Kings Arms Hotel in Scottish Borders

The decor inside is cosy and clean. I thoroughly enjoyed the food. I had the macaroni, which was delicious. I didn't think the service was very friendly, but she did her job fine. When I've been in the past, the staff was lovely, so maybe this was a temp worker. Sometimes, people have a bad day. It is a nice place to go, and I will go again.

Absolutely terrible meal got told no roast beef because we were on Christmas menus, the turkey lunch was acceptable if you were a small child , portion size was very small and the sterter was advised as a sharing portion but again was small. Should of known when the dining room was very quiet, seems like the staff are just unaware and are just on cruise mode. Definitely not returning price isn't matching what you get.

My wife and I stopped by this little gem while Christmas shopping, my wife had the teriyaki salmon and I had the beef cheek and ale pie. Food was nothing short of brilliant, probably one of the best pies I’ve ever eaten in an establishment, would definitely recommend.

Lovely food very reasonably priced. I tried the chicken wings with blue cheese sauce, one of the best starters I have ever had. My wife had the sweet potato soup with the posh fish finger sandwich with chips. The portions were generous and the bread was warm and crispy . My main was a wonderful salad. Service was friendly and polite and a little slow.

Really great stay and staff excellent

Good good, staff great. I would stay here again.

We had a lovely stay at the King's Arms. The service was excellent and really friendly. The room needed a refurbish, the floors were very uneven, which I accept is expected in a 200 year old building. But the master was lose interest bathroom and the door did not fit at the bottom. I would certainly recommend to a friend and would stay again.

Very pleasant one night stay.Clean comfortable rooms,excellent shower and bath facilities,friendly helpful staff,good atmosphere and nice breakfast.No complaints,good value for money.

Called in on a Sunday for something to eat, quite a varied selection of starters, mains and sweets on offer, went for 1 x fish finger sandwich and 1x fish tacos with cheesecake to follow and a couple of coffees to finish. Food was excellent, coffee was very nice, prices are good and service was first class. Dog friendly which was a bonus for us, if your looking for somewhere to eat in the Melrose area I'd recommend giving the Kings Arms a try.

Went in and had a really nice meal and a beer staff were friendly and helpful

We only stopped in for food and very pleased we did. The fish pie was one of the best we have eaten. Lemon cheese cake was also to the same high standard. Great value with lots of local people.

Just had a delicious roast beef sunday lunch here today. Large portion with plenty of vegetables…. And then a massive side portion of delicious cauliflower cheese. .. each! Very dog friendly and lovely staff. Totally recommend if you’re in the area.

My husband was impressed with his Haddock & Chips and I really enjoyed my Fisherman’s Pie. Good food, reasonably priced.

We wanted somewhere that did a meal, not too far from the abbey and this fit the bill. When we got there no-one else was in, but it soon began to fill up. There are tables in the bar area and more to the rear of the hotel. Ladies toilets are upstairs and there didn't appear to be any disabled facilities. Men's is downstairs. The bar man was friendly and took our order, but food was slow to appear. We both chose Teriyaki chicken, which was OK but nothing special. It was reasonably priced.

Sad to say it didnt start well and only got worse Warm wine in a dirty glass it was changed and given ice. Nachos delivered in a searingly hot plate and no warning given by the waitress, 2 burnt fingers. The nachos were tasty though. Roast Sunday Dinners Over cooked roast potatoes were not fresh had been re cooked tough and burnt Cold mushy broccoli and peas look warm purple cabbage Over cooked crunchy burnt Yorkshire pudding The beef was the best bit and an extra jug of gravy was the only thing that got me through what I could eat of my lunch. I did alert staff each time something was wrong and it was met with a pleasant but awkward smile. The youngest waitress who cleared our plates was the most helpful and attentive thank you for that. When we went to pay the staff behind the bar asked if everything was ok I had already informed her things weren’t so not sure why she asked again! Not looking for a free meal but nothing was done to rectify any of our dining experience, and at over £50 we won’t be back and sadly wouldn’t recommend this place. The hotel is needing some love and good direction, needs fresher paint etc looks tired and dated.

