Swallow Gretna Hall Hotel

Do not stay here - hotel run down and very tired looking. We had to travel the country to attend my good friends wedding and we couldn't wait. The raod trip was all part of the fun and we had booked into the hotel which was hosting the wedding, it all sounded fantastic. The weather was great and we had a great journey, we arrived at Gretna Hall hotel and it looked picture postcard, what could be more perfect? We collected our dresses and luggage out of the car and went into reception to check in. Then it started....... no rooms ready and they couldn't find our reservations for about 10 minutes. We waited for the rooms to be cleaned but still felt not too bad considering we had been in the car 6 hours, it was 4pm at this time. We got our room keys and went to check out the rooms. The first twin was tiny but beds were clean and although the room looked tired we thought it would do. My room was a little bigger but the telephone didn't work and as I was on the floor above my daughter I had to use my mobile phone to call her in her room. I reported it to reception to be told it would be sorted out. But it never was. The day of the wedding arrived and we were all so excited to be there for my special friends on their big day the tired looking hotel with it's threadbear carpets didn't seem so bad. The food was great at the wedding and breakfast was nice too. The staff on the whole were friendly until it came to check out. The only person on reception who offered a good service was Fred, he did what he could but was working with 2 old dragons who would not know what customer service was if it hit them in their face. They were downright rude to the extreme and should not be in a job where they deal with the public. Our bill was wrong and they argued with me to say it was my fault-no way would I ever stay there again and I suggest you don't either, go to Smiths.

We have just returned from a two night stay at the Gretna Hall Hotel and were suprisingly happy with our stay. From looking at the reviews we were not expecting much of the hotel. We just wanted a base to explore the scottish boarders and because of that were happy to take the chance as the price was good value. This hotel is everything that you expect from a hotel that offers DBB for £50 a night and so much more. Rooms are clean and tidy (ok the linen could be ironed a bit better), the food outstanding (Sat night we had a 6 coarse meal, red rose and a box of chocs as a special valentines weekend dinner!). If you are expecting the Ritz at this price then you will be disapointed but if you are just looking for a clean good value place to rest your head after a day of exploring the Solway coast and the Lakes then this is the place. It is clear you can not please everyone but for myself and my boyfriend our break away to the scottish boarders were enhanced by our stay and Grentan Hall. TRAVELER TIP: Plan your visit beforehand there is a lack of tourist info on Dunfries and Galloway in the hotel.

We have just today returned form a 3 night family break at the Gretna Hall and we can't wait to go back!. We did read the reviews and I must say we had decided that we would have to make the best of what would seem a bad situation. How very pleasantly surprised we were. The staff were friendly and efficient, the food was excellent and plentiful with a great choice each evening and the breakfast was worth getting out of bed for. Our room was on the second floor, it was a reasonable size even with the 3rd bed. The linen was immaculate as were all surfaces of the room and the bathroom gleaming. I do agree that the carpets in the public hallways are certainly worn in areas with tape covering any trip hazard but would this really be enough to spoil a break? The rest of the hotel was very clean and the table linen at meal times, pristine! The gardens are lovely and well maintained too. Some folk are obviously very hard to please. Anyway, we are going back next month and I have recommended Gretna Hall to others who have already booked for the end of February. I hope this helps other who may have been put off with other reviews. Go and enjoy yourselves.

Stayed for one night on business but never again. After a room change due to previous smokers, found rain water seeping under French windows, bathroom freezing cold and room heating barely adequate. Carpets in general areas repaired with gaffer tape, bar furniture battered and drab, and food overpriced for the very average quality. I simply cannot understand how people can give this place a good review, unless it's an 'inside job'! Overall, I think the staff do their best with what they have, but it needs a lot spending on it to bring it up to standard.

stayed for 4 nights bed breakfast and 5 course evening meal from thursday to monday for my brothers wedding.Although wedding was in gretna registry office the whole stay was great food too much to eat could not fault the service staff could not do enough for you sat night entertainment was great and would certainly return again if you like value for money and lots of food cooked professionally for 4 nights dbb we payed 110 pounds well worth the money my wife and i would go back again terrific hotel

