The Stirling Highland Hotel

BEWARE. My husband stayed here with work mid January for 3 nights. At the time of booking in, as instructed he used the tablet at reception to log our car registration with the number of nights he was staying. A few weeks later we received a parking fine through the post, but just for the first day. He tried to contact the Hotel but the phones were never picked up. He messaged on Facebook and emailed but never got a reply. The tablet on the desk does not give you a receipt, so you are unable to give proof that you have entered your details. In our case if he had not registered the car on the tablet why were they only fining him for the first day and not the other 2 days of his stay. He appealed the fine but it was rejected a few days ago stating he must have input his details incorrectly, but again if that is the case why has he not been fined for day 2 and 3. This has been really stressful and I can only advise people either to avoid this hotel due to their underhand tactics in raising cash or take a photo of the tablet screen when you input your car details and length of stay. Shame on you 'Stirling Highland Hotel'!

We arrived midday and parked the car went in to register all fine the room itself was not ready but we that , so popped down to town for a spot of lunch went back to the hotel got the room key etc ,
We had a nice room on the same level, nice bed and bathroom loads of hot water fully towels kettle tv etc , we did not hear any noise from outside or in ,breakfast was help yourself a good selection of cold and hot items in a nice room , we spent 2 nights here very close to town & railway station plenty of restaurants and pubs nearby

Dropped in for a drink and throughly enjoyed the experience and would highly recommend this place
Staff extremely helpful and the ambience was amazing well worth a visit if you enjoy this type of architecture and character

Busy weekend in the hotel for valentines. Room was tired but clean, twin beds. We were there using a voucher we had received as a present, overnight stay, glass of prosecco, dinner and breakfast. We paid an aditional £30 for booking a Saturday night ( would not have done this if id known) payable at hotel. Dinner allowance was £25 pp, food was basic but fresh. We were able to use the prosecco voucher with dinner. All the staff were friendly and helpful. My partner has mobiliy issues and we had a room on the ground level and easy parking. I was able to go up to the breakfast buffet and bring that to my partner within our room. At checkout we were asked to pay for the prosecco but this was soon rectified when they checked our deal. I did hear people being asked to pay for parking but ours was included.

Stayed here for a overnight DBB on arrival we got into our room which was really cold only to discover that the window handle was broken off and couldn’t be closed so we went straight back down to reception with our bags to try get a different room to which we were told that was the only room left as they were fully booked and maintanince would sort it so we trudged back up to the room and the guy arrived straight away looked at it said it would take a while to sort so he radioed reception came back to us says I have another room two doors up funny that eh ? So lied to us other room was a bit brighter and better as old one looked onto a brick wall so think they where just chancing there arm with that cold dreary room anyway the rooms in general are basic and very dated so don’t expect luxury they really could be doing with modernising . pool area ect was good sauna steam room ect went down for our dinner which I can’t fault was lovely . Then breakfast in morning was a different story buffet style help yourself style wasn’t impressed at all food was cold . black pudding wasn’t cooked right thru sausages overcooked dry and cold . bacon which I didn’t even try because of the grease swimming about it put me off . Only thing I liked was there coffee so bit of a bonus . Overall I wouldn’t rush back to this hotel as I get the impression everything is on a budget and profit in this hotel and not about the guests . Get the finger out spend some money on a full refurb .

We stayed at the Stirling Highland Hotel as it looked good on the Hotels.con website. We wanted to visit some pubs in the centre. So booked a deluxe room and what a disappointment. Wallpaper peaking from the walls. Mouldy window frames. Paint flaking. Bad decoration attempts. Rusty bathroom fittings. Absolutely awful.

