cochrane inn in East Ayrshire

Amazing tasting food, nice modern atmosphere and a competitive price. Would recommend.

Whenever I go home to Scotland, this is my number one destination. A great meal is guaranteed: forget all that nouvelle cuisine nonsense, this is fantastic hearty fare. Like your mum’s home cooking, but even better, and a warm welcome to boot. Last week I started with haggis bonbons, followed by chicken Kiev. Glorious.

Had the occasion today to visit for lunch Warm welcome extended by a lady member of staff Very large portions of delicious food at very competitive price.Premises spotless Staff Courteous and customer friendly Have rebooked for next week

First impression was that the pub was cold, everyone loves a cosy wee pub. The service was fine, just a bit over the top. I had the beef shin for main course, the beef was shredded (within an inch of its life) with what looked like grated carrot through it, and the potatoes were luke warm. My husband had the seabass which he said was OK, but again luke warm. Sorry but would not recommend.

My wife booked to celebrate my promotion only to be told they had no booking even when we showed the phone call and then we were offered a table right at the door when the wind was blowing a gale we did not take the table as there was no way you could have enjoyed your meal this is the second time we have been let down will never be back dreadful service and terrible situation to have been put in and made to feel unwanted.

Had a surprise afternoon tea today for my 40th. Afternoon tea was beautifully presented and great choice of sandwiches and cakes. Service was great and the atmosphere in the place was warm and cozy. Would highly recommend and would definitely go back again.

What a great place highly recommend was their with my daughter and mother-in-law for lunch soon as we walked we greeted and showed 2 our table the lady was lovely and friendly made us feel welcomed and the food was amazing great portion will defo go back.

Starter was Cullen skink soup tasted fine but was only just warm camd with white bread and butter so no choice of bread,beef bourguignon with mash potatoes and veg served in a bowl,completely bland and tasteless went to add salt but salt was damp inside of pot so I had to swap it myself.my wife says her mac n cheese was brilliant though.i personally won't be back.

Fabulous meal beautifully presented by charming staff. Exceptional.

Had a family meal here recently the service was great, best service I've received in a long time. Will definitely be back

Had a lovely meal with my parents, for our Sunday dinner, the place looks lovely from the outside and continues on inside. The staff were very friendly on first meeting and were, lovely and helpful all throughout our time there. The starters were great, mains were very tasty and all were reasonably priced, desserts were just so tasty and delicious, can’t say to much more, as totally stuffed , everyone enjoyed their meals and the memories. Thanks 🙏

Great food throughly enjoyable. I must highlight that even though all the staff were lovely and welcoming the server (she's a new member of staff) really was lovely and nothing was too much trouble. It's so nice to see someone smile she made us feel like she'd known us for years......we'll definitely be back 😊

Best dauphinoise potatoes I’ve tasted ; both meals , salmon and beef burgers were excellent

Great food and service. Booked in advance to make sure we got a table! Travelled from Glasgow and will happily travel back!

Been for lunch this afternoon. Was absolutely fantastic. Decent sized portions and what we had was delicious. Definitely be coming back. Sat outside in the glorious sunshine.

Would love to leave a positive review ….. or any kind of review on the food at all but can’t book a table because no one answers the phone. Phone rings until someone eventually hangs up. Great customer service. 👍

Fabulous food, service and atmosphere, will definitely be back.

Just had a lovely meal at the Cochrane, which is under new ownership. We each had three courses and every single one was delicious, special mention for the Cullen skink and baked mushrooms. The teriyaki beef noodles are a must try! Service was super friendly and fast, the restaurant is cosy and clean and very well decorated. Will definitely be returning!

We found this absolute gem just outside Kilmarnock. I gather it was closed for a while but someone has clearly invested in it to great effect. The food, atmosphere and service were all excellent and I truly hope that this place continues to do well. It certainly deserves to!

Excellent food and service very friendly attentive staff 👌 👍 😀

Just been for dinner at this quaint little pub restaurant. Absolutely fantastic. Very reasonably priced, very well presented and brilliant portion size. Highly recommend for anyone in the area looking for an evening meal.