A nice friendly welcoming atmosphere with excellent service. The food was delicious and a bit different, fairly priced. Dogs were allowed. Spotlessly clean.

Appalling. Unbelievable slow service. Terrible food when it eventually arrived.

Food was of a good standard at a reasonable price. However, two of the four main courses could have been classed as a generous starter, there was not enough food, a fish pie served in it's own small dish, set on a plate containing garden peas. The other disappointing dish being chickpea and feta, the quality was fine, it was served in a small plate type bowl. Also had a meal in Burts, which was an altogether quality experience.

Trying to do too much with too little. Only two staff serving, suspect shortage in kitchen also? Several dining areas with too few serving staff. Food OK, just, but could be better Will be giving this hotel a miss for a while, there are plenty other dining places in Melrose

We were cycling the Kirkpatrick C2C and this was the final overnight stop before Eyemouth. Our bikes were locked away in a shed overnight. We had dinner in the hotel and it was delicious - I had Steak Frites and my friend had the fish pie. The breakfast choices were adequate and we both had the rolls with sausage. The room was OK but strangely didn't have a mirror in the bathroom. The mirror was outside the bathroom door. It is surprising how often you need a mirror when you use the basin. Staff were OK but could have been a bit more friendly.

The food was mostly good. My chicken burger was seriously burnt, but I was too hungry to say anything! Several rooms for dining. Seemed to not have enough staff & drinks had to be requested several times throughout the night, and had to remind staff numerous times. Loud party happening upstairs that became too loud in the main area. This wasn't our hotel, thankfully, as numerous intoxicated people yelling in the front & rear would have been really annoying!

Had a meal here, nice food. Saturday night.

We came to the Kings Arms on recommendation from my father in law who had recently eaten here previously, on Wednesday 14th of August 2024. We were a table of 4 plus a toddler in a high chair. We were very hungry after a long drive. The table was offered to us to us quickly and the staff friendly. When we ordered our drinks we asked for some chips for our toddler to be delivered first, but this couldn’t be done, not a big deal but as most parents would know annoying. We ordered our food quickly too as hungry. Everything came together within 20 minutes which was fine. When the food eventually arrived, the two fish pies were disappointing and we are advised by our family well below the usual standard (basically hardly any fish and just sorry looking) the salmon looked awful and smothered in sweet sauce, the pie was fine. We gave feedback to say the food wasn’t up to standard and the waitress was lovely, she acknowledged it and told the chefs. My father in law kindly paid the bill but once paid realised he’d been overcharged (£166) we checked versus the menu and the bill should have been £116. My father in law went back to challenge this he was offered a refund for the difference. Overall I would not recommend, service was ok, food rubbish and we were grossly overcharged, I am advised there are much better restaurants near by.

Sunday Morning - 11am Family of 3 1 full Scottish Breakfast 1 Poached eggs, bacon and avocado on toast 1 waffle with Banana and Nutella 2 fizzy drinks and a coffee Service and drinks served within 5 minutes, order swiftly taken. Food took around 35 minutes to arrive, wasn't busy unsure why it took so long. waffle perfectly fine, the Avo also no complaints. Full Scottish Breakfast at £9.99 - see provided images. Disappointing, unfortunately at that standard I don't see any reason to return. £35.00

A dog friendly eatery in Melrose town centre. Staff were friendly and efficient and made a fuss of Rosie our border collie. The food was tasty and filling although we managed to find room for a desert. Hubby said the sticky toffee pudding was one of the nicest he’s had for a while. He likes plenty of sauce and the Kings Arms didn’t disappoint.

