Whitebridge Hotel - book direct for best rates! — Restaurant in Scotland

I had high hopes for our stay at this hotel during our highland vacation, especially after reading many positive reviews. An unexpected turn in plans allowed my brother-in-law to join us following a work accident. However, I had booked only a double room, but was able to register three people online without any issue, so figured things were settled. However our check-in turned into a truly upsetting ordeal that left us feeling unwelcome and accused.

From the moment we arrived, we were met with abrupt hostility from the front desk staff member. She immediately scolded us, saying she’d been trying to contact us all day—(something impossible for us as international travelers without service). While I could understand her frustration, her tone was harsh and off-putting right from the start.

She explained that the room couldn’t accommodate a third person due to fire hazards, and that the hotel and surrounding areas were fully booked. We completely empathized with the situation, admitted our mistake, and assured her we’d handle it ourselves, no problem at all from our side. Instead of letting us proceed to get washed up, she insisted on escorting us to the bar to book alternative accommodations on the spot, which felt a bit intrusive, but we agreed.

At that point, My brother-in-law quickly found and booked a hostel 30 min away right there, but that’s when her behavior became even more bewildering and rude to my husband and me. She repeated—at least three times—that she wouldn’t hand over our room keys until we provided proof of his booking. It came across as deeply profiling and accusatory, as if she assumed we were liars intent on sneaking him in behind her back? So very strange. We reassured her multiple times that we had no intention of taking advantage and genuinely sorted it out already, but she dismissed us in the most condescending manner, insisting again on seeing evidence before we’d get our keys. I would have preferred to book something else on the spot—given this treatment, really wanted to leave—but the entire surrounding area was booked and we couldn’t find anything to accommodate all three of us.

This experience left us feeling like criminals rather than valued guests, and it’s truly sad because hospitality (I’ve been in this industry) should be about warmth, not suspicion. It’s a shame, as reading other low reviews suggests this bad attitude stems from upper management/ ownership. The rest of the staff was absolutely lovely, and the hotel accommodations and continental breakfast were quite nice overall.

However, I can’t in good conscience recommend this place when such rudeness from the front desk sets such a negative tone—some people simply aren’t suited for roles that require welcoming others. We deserve better as paying guests.

—— As suspected this management will spin their version of events to point more blame on their guests, after I admitted my role and fixed the problem. A simple sorry would have done just fine. For the lack of accountability and further rudeness at the hands of this management- docking...

What a beautiful setting for a Birthday lunch The bar staff were so friendly and the food was good pub grub However the landlady ( not Lesley ) is absolutely atrocious Rude, embarrassing and disrespectful Long story short as judging by the other 1star review's she will spin a good story to make herself sound plausible ( everybody can’t be wrong ) As soon as we had finished our deserts ( making sure she didn’t miss out on us ordering all the food for 6 of us ) she appeared from no where and shouted across the room at us that my dogs had been continuously barking for half an hour and we needed to leave My dogs had been on a 2 mile hike over the hills and even the lovely bar staff was laughing at them snoring The chef came out to see them and people wanted there pictures taken with them ( they are very cute ) and very well behaved We had been on a river cruise of the loch the day before , only 12 seater boat , fully booked with 4 dogs on board too, no problem what so ever She continued to stand there with her hands on her hips glaring at us I could feel embarrassment and anger bubbling both at the same time , my elderly parents did not know where to look and my children were ready to defend our beautifully behaved dogs I made the decision to leave rather than cause more of a scene I rang half an hour later and the other landlady came to the phone ( Lesley) although not the initial problem she had the same demeanour Telling me that I wasn’t letting her talk and the conversation should end I told her to continue explaining to me how that kind of behaviour was warranted and if there was a problem someone could have approached the table respectfully and explained what that problem was She informed me that her cleaner had gone home without having her dinner because she was so intimidated by my sleeping new foundland that she previously felt the need to bend over and smooth him. Sox jumped up from his sleep and barked and led back down , then two of her regulars walked in with two carry under your arm dogs which both my dogs were barking at on leads wagging their tails wanting to play My dogs are very social very well behaved and and only barked twice about half an hour apart I have seen there are many 5 star reviews here but they must not have encountered this vile women People like Lesley and her business partner do not deserve your custom and Sox and snoop have more manners and respect than the two of them will ever have Over to the spin doctor…. In response to your expected reply below You are an out right liar, my dogs did not bark at several people , I did not phone you up ranting , I was furious at our treatment but spoke to you respectfully and all you could do was talk over me No one will feel sorry for you , even your staff apologised to us on your behalf I am absolutely stunned at todays events I have never met...

Failure to Accommodate a Basic Medical Requirement Resulting in Distress and Unsafe Conditions The Highlands are undeniably beautiful, and the Whitebridge Hotel enjoys an enviable location with significant potential. Unfortunately, the conduct of the ownership in response to a simple, medically necessary request irreparably marred our stay and created a situation that was not only unpleasant but also unsafe. As a Type 1 diabetic, I rely on insulin for survival. Insulin must be stored at a controlled cool temperature to remain effective. A very minor accommodation — freezing a small medical ice pack overnight — was all that I required. This is a standard request that hotels and hospitality providers worldwide have always handled without hesitation, as it directly relates to the storage and transport of life-sustaining medication. Initially, I was informed that the request could not be honored on the basis of “hygiene.” This rationale was both inappropriate and factually unsound, given that medical accommodation obligations are widely recognized in the hospitality industry. Subsequently, a member of staff — whose professionalism I acknowledge — was willing to assist without incident. However, when I approached the ownership again with the same request, the response I received was shockingly rude, dismissive, and devoid of even the most basic compassion. I repeatedly attempted to explain that my request was not one of convenience, but of medical necessity: without properly cooled insulin, I cannot safely travel or manage my condition throughout the day. Should my insulin degrade, I would be left without any means of emergency replacement while in a foreign country. The consequences of such a scenario are grave — immediate health emergencies including loss of consciousness, diabetic ketoacidosis, and coma are well-documented risks. This is not a theoretical concern, but a very real matter of life and death. For a hotel proprietor to dismiss and mishandle such a fundamental medical request — one that requires minimal effort, no cost, and poses no legitimate “hygiene” risk — is deeply troubling and unacceptable. The lack of empathy and professionalism demonstrated by ownership left us not only disappointed, but also unsafe, and it raises serious concerns as to how other guests with health requirements may be treated. Our stay was ruined not by the setting, nor by the facilities, but by the owner’s failure to extend the most basic level of care and understanding to a guest with a documented medical condition. For this reason, and with sincere regret, I cannot recommend the Whitebridge Hotel to any traveler — particularly those with medical needs that require even minimal...