REVIEW : EAT - Allan Ramsay Hotel, Carlops

Approx 15 minutes drive from Edinburgh on the way to Biggar, you’ll pass swiftly through the village of Carlops. It says drive at 30mph but I’m sure most people speed through on route to elsewhere.

The next time you are driving along the A702, stop here for something to eat or make this your destination on a weekend; there are ample beautiful walks around this area plus this hotel is dog friendly so a super way to spend a Sunday with your best friend.

The Allan Ramsay is an old Scottish country pub - low ceilings, exposed blackened beams, white walls with exposed brick work, roaring fires as well as the obligatory touches of tartan. It’s very homely, very welcoming and very friendly.

It is also one of the very few bars in the UK with a 'penny bar' - a bar top decorated with one penny coins, some dating back to Queen Victoria!

It has a real community feel and most certainly a hang out for locals. You get the feeling that the ivories on the piano are well worn and the fiddle has been played for many a year. It’s kinda comforting as it has a very strong sense of belonging.

This is also home to the annual Allan Ramsay Festival. If you love Burns, you’ll love Ramsay!

Allan Ramsay Festival 2019 takes place on the 18th and 19th October with Folk Night and the Annual Ramsay Dinner. More info here.

Sam, the hotel dog, does keep a watchful eye over all the shenanigans from his fireside perch and comfy chair and will cast a look of disapproval or a wag of the tail depending on his mood.

We were staying the night (read my review here) so dinner was in the pub. We were famished and couldn’t wait to tuck in.

The pub has cleverly split the area into dog friendly and no-dog zones; which gives the diner a choice of where to sit. We sat in the no-dog zone due to the dog zone being fairly busy.

A review of dinner at the Allan Ramsay Hotel, Carlops, Scottish Borders

I had a good chat with the managers, Kenny and Rosemary, and I have to say, they have their heads screwed on when it comes to running a small country pub and I love the fact that they embrace the fact that they are a small country pub and don’t try to be something else.

The menu is small but well formed and most importantly manageable. On this week night, there was only Rosemary and Kenny working. No other staff. This shows their commitment to their trade but they are also playing to their strengths. Their staff increases at weekends due to more dining covers and a busier bar, but no small business can survive in this current climate with a huge staff. I applaud you Kenny and Rosemary.

The ingredients are Scottish (were possible) and local (where possible). Don’t expect fine dining here, but do expect great hot, hearty plates of food that are cooked well and are bloody tasty!

We started off with the Brie Wedges served with cranberry compote and bistro salad.

Heavenly. The brie was hot and gooey but held its shape well in the coated crispy breadcrumbs. Cranberry compote was tangy. Nothing here not to love.

Next up, we cant resist Haggis BonBons served with side salad and sweet chilli dip. Delicious soft peppery haggis crumbed in oatmeal (I think) and when accompanied with the soft gooey brie, made for big happy smiles on our faces.

Main dishes are traditional pub fayre, Fish n Chips, Steak Pie, Scampi, Bangers and Mash - you get the idea.

The vegetarian dishes are limited but still catered for, and so we chose the Sweet Potato, Chickpea and Bean Cassoulet with rosemary chips.

A large bowl of stick-to-your-ribs (as my mum says) casserole arrived at the table. Wonderfully tasty and filling.

The chips are the best (not quite as good as my mums, but not far off it). These are PROPER homemade chips. Hand cut and fried, not greasy and well seasoned. Lovely touch with the rosemary.

I chose the Classic Fish n Chips. Hell yes, perfect choice. No soggy bottom in sight just cripsy crunchy batter coated fresh fish. Garden peas and those chips!

As always our eyes are bigger than our bellies, but who can resist pudding. I am sure we all have separate ‘dessert bellies’. We decided to share and glad that we did as the portions are decent and this is one pudding you’ll just keep eating.

The Sticky Toffee Pudding, as many of you will know, is my benchmark and my go-to dessert. I measure most restaurants against this, so here’s hoping that where-ever I go they are good; and this one was.

The sponge was light and fluffy with a deep rich toffee datey-ness to it, plenty of toffee sauce and creamy melting ice-cream to bring it all together. I went to bed a very happy person.

You’ll easily get a super three course meal here for around £20-£25 (starters average £6.50; mains £12.95; desserts £5).

Pay the Allan Ramsay a visit. It’s a place where time slows and you can just breathe in and take a break. Grab a drink, sit by the fire and enjoy a conversation; dine on some great pub grub and while away an afternoon or an evening. I so enjoyed my evening here and I am sure you will too.

Allan Ramsay Hotel, Carlops. Tel : 01968 660258 www.allanramsayhotel.com

My Spoon Award : Gold 9/10

I was invited by The Allan Ramsay Hotel to review their menu. Food and drink were complimentary but the views are very much my own.