Looking forward to eat here last night 1st july 2024 . Had a few drinks first then went to go to the toilet but hey ho no disabled toilet . Anyone who can’t climb stairs do not go here as they are spiral stairs with carpet on and not safe. Spoke to the under manageress she said she would give me e mail address to complain but never came back . As I needed the toilet I had to leave . I thought by law if a pub sells drinks and sells food they need to have a disabled toilet . Shame we had to go to another hotel as the food looked nice

We booked months ago. Pre-ordered our food as we were a largish table of 17. Pre-order sent one week in advance. Tried to call to pay deposit but no one ever answered the phone. We arrived and there was no issue with the starters. However, the mains were served in small groups. A gluten-free order had been placed but on checking, it wasn’t gluten free. Two salads had been ordered without eggs but had eggs on them. Several people had ordered sides but were finished their main courses before the sides arrived. Some of the plates had clearly been prepared before the chips were ready so part was cold but the chips were hot. The gluten free batter on the fish was not nice, extremely hard and look unappetising. The waiting staff were nice and chatty but the meal was extremely disappointing.

Great overnight stay. Lovely room with character in this renovated pub. Attentive staff and good meals. Breakfast freshly cooked to order.

Popped in on the off chance and ended up having a great breakfast with great service! Thank you!

The worst hotel I have ever stayed in. Black mould in the shower, filthy carpets, wallpaper peeling, no working internet. I would never stay here again.

Stayed for an overnight after attending a gig in Galashiels. Room and bathroom a good size. Comfortable bed. Tea and coffee provided. Lovely breakfast.

Meeting friends for lunch. Good food. Young staff very attentive.

Very nice base to explore around river Tweed. Good food.

Lovely friendly pub in Melrose, food was very nice.

Popped in a couple of times on our resent visit. Proper pub. Good selection of beverages.

Lovely place. Stopped for breakfast, and we weren't disappointed. The food was very tasty and amazing service. Definitely stop here if you are in Melrose. Thank you for your hospitality. 😁

It was part of the whole Melrose Sevens experience but the hotel just hit the spot. The beds were comfy the showers powerful with plenty of hot water. Breakfast was delicious and we eat there both nights - the food was good. Would definitely stay again

Always a wonderful stay at the hotel. The staff are so helpful and very welcoming and friendly. Food is to a high standard and can't fault it. Stay every year and never disappointed.

Decent beer and great local chat. I'd say, very much a rugby pub, and all the better for that

I only had a quick stop but the menu was good and the service was spot on; dog friendly too, at least in the bar.

Mothers day meal for 4 people. The service from the dilatory waiters and the wait for food was poor.I had to find the waiter to ask if we could order. The food took 45 mins which is excessive for 3 fish and chips and a Sunday roast especially as the restaurant was very quiet. We ordered more drinks as the meal arrived and yet again I had to find the waiter after ten minutes of waiting. The bar area was busy but diners drinks should be a priority as by the time the drinks arrived I'd nearly finished my meal. The food was great but the experience was ruined by the lacksidasical waiting staff and delay on food waiting time. Won't be returning

Went for an evening meal on Saturday, food was great, service excellent and the atmosphere was great. We're newish to the area and still finding places we like. We'll definitely be back

Nothing special about their food although it is pricey for what you get. Didn't stay, It's on the main street so plenty of passing traffic. Looks old worldly inside.

What an unbelievable place. Staff couldn't be any more helpful. The food was delicious, great atmosphere,really helpful and polite. Theres honestly nothing too much for them. Please try this place. Assistant manager 👌

Evening meal only. Meal was excellent.

Excellent stay ,room, very comfortable and clean and bed fabulous , Thank you

Visited Melrose for the 1st time at the weekend for my birthday. Had a good time untill the local 'young team' from the rugby club committed a robbery at the Kings Arms in full view and nothing was done. I've never seen anything like it. Wont be back. I would advise people to avoid the Melrose area in general, from what I saw you are likely to be a victim of crime and the rugby club crowd are totally feral. Disgusted.