Gorgeous wee place absolutely love here

From Canada visiting and found this place on my run back to our stay. Bartender/owner was kind enough to let me in with my running gear to ask about a reservation. Ending up coming in just before end of sevice time and we were served with no issues. Staff were lovely with the environment being a cozy nook that reminded us of small town yet refined. Meals were delicious with all platters exceeding not only taste but beauty standards thank you for being an amazing host.

Really nice food and wine and good service, but just a bit too noisy, probably due to the low ceiling height.

Worth the lunchtime visit and a plan to revisit in the future for an evening dine. Staff friendly and helpful. Unfortunately no real ale, still there is plenty of choice.

Great food and deserts, always kind and nice lighting over all great place for a good laugh with the mates

Absolutely lovely meal with hubby and Mum. Really welcoming. And a added touch with the biscuits.

First visit, and four of us had a great time with excellent staff, food, and ambience.

First time at the Cochrane Inn. A very pleasant experience. The food was amazing and staff were just lovely. We will be back.

What a great dining experience. All 3 courses were fantastic and the service was brilliant and personal. Great interior design.

If I could give this 10 stars I would! Stopped for a late lunch at 3pm on a Tuesday afternoon. Loved the outside, a well maintained area with beautiful flower beds and hanging baskets. Indoors was just as impressive. Decor is warm and welcoming for a wet Scottish spring day. The food - wow! Honestly the nicest meal I've had out in a very long time. It was superbly cooked and beautifully presented. I had a goat's cheese starter and my friend had the chicken liver pate. For mains I had the rump steak with seasonal vegetables & mash. My friend had chicken in a mushroom sauce with seasonal vegetables. The steak was melt in the mouth delicious. Perfectly seasoned and a good portion size. The chicken dish was just as good. Service was excellent. Attentive but not over bearing which is just how it should be. We visited at lunch time and chose items off the set menu which was excellent value for money. I can't wait to come back!

Fab local restaurant near to Kilmarnock. Lovely restaurant, great staff and super food. (must try chips). Prices were in line with locations and surroundings. I Will go back again. Worth a travel to have this food.

Lovely lunch here with friends, the food was lovely, the staff were nice & the surroundings are lovely. We weren't rushed & could take our time which just added to the experience

Absolutely awesome food and hospitality. Graft conversation with the family who own it.

Had to visit since reopened- not disappointed as menu was varied and prices very reasonable. Service was top notch too!

What a fantastic experience we had at the cochrane Inn,from the beautiful building to the amazing food it was all first class .Lunch time deal 3 courses for £21 is an amazing deal and all 3 courses were so well presented and tasted amazing. Also had a afternoon tea on Sunday with family and it was just as good.The staff and owners are so friendly and go over and beyond what is expected to make you feel welcome and nothing is to much trouble. I can't actually wait to go back and try the full menu .10 out of 10.👏👏

Friendly helpful staff, reasonably priced good food.

Second visit to Cochran Inn now under new owners. Had table in warm and welcoming bar area. I had the haddock which was really good quality fish with superb batter and best homemade tartare sauce I’ve ever tasted. Big portion and great chips. My wife had the slow cooked beef for the second time and loved it. Very attentive staff and great service definitely a jewel in Ayrshire dining

Spent a lovely couple of hours having a late lunch with family. When we arrived, we waited a couple of minutes to be seated. It was very busy. Once we were seated, menus were handed out, and a drinks order was taken. The menu had a good variety of meals. There were a few items for brunch, and the same for a light lunch. We were there to eat, and although we didn't have a starter, there was a good selection to choose from. The rest of the menu followed suit. There is plenty to choose from, but not so much that we struggled to pick. I had a medium steak, cooked to perfection. Cutting into the meat, it was hot, slightly pink, and very tasty. There was a selection of sweets and a cheese board for dessert. Most of the sweets had seasonal fruit on them. These were a little tart for my liking and slightly overpowered the dish. I'm sure others would disagree with me. The food was hot, fresh, and well cooked. Good sized portions and nice presentation. The staff were friendly and attentive. It was busy but not unpleasantly noisy. At no time did we feel pressured to eat quickly and leave. We all had 2 courses and a soft drink. 2 steak dishes and a pasta dish came to £30 per head. You definitely need to book. If you are disabled or especially a wheelchair user, then access would be awkward. There isn't a huge amount of room for manoeuvring. Don't let that put you off. The staff are very friendly and I'm sure they would find a solution. Would definitely recommend to others and we will be back.