We tried to book direct mon-thu but were told wed was full, but not according to booking.com who we eventually booked with. On arrival we were told we had to pay parking because we didn't book direct!! They said it was a glitch, aye, very good, a glitch that cost me £30! The supervisor said she couldn't do anything about it, yes she could, she could have shown a bit of customer care, admitted it was their fault and waived the charge, but no, I would have been better dealing with Dick Turpin, at least he might have smiled.
Also had to pay for steam room/sauna facilities as well, even though we were residents!!
Twice locked out of our room because of dodgy keys, waited far too long in the restaurant and the steak was cold when it arrived. On a more positive note, the one tremendous thing about The Stirling Highland Hotel was the road out.

This was our second stay at this lovely hotel. The room was clean and the bed ‘very’ comfortable. I love the fact that the bathroom has a bath and shower. (Love a long soak in the bath on holiday). We used the bar several evenings and had a delicious afternoon tea. Amazing facilities in the hotel which make it such great value for money. Staff are always very pleasant and helpful. Another perfect stay, thank you.

Amazing stay, warm, comfortable and relaxing. Friendly staff, the bar was relaxing. Can see the Wallace monument from the bar which was lovely

Fabulous overnight stay, celebrating my friends 70th birthday. 4 women sharing two connecting rooms.
The service from the reception, bar and restaurant was first class. Would highly recommend

We received an overnight stay with dinner and breakfast as a gift for Christmas, on reading reviews we were dreading our stay and even tried to change our voucher for another hotel, when this was not possible we decided to book. First impression when trying to book were not good, tried to call numerous times and different times of the day for the phone to just ring out, was only when I sent an email and received a reply from Chloe the experience began to improve.
On arrival we were greeted with friendly check in staff (Chloe being one of them) our room was on the 2nd floor, yes the rooms are a little dated and a bit of modernisation would definitely help that said our room was very clean, comfortable and well maintained.
Our evening meal in the restaurant was a pleasant surprise, the food was very good and we both really enjoyed our meals and the service received was friendly and attentive, with a lovely atmosphere. Breakfast was also enjoyable, food was fresh, warm and plenty to choose from.
We didn't use the spa facilities so cannot comment on those, but overall we had a really enjoyable stay and felt the hotel was better than the reviews suggested, all in all we glad we went.

Stayed for one night while in Stirling for work. The room was dated and in need of a refresh although it was clean. Unfortunately there isn’t much sound proofing in the rooms so you could hear into next door and everything that went on in the corridor. The shower was a fixed height and was too low to get under properly. Finally despite being booked and paid for through the company they still charged by personal card. I don’t think I’ll be staying again.

Hotel restaurant very disappointing, waited an hour to receive our first plates, about 2 hours total for the complete service… talked to a manager to share our comments and she blamed it on us saying that we should have booked in advance (party of 8). Small plate sizes, blant food. Would suggest local restaurant, lot of options within 10 min walk.

Otherwise ok hotel, friendly staff, pool is nice specially to spend time with kids.

Disappointed with the service recived at hotel regarding booking and room.
Arrived for 3pm check in, confirmed room 2 adults and 1 child as per booking.
Got to room to find only 1 bed, went back to reception to enquire about bed for child . Asked if I requested a bed ?
Explained i had booked room for 2 adults 1 child don't usually have to ask if we all have a bed in room ?
Asked if i had stayed in hotel before as thats always been the policy since the time receptionist has worked there .
I was advised would have to pay £25 for a bed to be put in room
As I had my granddaughter at reception with me i paid as she was clearly upset that no bed had been made for her.
I did go to reception and enquire why we would be given a room that did not accommodate us and why offer upgrades at time of booking if a further payment has to be made for us all to actually have a bed.
Advised could contact manager.
I had already submitted a query through the email booking.
Received a reply later that day and advised passed onto manager could take 10 - 14 days for response.
Unfortunately I still have not received a response
I have stayed in this hotel many time over the last 15years both as a couple and with our family and never had any issue like this before.
I would not have had a problem paying a supplement if I had taken an extra guest along to be added ect but this booking was made for 2 adults and a child so the room should have been fit for purpose and the correct room charges applied not expected to request a bed on arrival then pay £35 to have it added?
This was supposed to be a new year surprise for our granddaughter to have a night away and do some shopping, she was unaware we had booked her away for the weekend to the hotel she enjoys visiting.
We also got changed and went to use the spa facility to find it had shut at 4pm.
Again we do not have an issue with the spa closing early for staff to have some family time at this time of year but we were give an information sheet at check-in which had facilities open until 6pm so had all got changed and went to for a swim, only to find it had already closed by the time we got thier due to us having to sort out the bed and it closing early.

