Macdonald Houstoun House

The massage was the best part of our Valentine’s Day spa visit. Our 25-minute head, neck and back treatment was lovely, and the staff were very professional and polite. The food and service elsewhere left us really disappointed. We went to the Tower Restaurant for lunch, but were told they were preparing for afternoon tea and could serve us in the bar instead, with the same menu. We were the only guests there. The chicken burger was fine, but the £20 salmon and crab salad was just three small pieces of smoked salmon and a few fish roe, with no salad at all. It didn’t feel worth the price, and the website menus were completely different from what was available. We also never got the tap water we ordered until we reminded staff at the end of the meal. They brought us two more lattes at that point, even though we’d already ordered ours earlier. For a special Valentine’s Day outing, only the spa treatment was enjoyable.

The food was lovely, even though the menu was small. Staff were friendly and approachable, and we were greeted pleasantly when we arrived. I’d been looking forward to a night away, which is a luxury as a parent, and expected to be in comfortable hands because Macdonald hotels are well known. The hotel is historic, so we could accept a dated room, but the cracked, peeling paint and general wear were hard to overlook. The bed was very small and uncomfortable, making the stay itself uncomfortable too. The restaurant looked worn, and there was old food up the walls by our table. The spa was nice but also very tired and urgently needed some TLC. The changing facilities were pleasant and semi clean. I wouldn’t come back. This place needs attention, and plenty could be done to keep it in step with its historic roots. A fresh coat of paint would be a start.

The room was large and comfortable, though the bathroom was small and tatty. Reception, the bar and the grounds have been renovated recently and look lovely. The welcome at reception was helpful, but breakfast service felt frosty, so service was mixed. Breakfast itself was very poor. Portions were tiny: even a fairly medium-sized mushroom was apparently too big, and only half made it onto the plate. They’d run out of basic things like baked beans, with no substitute offered. At £24 it wasn’t good value, and Eggs Benedict and similar choices cost considerably more. We only needed a quick one-night booking in a busy schedule and got a good room price, so it was basically okay for us. If I’d stayed longer or paid anything close to the usual rate, I’d have been very disappointed. It feels like a once-great hotel that’s aging.

The afternoon tea was delightful, with no complaints there. My daughter and I had a nice spa day overall, but the pool loungers were only about three-quarters size and uncomfortable to lie on. About an hour into our morning, pop music suddenly blared for a water aerobics class, with no warning. It wasn’t very relaxing for spa guests. Because of those issues, I’m not sure I’d return to that particular venue.