We spent 4 days over the New Year period at this hotel. We read the comments on this website prior to our visit and were apprehensive to say the least. But to our delight our stay was more than we could have hoped for. The meals, which included breakfast, lunch, afternoon teas sandwiches and cakes, and dinner were excellent with plenty of choice.The entertainment was good and varied. Alright, the carpet is a bit threadebear in the passageway and the bathroom had no real storage space for toiletries. But the rooms were very clean and tidy. We have spent the past few New Years at different hotels and this is one which we are seriously considering returning to next New Year

travelled up for a friends wedding, there were several weddings going on. It was very busy, the locals weren't very friendly only one pub and they wouldn't serve us so we ate the evening before in the hotel, this was ok but expensive for the quality. The wedding food was better than the bar food and our room was small but nice decor and we had patio doors onto the lawn which was pleasant. I would say no complaints but for what we paid we could've stayed in a 5* in the middle of London.

We stayed here for a minibreak and a visit to the Edinburgh Tattoo. There were about 30 of us. The hotel is old fashioned and is in need of a bit of a lick of paint, but it is clean and comfortable. Our ground floor twin room was quiet and overlooked lawns at the back of the hotel. We had full board and the food was excellent. There was a good choice, the portions were massive and the service was very quick. The bar is warm and friendly and has a nice atmosphere. There is a large, friendly tabby cat in residence :-) On the evening we went to the Tattoo, we didn't get back to the hotel until 2.00am but the staff had plates of sandwiches ready for us and opened the bar! All in all we had a lovely time and would definitely return to this hotel in the future.

We were 4 couples, who stayed in the Gretna Hall Hotel for 1 night for DB&B on a Saturday in December. Hotel was completely full, so clearly pretty popular, but we did not have a very memorable stay and would certainly not return or recommend it to anyone else. Room; Really quite spacious room with bunk beds in the corner so obviously also used as a family room. Very worn (see photos), but had nice seating area with small sofa and chair. Ancient kettle which took ages to boil, but a pretty good selection of tea and coffee. Tiny electric heater (i.e. no central heating in room or anywhere else we saw in the hotel/storage heaters in the corridors), which did manage to heat room up eventiually. Our room had a water damaged velux window with a constant draught, which was however alleviated by closing the curtains (although the noise from the M74 motorway our room looked onto could still be heard). Bathroom; Broken toilet roll holder. No small individually wrapped soaps or shampoo bottles, but soap and shampoo in wall-fitted dispensers as in a shopping centre toilet. Moronic bath/shower arrangement which ensured only freezing cold showers was the alternative to baths. Restaurant and bar; Really nice 4 course dinner with good choice, and especially the desserts were great. Restaurant also had really good service with a large contingent of young Polish staff. The breakfast had a small buffet of cereals, rolls and fruit juice, whereas tea/coffee, toast and cook breakfasts were made to order and served at the table. As at dinner, service was swift and good, and the cooked breakfast was plentiful, but made up of rather low quality ingredients. The bar and lounge were lovely quirky old rooms with comfy chairs and open fires, although the bar prices were a little high for a 3* hotel. Reception; Wait at check-in, which is to be expected in a fully booked 100 room hotel when you arrive at 15.30. When we went to our room at 23.00 expecting to go to sleep we were very surprised to find that we had been placed immediately above the main function room where a large party was underway with very low music. We could actually feel the floor vibrate, but a trip down to the reception revealed that no other rooms were available as the hotel was completely full. I politely noted to the receptionist that it would have made sense to place the party’s participants in the rooms above said function room, but was told that it would definitely stop at 1am, which it also did. My partner and I are both in our mid-20s so we didn’t mind too much, but for an older couple it might have been a major nuisance. The worst thing about the hotel was the check-out. Our 4 rooms had been booked and paid for 3 months previously, but since the hotel’s computer system was down they couldn’t find any record of this. We were actually told we would have to stay until we’d paid again, until a phone call to the credit card issuer proved that payment had been made. The attitude of the reception staff made one member of our party feel very uncomfortable, and they offered absolutely no apology when it became clear to them that we had in fact paid. From what we saw this is not a particularly well run hotel, and I would in particular not recommend it for any special occasion, like for example a wedding. There are just too many things that they are likely to mess up for you.

I was a bit worried after booking this hotel then read some of the reviews but I have no idea what the people are moaning about the hotel was clean staff were polite food was good. Ok the carpets were a bit bare in bits but who cares ! the only little complain was the drink was a little expensive ! But this would not put us off going back .