The Douglas Hotel Bistro in North Ayrshire

Good service, good food, very friendly and reasonably priced. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our experience in the restaurant.

The restaurant is in a lovely building and the menu is extensive and fairly priced. The fish and chips was the best I have eaten and at £13 included really tasty peas and home made tartar sauce. The drinks were very sensibly priced. It will be my go to place every time I am on Arran.

Wonderful service from the staff on arriving at reception for accommodation and booking tables for dinner. Good service from the bar staff, even when they are busy

The bistro was pleasant welcoming and very pleasant members of staff who made our stay enjoyable. We had a toastie which was okay but to just put a single sliver of lettuce was really disappointing should have had a small salad to make it attractive not just 2 slabs of bread it was disappointing to say the least.

My partner and I stopped at the Douglas for a late lunch on the 15 July 2023 , we picked out eats from the board on the wall ,we both selected starter Lamb Terraine and chutney followed by haddock and chips, the lamb Terraine arrived and we both delved in, many times in other establishments we have enjoyed this dish, how disappointed we were,what arrived with the chutney resembled a square block of peat, it totally had no taste resembling lamb we both have still to establish a taste at all, the most horrible excuse for a lamb Terraine, the chef had us totally confused to what we where eating ,by the time we decided to complain the fish and.chips had arrived, absolutely gorgeous and excellently presented, I just hope this was a blip in the Douglas as this was the first time we ate this starter??? ,We passed this information to the young lady who served us and asked this to be passed onto the chef she said she would , we got no response I tried to contact the complaints on the website unfortunately there is no facility on the site to publicise a review, as we are regular patrons to the Douglas please management tell me this was a blip and won't be repeated.

Restaurant d’hôtel qui propose globalement le même type de plats que partout en Ecosse : Fish and chips, steak, filet de poulet, … Néanmoins malgré le peu d’originalité dans la proposition, les steaks que nous avons pris étaient cuits à la perfection. En entrée nous avions pris un plateau de spécialités locales à partager. Excellent lui aussi. Bref, rien à signaler si ce n’est que l’addition monte vite et est très salée.

We booked The Douglas for our honeymoon and we absolutely loved our stay! The staff couldn't do enough for us and the room was stunning. We paid a bit more for a water view and it didn't disappoint. The bed was comfortable and the bathroom was bigger than my first flat! The only wee thing for us was the shower wasn't great but apart from that we can't fault The Douglas. Food was delicious (ate here 2 of the 4 nights), and breakfast was lovely too. Right beside the ferry terminal too so ideal for anyone like us who don't have a car. We will definitely be back (possibly for our 1st anniversary!)

Ended up eating here 2 days running, as all the other restaurants nearby were either closed or full. The food is perfectly fine, although I found it quite hard to pick on the 2nd night - I had decided on the mussels, to be told when ordering that they were not available. It might have been helpful to tell us that when handing out the menus ? The location is lovely and the staff friendly.

The meal was outstanding; we thoroughly enjoyed it. I felt the great food and overall experience was spoiled by the chap that served us. I asked a simple question about the soup of the day. I was shocked by the attitude of the server. I felt that we were an inconvenience throughout the meal, additional training on customer care and a better understanding of the menu would be required. In contrast to this experience, the wonderful lady who served us in the morning for breakfast. I felt she was passionate about The Douglas Hotel and ensured that we understood the menu and couldn't be more helpful and informative about the menu and The Douglas Hotel. Also, we stayed in the newer part- even though the room was stunning. - we felt like we were being cooked in the room as it was so hot. The fan provided in the room was noisy and irritating at night

Service was horrible. Drinks only came after the starters, when we sent the mains back to the kitchen with the words: no drinks, no food. Further sinned against EVERY rule of hospitality. Maybe enjoying their nearly monopoly position on the island a bit too much. Food was ok though.

