The Pavilion — Restaurant in Scotland

Firstly, let us revel in the service, which is nothing short of theatrical delight. Craig, the maestro of this bustling café stage, orchestrates proceedings with a flourish that’s equal parts charm and expertise. Amid the steady hum of loyal patrons and clinking crockery, he somehow conjures moments for witty repartee, plucking anecdotes and bon mots from his seemingly bottomless hat of mirth. Head barista, waiter, counter-server, raconteur—Craig is a veritable Swiss Army knife of hospitality. Meanwhile, James, his culinary counterpart, is the head-cook, bottle-washer, server, waiter, and a bloody good egg (as is Craig, of course!). Together, these two gallants of gastronomy are, indubitably, the Jeeves and Wooster of Stirlingshire, catering to their customers with an effortless panache, meeting every request with a smile and a spring in their step, all the while maintaining customer care reminiscent of Dr. Findlay’s Casebook, and worthy of a five-star review.

Between Craig’s repartee and James’s culinary wizardry, they have fashioned a convivial sanctuary—a snug and vibrant haven where friends gather, conversation flows, and delicious fare reigns supreme. Just be forewarned: Wednesdays around lunchtime transform this haven into something of a crèche for caffeine-fuelled mummies and their little cherubs. A mother-and-baby coven convenes to sip lattes, swap tales of sleepless nights, and engage in the ultimate juggling act—adult conversation with a baby latched on for dear life (a little whimsy dear ladies, a mere jest).

Comestibles: Ah, the food! The crown jewel of the Pavilion’s offerings is undoubtedly the soups. Two varieties grace the menu each day, one of which is a heavenly lentil concoction crafted with evident love, and apparent alchemy, by James. The other tends to venture into more exotic realms—perhaps a Courgette, Pea, and Mint elixir or some equally adventurous delight—each as exquisite as the last. The baked goods are a feast for the eyes and the tastebuds: cakes, tray bakes, and scones, all so fresh you’d swear they just leapt from the oven. A medley of hot and cold sandwiches, baguettes and rolls rounds out the menu, catering to every whim and fancy.

And then there are the beverages. Craig’s prowess with the coffee machine is nothing short of artistry, each hot drink a little masterpiece in a cup. From a decadent hot chocolate (with or without the fripperies of whipped cream and marshmallows. Without for me thank you, I’m a grown-up!) to a velvety mocha and a perfectly brewed Earl Grey, there’s something to soothe every soul. For those who prefer their beverages chilled, there’s a selection of cold drinks guaranteed to transport you to warmer, tropical climes with their bold flavours and unapologetic E-number content.

Both children and dogs are welcome, though their behaviour is, as always, contingent on the capabilities of their handlers.

The Pavilion isn’t merely a café—it’s a cocoon of comfort and warmth, a bastion against Scotland’s capricious weather and the relentless tick of the modern clock. Step inside, let time slip away, and surrender to its cozy embrace………until the clock chimes...

Avoid this establishment at all costs. The so called manager and part owner of the pavilion Craig Wilkie is getting named and shamed at how disgusting he treated my sister and her friends today at the pavilion. He is nothing short of a vile, rude man who should be ashamed of his behaviour today. Clearly he lacks basics customer service skills and clearly lacks knowledge on children with severe food allergies.

My sister has posted this as her experience on Facebook also;

‘I have never posted something like this but after the way we were treated today I actually feel like I have to do or say something ….

Myself and two friends were in kings park in Stirling today and decided to pop by Kings Park Pavilion for a coffee and breakfast with our kids. We gave them crisps from our bags (some of the kids with us have allergies and it can be tough finding food that suits) and went in to check if they had a menu so we could order. I came back out to tell my friends that they don’t have a menu but basically they can do all coffee. The manager (who I believe is a part owner and named Craig Wilkie i have learned) came over to us and very abruptly told us that the table we were at was not a picnic bench and that the kids could not eat snacks we brought. That’s fine, we understood and asked if he sold crisps so the kids could eat. He answered quite snootily no, and in actual fact ‘we were not a good look for the cafe’. Without using the exact words he clearly was asking us to leave. This was done in front of everyone within the cafe and him knowing full well an order was about to be placed - it was hugely mortifying. The kids were in no way misbehaving, just sitting chatting and eating their crisps.

Embarrassed, we packed the kids up and left while he watched

I will never return after being publicly shamed and asked to leave. My sincere apologies we did not fit the look of your cafe Mr Wilkie, but at the entrance of a kids park, why on earth would you feel parents & children are not your core customer.

100% would not recommend, unless you have the right ‘look’ the rude and unpleasant owner is looking for.

The reviews about this manager on trip advisor also speak for themselves he’s clearly a repeat offender. I give this 0 stars if it was an option but you have to click one...

As a local resident who visits the park regularly it is a lovely place to visit however given my experience today and having seen a reply to another member of my family who reviewed the Pavilion earlier I feel complelled to share my experience.

I visited with my granddaughter who is 5 years old, like most 5 year old children she was looking forward to enjoying some time in the park, we took a picnic with us however as we were faced with poor weather we decided to sit at the edge of the decking area which is covered to protect us from the showers,

As this is an area where a cafe trades we purchased drinks as it would be quite wrong to occupy a seat if we were not in fact buying anything,

There was around 3 other families in the area and ample seating available.

The staff member who was an older man approached us and said " it's a cafe guys" to which we replied yes, he then replied that we could not eat our own food, we stayed we purchased drinks however he requested we leave????

My disabled wife my granddaughter and my daughter and son in law were disgusted at the attitude of this person as was i, how rude is it to ask your paying customers to leave despite paying for drinks, other customers were seated who only had drinks so I can only assume this person chose to deliberately pick on my family when all we were doing was sitting enjoying some time together, surely that's what our public parks are for??

I would also point out that there were no signs stating seating for cafe customers only or indeed no signage stating only food and drinks purchased on sit can be consumed.

Clearly this person does not have any regard for his customers and does not understand the concept of hospitality!

I can see by the reply to my son in law's review the staff member clearly thinks it's funny to completely disregard customer feedback which just reinforces the accuracy of my feedback

Unlike most people who have a bad experience I will continue to visit the park and will be more than happy to share my experiences with others, however certainly will not purchase from the pavilion and I would advise others to...