Mumzilla's Qype profile

One word to say about this place - WOW!  Food is superb, atmosphere is great and staff are very helpful and friendly.  Excellent value for money and costs you a lot less than it looks!  Went there very recently with a group for our daughter's birthday and, while they couldn't provide a cake, they were happy to bring our own cake out and made sure we had everything we needed.  Also - lots of gluten-free dishes on the menu so if, like us, you have coeliac friends and family, you can still all go out together and enjoy a meal. 

I was invited along to try this out and, while I fancied it, I was a bit apprehensive.  However, why I do not know as it was great.  The teacher was so patient with us (although I did think that it must be going through his head "what have I agreed to here") and very kind and encouraging.  He didn't make us feel stupid, we all had a laugh, often at each other but always together, and he kept telling us how well we were doing.  It wasn't an easy class physically - although you didn't appreciate how physical it was until you stopped to learn a step and realised how out of breath you were, and Bollywood dancing is a lot more complicated than it looks (I didn't know my arms could bend that way) but, at the end, when we were all dancing together and (mostly) in time.........what a buzz!  The music was a great help too - how could you not throw yourself into it with such great music.  Even my 15 year old, who came with me, loved it!  I can't wait to go back and have even committed myself to joining the course - beats sitting in the house watching Eastenders that's for sure! 

What a lovely place.  Hubby and I had 2 nights there last weekend (July) and had a great time.  This is in a lovely spot with beautiful views on the outskirts of Selkirk and full of olde worlde charm.  Not much in Selkirk itself but it's a great spot for touring around the Borders.  We were in a family room which was huge.  There was ony 2 of us sharing but it would easily have accommodated 4 people with room to spare and the whole hotel was spotlessly clean.  The food was excellent and very good value for money.  There was a great choice for dinner and, while breakfast was described as "Full Scottish Breakfast", you could virtually ask for whatever you wanted.  I overhead several people asking for various combinations of breakfast items and it didn't phase Anoinette (the owner) one bit.  Actually, nothing really phased Anoinette one bit - she bent over backwards to make sure we felt very much at home.  This hotel has a lovely relaxed and very friendly atmosphere and all of the staff were comfortable chatting to you as they went about their business.  The quiz night on the Saturday was a great laugh and really encouraged all of the hotel guests to mingle and chat with one another.  Beware, however, the Hotel Team - they cheat mercilessly!  Can definitely recommend this place and very much look forward to going back again.

Popped in here for a quick coffee recently. Lots of tables outside, none of which had been cleared and we had to clear one ourselves. Hubby got the coffees and a bit cake for himself and it was very expensive and not terribly good. Staff couldn’t care less and if they spent more time clearing tables instead of having a sly fag round the corner or speaking on the phone, they would have had more custom – 3 times people came in when I was there, looked round at the mess, and left. No good for business guys! Can’t really recommend it and won’t be back myself.

Were at Hopetoun House today for horse trials. Horse trials etc were fairly average but, while we were there, we had the chance to look round some of the house. It is beautiful! Loads of amazing things to see, the rooms were stunning and the staff really knew their stuff. Some sad stories too. Will be going back for a more extensive look around and would recommend it. Children also seem to be very welcome so would be a good place for a rainy day to keep your kids occupied.

Never been here before and nipped in for a quick drink with friends before they got the train home. What a nice place. Very cosy, lovely seating areas and a cordoned off area for food. Music not overwhelmingly loud and the staff quite friendly. Lots of security there (although not usual in the town on a Saturday night) but even they were very pleasant and, when they had to move people on, seemed to do it in a positive manner with no trouble. Good place to pop into.

Went here for breakfast this weekend and found it surprisingly nice. The service was a bit slow but the staff were really nice and helpful. The food was okay (scrambled egg was a bit cool but, hey, that’s scrambled egg for you) but the smoked salmon was delicious and the coffee was good. It wasn’t spectacular but it was good and I would go back again.

I thought I had reviewed this place before but, to my horror, it doesn’t seem like I have! This restaurant is part of Jewel & Esk College on Milton Road, Edinburgh, and is run, generally, by the catering students there from the chefs to the waiting staff. It is, to be honest, utterly and entirely superb! The food is wonderful, it’s exceptionally cheap, the actual restaurant is stunning and has amazing views towards Arthurs Seat, the Pentlands and the Forth. The staff are all lovely young people and give you the most amazing service and do it cheerily and eagerly. The front of house manager (who I think is called Ian…..sorry if I’ve got that wrong – I’ve been there that often I should know!) is so nice and helpful. You come away having had a lovely meal and feeling like VIP. If you’ve never been – go – now!

We all know what the Playhouse does and where it is…..blah……blah……but do you know that it also houses the Stage Experience over the summer? It’s for youngsters and teenagers up to 21 years. Auditions are held for this and only a small proportion of those auditioned get in. You pay a fair amount of money (£210 this year) but for 2 weeks in the summer your teenager is there for almost 2 weeks solid, 9am to 6pm (occasionally later) where they learn a musical (Glee this year) and put on 3 performances at the end of the 2 weeks. My daughter was there for the first time this year and had an absolute ball. She made loads of new friends and learned things about herself she never even expected – so did we! Little did we know that, when she got on stage (and she was only in the chorus) she would become a totally different person! I’m sure she’s not the only one who’s left this with new talents, new friends and loads of new-found confidence. She already wants to audition for next year. Definitely worth thinking about.

Had heard of this little place on one of these sites that offer you cheap deals. I didn’t buy the cheap deal but, after my Qype event last week where we sampled lots of cheese and wine, do I now wish I had! Lovely little place, very clean, and the owner really knew her stuff about her cheeses and chutneys. She was very friendly and explained things very clearly. The cheeses were amazing – particularly the smoked one – and the chutneys were a lovely accompaniment. There was also a chap from Stewart’s brewery who had matched beers to the cheeses – what a revelation! Not one to consume beer on the whole (nice glass of dry white wine thanks) I was amazed how nice they were with the cheeses. He also really knew his stuff and the whole event was great. Will definitely be back to this little shop – as early as this Saturday in fact as my daughter is mad keen to go there for some cheese and to buy her partner some of that lovely beer. I feel it my duty to take her. Go there – it’s great.