Stay Date : 18/10/07

Great Overnight Stay In Ayr

A customer who stayed at this hotel wrote this review.

After a long drive from Ballachulish we received a warm welcome from Alistair and his team. All of whom were first class and eager to help with anything we needed. After being invited to review the dinner menu for the evening, we decided to book dinner at the hotel and although the hotel was very busy due to a wedding commitment, the service could not have been better. All members of the staff made you feel as if they were there just for you. We were invited to the restaurant and introduced to Sandy Cameron who looked after us and the other guests in the restaurant. The food was beautifully presented...you didn't want to eat it in case you spoiled what you were looking at! We needn't have worried; the food was exquisite and was complemented by the comprehensive wine list. The partridge with roasted pine nuts appetiser...and the selection of petite fours after our meal - presented complements of Executive Chef Charles Price were superb. Another we liked about the restaurant is that although you may be there on business, pleasure or on your own, Sandy always made sure that you are looked after, comfortable and happy with where you were seated, with your food and wine...and also with your stay. We found this a bit unusual, however in a good way, as most restaurant managers are concerned with only their domain... it goes back to our first comment that you feel as if the staff are there just for you. We decided to have an after-dinner drink in the lounge in the reception area, and again were impressed by the staff in how they looked after us as well as the ongoing wedding - which looked like a great occasion. The next morning, at breakfast was the only downside of what had been a perfect stay. We arrived at the breakfast restaurant at 09:00, and were met with a very cold reception from the Breakfast Manager maybe it was her 'off day'. We ordered what we 'fancied' from the breakfast menu and were rather sharply told that certain items would be extra. I was even presented with a 'Bill' to sign (for the extras) immediately after ordering Extra items are clearly shown in the menu, however being 'talked at' in this manner, at this hotel, was unsuited. Perhaps a roadside cafe is more suited to this particular Breakfast Manager. In any case, we would not allow this to spoil what had been up to then a perfect stay. Overall, we would not hesitate to re-visit the Western House on business or pleasure. The hotel stands out amongst a crowd, however, Alistair & Sandy both stand out yet further.

Scores are based on 1 (poor) to 5 (Excellent)