1-Star Review: Disastrous Dining Experience at Stirling Highland hotel/ Restaurant – Unacceptable Food and Poor Management
I dined at the Restaurant in the Stirling Highland Hotel expecting a pleasant evening meal, but it turned into one of the worst dining experiences I've ever had. As someone who works in the hospitality industry, I have a good understanding of basic standards for simple dishes like pizza and pasta – unfortunately, every single dish we ordered fell far short of even the most basic expectations.

The food was shocking. The pizza was rock hard and tasteless, the pasta was bland – nothing was edible. We struggled through barely half of our meals before giving up, as we simply couldn't force down any more. We politely sent the dishes back, explaining to the staff that they were inedible and asking if they could be removed from the bill. To our surprise, the nearby table was also complaining about their food, which should have been a red flag for the kitchen.

Starving and with no acceptable alternatives, we asked for a simple portion of chips to tide us over. Our waitress was absolutely lovely – friendly, apologetic, and professional – but she returned to say that the manager (named Anna) had insisted we pay full price for the original meals and charge extra for the chips. This left us stunned and forced to pay for food we couldn't eat, plus an additional side just to have something substantial.

Under UK consumer rights (Consumer Rights Act 2015), food must be of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose. When it's not, customers shouldn't be expected to pay for it – especially when it's returned uneaten. Refusing to waive or discount the inedible dishes feels not only unfair but potentially unlawful. The manager's rigid stance was a complete joke and ruined what could have been a salvageable situation.
The front-of-house staff deserve praise for their efforts, but management clearly let them (and us) down badly. I've noticed the hotel rarely responds to negative reviews, which speaks volumes. Shocked and disappointed, we will never return, and I plan to escalate this directly to the Cairn Hotel Group.
Avoid the restaurant if you're staying here – eat elsewhere in Stirling to save yourself the frustration and expense.

We are off to get some food at the local food bank. They have a minimum standard

A great stay! The bedroom was super clean and warm. The bed and pillows were probably one of the comfiest beds I’ve slept in in a hotel before! Tea coffee biscuits and water available on the tray in the bedroom. We stayed in a dog friendly room and the staff were very attentive and brought our little dog a nice big comfy bed, blanket, treats, bowls, floor mat and even a little guide to dog friendly things in Stirling, perfect!! Easy parking and just pop your number plate in at reception. We decided to have drinks and dine in the bar lounge upstairs which was nice. Could be a littler warmer in there but it is such a big old building. Lots of different drinks to choose from, Guinness was however off. The food was average, mixed reviews from different people in the group. Breakfast was ok, could have more choice. There’s a lovely walk to the side of the hotel that will take you all the way up to the castle and different buildings and it’s only a short drive to the centre. Will definitely be back

Firstly the staff are great, but that's where it ends

Tired room, really bad towels that are frayed at the ends. Bar did not have various staples such as Guinness, ran out of Aperol etc on a New Years trip.

First breakfast was cold, last breakfast did not have beans, mushrooms etc. Ate in the restauranton final night, Gnocchi was clearly frozen, as were the prawns in the Bouillabaisse which had fish on the top with soggy skin as opposed to crispy, I did raise it and was offered a free coffee for my partner and I.

I had to to leave the New Years Eve event to go to the main bar as it didn't have enough any of the drinks Dance floor was tiny and only about 18 people out of close to 100 could dance at any one time after paying £37.95 each for the pleasure.

Don't go it's at best a 3 star hotel as it has a pool and spa, at worst a 2 star.

