Peebles Hydro Hotel

The hotel has fabulous views, and Peebles is a charming town just a ten-minute walk away. We stayed two nights in February, and the leisure centre was very good, with a big pool, steam rooms and a jacuzzi. It was fairly busy because of the school holidays, but not too bad. Breakfast was included, freshly made, very good and had plenty of choice. Dinner in the Grill room was also good and reasonably priced. The three single rooms were comfortable. Some parts of the hotel are a little tired, but this lovely place has plenty going for it.

When my girlfriend and I get the same days off, I sometimes book a room at Peebles Hydro so she can come and visit. The hotel always feels cosy, romantic and a little exotic, and it's a lovely place to relax and spend time together. During our stay, Lyudmila Kucher cleaned our room very carefully. Everything was spotless and neatly put away, including the surfaces around the bathroom shampoo and toiletries, and the room was well vacuumed. Her attention to detail was clear. She was polite and friendly too. Excellent service, 5+ from me. Highly recommended!

The frontline staff are what kept this from being a one-star stay. Brad, the night food manager, made us feel welcome even at the busiest times. Eilidh and Calum were consistently outstanding at dinner, and Findlay's bar service ended each evening perfectly. Laura at the spa was warm and organised; Hannah looked after my wife wonderfully during her treatment. Ryan at the pool handled a tricky jacuzzi situation professionally. Claire sorted out our charges when the system went down, and Pablina at the front desk was genuinely helpful at checkout. They deserve the credit. A couple of things could be better for first-time visitors. There are no porters to help with luggage, and the steps up to reception are steep, so carrying several bags can be a struggle. There's a side entrance leading straight to the luggage elevator, but it's not clearly signposted. Also, when I arrived early and asked about checking in, my experience with Chloe resulted in an unexpected £40 early check-in charge, presented as an “upgrade” even though the room was already available. Use your own judgment, but better transparency would help.

The breakfast team handled a busy service so calmly and efficiently that it never felt busy, and they were the friendliest I've seen. The food was great, and we'll be back. The room was a little small but spotlessly clean and had everything we needed. The spa team were great, and the whole place was clean and very well maintained. Swimming had a perfect balance between lane swimmers and a family area. There was plenty of parking, the setting was lovely and the team were friendly and helpful. Chloe, who checked us in, was a delight.