The Retreat Castle Hotel
- Food served: Mon–Thu noon–10pm; Fri/Sat noon–11pm; Sun 9am–10pm
- Children welcome: in bar area
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 14
- No. overnight rooms: 8
- Also offers: Gluten-free options, Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Wheelchair access, Outdoor tables (smokers welcome)
- Music on stereo: no music
- Capacity: 180
- Largest group: 70
- Open since: 2005
- Average price 2 courses:
£9 (lunch)
£14 (evening meal) - House wine: £11.50 per bottle
This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 – in the shops now or buy online.
A glittering archway welcomes guests to the Retreat Castle Hotel, a striking venue defined by its name and set in the countryside by Bonnyrigg. Decorated in a Scottish-baronial style, this flexible venue features a restaurant, bar, conservatory, courtyard and chapel, as well as eight charming bedrooms, some of which have a beautiful view of the town. Part of the Below the Belt empire that includes Rose Street's Bad Ass Bistro and Dirty Dick's, the Retreat Castle Hotel offers similar pub fare. Starters include steamy carrot and coriander soup served with a round of bread wedges, and a platter of West Coast mussels swimming in a buttery garlic broth. For mains, steak and stilton pie comes with a rich gravy and a crisp pastry lid, while sirloin steaks are reasonably priced and available with a sauce of your choice, as well as a hearty round of fried tomatoes, mushrooms, home-made onion rings and grilled corn on the cob. The Retreat is most popular in the summertime when the courtyard is available for outdoor drinking and a flurry of peacocks roam the premises. Friendly service, a relaxed atmosphere and good beer make this a useful spot to know within easy reach of Edinburgh's Southside.
- High point: Beautifully landscaped courtyard
- Low point: Not many vegetarian options
Comments
No comments yet – be the first.
To post a comment you'll first need to log in - not registered? - forgotten password?
