Restaurant Review: the hotel that time forgot

The historical mansion is found in a 240 acre estate and features a golf course, luxury spa and beautiful rooms.

The hotel is decorated classically and elegantly throughout — when you walk around and take it all in, there is a feeling of timelessness I rarely experience when constrained to my own budget.

The look is unique because of its reminiscence to the last century —being perfectly maintained — while the food stands on its own because of how modern it is.

When you enter the Cristal restaurant, the first thing you notice, besides the surrounding, is the service — the waiting staff spoil you without being over-bearing.

To start I had cullen skink, and it was without a doubt the most unique — and the best — I have ever had.

The haddock was served with a perfect poached egg before the waitress added a rich green liquid to the bowl. The texture and the taste worked perfectly — and it was the ideal start to a meal that was only about to get better.

Despite the multitude of options, deciding on my main took little deliberation and the roast canon of Highland venison, served with rosti potato, red cabbage confiture, haggis bonbons and a redcurrant sauce, lived up to my high expectations.

The meal reached a crescendo with a warm chocolate brownie, served with ginger ice cream and crushed pistachios.

A meal, or indeed a stay, at Mar Hall is not cheap, but it is clearly somewhere where you get what you pay for; from the moment you arrive until the moment you leave, everything is done to the highest standard.

If you are looking to spoil someone this summer, or celebrate a special occasion, you really can’t go wrong with a trip to Bishopton.

Rating: 9/10

Mar Hall Hotel

Mar Hall Drive

Bishopton

PA7 5NW

Tel: 0141 812 9999