The Islay Inn — Restaurant in Scotland

I've had mixed experiences here: one time, a staff was weirdly rude upon first words to me, which was offputting, and put a bad taste in my mouth about the place, so i left, and returned later, amybe that person would be off work, and the atmosphere would be better, which it was. I had a few pints, my doggie had a few treats, and we enjoyed the ambiance. The next time, which was most recent, we went in for food, and it was great! Get the steak pie, if you want something wholesome and good. I had a pint and a whisky as well. the whisky selection is good. The staff were really nice, and I think my dog is a rockstar now. I only docked a star, because there were a few groups that came in after me that stood to be sat (they didn't know they could just sit anywhere), and it took a bit of time for staff to give attention to them, more or less to get them to not crowd. It's no issue to me, but I bet there are those with the expectations to be sat at a table that they would be acknowledged sooner, or have a sign that says people can seat themselves, just for the north american crews coming through that sort of wander until they know what to do. As a north american, I get it. In north america, if there is no sign, we get scolded and sometimes yelled at for going to find a seat for ourselves, so we wait for the bosses (restaurant staff) to tell us what to do, but we aren't in north america here, and things are understandably different, but some people won't get that. For my personal experience, all good, one staff guy was a grump once, his problem, not mine. Will return, my dog...

Me and my 2 sisters went to this pub booked a table 3 found out no food.? Bar guy said be OK to get some food bring it in so later i went across the rd got a pizza they gave me a small can of lager, we didnt drink it as we drank vodka tonic etc so left it on the table while we sat buying drinks all night, forever waiting on a band to start at 9 pm who then promptly took a break at 10pm really whats the point ? I left the pub 10.30 leaving my sisters to continue their night only to be told today, a bar staff member came to the table asked them to leave as they have been smuggling drink he saw the can of lager.!! My god we all professionals in our 60s. All he has to do was speak to the bar staff who served us all day before accusing us of under the table drinking. We spent over £120 In this pub with the atmosphere of a frog, and we left sober !! if we going to smuggle in drinks it would be vodka not one can of beer. Ya uneducated nutter of a bar staff member, you know who you are. Instead of checking you felt it necessary to embarrass my sisters. We will never return so no fear on that score.. I'm only mad we don't drink lager we might have got to the dizzy heights of a buzz before we left as we definitely got no buzz from the many vodkas we drank with mixers??. I would have thought bar staff could tell sober people from drunk by now thereafter logic would kick in seeing us sober after 7 hours drinking in this boring...

My mother and myself came back to see the entertainment last night. We were regulars at the weekend before the refurb. The keelies were playing and we have seen them before and enjoy their music. Unfortunately from the minute we walked in the music was far too loud . Speakers were blasting . My mother is deaf and had to turn her hearing aids down as she found it painful! The gentleman who served us our drinks couldn't hear us we couldn't hear him.....so that's blantly obvious that the music was too loud. My mother had mentioned about the noise level to a female barmaid but she just walked away and never mentioned it to anyone. Didn't recognise any of the old lovely staff that used to be behind the bar. We left after our drinks. The bar was far quieter than what it would usually be for weekend entertainment. You are paying too much attention to getting the food right for customers than the entertainment value in the evening , which many people come to the bar for. This is the second time we have been since you've reopened and the 1st time back was too quiet due to forgetting to book a band ( the door staff said). Very disappointed with each visit back. Will be the Park bar from now on if back...