I had no idea of the existence of The Vu, until I was invited to a friend's wedding here. I got a…read morereal shock when I arrived at the venue, as it was absolutely not what I expected. You actually feel like you could be up north somewhere, out in the country, as opposed to half an hour from Edinburgh. The Vu's main purpose is as a bar, restaurant and wedding venue, plus an events space for other functions. My friend's wedding ceremony was held in the Water Lily section of the venue, which is basically a small indoor space for the wedding vows, with a really striking location, jutting out over Ballencrieff Reservoir, on the waterfront. As a place for a wedding ceremony, I thought the views over the water, and the light and beams of sunshine spilling through the tall windows, made it particularly beautiful. The decor is classic, elegant, and mainly white, as weddings usually are, with a touch of purple, which comes through in the lighting scheme too. The Oasis Suite, where the reception was held, is a nice size, being not too overbearingly huge. The meal was really tasty, and there was a good bit of dance space for some ceilidh moves, and the band that played afterwards. This was truly a lovely, contemporary and intimate place to celebrate my friend's wedding.

I got married here just under two years ago, this was the second place I looked up online and fell…read morein love with it. The place is stunning, different and you can do everything in the one place out the way from roads, traffic and buildings. The food here is great and for the wedding meal you get great portions, the wedding packages are great too. Whatever your budget I'm sure you could find a package to suit you as I'm sure they do a Monday wedding for something ridiculous like £1000. This may have changed, just check. I have given it 3 stars for all the reasons above but I could not give it 5 stars as they ruined some of my wedding. They forgot a lot of stuff I asked for, forgot to put out things I had bought for the day for decoration and some of which had a special meaning. They broke my cake initials and the cake stand wasn't put up so my cake was flat and the tiers sat directly on one another. To be honest I have an arm length of issues from my special day which some what ruined it after the occasion as on the day I focused on my wedding day and didn't let it bother me. I complained but got nowhere, I got told they would have a meeting to cover my issues and get back to me but heard nothing at all. I asked for it to be escalated to the manager and owner a couple of times but again did not hear back. I have had a couple of friends who got married here after I recommended the venue to them, this was before my wedding date. They had a few issues too which I hoped the Vu had sorted out by the time their wedding happened. I told them what happened to me so that it wouldn't happen to them but seems some things still went wrong :(. It is a lovely venue and I'm sure a lot of weddings go well and they do their job but they didn't for me and I wouldn't recommend them because of this. For a business that conducts around 2 weddings a day every day they need to learn a lot about the most special day in someone's life. I hope this helps you decide of it's the place for you or even stop any of the issues I had happen to you on your day.

Make no doubts about it, Gean House is FANCY. You know somewhere is fancy fancy, and not just…read morefancy, when the toilets are worth a visit alone. Gean House indeed has a bathroom fit for a queen. Couples get married here; lots of them. I can see why. Having won awards as a wedding venue, Gean House is just perfect for tying the knot. Saying that, it'd be perfect for any occasion that requires a special place. - Gean House is luxurious, with room after beautiful room and a stunning garden. During my visit, I couldn't help but look out and imagine all the wedding shots taken there and all the future couples that would grace that gorgeous garden. Gean House is most certainly worthy of its place in all those wedding albums. - Yes, indeed! I wasn't getting married; I was here for work. I had booked a room for a day of interviews with several candidates. Since we're a charity I asked if it would be possible to reduce the cost of the room hire, as Gean House was quite expensive to book. Ordinarily we'd go for something a little more basic but there was nowhere in Alloa town centre that could accommodate us, so we had to look a bit farther out. Yes, they could give us the room from 9am - 3pm at a reduced rate. Why, thank you, Gean House! From start to finish, we were looked after. They even set the room up with notepads and pens, water and had a table of tea, coffee and fancy fancy biscuits outside for both the interview panel and candidates. And we had prime view of that lovely, lovely garden! If fancy fancy is the criteria, Gean House may well be the answer.

Beautiful restaurant. Service was fantastic! Food was out of this world! I had the lamb cutlets &…read moremy husband had the steak & ale pie. So good. Definitely stop here

about our experience on Tuesday night (07/10). We booked a…read moretable and were seated for 6.40 with our drinks and order taken by 6.50. We waited an hour before we had to point out to the waiting staff that we still didn't have our food while she was giving the table next to us their main courses even though they hadn't even been seated when we made our order. She went to the kitchen and said they were doing it now and to give us a round of drinks so we had basically been forgotten about from the kitchen or whoever put our order through. In the end we had to wait over an hour for our food to arrive and it was just 4 main courses. My son had eaten half his burger and said his stomach was cramping and he felt sick so didn't want anymore, I then finished off his burger and within 15 mins I was the same, sore stomach, cramping and feeling sick. The rest of my family were fine so it had to be the burger. The whole experience was disappointing and not only feeling sorry we had spent the money but physically ill. It wasn't up to a basic standard, we were forgotten about to which it was barely apologised for and 2 of the 4 of us were left physically ill from the food. We work hard to be able to eat out occasionally with our family and on this occasion we have felt we have been let down. Complaints to the management were met with them "refuting" my complaint as impossible! (even though the food questioned was the ONLY common item eaten, same symptoms and same time frame! Offered a "good will gesture" in the way of a voucher! That was refused! I'm not sure why anyone would want to return to somewhere that made them physically ill! Extremely disappointing experience and the management couldn't care less.

