Being set in the University of Stirling Campus it really is in one of the most beautiful locations in Stirling, and as for the facilities in the centre itself, the MacRobert has a fantastic theatre and cinema, a number of different function rooms, and a cafe and bar both of which are reasonably priced. Add to that a host of friendly and helpful staff and you have yourself a venue. The cinema has a range of films both current box office hits and international films from festivals and competitions. The theatre always has a couple of shows on the go ranging from professional companies to amateur groups, yet the open auditorium and grand stage makes any performance feel professional and entertaining. I would definitely recommend the MacRobert to anyone and look forward to going again myself.

Wonderful arts centre, movies are normally late release but always cheap and worth a check, the…read moretheatre is huge and modern and pushing the space to a 5 star is the new management running the resreraubt and cafe. Congrats macbob.

My band supported Three Blind Wolves at the Tolbooth last year and the venue holds itself really…read morewell as Stirling's main music and arts venue. Aside from it being a really great place for a gig, the bar area has a really nice vibe. It's relaxed and friendly and I don't remember it being too expensive. I like that the band have to walk past the crowd to get to the stage and although the main hall seems rather small, it is just the perfect sort of cosey for an intimate gig. It's versatile too. - I went to see the comedian Daniel Sloss and the main hall had been rearranged to suit the night. I felt like I was in a different venue! Tolbooth doesn't match the size of venues to be found in Glasgow or Edinburgh, but it sure does pack a punch.

The Tolbooth is a venue for music in the arts in the heart of Stirling's Old Town…read more I've been frequenting here about as long as I've been alive - when I was a child and a young fiddle player my parents would take me to see people like Alasdair Fraser. I've learned fiddle tunes, songs, creative writing, and discovered that I love free jazz in this building. Highlights of my adult years have included Treacherous Orchestra, Lau, The Weekend jazz/alt music festival (sadly discontinued), Distil Showcase of new compositions, Jenna Reid Band and The Nordic Fiddlers Bloc. As long as I live in the central belt I'll be happy to support this trad venue, with its fantastic sound engineers and everything it does for traditional music. It's one of few venues outside the big cities that brings Scotland's best trad musicians to the masses, and continues to host both the beset of up-and-coming artists and established names like Breabach and Dick Gaughan. Nothing but praise for this noble wee venue that punches well above its weight.

The art centre is part and parcel of the cultural life of the University of Stirling. Since 80% of…read morethe students are campus residential, Macrobert brings a lively cultural program at the doorstep of students. It shows cinema, theatre, dance productions. It is a loved place by children too who often visit the centre for a bit of live fun. I visited the centre in order to see the interactive dance show of Scottish Dance Theatre yesterday. The day was rather gray outside but once I stepped inside all my weather worries were swept away. I entered a very warm environment of smiling and enthusiastic faces of young dancers and dancers to be from primary school classes . The centre isn't big but offers enough room to meet and talk to people. The cafe has also a very friendly look and bar staff are very attentive. The show of SDT had a special message and involved dancers with disabilities showing the equal opportunities on stage. I had really good time.

It's only right that I review the place where I've spent 3/4 of my life over the past three years!…read moreThe university's campus is seriously indescribable. It's beautiful with an abundance of wildlife on campus. (Hello rabbits! Lots of them.) The loch is huge and great for talking a walk around. The campus even has its own castle within which the university's law department is based. - Airthrey Castle is worth taking a wander to see and is alongside Airthrey golf course if you're partial to a putt! In my two years living on campus, I was so impressed. The university is acclaimed for its sports department and the gym and swimming pool are just a short walk from the residences and main buildings. These are both very well-maintained and offer great value. There is also the Macrobert Arts Centre which is essentially a cinema and theatre with a bar and restaurant. I've seen so many films in Macrobert centre, seen some great productions and my band even played a gig there. Whilst all these things are great, the thing that I take away most from Stirling, and that I hear from so many other students, is the excellence of the support system for students. The Career Development Centre offers advice from the moment you leave until you retire and the university takes great interest in the university alumni. I myself called graduates one year on to guage graduate employment rates and have participated in another campaign to reach out to parents of new students and collate feedback on the university. There is also a great councilling and money advice service on campus. In my final year of study, I know that I am in safe hands. - If I need help, it is there and I need not be ashamed to ask for it. I couldn't imagine a better place to have met my boyfriend and my band! Stirling University will always make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Well, I am biased. I spent five years studying here and two years living right on campus. However,…read morethis means I have a pretty expansive knowledge of the campus so I will try to be as even handed as possible. It's beautiful. It has a castle, a loch, a golf course, trees, trees, trees. The residence buildings are very sixties architecture which doesn't so much do the beautiful setting justice. However, the University is currently rebuilding and renovating the residence buildings and they're all shiny, new and modern. There's a cinema on campus and a theatre in the form of the MacRobert Centre. I've seen movies in the place, had a coffee fuelled history seminar in the cafe and been to an insane electro rave here. They even put panto on at Christmas. Anyway, I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for this place!