Nice Quiet little pub/hotel Great staff

Food drinks & soggy menu- what more could you want? Unbelievably friendly staff, really great service. Food was very nice especially beef cheek and ale pie, best I’ve ever had!! Wife had fish and chips ( more like whale and chips ) really generous portion

Hotel room was dirty and dusty, customer service was poor except for the women that checked us in. Rude staff members and the breakfast was so poor I had to leave it! Served greasy fries breakfast with an egg that looked like it had been sitting there for hours, cold mushrooms over cooked tomato and burnt toast. So disappointed as I had eaten here before so was expecting good things. We spoke to the staff member on leaving as we requested a king size bed but got a double. I emailed to complain about my stay had have had nothing back to which I’m disappointed in. Poor service as far as I’m concerned! Won’t be visiting here again.

Went for sunday lunch,the roast was fantastic. Food cooked very well lots off flavours couldnt fault and the staff were very friendly and attentive.

We visited the King Arms with no booking, the waiter kindly found us a table with no issues. We ordered the fish and chips and fillet steak, the fish and chips were absolutely fantastic, and the steak was perfectly cooked medium rare. The posh chips were also the best chips we have ever tasted. We even went for lunch the next day and shared a club sandwich which was very tasty, and the chips! If we are ever back in melrose it will be our mission to eat again at the King Arms.

Firstly, don't judge a book by its cover! Dog friendly Gastro type pub with a lovely interior and good decor throughout. A big beer garden and conservatory out the back with lovely comfortable seating. I had the small fish and chips and it was plentiful, the fish was white and thick and the posh chips were lovely and I stole my daughter's coleslaw which was really tasty. Would have preferred a nice minted mushy pea rather than the garden peas though. My hubby had the burger which he said was really good and good quality meat was used. Daughter had the posh hot dog which looked good too. Well priced good quality food and the staff were pleasent too. Really impressed and would recommend 💯 wish we'd found it earlier in the week as would have possibly eaten here another night.

We had to wait almost an hour for our food, when it arrived the burger was so burnt it was difficult to eat and the steak sandwich had very little steak in it. The fries and onion rings were ok but the wait time everyone had was unreasonable. We witnessed two other tables complaining and sending the food back not a good experience when you are on holiday. If we had been told about the waiting time we most certainly gone elsewhere.😥

What a find! The Kings arms is the gem of Melrose. We came for a drink whilst staying at the campsite. Staff were so friendly and efficient we came for dinner the next day. Very busy saturday night it was no problem to squeeze us in.Great menu to choose from and both hubby and I agreed it was the best meal we've had in a long time. Staff were the friendliest and most caretaking we found in melrose, particularly daniel and lizzy. the place was buzzing and they were great. We cant wait to come back.

Stopped for lunch and decided to stay over. Spacious room with lovely linen. Part shaded Beer garden. Free parking.

Over priced food, from a restaurant trying to be something its not. The food is not cheap but based on our experience, the food quality is nothing better than less than average pub grub. The service we had was quite frankly poor too. We were a slightly larger group but the food arrived sporadically and when it arrived the quality was not the best, unfortunately we had to send one steaks back as it was so badly Burnt it was cremated- what chef worth their pay serves burnt offerings like this . We actually wondered if the waiters had cooked it it was so poor. The food that arrived was basic at best, most was however edible but horribly overpriced for what was offered. Its a shame as we wanted to like this pub but based on our visit its got a LOT of work to do with regards to food quality , service and value for money.

Service good. Food not great.Ordered Fish pie..cost just under £16 served in tiny oval dish..found 1 prawn and 1 small bit salmon.Dish of dry mashed potatoes,served with salad leaves 🫣.I did complain and ate mushroom risotto instead, which was OK.

Spending a few nights in Melrose and came upon this excellent venue,restaurant, bar and hotel. We called back a few times for drinks, evening meal and sunday lunch. Each visit were impressed by friendly staff, and superb food. Highly recommend

Group us booked a table at the King’s Arms when attending an event in town and I think we made a good choice. Good range of British staples, all good stuff, and no complaints from any of us. Good range of real ales too. Staff really helpful and coped well with a busy Saturday evening. Will definitely be back when in town.