Nice looking dining room but the food wasn't good. Chateaubriand served on a hook (why?!) and dreadfully overcooked. Burger was dry with only a bit of avocado for moisure, wasnt seasoned at all. Only positive was our daughter's fish and chips was good.

Langt under tidligere niveau. Øv øv Ringe og langsom (nærmest sløv) servering til trods for at der næsten var flere tjenere end gæster. Har tidligere været et godt spisested, men det er Douglas åbenbart ikke længere. Virkelig ringe mad. En stor skuffelse 😫

Booked to come for dinner and drinks. Was an overall lovely place to go, would definitely go again. Food was lovely as were drinks. We felt both were a bit overpriced. Loved the modern decor in the bistro and loved the fact the bar was happy to make an espresso martini which wasn’t on the menu! Would recommend to others

Beautiful food, great service, not rushed like some places and not slow either despite being busy. Lovely ambience. Dogs were very happy with the atmosphere also! The sea view before dark is great, and after dark the lighting outdoors adds to the vibe. I've been here by myself just for drinks a few times but would definitely come again with family/friends! 10/10 :)

Creative menu with eclectic choices, fine-dining ambiance but most people dressed casually. Excellent attentive service

We were struggling to find a place to eat and managed to get booked in last minute here - we were very surprised! The food was delicious and very big portions ( I LOVED the beef shank and fig/ginger cake), plus very lovely staff. Overall...

We had a fabulous evening here with a dinner that could not have been done better at home. The braised beef burgiounon was absolutely delicious and faultless, so tender and served with tasty potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Well done chef, you have nailed this dish....

Going to the isle of Arran? The Douglas hotel bar or bistro is a great choice for meals. We have always had great food and really good service. We made reservations and showed up early and was seated right away. The only concern is that...

Great for seafood - we have evening meal and breakfast here! Great choice - lovely quality. ................

We zijn 2 maal ter plaatse blijven eten en beide keren waren de maaltijden uitstekend! Het restaurant was gezellig ingericht.

I was between giving four and five stars, but the kids fish and chips was the decider - the portion size was great and the batter was really crispy and delicious. My son usually picks the batter off but he ate every scrap of this!...

We stayed here for 4 days in a lovely room, 201, overlooking the Bay of Brodick with views of Goatfell. The service and staff are good and helpful and a nice lounge area to sit in to relax besides the Bistro and the public lounge...

Lovely restaurant, food and friendly efficient staff. The chicken liver parfait and the prawn/monkfish skewers were delicious.

Reasonably priced. Great selection of drinks IPA, cocktails etc. Lovely staff and great decor. Steak was perfect!! Definitely be back

Busy bar area on a Friday evening (Bank Holiday weekend). Managed to get the last table. If you're organised suggest booking one of the tables in the large bays for unbeatable views of Goatfell and Brodick Bay. Ordered small fish and chips which was perfect....

Lovely friendly staff who seemed genuinely happy at their work, helpful and hospitable. Dog friendly. Delicious carrot, orange and ginger soup. Just as tasty the fish finger brioche and scones. Couldn't fault it, lovely place. Would definitely recommend and return.

Friendly waitress, lovely food (we just had main meals and drinks) and beautiful decor. The decor was dark but definitely a nice choice.

Lovely meal in beautiful surroundings. Brilliant attentive service by Alasdair who spent time getting to know us and serving us. Would thoroughly recommend.

We had 2 fantastic meals here during our week-long stay. The staff were really accommodating for our party of 8 and 2 dogs! Food was great, good kids menu, and lovely setting.

We reserved a table for our two nights stay on the island and enjoyed our evening meal on both nights being served by friendly, helpful staff.

We stayed at the hotel & had an evening meal in the Bistro twice & bar area once. We had breakfast in the Bistro each morning. The waiting staff who work between both areas are to be congratulated on the service they offer & must...

