Hootananny — Restaurant in Great Britain

Bit long, but here goes: Per its reputation, its an awesome place for live Scottish music. We visited on a night with an open session and musicians just kept arriving and adding their instruments to the group. It was very cool to listen. Of particular note was how hard our waiter, Stephen was busting his @$$ to do a good job. He was the ONLY person actually waiting on the tables, and was managing to handle every single table in the place! A few people had to wait a little longer than usual for some things, but the guy was handling at least 11 tables by himself, and I think more (I didn't see how many upstairs). As someone who has waited tables myself, handling that with help would be an amazing feat - Stephen rocked it considering and was fantastically friendly despite the circumstances. To top it all off, I wasn't feeling great that evening, asked for a box to take my meal home in, and after Stephen made sure there wasn't anything wrong or that I wasn't unhappy with my meal, he discovered they didn't have any boxes. So, he RAN TO ANOTHER RESTAURANT AND GOT ONE FOR ME! Absolute ROCKSTAR move from my perspective, as he managed to have the tables handled still (as the kitchen was closing down at that point). So, not only great live Scottish music, but at least one guy that will absolutely go above and beyond to take care of patrons even when being overwhelmed due to being short-staffed. I tipped reasonably well, but after writing this, I've realized I probably should have tipped even better. Good food, great music, and even great service in an impossible situation. My hat is off to Stephen and Hootananny. Definitely give them a...

This could be a proper amazing bar but unfortunately is badly let down by poor staff and service. We booked (thankfully) and arrived to a seemingly annoyed waitress who led us to a lovely wee table upstairs.

Shortly after, the live music started which was a proper highlight of the evening. A while later another young waitress took our drinks order which was promptly delivered and that was the last we saw of her for a solid 30 mins but no worry, we’re enjoying the music. She arrives and takes our order (cracking music continues) and pretty shortly afterwards we have what can only be described as entirely mediocre fish and chips - but it was edible.

Then the fun really begins. Once we finished, young lass returns to clear our plates and we ask for another couple of drinks. I should have noticed the funny look she gave but didn’t. Drinks arrive, cracking music continues (definitely go for the music) and young lass reappears 10 mins later asking “can you pay quite soon”. Not a question I’ve had before so slightly taken aback I said er, yeah, no problem. She comes back with the bill AND the table cleaning bottle and says, the next folk for this table have arrived. Table was due back at 7:30, this is 7:20 at the latest and we’ve not long finished our food! Talk about not feeling welcome or valued.

Would we go back…probably not which is a real shame cos it’s definitely a pub of two half’s. The live music (fiddles, bagpipes and a traditional thingy drum) genuinely was cracking but the service is up there with the worst I’ve ever experienced.

Anyway, go for the music, perhaps best to...

We were recommended to come here, so booked in advance, which is wise if you aim to get a table. The only table I could get was early evening. The server who greeted and seated us was very cross and unhappy, she reprimanded our waitress twice during the course of our visit at the table, failed to make any eye contact with us or anyone else she was seating or serving. The impression was of rudeness and impatience with the whole business. The singer who was performing when we arrived was very loud and intense, he was singing to a backing track which went wrong on 3 occasions, causing him to start over. The music choices were very odd for the occasion and time of day (including the Nessun Dorma aria) we didn’t enjoy this at all. I was anticipating Scottish folk music and was disappointed. The food was substandard compared to the pub food we had been enjoying for the week in this part of Scotland. The pie came with just 2 small new potatoes and lacked any seasoning, the promised roasted veg were some very limp over cooked sliver of carrot and green beans. The sausage and mash was poor quality, the sausage seemed very cheap and not tasty. All 4 of us were dissatisfied. The atmosphere around us was a bit leaden. I would recommend if you visit, don’t eat, have a few drinks with friends and go later when the Scottish musicians are playing. It’s probably fun then. We left pretty quickly with a large bill and were dissatisfied. We were fortunate to find a friendly welcome elsewhere in the city to enjoy the rest of...