Amazing Sunday roast. Will absolutely be back for more!

This was our second visit since the reopening. It was for my husband and his twin s 60th birthdays. The food service and atmosphere were excellent. Staff were attentive without being intrusive. We will definitely be back

Beautiful inside lovely atmosphere the service was amazing and very attentive and the food was delish will be back very soon

Recommended by a neighbour. Stopped by and was very impressed. Staff were attentive and looked very engaged in the business. Food surpassed our expectation. Great attention to detail. Already planning our next visit!

Really lovely place but for me there were a few things that didn't go down well, first, we were sat near the door when the rest of the tables in the room were not taken so when people arrived, I got the chills and bumped when they passed by. And second, I got a pint of Guinness in an amstel glass! The food was great by the way. Next time please let me sit where I want and serve drinks in their specified glass and I may come back.

Excellent food and service. Happy to see a local restaurant opening back up. Will definitely be back.

Working away and staying local. What rude ignorant people they are. We got to the bar and was greeted with can I help you. We’d like a drink please, I’m sorry I’m too busy for you to have a drink. Basically it’s not a pub it’s only drink if you are eating in. We planned to look at the menu and return in the week to have food. Never in my life have I been turned away for a drink. By the time they refused us a drink he could have poured us one. Rude people

Had a lovely afternoon tea at the weekend at The Cochrane Inn. The food was delicious and included lots of nice cakes. The atmosphere was cosy, will definitely be back soon.

Had a lovely experience here enjoying some Afternoon Tea. The new owners have created a lovely atmosphere with gorgeous decor, and couldn’t have been more welcoming. Great selection of sandwiches, hot bites & cakes. Looking forward to returning soon.

Arrived without a booking on Saturday afternoon, pub was busy. Lady at desk was busy dealing with a group of ladies. Went to the bar to ask availability for a table for 2 for lunch. Gentleman behind the bar dismissed our request immediately in a very gruff tone. No alternatives offered, basically thrown out. We will never return, he was bereft of any customer skills. Very poor show for a recently opened business.

Second visit. Lovely lunch. Chicken burger with chunky fries was excellent, with great homemade slaw. Warm, cosy & welcoming atmosphere in dining room & bar, helped by the friendly team who provide excellent service. Will be back very soon.

Nicely refurbished. Extremely busy. Staff excellent. My steak, sadly, was tough and gristly, and the gravy/jus extremely salty. The caramelised onions were sweet enough to offset the saltiness thank goodness so I kept on eating. Lovely mash and veg. Didn't have pudding but they looked delicious.

Went to the Cochrane Inn on Mother’s Day with my family and it was excellent! From the decor, to the service to the food, it was all great. The menu has a great selection, I had the chicken burger and the chips were to die for. I have recommended a visit to my friends and family and will definitely be returning very soon!

I think the initial meet and greet created a feeling like they were doing us a favour letting us eat there. Just had soup and a sanger but we weren't told it comes with chips when we ordered chips and it all seemed a little bit joyless. Adequate but not memorable

Friendly, prompt service. Food was superb and great portion size. Shortbread was fantastic. We were so impressed we have made reservation for our ladies Christmas lunch

Lovely lunch.Great service. Staff very attentive.More spacious now. Beautifully decorated. Thanks for your hospitality. We will definitely be back soon.

We went for Dinner last night. Missed coming here when it was closed, such a cosy restaurant and everything was amazing. Food was excellent, can’t wait to come back again ❤️

Brilliant dinner at the Cochrane last night – really welcoming atmosphere from the moment we stepped inside and service was excellent. Great selection on the menu – chicken tempura was outstanding and Ribeye was cooked to perfection. Highly recommend people to get themselves booked in, we’ll definitely be back!