I've been to the Albert Halls on serveral occasions, most recently playing a private event as a…read moreband in the lesser hall upstairs.The venue itself is extremely versatile and, in the past, I'd attended several wedding fairs for work and left impressed with just how well the building suited the event and how lovely staff were.There's the large, main hall downstairs and the adaquately-sezed lesser hall upstairs. Whilst it's not the sort of place I'd find myself in for a night of music, as it mainly caters to tribute acts, there's occasionally some great acts booked that aren't quie suited to the Tolbooth music venue in town. When we found out we were going to be fed at the private event, we had no idea what to expect but were pleasantly surprised when the in-house Henderson's Bistro served up delicious offerings of Balmoral Chicken for main course. Delightful! Whilst Albert Halls doesn't quite have the personality or quaintness of other venues in town, it's certainly a good size and is extremely versatile. And you can't go wrong if you need a catered event!

I have only been to this venue to see a live music performance and to be honest it's not very well…read moresuited for the job. The sound didn't carry particularly well. There was no proper bar, a folding table with a limited choice of drinks was all that was on offer. There were no drinks allowed in the main hall so you couldn't enjoy a drink while watching the band which was a bit of an inconvenience. However, the venue was quite nice in itself and would maybe be better suited to another type of performance.

Stirling Fringe Festival is like the Edinburgh Fringe's bashful little cousin; young, eager and…read morejust finding its feet in the comedy-arts festival world. Whilst just finished its second successful year, Stirling Fringe Festival is certainly holding its own as an annual event in Stirling, creating a good-spirited buzz around the city whilst involving local independent businesses. - Think Loving Food Truck serving up their delicious street food concoctions while a local band play their hand-penned tunes in the background. This was just one of the events over the 9-day extravaganza. The result is a pleasant slice of the best of what Stirling's got to offer. So this year brought music, performance art, musical theatre and even an evening of Parisian Indulgence. I do not know what a night of Parisian Indulging entails but I imagine it was a relaxed affair with gypsy jazz chords and an abundance of red wine. Seriously, though, for a festival in its second year, Stirling Fringe is shining bright. Whilst hosting stage to names like Daniel Sloss, at the heart of the festival there is real community, with plenty of workshops and groups to get stuck in to. And if you're keen to help out with the planning and organising of the festival, there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer. Stirling Fringe may be a young 'un in the festival industry but I've seen it grow from its first year to its second year and, hopefully, it'll continue to flourish. Of course, it isn't the Edinburgh Fringe, nor does it try to be, but that's testament to Stirling's size; it has done a wonderful job of catering to Stirling's creative community and slots in just nicely alongside the rest of the city's happenings. A huge well done to Barry and the Stirling Fringe team who made this year's festival such a success. Next year...Get yourself a programme, hop on a train, and enjoy!

Good beer, Australian themed. Special thanks to Archie, he gave great tips for us things to do…read more Cheers Archie!

A group of friends of mine get together once a month and this is the venue of their choosing as you…read morecan reserve the big room upstairs. I'm not a fan. Being able to reserve the room is about the only thing I like about this place...oh and street parking. It is a completely over the top "Aussie" themed bar. Themed as in it has all the terribly tacky, tourist ideas of Australia. The toilets are named Blokes and Sheilas, there is swamp/beach style decor, and not a single aussie accent on the staff, which I'm actually quite pleased they weren't required to imitate an Australian accent. It's fairly priced, and the food, although I didn't get any this time, is...adequate. The upstairs room has it's own bar, but they have never had it staffed when we've been. It gets quite busy and loud in the main bar area, and is honestly somewhere I'd rather avoid.

If you have seen Outlander then you may recognize that many scenes were filmed here. More important…read morethis is a very important historical place and former Royal Palace. After all Mary Queen of Scots was crowned here. I joined one of the free tours offered (they do deserve a great tip!) and got about 50 minutes you get a great introduction and a lot of history. Some people chose self-guided tours but I preferred the opportunity to ask our guide questions. We enjoyed a nice sunny day and although it was a winter day, it was also nice to explore their gardens. A place worth visiting!

This was one of the last castles that my mother and I stopped at when we went to Scotland earlier…read morethis year and it didn't disappoint. The signage all over was good and informational. The employees that were working were very helpful. The mini museums across the castle were really cool and informational as well. This is one of the coolest castles that we saw in Scotland and I would definitely go back.