We stayed at the hotel with MIL and her friend for a 2 night DB&B weekend break booked directly with Peel Hotels on their Gold Ingot offer.

Check in is 2pm and check out 12 noon.

MIL and her friend were allocated a twin room on 2nd floor and we were allocated a double room on the ground floor. This wasn’t suitable as MIL is disabled and cannot manage more than a few stairs. They had a twin ready, but it was a smoking room. We went to see it, but it was at the far end of the hotel and too far for her to walk. This wasn’t a problem and they asked if we could wait half an hour and they would get a screwdriver and separate the double for MIL and join the twins for us. We said we didn’t mind having the twins as long as MIL was sorted. They moved to Room 108 and we had Room 208. The executive room was not much different from the standard room so we asked if we could change to one of those and got the room we had originally seen, Room 122.

We were served lattes and homemade shortbread while we waited.

Most places we would have just taken what we were given, but the staff were so friendly and helpful, nothing was a bother to them and we felt comfortable asking. You didn’t feel afraid to ask them anything as nothing was too much trouble.

The rooms were an average size for the UK. Both rooms had twin beds which seemed wider than normal and were very comfortable. There were 3 cushions on the bed and a runner at the bottom. There was a trouser press, iron and ironing board, tea making facilities, some flat screen some CRT TV’s, hairdryer, chair and small table. Bath with shower over, toilet and sink. The shower gel and hand wash were in dispensers attached to the wall. The bed was nice and comfy and the duvet was warm. The shower was good.

There is free wifi throughout the hotel, however there was no wifi signal in our room as it was as far from reception as you could get. There is also a computer terminal in reception for guests’ use and you get the password from reception.

Reception were very good at advising on best value for trips and tours in the local area and Edinburgh.

The hotel may not be suitable for the disabled. There are 6 steps up to reception and no ramp. There are 8 steps down to the bedrooms on the ground floor.

There is ample car parking spaces, approx 38 for 48 rooms.

FOOD

Dinner the first night was plated.

Starters – mushrooms white wine and cream sauce, melon balls prawns and Marie Rose sauce, Minestrone soup, pate and oatcakes

Mains – roast beef, pork loin apple and cider jus, sea bass on a bed of spinach, mushroom stroganoff, chicken breast with curry sauce

Desserts - Sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch ice cream, raspberry white chocolate parfait, cheese and biscuits

Coffee and mints

The hotel wasn’t as busy the second night so the vegetables were served separately.

Starters – smoke salmon roulade with prawns, leek and potato soup, haggis neeps and tatties with wholegrain mustard sauce, melon orange and something with yogurt.

Mains – Chicken wrapped in bacon, steak and ale pie, grilled salmon, penne pasta with broccoli

Desserts – ice cream with peaches, profiteroles, strawberry and cream tart

Breakfast the first day was all buffet except fried eggs which were made to order. 4 juices, tinned grapefruit, pears and peaches, 5 cereals, cereal bars, Actimel. Bacon, mushrooms, hash brown, scrambled eggs, sausages, beans. Tea, coffee and a mound of toast.

The second day we were given a menu for breakfast and the fried breakfast was bacon, sausage, choice of eggs, black pudding, haggis, tattie scone, mushrooms, tomato and beans. There was also porridge, smoked haddock, kippers and a couple of other options.

We really enjoyed our stay at the King Malcolm and will probably be returning again. We found the staff to be exceptionally friendly and helpful.