The Old Mill Inn

Avoid this place. We tried several times during the day to book a table, but weren’t allowed to, so we had to just turn up and wait. Then we were seated outside by smokers on very uncomfortable chairs, which was especially bad for my back. I explained that and asked if we could move 10 metres to the right, to the so-called “beer garden”. The host/Maître d' gave us a flat no. The other table was extremely close to us. The same person then spilled a whole bottle of water over us and walked away, leaving the poor waiter to clean it up. My steak pie wasn’t a pie at all, just mushy sauce with poor-quality meat, most of which I had to leave, and a blob of crust on top. The bill was £60 for two mains and two waters, one of which ended up all over us. Awful service and food.

The room was spotless and very comfortable, and the bar was a relaxing place to sit. On a cold, wet winter day we got a warm welcome, and the staff were friendly and smartly dressed. Dinner was tasty, piping hot, a good size and nicely presented, though I thought the menu was a bit pricey. Breakfast was cooked to order and tasty too. Service was excellent. The staff could all handle different tasks, so we never had to wait long, even when it was busy. I had a very enjoyable stay and would highly recommend it.

The lively, cosy atmosphere and superb Scottish pub classics keep us coming back. My partner and I have made a tradition of meeting friends here for a meal before the Enchanted Forest, and it never disappoints. It’s right in the centre of town beside a lovely stream. Just remember that restaurant tables can’t be booked, unless you’re a hotel guest, so arrive early or you may be turned away when it’s busy.

The food was really nice and the staff were friendly. But I looked up and saw one of the chefs picking his nose, then handling food onto a plate with his hands. After that, he licked his fingers and carried on cooking without washing them again. Very poor hygiene. Luckily he didn’t touch my food, or I would have sent it back.