Personally I think its overrated for what you get and pricey too

This is a lovely place to eat nice homely food and cosy place with 2 fires part of a larger company check out the rest of the places

Hadn’t been here for a number of years and had forgotten just how nice it is. Went with the family and even fussy stepson loved it! Menu has a great choice, the food is fresh and so tasty, the service is good....staff are friendly, helpful and attentive. Definitely won’t be leaving it as long till we go back!

Beautiful meal in lovely surroundings. Staff were very attentive and friendly.

A very welcoming and friendly atmosphere with impressive manicured gardens on the way in. The quality of the food is excellent with staff that seem genuinely interested in making your visit worthwhile.

Excellent dinner at a very good price. Staff were most helpful and menus varied, Early Bird menu was particularly good.

Staff were brilliant, without prompting, they brought the dessert out for the birthday girl wi us and started singing happy birthday. Great service. Food was also brilliant

Weekend breakfast, lunch or dinner, you're always sure of a warm welcome from friendly helpful staff. This is not a "fine dining" sort of place, but you can be sure of good, mainly local, ingredients cooked to perfection and attractively presented. Nothing ever seems too much trouble for the staff, you don't want mash or rice with your main course, they'll happily change it for chips ( which by the way are perfect, golden and crispy not too thick or thin).Prices are very reasonable, £28 for two excellent meals.There is a decent sized car park and the premises are accessible for wheelchair users.Although it looks quiet, we arrived just after opening and there were quite a few more in by the time we left.

Never disappoints. Food cooked to perfection very friendly and helpful staff. You want to change an item of your meal, rice or mash for chips say, no problem. It's not "fine dining", just good food, nicely presented in really pleasant surroundings. Breakfast at the weekend is great too. It looks quiet but we were first to arrive on a Tuesday evening, but more customers arrived steadily.

We always come here staff are lovely and friendly, nothing is a bother to them, food has always been beautifully cooked, we normally come here on a Sunday especially for breakfast, but after a rather hectic day we decided to come for dinner and we weren't disappointed, whether it's breakfast, lunch or dinner, it's by far the best place to eat, looking forward to visiting again soon

Went back into this place today after a long period eating elsewhere within this companies outlets. The staff were friendly and polite there it ended. Of all of this companies outlets I visit and eat in throughout Ayrshire is must be the worst effort in cooking presentation and quality I have come across, by a long way.It was mid pm on a Sunday, it was not busy the meal served was a joke . I was askd by the staff if we needed and sweet or coffee after the main course, NO I replied. There was no interest in asking about the main course , however , I did advise the staff that the meal was poor , that the chips were half cooked ( stake and sausage pie) was overcooked and simply shredded into mush . Well for £13: 00 it had a few sliced carrots, a small portion of overcooked stake pie and that included the tuff parts I would not give my dog. including two small parts of a sausage.Overall I would have been better buying a MacDonald's drive through. Lazy carless approach by the cook , simply not a chef . Senior management of the entire operation need to address this , perhaps this is why in the old days it was always busy. NO surprise it was empty , or at least very few inside. Perhaps the chef used on other occasions was off today, it appears that way, My wife dinner was pasta seemed ok but, once again the chips were half cooked. I Will never return and waste money in this outlet I would give the food a minus , and 1 for staff attention so 0 out of 5 as a average rating that Is all it deserves . Scotts Troon harbour , longboat Kilmarnock and Elliots including the lido in Troon are far better quality where we eat on a regular basis for similar money.

We visited on Valentine's Day, service was slow, had to keep asking for drink top ups and we found it a bit cramped. Food was good though.

Best apple pie in the town n av ate Ma fair share et pies defo Ma favourite service was ace bbq burger brilliant

It was fab it is local to me and I just love the food. Another lovely meal tonight.

Lovely food and great atmosphere and friendly staff

Never ever fails, you can be assured of good food here, it’s got a lovely country feel to it but like most CC establishments his mark is here and it shows...Talented Guy ...

Fabulous meal. Staff absolutely great. Loved everything about place-will definitely be back.

One of my husband's favourite restaurants....enough said!!

Lovely place, cosy country vibe, food was fab.

