The Waterfront Hotel & Bistro

I’ve been in a few times over the last couple of weeks, and everything has been wonderful. The food is consistently fantastic and probably the most reasonably priced in the Port. The staff there now, in 2026, are just fantastic. I’ve been coming to PortPatrick for over 20 years, and the food and service at Waterfront Hotel have varied a lot over the years, but the last few years have been great. I haven’t stayed in the rooms, but the bar and restaurant are excellent. Thanks for looking after us.

For what we paid, the stay wasn’t worth it, and we won’t be back. The hotel feels outdated and the staff weren’t welcoming. I emailed beforehand about bringing our dog but got no reply. At check-in, the young guy was on the phone, then asked if we wanted a table for two. We had to explain we were checking in. There was no greeting or welcome. He pulled a sheet from a pile, pointed to where I should sign, told us breakfast time, handed over a key, and explained where the room was. We checked in at 3pm, the official check-in time, and went up before bringing our things. The top-floor room had dirty towels on the floor and an unmade bed, so it clearly wasn’t ready. When we came back down to tell him, he just looked at us and the computer, then gave us another key without apologizing. The other room was like a box room, with the bathroom literally inside the wardrobe. We accepted it for one night, though the first room had been much bigger. The bed was half a step from the bathroom, leaving little space. Our dog had to sleep under the table because there was nowhere else to put his bed. The window ledge was dusty and dirty, the open wardrobe leaned, and the TV had no working channels. Nobody told us about the restaurant or bar, so we went into town and ordered takeaway, which was amazing. The room needs a deep clean, and the thin walls let us hear everything, even another guest snoring. The mattress was comfortable, but the bed was small. At breakfast, the menu for a full breakfast or choosing items only showed fried egg. The woman didn’t mention scrambled or other egg options. The food was nice, but we had to ask where the coffee was because she hadn’t told us. It’s a small restaurant and gets busy from 9, though we were there earlier. The server kindly brought lemon slices when I asked. It seemed all the staff had several jobs: the receptionist covered the bar, the evening bar worker covered reception, and the breakfast server also handled reception and checkouts. Nobody told us the front door needed a key because reception isn’t open 24 hours. We had to ask so we could take the dog out. The hotel next door was packed with people enjoying drinks, as it serves non guests too, but this place was empty. After I emailed about our problems, the hotel replied: “Yes email was read but since you didn't even give us 24 hours to respond to you before posting on trip advisor with added comments at the end I don't see the point in entering into any conversation with you!!!!”

We stopped in for lunch with our dog. Dogs are welcome in the bar, but not the restaurant. The food was good and reasonably priced. There was just one staff member, but everything seemed to run quite smoothly. We’d call in for lunch again if we were back in the area. 20th May 2026

I haven’t stayed here because I have a Motorhome parked at a site, but I visit Portpatrick very often. The food is delicious, cooked to order, and there are lots of Gluten Free options. The staff are friendly, helpful, and always smiling. I even celebrated my birthday there. With two Poodles and a dog lead in each hand, I usually eat outside, although I’ve also taken them into the bar. They even bring my glass of wine to the table. The service is superb. I can’t wait to come back when the Caravan/Motorhome site reopens in 2026.