We stayed for 4 nights at the end of our Arran Trip. Our room was amazing with vies over the bay to Brodick Castle. Only small bugbear was the constant music as the room was directly above the outside decking area. We ate twice in...

I made a booking for an evening meal here on the 19th August 2021, as a treat for my wife's birthday, big mistake. Expecting to be sent to the restaurant we were instead directed to the bar area which appears to have no social distancing...

The food was great but the service was slow and we got a large cheeseboard with 4 mini oatcakes, we asked for more and were charged £2.50! Not ideal, However, I would recommend it, although its a little, quite a bit - over priced.

We were in Arran for 5 days and without fail we went here after visiting on our first night for a drink on the decking. Stunning views and a lovely hotel. After daily drinks we decided to try it for food and we were not...

We ate here one of the evenings we were in Arran and tried to book another evening but sadly they were full. The food was fine, nothing particularly special but enjoyable, but what really made the place was the location with views of the harbour,...

Dined here 3 times on our trip all meals excellent especially the shellfish and summer roast chicken. Service superb. Wished our trip was longer so we sample more on the menu. Some evenings there is a specials menu. Thanks.

Four people and a small dog were made very welcome. We enjoyed good meals with friendly and efficient service. Well worth a visit.

So very friendly and accommodating, The Douglas Hotel is excellent in every way. Both the food and service food was super with very sensible ways of dealing with the current COVID restrictions put in to place. Nothing was too much trouble and every one at...

We stayed at the Douglas Hotel for 3 nights, immediately after the end of lockdown. We ate in the Bistro at Breakfast and Dinner everyday and have to report that the food and staff are just about perfect. The Seafood available on the Menu is...

Staff were very helpful and friendly when I made our reservation for a meal in the bar restaurant. We arrived and were offered a drink as our table wasn't ready, but didn't have too long to wait. It is perfectly understandable due to circumstances. Order...

We ventured out for dinner at the Douglas for our first meal out after shielding & had a lovely relaxing meal. It was so safe, we went back another day for lunch. Lovely food, friendly helpful staff, excellent safety measures. So sorry they now have...

Enjoyed two evenings of meals at the Douglas. The food was excellent on both occasions and the staff were attentive and friendly. COVID hygiene was immaculate

Don't like the covid restrictions but we had a lovely meal in the circumstances. Social distancing well applied.

Once again the Douglas Bar/Restaurant didn’t disappoint. We love the atmosphere and the welcome of our little doggies. We had the fish and chips this time around which were lovely as well as the red wine and cold beer to wash down the scrummy stickly...

Lovely hotel with excellent staff. Food was good and nice choice of drinks. Rooms are spacious and clean.

Had a great dinner here worth the extra money as the food was great and the service spot on. Very good if you are waiting on the ferry as can see it coming from the large beer gardens

We stopped for a meal, my wifes food, staff and ambiance were great but unfortunately my mussels were very poorI was gagging and I picked at least 7 closed ones out, waiter offered to replace but I couldn't face any moreI know this can happen but they shouldn't have left the kitchen, very poorAlso I was charged for them

Visited this eating establishment on Wednesday 2nd of September 2020 with my friend Elizabeth. We were greeted with a friendly and helpful receptionist who took our details for Track and Trace. We then proceeded to the Bistro where we got seated at a clean and sanitised table. Ross our waiter who was very polite and helpful gave us menus and then took our orders. Elizabeth had fish and chips and I had 3 cheese macaroni and chips. It was very hot and tasty. Well worth it. We also had dessert. We both had sticky toffee pudding. Wow so tasty and it came with Arran Dairy Ice-cream. I definitely would visit this restaurant again when on the Island. Thank You

Despite COVID precautions sensibly in place, the staff couldn’t have been more friendly and helpful such as Kate and Holly on reception. We stayed one night in Room 103 which is off the chart spoily and spacious but had to move to another sea-facing room due to a prior booking. Both rooms excellent but definitely worth the extra for the suite. Decor is crisp and modern, cleanliness superb and all the facilities you could possibly need. We loved the Douglas Rubber duck - such a nice touch. Beds were some of the comfiest I’ve ever experienced.Breakfast was excellent and a good menu for evening meals. The mussels were exceptional! A really great hotel experience priced correctly for the quality delivered and with fabulous friendly service. Top marks!