Had a lovely meal here on Christmas day, great staff, great food and a really nice cosy atmosphere. Different courses arrived at good intervals. Very impressed

Me and my family had Christmas lunch at the Cochrane inn and it was fantastic food was lovely and the service was second to none will go back soon ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Excellent would be back anytime great staff friendly helpful great service food is fantastic there are the best so bypass the rest

First noticed knive still had food on it when sat down at table, then no butter with starter had to ask for it when it came dish was chipped, then I asked for another pint she said will give in new glass would think so, then couple in next table gave meal back no idea why, prices not good.

Warm friendly pub lounge, great service and good food

Excellent quality.. local sourced ingredients

Great food, friendly staff & prompt service.

Good kitchen. Friendly service.

I don't usually post bad reviews but last night really annoyed me. We live locally and the Cochrane is our nearest restaurant but we don't visit it very often. Why? Over the years a variety of disasters but we keep trying but last night my husband and I booked a table for 6.30pm we arrived promptly and had to wait a short time to be seated.we ordered our drinks and all went well,we ordered our food and waited and waited. After 40 minutes my husband could not contain himself any longer and went to the bar to enquire about our food only to be told that they had thought it had been served

The food was first class with lots to choose from a varied menu. The service was spot on also. My only reservation was with regard to the cramped dining room . Too many tables in such a small space with no real sense of privacy. That said it hasn’t put me off and will almost certainly return.

Good service and food exactly what you need for a quick lunch. Well presented

Love this place. Highly recommended.

Popped in for a drink scoping it out for a meal. Very welcoming staff. Looking forward to eating out here very soon.

Visited Cochrane Inn with my wife and family this is an excellent venue for a family lunch or even a small party. The food we had was very good,freshly cooked to order,from the wde ranging menu. The staff were very friendly and efficient the atmosphere and decor was great. I would recommend it to any looking for good meal in the Kilmarnock area

Good traditional Ayrshire biased food.

Food excellent and pleasant staff though service can be slow at times

First visit in a long long time. Couldn’t fault it. We chose off the early bird menu. I expected the portions to be smaller but definitely not. I would highly recommend this place

Food is excellent but they have cramped too many tables in I went for a family meal out and four of us were put on a table barely big enough for two next to us was a table where people were calibrating a birthday we were all pushed in a corner made the meal very unpleasant could not hear easy other and had to keep moving in and out to let people get to their seats. Will not go again most unpleasant.

Just had an amazing meal there. Tasted great and decent portion size too. Staff were super friendly. Pure pleasure!

We made a booking but ended up arriving mega early

Haven't been here for a while, loved it the first time, this time it was average. The building, like most costley establishments are pretty, well kept with impeccable gardens, Inside, it seemed smaller, I don't know why! Lovely fire burning. Two female members of staff , both attentive, polite, welcoming. We decided to eat off the early bird cheaper menu. The garlic mushrooms was watery, in like a breakfast bowl, I didn't even take a pic of it, didn't taste as bad as it looked, it was what I had last time, but it was soooooo different. My husband had breaded haddock, when I asked him why was he putting vinegar on it, very unusual, he told me it was dry. My sausage, mash was on a boiling plate, with soggy onion rings and a mustard sauce that burned the back of my tongue. Although it was only £36 with a couple of soft drinks, I don't think I'd be rushing back

Disabled access is very poor with only one narrow door which is very heavy and difficult to manage wile pushing a wheelchair, we had to rely on help from other customers. The path leading to the door is also very narrow and could be difficult to negotiate. Food was very good but drinks were far too expensive paying £10.80 for a glass of house wine and a rum and lemonade. But the big issue with me is the disabled access,

Lovely meal, fab staff, Melissa served us, lovely girl very friendly Food delicious, good value at teatime.

A long way from home and you don’t always understand what the locals are saying. So looking for a restaurant to celebrate your wedding anniversary isn’t all that easy. After reading reviews, ringing up and asking google you make a decision. Take a breath, ring up and make a booking - hey that was easy and friendly. So into the wilds of Gatehead and not a problem. Easy to find and plenty of parking. The welcome is relaxed and seating is easy. My request for a different chair caused not a ripple.