15 October 2019

Review: The Elphinstone Hotel in Biggar


If you're looking for a fab cosy hotel just outside of Edinburgh then look no further. The Elphinstone Hotel is situated in the centre of Biggar which is thirty miles outside of Edinburgh, or a relaxing 40 minute drive. The hotel is a traditional Coaching Inn with lots of charm and steeped in 400 year old history. With smaller hotels such as this one I always look at how welcoming and friendly the staff are since it's so intimate and honestly they couldn't have been more accommodating or warm and friendly if they tried.


The hotel has eleven rooms all with digital televisions, free Wi-Fi and tea and coffee making facilities. There is also access to a hairdryer and ironing facilities which is very handy and saves you lugging loads of stuff with you on your travels. All the bedrooms are different and the hotel can host families, couples or individuals and it's even dog friendly!! This was a highlight for me as it meant we could take our girls with us and enjoy a little family stay together.


Being near the centre of Edinburgh the Elphinestone Hotel is a great base for exploring Scotland. There's free car parking directly at the front of the hotel and since being situated on the high street it makes for a great little walk with the dogs to explore the local shops. The staff at the hotel also told us of a golf course nearby and a local museum which is amazing for the kids.


When we arrived at the hotel we checked into our room first and unpacked our things. We had room number 9 which is massive with a comfy double bed and decent sized bunk beds for the kids. We had a little table with 2 small comfy chairs to sit in as well and the bathroom was clean and quite big with a bath and shower. We got the dogs settled and relaxed with their dog bed and some water then us humans headed down to the bar to chill before dinner.


The bar is lovely and bright with plenty of seating and a massive roaring fire to keep you cosy on these creeping cold nights. The kids loved the pool table and there was also a dart board if that takes your fancy. I personally loved all the art on the walls and the quotes, some were hilarious and kept us amused. The bar had plenty of different drinks and snacks available, I opted for a pineapple and raspberry cider whilst the husband had a draft cider. The kids tucked into some peanuts and played their gadgets and we took turns to play games of pool. It was lovely family time and the dogs are allowed in the bar as well, we just left ours to chill in the room after a busy afternoon. As well as the bar there's a beer garden outside which is a decent size with lots of tables. Perfect for soaking up the sun with a wee tipple.


Soon everyone was getting peckish so we popped through to the lounge to have some dinner. You can sit in the restaurant if you wish to have something to eat but the lounge was so cosy and cute with the fire so we decided to stay there. Harlow liked looking at the small fish tank too which kept her happy and Logan liked chilling. There's loads of choices on the menu to choose from and there are kids menus available as well. My two picked from the childen's menu with Logan going for pizza and chips and Harlow deciding she wanted macaroni. She was desperate for chips with her macaroni as it normally comes with garlic bread but the staff were brilliant and swapped it no bother for her.


The husband and I took a wee while to decide what we were going to have to eat as there was just so much choice. Everything looked delicious but we finally decided on prawn cocktail and brie melts to start with then a juicy sirloin steak and haddock mornay with prawns for main. I can't stress enough how delicious the food was when it arrived. Everything looked and tasted homemade, even the kids pizza! I was very impressed. Harlow's macaroni was delicious and the chips were to die for. Our starters were perfect and our mains even better. The hubby had the steak rare, and I had a little bite, and it was to die for. I haven't tasted a decently cooked rare steak like that in ages. As you can imagine he scoffed it down. My mornay was amazing too, the fish was cooked just right with lovely prawns on top (and loads of them) and a side of boiled veg - potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower cheese. All super tasty. We were so full we couldn't even manage a dessert. Maybe next time.


Feeling full and happy we headed up to our room to feed and water the dogs then take them for a nice evening walk. The town is well lit and it was lovely stretching our legs and getting some fresh air. The dogs enjoyed sniffing all the new smells and the kids were happy taking turns walking them. Once the dogs were happy we retired for the evening as the kids were feeling tired. We chilled in our room and got snug in our pjs watching some programs on the TV. Logan was very impressed with the Wi-Fi as he could play his games on his iPad and I was impressed with it too. The signal never dropped and there was plenty of coverage no matter where you went in the hotel.


Everyone got a great night's sleep as the beds were super comfy. There was extra pillows as well which was handy. Breakfast was being served between 7.30am and 9am so I had a shower and got ready quickly as the kids are always starving in the mornings. When we popped into the restaurant for breakfast we had a table all set waiting for us. The lovely gentleman showed us to our table, got us some tea and coffee and showed us where everything was that we'd need. He then popped away to bring us some fresh toast. The kids really enjoyed their cereal and toast whilst us adults opted for a hot breakfast. The hubby went for haggis, black pudding, tattie scone and poached eggs and I went for bacon, black pudding, tattie scone and poached eggs. Everything was cooked to perfection and had us set for a good day ahead.


Overall we absolutely loved our stay at the Elphinstone Hotel. The staff were friendly, attentive and happy to chat away to us and answer any questions. Service was good and timely and nothing was too much bother. The room was clean and perfect for families and dogs and we enjoyed our time in the bar and the lounge. It's a lovely hotel to relax in after a busy day exploring. Nice, cosy and friendly. The food was 100% ace! I'd deliberately pass by just for a meal. We often travel up and down the country and now I know a lovely place to stop when heading back from down South. We can't wait to come back!


This was a gifted stay in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

1 comments on "Review: The Elphinstone Hotel in Biggar"

Susan Mann on 16 October 2019 at 14:57 said...

That looks like a lovely place. I have not been to Biggar in years, such a great area. Must look this up soon. x

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