On a day trip to Arran and decided to have lunch at the Douglas Hotel,I ordered the fish and chips which were very tasty. Ross our waiter was very helpful and polite.I would recommend this eating place as it is very reasonably priced and cleaned after each table was cleared.

We had a very good meal at The Douglas including burger, the fish special and fish and chips for the boys, 6 & 3, which even they finished! Very well organised regarding covid too with screens between the tables.

We stayed in a huge room with a large bathroom, bed was soooo comfy , staff very friendly and attentive.Breakfast had a great choice and very tasty, also had dinner in the bar one night and again all very tasty .Would recommend to stay or just to eat at.

Visited this hotel twice whilst on the island, once for an evening meal and again for coffee and cake before catching the ferry.Staff were very friendly and helpful. The food was amazing, beautifully presented and really tasty. Lovely views from the windows, overlooking the sea. Will definitely visit again.

I don't usually visit the higher end of the market i.e. priciest hotels... yet there was very little choice at the end of the season.. November...in Brodick most of the B&B had closed for the season' yet I was presently surprised at this comfortable hotel.

The Douglas bistro is a pet friendly bar/restaurant.There are big tables and comfortable seats with a low warm lighting.We ordered the shared camembert to start. This was roasted perfectly and the cheese itself was good however was slightly salty but went well with the cranberry chutney.We then proceeded to order the trio of Salmon and the halloumi fries. The trio of salmon came with a refreshing citrus mayo and crispy caper sauce. The salmon was by far the tastiest of all the things we had ordered.The halloumi fries arrived sprinkled with pine nuts and ginger dressing which set off the against the halloumi cheese.Lastly the chicken burger of the day. Lemon grass, thyme and honey with a side of sea salt chips. This portion was not the biggest and the brioche bun was a little crisp, however the chicken was perfectly seasoned and was seared to lock in the flavours but still juicy and tender in the inside.

Lots of variety on the menu at this comfy warm pub. People comfortably eating alone as well. Fish and chips were excellent. Too full to try the puddings but they looked really good. Good range of gins and wine. Fills up at sixish with people enjoying a good meal before the 1920 ferry so if you want a quieter experience plan to go after seven. Dog friendly too. Overall a lovely place for a meal.

We came here for a couple of drinks whilst waiting for the ferry to come. They have a lot of variety of whiskeys and gins we noticed! The menu seemed quite varied and I would be tempted to go back whilst I'm here to try something out as they sounded very nice. It was a very nice bar too and very modern. I'd reccomend if you're looking for somewhere to wait whilst waiting for the ferry.

Even though it took us nearly twelve hours to get there because of problems with the ferry, we were warmly welcomed at the start of our three night stay. Our room was immaculate with a beautiful sea view. Our breakfast over our stay was perfect each day and we ate in the restaurant two nights. Each night our meals were cooked to perfection and the service was very good. Before visiting The Douglas I read some negative reviews and was a little concerned, but in all honesty, we found the hotel to be spotlessly clean, the staff and food service to excellent and I look forward to my next visit to this wonderful hotel.

Stopped in for coffee and cake whilst waiting for the ferry. Great service, friendly staff, great decor/surroundings. Can’t fault it. Will be high up the list when we next visit Arran.

Food was good. And well presented. Clean and modern. Staff training needs addressed. Bar staff dithering.

We ate here twice in a week and both times really enjoyed the ambience of the Bistro with its lovely sea view and the service.Food was good, esp fish and chips (!), but what a rip-off price-wise for gin.2 Arran gins and tonic -- £18 !! Come on, get real.

