The Allanton Inn

The food was very good, and service was fairly quick without being intrusive. Parking was easy, and the menu wasn't huge for non-meat eaters, but that didn't bother us. The dog policy made for an awkward welcome. I called at short notice to book a table for me, my husband, and our small dog. The website clearly said dogs could go in the beer garden, and the woman on the phone confirmed it, though she seemed a bit annoyed when I said that arrangement was fine. My husband took our dog around the side and into the garden, following the website, the phone advice, and the big sign on the door. I waited at the bar to ask for our table and say sorry that we were about ten minutes early. Before asking about the booking, the man there sounded horrified and asked where my dog was. I explained she was outside with my husband, on a lead and behaving well, but he still seemed irritated. I understand that some people don't want dogs in a pub, and each owner can set that policy. It just felt strange to follow the rules and still get the sense that our dog wasn't welcome.

The inn is well placed for seeing the sights around the Borders and Northumberland near the Tweed. I spent one night there with my elderly father, including dinner, bed, and breakfast, and we both had a lovely time. The food was high quality, the room cosy, and we were welcomed warmly. Dad especially enjoyed the tasty meal and chatting with the staff.

The food really shows how much effort the owners put into finding fresh, seasonal local produce. We started with pinwheel oat haggis balls and bubble and squeak cake with local eggs, then had mussels in coconut curry sauce and local pheasant breast. The homemade marmalade sponge with local orange sorbet was a lovely finish. The hand cut fries with the mussels deserve a mention too, that kind of detail makes a difference. Katrina and William made us feel very welcome at this well established country hotel. The rooms are beautifully appointed, and the bar has a good range of drinks. There's also a lovely beer garden with pizzas in the warmer months. We gather the accommodation is busy for much of the year, thanks to the location's reputation. Well worth stopping for a drink, a meal, or a stay if you're in the area.

We had Sunday lunch as a group of four. The pub was cosy, the atmosphere was lovely, and the staff were lovely too. Three of us ordered roast beef and the other had haddock and chips. The service was good. The beef was very pink and could have been cooked longer. The cauliflower cheese sauce was delicious, though the cauliflower itself was quite hard and needed more cooking. The haddock tasted good, but the skinny chips let the meal down.