Reviews of Friars Carse Country House Hotel, Auldgirth
Review by mr/mrs green on 28th February, 2012
Add your review Date visited: 26/2/12
We enjoyed our stay at the Friars Carse Hotel If you want relaxation and peace this is the place.We were only there for one night, but its very comfortable clean and the evening meal was excellent, beautiful surroundings
Review by William on 22nd September, 2009
Add your review Date visited: 2009-09-22
Good Points: hotel and grounds in a lovely setting
Bad Points: as only staying overnight no complaints
General review: friendly staff and excellent food
Review by William on 22nd September, 2009
Add your review Date visited: 2009-09-22
Good Points: hotel and grounds in a lovely setting
Bad Points: as only staying overnight no complaints
General review: friendly staff and excellent food
Review by christine on 28th January, 2009
Add your review Date visited: 2009-01-28
Good Points: Location, grounds and hotel style
Bad Points: No info on local events, mould in bathroom. Failure to advise of hotel events making dining room unavailable. Although staff provided alternate arrangements for us.
General review: Comfortable, quiet with good food and pleasant staff
Review by christine on 28th January, 2009
Add your review Date visited: 2009-01-28
Good Points: Location, grounds and hotel style
Bad Points: No info on local events, mould in bathroom. Failure to advise of hotel events making dining room unavailable. Although staff provided alternate arrangements for us.
General review: Comfortable, quiet with good food and pleasant staff
Review by Malcolm Bates on 9th January, 2008
Add your review Date visited: 20 December 2007
On Saturday (20 December) evening I went with 2 guests to the Friar's Carse for dinner and I thought you might appreciate our comments.
When we arrived we were greeted in a friendly manner and directed to the lounge where, we were informed, menus would be provided. The "Best of the 80's - type" music drifting through from the bar did nothing to add to the ambience of a lovely room.
After some time one of the receptionists, on realising that we were still without menus, rushed off to the restaurant - and then (presumably) the kitchens but, on failing to find someone to provide menus, brought them herself. As she was about to speed away back to the reception area we asked if we could order drinks which, to her due, she then provided.
The menu had a selection of 4 main courses which was probably adequate for purpose.
The (only) waiter appeared some time after to take our order - surprising us as this was the first time we have been asked how we like our salmon steak - medium rare etc!
On being shown into the restaurant our first impression was of a large room with a few tables rolling around in all that space - and only 3 occupied (on a Saturday night!). Our starters were alright - although the salmon mousse I had seemed a bit watery - as if hurriedly defrozen - the others were tasty if not "creative" and somewhat on the small side..
One of the wine glasses looked as if it had been on the table for some time as it was cloudy and streaked - this was exchanged.
For the main course the salmon steak was fine; the lamb was very tasty but the cut of meat seemed to have more sinew/gristle than you would have expected; the mushroom stroganoff was alright but tasted somewhat synthetic. The side vegetables consisted of 2 small dishes of fairly chunky-sized potatoes boiled in their skins with the black eyes unremoved.
The panacotta dessert was fine; the bread and butter pudding fine but could have been hotter.
With our meal we had a sparkling wine which could have been served at a better temperature - placing it in an ice bucket just before serving is not ideal, perhaps - the bottle being cold but the contents barely chilled. We had to ask for a wine list rather than this being offered.
The meal was booked a couple of weeks before when we found that we would be having a visitor and, I have to admit, the other establishments we tried were all booked up throughout December - having now sampled the fare I fear I can understand why Friar's Carse were able to take our booking.
To sum up - a very average-standard meal (equal to those available in the roadside cafes around the area) served with very little finesse or enthusiasm and an almost total lack of atmosphere.
We gave it a try but, I'm sorry to say, we will not be returning in the future.