Отель высокого уровня,прекрасно расположен,с обалденным баром. Очень вежливый и приветливый персонал. Очень хорошие современные Номера. Спасибо

I vowed I would never eat in this place again after a very bad experince 5 years ago but what a diference time makes. Huge refurb has turned the restaurant into a beautiful eating place, with well-trained staff and a well-constructed, well-cooked menu which is not overly p[riced (compared to some other establishments in Brodick).

The bistro did not open until later on and the bar had the same menu.Not much to choose from on the menu. Food was good but overpriced.

Lovely to sit and have a dr8nk and watch the world go by. You are also sitting overlooking the sea. Beautiful!!!!

Just discovered this incredible spot this summer! I first went here for- tea and scone-best scone I ever had in my life! The female staff member went out of her way to find me a quiet spot around he corner with a leather couch to relax after being soaked by rain. Then I returned to have dinner 3 nights in a row!

Had been to the Douglas before and it was okay. But this time food very good and wine was very reasonable. Good selection of dishes including specials. Kids menu good my son had steak and chips!

Attentive staff. Good service. Lovely, high quality dishes. Very impressed. Fine dining at a reasonable price. Thoroughly recommended. Non-residents made very welcome. Booking advised.

We went to the Douglas bistro on our trip to Arran. The food is delicious with the mussels starter being a real highlight (this is a massive portion!). The scallops and pork were also superb.

Totally personal comment but I loved their burger and I rarely eat them in the UK. If you want a negatve, I didn't like the fries! Place felt "right" and had some style. Will go back and hopefully stay.

We went for Lunch at the Douglas Hotel during a 4 day visit to Arran. The Douglas had been recommended by friends who often visit Arran. The staff were very nice and friendly and the decor was lovely.

Went into the Douglas Hotel last night for an evening meal with our 2 dogs the staff were fantastic made all of us feel very welcome to top it off the food was brilliant keep up the good work

Food was good but really expensive. I have travelled in lots of places and eaten in lots of places but £14 for a small chicken burger was out there.

We ate here on 3 occassions and found the menu to have a good selection. The food was well prepared, the staff pleasant. The prices reasonable.

Stayed in the hotel following a visit to the distillery and decided to have dinner in bistro. The choice was good and specials very enjoyable. The food was cooked fresh so slight wait but so worthwhile. The service was attentive and the bar staff were efficient and knowledgeable about the whisky. The desserts were really amazing and portion size was just right.

Years ago the Douglas Hotel was Arran’s premier establshment before going into decline and abandonment, becoming a sorry first sight for visitors to the island. However, it’s been taken over, tastefully modernised and now offers excellent food from a broad menu. Pricing is good too.

This is more of a cook-run rather than chef-run kitchen. The food is well cooked but not innovative. It would have been nice to see a focus on fresh seasonal local ingredients and sourcing from the local artisans (such as the baker), but unfortunately it is not the focus here. Prices are reasonable and the bar next-door is comfortable.

We weren’t resident at the hotel and hadn’t booked (just arrived on Arran) and they made a bit of a fuss to squeeze us into the restaurant without telling us that we could have sat at any table in the bar and had the same menu. Was disappointed that despite eating at a regular hour, three of the standard choices were already unavailable, leaving options a bit thin on the ground. Service OK but saw some tables waiting longer than was acceptable. Fish & chips was fine without being memorable.

My wife and I visited twice during our week long stay. First time to the bistro. We had prebooked and, on arrival, asked for a window table, only to be told that they were reserved. They were still empty when we left. I had the lamb rump which was very Good, and my wife had the venison casserole which lacked presentation but was tasty. The second night we had delicious fish and chips in the bar. Pleasant bar with nice outlook, decent selection of craft beers and lager and friendly atmosphere.