We got the Greek salad, chicken taouk, moussaka and a pitcher of sangria. Everything was very tasty…read moreand the presentation attractive. The service was very good and the owner very friendly. (The sangria was a little weak, though, but we would definitely go back.)

This was a wee night out to the lovely city of Stirling on an UYE visit to this fabulous restaurant…read morechosen and kindly organised by fellow Yelper Nicola C. She did a cracking job and it was a great introduction for a meal out in Stirling. I'm not a biggest fan of Mediterranean food but I do enjoy certain aspects to it and I'm always up for trying different flavours and foods. There was seven of us in total and I was unsure what to go for so an excellent mutual decision was made to go for the Chef's Selection for £14.95 each, which allowed you to try lots of options from their menu. This was a brilliant idea so if there was something I wasn't too keen on there was someone else happy to munch in, so nothing went to waste. There was so many courses, I forgot how many there was that it felt like a never ending amount of food came to our table. It was awesome! My favourite was the wee cheeky side order I had of halloumi but make sure you get the lutza halloumi as it comes with pork medallions. Yum! The chorizo was the best I've ever tasted, I'm not the greatest fan but the way it was cooked made it really tasty. We had falafel, chicken wings, lamb kofte, olives, hummus, lots of pita bread, Greek gyros and baba ghanoush. By the last course though I had to force myself, I think I may have had too many helpings of pita and hummus. Ooops! But is tasted so goooood. It's an alternative meal out with good quality food and the staff are lovely. We did have a few waits in between courses but then it's a popular restaurant but with good company and banter it didn't seem so bad. Thanks again to Nicola C. and look forward to the next Stirling UYE. Nudge nudge, wink wink! Hehe!

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.

How to write this review??? I have mixed feeling about this place…read more First the hotel part of it. It was expensive, even when not staying in the "castle" itself. Reception area and hallways have a tacky kilt print carpet that has seen better days. The walls look really dated, the elevator felt like it was going to leave us stuck on a floor at any moment, and when we got to the room, it was even more disappointing. Old, plain, just not welcoming at all. On top of that, the red wine we had paid for, was switched to a white. When we called front desk to have it fixed they told us we would have to go back down and get it replaced ourselves. When we did, and after buying a drink at the bar, they told we could not enjoy the bottle of wine there, that we had to bring it to the room. I, respectfully discussed the issue with the front desk again, pointing out how underwhelming our room was and would rather enjoy the wine in the nicest room they had, since we were paying good money for it. Thankfully they agreed for us to do so. So for that part this really was a letdown, and hoping the review helps other not make the mistake we did and avoid staying there... plenty of other nicer places for a better price around. Now, as mentioned the bar area was nice, it merges with the dining room, and combined look like a green house. During the day, it's nice to enjoy the sunlight beaming in through the glasses and at night it feels somewhat romantic. The restaurant gave date night vibe, dishes and drinks are beautifully presented and in general really good. I had the Steak and Haggis Pie. This was a deconstructed pie, where the steak was served as the main ingredient in its sauce, A scoop of mashed potatoes with haggis patties on top and pie crust shapes as English muffins. The flavors were delicious and big portion. I was very happy with my dish, and was able to try a pasta dish that was also excellent. The downside of the restaurant was the Shrimp Cocktail. These were tiny winy shrimps smothered in like a mayo-ketchup sauce - umm... who thought of that? and expensive for what it was. Stars off for that too. In the morning, breakfast is served buffet style, which I believe was about $30 - $40/ person. So, as you see, I did like some things but, overall, not a place I would go back to. So I guess this would be a 2.5 stars for me, because not even the good food can make me say this place is really OK.

A big let down. I've never wrote that as an intro but we…read morepayed good money for a hotel with "castle" in the name. We knew we weren't staying in "the" castle, but still expected good accommodations. We arrived to a stale feeling check in. That can happen, not everyone working the front counter is going to be excited for the day, but it was a sad start. We worked out way to the room and I was surprised how much damage there was. Walls were needing paint, corners were banged up, and the elevator was beat up like a service elevator. We stepped out to our floor to tacky print carpet, that seemed a mockery to what should have been a classy place. I had paid the upgrade to have a bottle of wine waiting on the room as a surprise to my gal. The next negative was the warm bottle of white wine sitting there. I laid back on the bed, regretting the choices that led me to choosing this place. I called the front desk about the wine and they said to bring it to the bar and they would exchange for a cold bottle or a red. It seemed odd we would correct their misstep but we did so. Maybe it's a better place if you stay in the more premium rooms; but ours was a sad experience.

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