The black Sheep Inn - Royal Hotel

[Nomad]

i will visit said place for a drink and make my own mind up.

somebody else's view posted by a 3rd person is not enough to stop me going or have any negative thoughts before i go thru the front doors...

in general terms, it's a shame that so often anything positive is quickly shot down with negativity and whinging before it can get going & is often based on 3rd, 4th or 5th hand experiences! But then I know Campbeltonians (and I am one) like nothing better than a good moan!

[Mr.Everready]

i will visit said place for a drink and make my own mind up.

somebody else's view posted by a 3rd person is not enough to stop me going or have any negative thoughts before i go thru the front doors...

in general terms, it's a shame that so often anything positive is quickly shot down with negativity and whinging before it can get going & is often based on 3rd, 4th or 5th hand experiences! But then I know Campbeltonians (and I am one) like nothing better than a good moan!

I don't see anyone moaning, only commenting on direct experiences of friends.

I too will not let other comments put me off and put the few less than glowing reviews down to teething problems. At the prices they will no doubt be charging they can't afford to leave it long to get everything up to shape.

[petewick]

i will visit said place for a drink and make my own mind up.

somebody else's view posted by a 3rd person is not enough to stop me going or have any negative thoughts before i go thru the front doors...

in general terms, it's a shame that so often anything positive is quickly shot down with negativity and whinging before it can get going & is often based on 3rd, 4th or 5th hand experiences! But then I know Campbeltonians (and I am one) like nothing better than a good moan!

Am not moaning, just passing on an opinion of someone who is unable to do so themselves, a visitor to
the town I may add, I will of course try the place and make my own mind up, after all I did'nt say I would'nt

[WC1]

Mr Everready's post is a strange mixture. On the one hand, he is happy to rely on the "direct experiences of friends". On the other, he's content to jump to conclusions not based on those direct experiences:

At the prices they will no doubt be charging

Well, I had lunch with my daughter in the Harbourview Grille today (don't like that extra "e" at all!!) and can now comment on my own direct experiences. From what I could see, it's basically same menu in the Grille as in the pub, and the prices for food and for drinks weren't in any way "over the top", in fact, only slightly above the going rate in some other local establishments. The quality was excellent, both in terms of what we had and what we could see being delivered to nearby tables. The service was excellent, too, efficient and attentive but 'laid back' and unfussy at the same time. The place was busy, but the food came out to us quickly, more so than in some places I've eaten locally. The hotel is also a nice place to go for lunch: comfortable, classy, well-appointed, definitely worth a bob or two extra, not that it's actually above the going rate for a four-star establishment. Daughter agrees.

[Mr.Everready]

Mr Everready's post is a strange mixture. On the one hand, he is happy to rely on the "direct experiences of friends". On the other, he's content to jump to conclusions not based on those direct experiences

I'm not relying on any experiences from friends, as I have none !
My comment was on observation on those "moaning" that the usual "Campbeltonian moaning" has started before people even try it for themselves. As with anything in life you can only go by word of mouth until we try it first hand but you can't put people down because they have heard a direct opinion and posted it on here !

You also admit yourself that the prices were higher than other local places, so it seems my assumption was true ?

As I said in my post before, I hoped that the few poor reviews were down to teething problems, new staff in new surroundings. It now sounds like this is indeed the case.

[WC1]

You see, that's how things become distorted. I said "only slightly above the going rate in some other local establishments". That gets quoted as "you admit the prices are higher". Missing the "only slightly" distorts my point completely.

[Mr.Everready]

But you then go on to say "definitely worth a bob or two extra, not that it's actually above the going rate for a four-star establishment." So it's either more expensive or it isn't ?
I still have not seen the menu nor the prices so I can't comment exactly, but having stayed in 4/5 star hotels before I'd expect the prices to be a fair bit higher than the other local hotels, as long as the food and the service equates to the difference in price there won't be a problem.
When it comes down to it though, this hotel was not refurbished with locals in mind, it's for the higher spending golfers/tourists.

[WC1]

Listen carefully. I will say this only once. The prices are very slightly above other similar local establishments. In my view, based on similar personal experience to your own, the prices are, if anything, slightly below 4-star prices I've met elsewhere. The food was lovely (and plentiful), the surroundings great, the service excellent. We can debate till the cows come home what you expect. I wrote about what I experienced.

[Mr.Everready]

Charming

I'll remember in future to be first in queue for any new shop/hotel/restaurant that opens. God forbid I might have an expectation above my station.

[John S]

Nice evening in there tonight, had a few pints in the bar in good company, good to have a quality experience with local folk without having to travel to Glasgow to do it.

[Mary G]

Nice evening in there tonight, had a few pints in the bar in good company, good to have a quality experience with local folk without having to travel to Glasgow to do it.

John,

Are you really saying that there is nowhere between the Royal and Glasgow for a 'quality experience'?

You are implying that every other establishment in Argyll en route to Glasgow is not a quality experience. You are obviously entitled to your opinion, but I can count many places - in Kintyre and further up the A83 - that are fabulous quality.

[EileenH]

I agree with wc1 110%! We ate in the Harbour Grille tonight. Excellent meal with exceptional service and the prices were not as bad as some have commented. Will definitely be eating there again. Too many choices on the menu. Why do some folk have to be so critical? I think it's just exactly what the town needs.

[John S]

Nice evening in there tonight, had a few pints in the bar in good company, good to have a quality experience with local folk without having to travel to Glasgow to do it.

John,

Are you really saying that there is nowhere between the Royal and Glasgow for a 'quality experience'?

No

You are implying that every other establishment in Argyll en route to Glasgow is not a quality experience.

No, I haven't been in them all .

You are obviously entitled to your opinion, but I can count many places - in Kintyre and further up the A83 - that are fabulous quality.

Gees-o Mary, It was only a post supporting my experience in the Royal - not a manifesto for pubs.

[Ileach B]

We were in last night for a few drinks and the wine price was no different to other hotel prices and what I would expect.

Really nice atmosphere at 5pm with a mix of locals and visitors. If anything the area around the bar is quite a tight squeeze for people passing and others getting drinks or sitting. But this is more so just an observation.

[WC1]

Ileach, that was my thought when I went through to the pub itself - a bit of a squeeze in front of the bar. A minor criticism only. The old Royal cocktail bar was quite narrow too.

John, my first thought on reading your post was to wonder if you'd ever been in the Ardshiel, especially after its recent make-over. Good job you didn't come outwith that line before the election!