Old Churches House

The cathedral view is spectacular, and the rooms were clean, with complimentary tea and everything needed for a stay. They weren’t very spacious, though. I’d give it 8/10 and recommend it.

The location was the one thing I appreciated. I stayed one night on Monday, May 20, 2024, and some relatives had booked a room for the same time. If I could give it a zero, I would. Before arriving, I messaged to ask for my door code before 9:00 am because I wouldn’t have internet access later. They never sent it or replied. Once we got there, the outdoor signs were poor and it was hard to tell where to enter. Inside, there was no clear room signage, so we went up and down the stairs trying to find our rooms. There was no staff around. I was in Room # 2. The shower drained so slowly that I stood in about three inches of water the whole time. The hallways were very dark when we left in the morning, and none of the lights came on. Calling this place charming and highly comfortable is really misleading. They asked for a review, so I honestly listed these concerns. They never responded. That says it all.

The staff were welcoming and the room was clean, which made for a good night out in Dunblane/Stirling. I’ve stayed three times and would recommend the hotel for that. The location is great. Breakfast was OK, and the one meal I had was decent too. There was no draught beer, only overpriced bottles at the bar, so I’d probably spend more time there if the bar and its surroundings were better.

The location is the one thing we enjoyed. The hotel is right in the centre of town, with a lovely view of the cathedral across the road. The room itself was very dated, dirty, and among the grottiest and most tired I’ve stayed in. A quick look under the bed or behind furniture showed how badly it needed a deep clean. The bed was uncomfortable, and the shower drained so slowly that the water quickly rose to 5-6cm. There was no front desk or staff, just self check-in and check-out. That wasn’t the worst part, but it added to the eerie feeling. There were still signs for things that no longer exist, including a restaurant, reception, and even a gym, making the place feel like an old abandoned building. It seems to be a shadow of something grander. Locals told us that in its heyday Old Churches was a great hotel with a lovely restaurant and was one of the town’s cornerstones. Perhaps that’s why it still has high ratings on many sites. Whatever happened, maybe COVID, it now feels like a shell of its former self.