We're looking for somewhere to eat at tea time while staying in the caravan site .Town was busy as a rugby weekend .Decided to see if they had a table free.Shown to a cosy table in the corner .I had Creamy Spanish chicken which was very yummy and hubby had mushroom risotto ,also yummy .Nice relaxed calm atmosphere .Friendly attentive staff.Nice wine ! Great Guiness! We were happy campers .Would definitely return

Visited here on Monday this week. Had a dog and a 90 year old in wheelchair so was well happy when we were say right next to the open fire. Food was absolutely beautiful with my 14 year old saying his fillet steak was "banging" and the Cullen skink was "to due for" according to my 90 year old mother in law. The experience was so good we went back in the Wednesday with 2 other family members and we all thoroughly enjoyed again. Would highly recommended and will most definatlely return when visiting the borders again.

Took great care regarding my allergy and the food was delicious. Prices were very reasonable and the staff were friendly.

Location fantastic. Breakfast massive !!! Even made or pup 2 sausages . ! Staff very very welcoming and caring. Saturday evening was buzzing. Will definitely be back. Love the area and people.

Had dinner with friends. The drinks, atmosphere and staff were all good. The food wasn’t awful, but was pretty average. Large portions and nicely presented, but not a great taste. Also quite low on the vegetables. I’m not put off trying it again actually, as...

We had lunch here. Decided to dine early as we were informed there was a wedding party. So chose to book an hour before the party. We actually arrived early, only the 2nd table occupied in the restaurant. Staff seemed pleasant, although not totally focused....

Fran was so amazing the minute we stepped in the door he was so accommodating to our needs and he provided a 12/10 service to us ✨ would recommend to others, lovely staff but fran deserves a special mention #loveyoufran

My partner and I decided to eat in The Kings Arms before heading to our hotel. The postives first. Nice surroundings, staff were very pleasant, attentive, music in the background not to loud. Negatives....the food!!! I ordered a warm Salmon Salad, it sounded nice on...

We booked a table for the evening ( 6.30 pm) and were asked if we wanted a roast dinner. The chef would save some. Should have realised what this meant. Did he keep it in the oven all afternoon ??? When we tried the beef...

Treat for my in-laws at the end of their stay with us. We all had the roast which was gammon and it was all delicious especially the meat, roasties and the gammon. Great welcome and staff attentive throughout would recommend as a great place for...

Visited as I was passing through Melrose with my 2 young children and were looking for somewhere to have lunch. Pros: - Good location on main street - Looks very warm and welcoming from the outside Cons: - Service was very, very slow after being...

Had a very poor meal here last year bur decided the place deserved a second chance. How wrong we were. One of us had the haddock and chips, very small portion of fish and the 'chips' were so thin and crispy that she couldn't eat...

Had a meal here while on holiday in the area. We were looked after from the minute we walked in. The menu had plenty of choices and me and hubby both had a gorgeous meal here. Totally recommend it. Fraser looked after us and we...

my partner and i went for dinner yesterday evening as we had been previously and loved it, but sadly after last nights visit we will not be back. Whilst we were served our main courses qiicky, we were not once asked if our food was...

Excellent food and service by very friendly staff. The smaller portion of fish and chips was very generous and satisfying. The steak and ale pie was very tasty and hit the spot perfectly.

Popped in yesterday for ‘tea’ and as ever thoroughly enjoyed our meal. Staff are always lovely and accommodating. A good local pub/restaurant for when we’re in the Borders.

We visited this evening for dinner and was not disappointed! Staff, food and decor are all equally lovely; highly recommend!

Arrived early evening without a reservation. Credit to Gary who was in charged that advised us we would have a bit of a wait. Initially at a table in the lounge , bit cool due to open doors and moved to conservatory without any fuss...