Review by McVicker/Linkin on 18th December, 2007
Add your review Date visited: December 15th 2007
My partner booked a room for my birthday. Upon arrival the booking was questioned, as we had ben forced to alter the original and nobody had checked. The room was lovely, however when asking for toilet rolls at 9pm we were told by the receptionist, after checking her watch was actually off duty. We asked if there was anyone else we could ask to which she replied no and pleasantly replied she had been there since 7am. We also ate at the hotel restaurant. A big mistake! For a country house hotel to serve a bland pinky coloured watery 'soup', so tasteless we had to ask what flavour it should have been, was unacceptable. The main course was steak in a peppercorn sauce (reminiscent of the soup) with chips and tomato, and that was exactly what you recieved. A 4-5oz steak, with a few luke warm chips and half a tomato ~ no vegetables or indeed thought to presentation. For desert my partner ordered chocolate mousse, which he thoroughly enjoyed, my ice cream again was just that, ice cream and the price £24.50 per person! We had considered this as a possible wedding venue, but feel that although the rooms, hotel and staff were very accomodating, the meal was a disaster. In fact we did wonder if there was actually a chef. In the morning our breakfast was also eventful, with the waitress ignoring me for the rest of my meal after I asked for porridge instead of cereal. Our cooked breakfasts were then dumped in front of us in total silence. Another guest had an non-resident friend who joined them for breakfast and he propmtly shared with the entire restaurant who he had name dropped with and his claims to fame, which ruined our quiet morning. All in all the staff made it a pleasant stay, but Basil Fawlty would not have been out of place on the night we stayed. The location for this hotel is absolutely first class and for me that is what sold it to us.
Review by kenny robinson on 26th March, 2007
Add your review Date visited: 22nd March 2007
I am not one to complain but I feel I have just flushed my hard earned money down the toilet.
I investigated the Friars Carse prior to my booking and felt I would give it a chance, as I used to be in the trade many years ago and know how fickle it can be.
This was a surprise for my wife, on a very important day for us, and it was totally spoiled.
There was no barman, no receptionist, one poor waitress trying to do everything and definitely no managers in the hotel every night we where there. When I asked the waitress if any management actually worked there she replied" not since the new manager took over"!!!!
If there was a real manager he would have known our room was dirty and resembled a tip and there was no staff to take care of us. The guests actually served themselves, from he bar throughout the entire evening! It beggars belief.
We did see the manager before we checked out and when we confronted him he walked away without saying a word. "What a professional"!!
When we were packing the car to go home another guest explained he had also confronted the manager and the reply was “we won’t be seeing you again then"!!!
For goodness sake stay away.
Who employs these people??
Review by Caroline McMillan on 4th August, 2006
Add your review Date visited: August 2006
We are getting married on the 11th August at Crichton, Dumfries and we booked the whole of the Friars Carse hotel for ourselves and guests to stay in the night of the wedding - 16 double rooms, 3 singles, a family room and a twin room. They had a wedding on the next day but we were assured that the night before they just needed the bridal suite. In late June we were told that we could only have 10 doubles and 2 single rooms but they could accommodate 3 couples in cottages. Two weeks before the wedding we were told we couldn't get the cottages but the rest of the guests could be accommodated in another hotel over 5 miles away. Now today one week to the wedding we received a phonecall telling us our whole wedding party was being moved to another hotel in Dumfries as our rooms are being given to the wedding party for the wedding the next day. Not only that but the hotel doesn't have enough double rooms so couples are to be accommodated in twin or single rooms and there is no room for the bride and grooms two toddler children as none of the rooms are big enough for cots.
Would you trust this hotel with your wedding or party or even short break - don't think so.
Review by celia cherry on 7th May, 2006
Add your review Date visited: 15/4/06
Perfect venue for our daughter's wedding. We had the whole place for the weekend. The staff, especially Kenny, could not have done more to make everything go smoothly.All the guests were full of praise, many saying that it was the best wedding they had ever been to.
If you want a country house party feel for your wedding then this is the place. Nothing too much trouble, and the mother of the bride's every whim catered for with good humour!!
Review by LIZ BLANKENSTEIN on 25th April, 2006
Add your review Date visited: 18,3,2006
WHILST WE HAD AN ENJOYABLE STAY---ALL ELEVEN OF US !!!!
I LEFT A PAIR OF SHOES AND SUBSEQUENTLY SENT A SELF ADDRESSED ENVELOPE TO RUTURN THE SHOES TO MY HOME ---AFTER 5 WEEKS AND NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS I AM STILL WAITING----WHERE ARE MY SHOES???
NEXT YEAR OUR BOOKING FOR ELEVEN WILL BE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
Review by Anonymous on 25th April, 2006
Add your review Date visited: 2006-04-25
Good Points: Nice
General Review: A spectacular location with beautiful riverside and woodland walks. staff pleasant,helpful and efficient.Restaurant not ideal for a vegetarian. Hotel decor a little tired and worn but has many beautiful features like wood panelling and ornate plasterwork. Bed linen was fresh crip and clean and room was spotless if somewhat dated.
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