Extremely disappointed!

Our overnight stay at the Stirling Highland Hotel was booked as a gift and, initially, everything was excellent. However, significant booking errors and poor customer service at checkout completely overshadowed what should have been a lovely experience.
The booking was for one night for two guests (DBB). I had to chase the hotel multiple times for confirmation, and when it finally arrived it incorrectly stated one person. I emailed to correct this and received written confirmation and apologies that the booking had been amended to two people, DBB, with £25 per person towards dinner, with full payment confirmed.
At check-in, reception advised the booking showed two nights, which I corrected to one. Dinner and service were excellent. Breakfast information stated it finished at 10:30, both verbally and in writing, but it actually finished at 10:00, which we nearly missed.
On checkout, I returned to reception to ensure we wouldn’t be charged for two nights. The receptionist, Liz, was extremely rude and dismissive, insisting the booking was for two nights for one person and that an outstanding balance was due for the second guest’s dinner and breakfast — despite the written confirmation stating otherwise. Her attitude was condescending, repetitive, and unapologetic, and she spoke to us as though we were at fault.
After retrieving our confirmation emails, we were still told an “outstanding other adult dinner charge” was due — with breakfast no longer mentioned. When challenged, Liz argued that “two people DBB” only applied to one person, which made no sense. Also that the booking was for two nights but only one night had been paid ? since when could you make a booking for two nights but only pay for one .There was no apology, no attempt to resolve the situation professionally, and no manager available. We were told, sarcastically, that a manager would contact us to take payment.
The handling of this situation and the receptionist’s attitude completely ruined our stay. Having since read similar reviews, it’s clear booking issues are not uncommon. Sadly, due to how this was dealt with, we will not be returning.

I recently booked a Spa Day here and received less than 24 hours’ notice of the pool and jacuzzi closure (apparently a regular occurrence when speaking to local users). Part of our group had to pay for almost nothing to do beyond a cramped sauna and an extremely small, uninviting relaxation room – not as advertised. Refreshments were also lacking: an empty hot-water flask and a few coffee sachets. The changing area and showers were dirty.
Unfortunately, afternoon tea was even worse. The service was slow, staff ignored our dietary requirements (which they had requested in advance), and the birthday treat promised for my friend never appeared. The food was not freshly prepared and seemed stale, with barely edible sandwiches.
Despite contacting the hotel twice, I have been ignored completely. It’s sad to see how far the hotel has declined – walking around it seemed very tired indeed.
If you are thinking of using this hotel, please reconsider.

Stayed here over Christmas and it certainly delivered an experience, just not the relaxing festive one we’d hoped for.
Before arrival, I rang to check about bringing our dogs and was told breakfast was on a Christmas deal at £10. On arrival, breakfast was £12 per person. The staff member laughed as though it’s an inside joke to fib to guests.
Christmas dinner had been sold out to non residents, leaving hotel guests with no food and to fend for themselves. Later, a buffet was still out with people eating, but arriving four minutes late meant no food for us. You’d think these people would have shown some initiative working in hospitality and all.
Breakfast itself offered no suitable options for my milk allergy and no alternatives were suggested, so we cancelled and ate elsewhere, cheaper, quicker, and more cheerful.
The room service menu confidently promised 24/7 availability on some items like sandwiches and pizzas. Reality disagreed. The bartender had never seen that on the menu and explained that room service had stopped, he wasn’t bothered at all, no one had any concern for their guests.
We were also told the bar had run out of all snacks and crisps, despite some being clearly visible downstairs.
On arrival we were introduced to around £100 of surprise add ons. If you book via a third party site, be aware you’ll pay extra for things like parking, food and pool time. However it’s still cheaper than booking directly with them.
To complete our stay, there was dog poo left in the entrance for quite some time, which guests had to dodge on the way in and out.
The room featured rust in the bath, stains on the ceiling, general grime, and a really itchy bed. If was filthy.
Overall, memorable for all the wrong reasons. We won’t be back.