Wee Row Hostel

The rooms were excellent, the meal was nice, and it's a very clean, friendly hotel. I'd stay again. Breakfast service was slow before anyone took our order. The spa was good, and the steam room was the best I've seen, but the sauna bench was damaged and felt dangerous. There were also too many kids using the bubble pool like a toddler pool.

The restaurant and bar teams really went out of their way for us, and we were welcomed by friendly faces as soon as we arrived. The staff were lovely and the rooms felt modern. We had a fantastic time and I'll definitely come back.

The bedroom was comfortable enough, with a lovely view over the River Clyde, good coffee and nice toiletries. The pool was a letdown, though. It's very dated compared with the hotel's photos, with rust on the fittings around it and grubby changing rooms. Food was the biggest disappointment. The vegan options at The Mill were very limited. My vegan haggis bon bon starter tasted fine, but four bon bons made for a small portion even for a starter. We both ordered the Mediterranean Tart for our main, and the potatoes were two small ones cut in half, so four halves. The tart was awful: a rock-hard, empty pastry shell with pre-packed sliced Mediterranean vegetables piled into it after baking. They tasted sautéed, not baked in the pastry. We'd had a Mediterranean tart for lunch earlier that day at veggie restaurant Out There Artisan near Jedburgh, and it was outstanding and less than half the price of The Mill's strange effort. Breakfast was odd too. Veggie sausages appeared on the Room Service menu, but weren't on offer in the restaurant. The chef did make us a veggie haggis morning roll, which did the job, so fair play. The toast was cheap, supermarket-style sliced bread, not what I'd expect at a 4 star hotel. The food lets the place down, and we won't return.

We'd been regular visitors before Mr Stirrat moved on, and booked the New Year package in a Waterhouse after hearing he was back. I can't think of a single negative. The room was clean, comfortable, well equipped and to a high standard. When we arrived, we reported a window issue, and the handyman was already fixing it by the time I got back to the room. From early check-in through check-out, service was impeccable. Everyone we met, from reception and the bar to housekeeping and maintenance, was cheerful, helpful and keen to assist. It was clear they were happy and well led. The peaceful setting and seasonal decorations made it feel magical. The village square at midnight on Hogmanay/Ne'erday is a memory we'll treasure. We enjoyed it so much that we booked for Easter before leaving. Well done, Mr Stirrat. You've got a team to be proud of.