Lovely views out to sea. Very good standard of food with a good choice. Great gin menu. Outside seating for a sunny day

We couldn't get a table unfortunately but the food we saw coming out looked amazing; we'll be eating here every night next time we come!

Had dinner , breakfast and lunch here Nice range of dishes on menus. Typical island fare and portions - you won’t be hungry after ! Super nice service. Great bar with outdoor deck and full size windows overlooking the water.

The dining room has been done up and is smart and comfortable. Good choice of dishes and the food is excellent, as is the service.

The bistro has a very pleasant atmosphere, and the service was helpful, attentive and cheerful.

I ate an evening meal here in the Bistro bar and there was a great selection of tempting dishes to choose from. A glass of house Chardonnay was over £7. Hmmm. Nice wine, but eye-watering price for one glass when the same wine would probably cost £5-6 or so for a bottle in the Co-op nextdoor! I always expect some markup but this seemed steep. Maybe it's Island pricing?

Placed an order for food for four of us. Waited 40mins and still nothing arrived (there was only us and 2 other couples in) asked at the bar what the delay was and was told they had not put the order into kitchen correctly but would try and get it to us asap. The fish when it arrived had enough bones to spark an interest in paleontology with my 12 year old. Then got offered a free diet coke

Comfortable modern bistro in the recently refurbished Douglas Hotel.

Staying overnight and we ate in the bar, superb fish and chips and fish stew..hence the 5 stars..rhubarb crumble was more berries and sugared than 'barbed..still ok but not what was expected from the name! Arran Cheese board very tasty. Would eat there again

over priced and chips must have been cooked more than a few times. batter soggy and staff looked like tramps. Never again

We pop in for a dinner and it's was a great surprise.

Food was great, beer was great. They let dogs in and we had lots of fun playing with s beautiful little puppy. I had a beef burger, it was excellent.

Greeted by a charming receptionist and equally friendly barman the vibe in here is modern, stylish and relaxed. I was guided through the contemporary menu by the barman and opted for the hot smoked salmon and crayfish open sandwich with a wee bowl of soup on the side. Which was the perfect combination and thoroughly delicious. A plate full of goodness and I bagged a table with a view of the comings and going of the ferry port to some mellow jazz to wash things down. Ideal and a must do if in town.

This is a fantastic place to stay, the staff go out of their way to ensure your stay is comfortable and you are happy. My husband and I stayed here for a couple of nights with our friends. The rooms were spacious and clean and the little touches made it stand out from other hotels I have stayed at. The food was great and varied so something for everyone including those with food intolerances. The food is freshly cooked to order and when asked staff can advise you as to where it has been sourced. Well wort a visit even if it is just for food and drinks.

Average lunch from the food to the service. We sat at the window for the view of the bay, there were some dirty dishes and a waitress around the bar who said hi. The place was pretty empty yet we sat with dirty dishes. There was only one menu on our table and a large menu on the wall - the menu is cramped full of options for both lunch and dinner which was confusing. The food was average, some good and some bad, positively the portions were big. Cant say I was wowed by the food and I don't know if I would bother visiting again.

Sad to write this but they did set themselves up for it with reports of local produce and the chef and assistants striving to present great food.

Excellent dinner in a very relaxing environment followed by live music. All in all a great experience The quality & choice of food was first class

Visited on a cold Friday night -Bar was quite quiet which suited us -we enjoyed lovely cocktails and a really nice meal -we both had starters which were lovely (especially the scallops which were cooked perfectly) -had we known the size of the main course portions we might not have had starters or at least might have shared one between two -the venison was amazing -unfortunately neither of us had room for a dessert but maybe should order one of the lovely sounding desserts when we next call in just for coffee -love the refit of the snug in the bar

Great place with sea views great menu and the food was just lovely staff all very friendly and helpful

We went, the bar, here for a drink and ended up staying for dinner. Good food and quite quick as well. The staff were friendly, but the price was more than we anticipated for the drinks. All in all we enjoyed it and would go back.