We stayed for Hogmanay, 2005, & wouldn't go there again, mainly due to the attitudes held by certain members of staff. This certainly was not a family-friendly hotel. We were with our son, who was 2 at the time, plus some of our extended family. Firstly, we were provided with a travel cot, not a proper one, which had been requested, but we let that one go & we coped. Hogmanay went well, or so I had believed. We knew not to expect breakfast on New Year's day, so we sorted ourselves out while the staff cooed over the new baby in their family. However, when we arrived back after lunch, we were informed that the bar would be closed all evening, which was not the end of the world, however, the lounge area was also to be closed. With a young child, there would be nowhere to relax together as a family, & nowhere to unwind once he'd gone to bed. After much debate, we booked another hotel for the night, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Before we left, my mother revealed to me that during the Hogmanay party, she was approached by the manageress and told that she ought not to let my son "wander" around, as the other guests would be disturbed. (The guests who had been dancing with him on the dancefloor?!) He had behaved impeccably and had never left our sight. The manageress also added that she had expected a "wee baby", not a toddler. Is this not discrimination? Would she have refused our custom if whoever took our booking had told her that a toddler would be present? Mum was deeply offended, but had kept this conversation to herself so as not to upset me. Needless to say, the manageress received some calm, but firm words from me on our departure!

How this hotel gets a 3* rating is beyond me. Dilapidated decor, unusable bathroom, deep fried breakfast and undrinkable beer. Suitable for contractors only. Wanted to leave as soon as we got there. Abandon hope all yee who enter here!

20 to 30 of us have an annual golfing weekend each year at a different UK location during May. This year we chose the Dalston House hotel in Dumfries. Our party occupied 13 of the 15 hotels and had a great time. The rooms are standard but comfortable. There is a good size bath, with overhead shower . Only minus points was that the hotel has no non-smoking rooms and my partner and I had stiff necks after watching the tele in the room which is very high up on the wall. The food is tasty and there is a good selection. The hotel is in a very good location, very close to all town centre amenities. The staff were very friendly and helpful and accomodated our large party in their private function room for dinner on the saturday night. There is a large wall-mounted tv in the bar which displays karaoke if requested. Dumfries itself is a good sized town with plenty of shops and pubs. A plus point for us was that Scotland is non-smoking inside the pubs. The scenery around the area is varied and beautiful. I recommend a visit to the superb Culzean castle & country park on the west coast (£12 admission per adult, free for national trust members) approx 55 miles away and the Samye Ling monastery, near Eskdalemuir, free admission but donations accepted, approx 20 miles away and a very unusual experience.

I had the pleasure of stayin at the Dalston for 3 months whilst working in Dumfries. The only words i have are kind ones. Ian an Wilma and there daughters couldnt have looked after me any better than they did. Fact is when i was on holiday for a week i couldnt wait to get back to the hotel. I have never felt so welcomed in all my life and they way the whole family looked after myself aund my colleagues was by far more than i could have expected. I suggest anyone coming to the dumfries area should stay here it is "the" home from home. You will never find another hotel so friendly to stay at anywhere in the world the fact that i still miss the whole family 4 months on says a lot for the hospitality!