We arrived late on a Saturday evening, no booking, no problem! The young front of house team member made a few adjustments and got us a table arranged. They were very obviously busy although went around their duties to ensure both our drinks and meals...

Really surprised there was no Sunday roast and there were a lot of things unavailable on the menu. The steak pie was particularly disappointing because the puff pastry should be well risen and flaky but it was thin and dense, plus the gravy was very...

Called in for late lunch one Sunday. Family group ordering different meals. Very surprised to find they didn't do Sunday roasts and had quite a basic menu, burgers etc. They did have steak pie so I decided on that. The individual pie arrived with a...

No ales, only John smiths when we went. We had Vegan burger and chips and the fish pie, both were OK but expensive for the portion size. Service was ok, staff were a bit dopey

I love slow cooked pork belly but tend to be wary of the quality. No fears here-it was simply superb.

I came here with my daughter for small bite to eat after seeing the circus in Melrose. (I'm currently down on holiday) been here before ,really lovely service from start to finish. Great atmosphere,lovely seating.

Had a lovely meal here one evening when staying at the campsite. The restaurant was busy but the service was attentive and swift. Had soul cabbage fritters with chilli sauce, gf garlic bread, warm salmon salad, vegan burger and chips, baked cheesecake, lemon meringue tart,...

Delicious home cooked food and served by friendly, hospitable staff.The fish pie was delicious as was the saucy chicken. Dessert was a shared cinnamon/apple tart which was filled with apples and had a almond flavour as well. The only disappointment was the coffee afterwards, weak...

Had a meal in here over the Bank Holiday weekend and the food was impeccable, we were greeted by lovely friendly staff who explained there would be a a short wait but this was not an issue as we were socialising with friends. Drinks were...

Great food and cold beer! The staff went above and beyond for us - even giving us a lift to the train station when we couldn’t get a taxi. Thank you!!

What a disappointment ! Advertised as freshly baked when everything was bought from the scones to the sponge cakes- no quiche and no jam or clotted cream - we did eventually get jam after a long wait and whipped cream which was going slightly off.We...

Down at Melrose for a weeks holiday and went to the Kings Arms restaurant for Sunday dinner. Absolutely excellent for both service and food. Steak pie was delicious as was the rest of the parties meals. No problems whatsoever. Waitress was extremely friendly and welcoming...

Have frequented this hotel a few times and always had lovely food also friendly and helpful staff. It helps as well that it is dog friendly and provide water and a doggie snack for our precious pooches. Would highly recommend the Kings Arms.

Very good value. Nice and clean with brilliant staff. Food was excellent as well as service. Conveniently placed in the centre of town. Breakfast was massive enough to last the day.

We went for a family meal the other Sunday and wished we hadnt very disappointed! The last couple of times we've been theres always something missing off the menu which is odd also. We were sat in the conservatory out the back and did feel...

Club sandwich with chewy bacon, cold prefried chips in a block of grated cheese, and covid guidelines quite loose. Poor beer selection on tap. Friendly staff.

This was an unexpected trip. We should've been visiting our home in Spain but due to travel regulations we had to postpone. We had a smooth check in experience. The room was small but beautifully formed. The bed was comfortable, lots of hot water etc....

Stayed on Melrose for buisness and chose to frequent the ki gs arms over where i was staying. Excellent atmosphere with a traditional pub one side and restaurant the other. Both feel very comfortable to be in for dining or drinking. The entire place is...

Stayed next door at the G&A but chose to eat in here instead, service by Lizzie and her team was spot on and the food and drink were sublime.

A friendly welcome, good fresh food and attentive service in sympathetically refurbished surroundings. At a sensible price too.

Visited with friends for a drink one evening while visiting Melrose, staff were pleasant. Decided to visit the following evening for dinner. Service was fast and staff were attentive and doing their best as busy. . What can I say about the food, meals were...

The meal was served at the back of the hotel and the food was good and filling. Pleasant atmosphere.