I agree with munchkin2009. This is the BEST pub in the area and staff have to put up with so much cr** from some people who think they have the god given right to be served within 10 seconds of getting to the bar. If you go into ANY nightclub you will have to wait to get served. JUST GET OVER IT and enjoy your nightI am sure the ROyal or Livvery might be able serve you quicker but do you really want to go there??? thought not!! Bally is my local and I know most of the staff through rinking there and they are all realyy friendly and nice. Behaviour breeds behaviour so they say and you reap what you sow. The managers are lovely people, a couple in their forties who are so welcoming and will willingly sort out anyones problem but they have a zero tolerance on people trying to rude or abusive to the staff and why shouldnt they.I think this is commendable. The assistant managers do a great job in their absence and none of them are on a power trip. What gets me is that when people write reviews like this they only give out what they want to be read and sometimes omit the facts so anyone reading these reviews should be open minded and come to their own conclusions. I would rate this pub 100%, its safe, clean, reasonably priced,exceptionally busy and friendly. What more do you need??? read more

I visited the Ballencrieff for the first time on Thursday evening with a pal who said it was one of the few places in Bathgate where you got no bother. It wasn't a busy night but the service from the 2 young bar maids was absolutely shocking. As i've read in other reviews, it doesn't matter who's been waiting longest to be served, they just serve other people (usually female) who jump up to the bar and shout to them. Twice I had eye contact with each of the bar maids and had my money in my hand on the bar but they just flounced on by and served some girls who had walked up beside me! I virtually had to jump up and down waving and begging to be served. Then once I had been miraculously served and I said my please & thankyou, not a word was uttered from the mute, rude barmaid who was too interested in getting back to yapping to other young girls at the bar. Customer service and manners cost nothing, so either the barmaids have never had training or they are just ignorant and beyond help. Its a shame as its a pretty decent pub, good & reasonably priced beer and doesn't seem to attract any of the local idiots, but the very poor service and customer skills of the barmaids (at least the 2 who were working on 6th December will be its downfall). Train the barstaff and it could be a great pub read more

Its such a shame this pub has the rudest staff anywhere in Bathgate as otherwise it would easily be the best pub in the area. The staff serve their friends first (this includes them shouting out the staffs names over your head and getting served before you). There are a couple that do a great job but the majority of weekend staff are horrendous. When you do get served they are rude, spend far too long chatting with other staff while the queue at the bar is 3 deep. I know only too well how difficult the job can be however there are obvious staff training issues here. I find it strange that in this day and age that its all female bar staff meaning that its usually men and friends that get precidence at the bar rather than being based on how long you have been there. I have heard the same complaint being made time and time again its a shame that nothings being done about it. read more

had my hen night in the Ballencrieff and it was amazing.they reserved a section of the pub for us and gave the bride to be a bottle of champange!! now thats what I call customer service. The DJ kept us entertained all night playing fab tunes and cheesey songs. The whole pub was bouncing and everyone was having a great time. I just wish that more pubs in the area had this kind of atmosphere. The staff were really freindly too, dancing around with us,and being silly!!!. Reading some of the other reviews, i have to wonder why these people bother leaving the house as they are obviously not sociable people who are chilled out when on a night out.poor them I say! read more