The Ugadale Hotel & Cottages

Spacious room with splendid coastal views. That's the praise. Fading decor. Lackluster, almost sullen, service. Dim light bulbs that barely lit the room. Failed to clean my room either day of a three night stay. My room had no pillows when I checked in and I was told by the desk clerk (and sole person working) she wasn't sure she could find any (to be fair she did.). Only game in town and behaves that way.

Stayed here at the weekend for a couple of rounds of golf. 4 of us, arrival and check were great. Rooms spacious with beautiful views over the coast and golf course. Slightly dated but well equipped. Room 12 we stayed in, TV didn’t have any channels working, not really an issue for us. Booked in for meal at the connected pub on Saturday evening, two members of staff doing the best they could. Lovely food. Great sleep and good shower, but the best, was the breakfast, wow what an amount of food! Filled up for the golf ahead. Would I stay here again, absolutely…get it in the sun, wonderful location to chill or golf.

The Hotel is rated ( by whom?) as four star. The room was well appointed, however the lack of staff was apparent. On arrival our room had nut shells all over the floor and during our 3rd day no one cleaned our room or made the bed. The staff that were available were very pleasant , but the lack of staff training was obvious with no signs of any management staff over a 5 day stay. The Bar and Restaurant were shut during the whole of our stay . Breakfast was included but was marked by consistently stale bread ,and tinned fruit salad . There is another bar serving food on site. The lady behind the bar was again very pleasant but was unable to connect a new keg when the lager had run out and seemed unaware that it is usual to put lemon in a Gin & Tonic . We had a terrible dinner in this pub/ bar marked by an inedible curry. The daily charge for a double room was £316 . Overall a major disappointment, and a four star hotel it is not!

Well, visited with golf party who had been visiting the Ugadale for over 40 years. The current owners have no idea of the history or continuity of repeat custom and customer loyalty. The booking and general logistics were a joke. Emails not replied to, and prices ramped up to a silly percentage compared to 2 yrs previous. When we arrived , reception was totally disorganized , dinner bookings chaotic and a general disinterest in welcoming repeat ( 40.+ yr) custom. Restaurant closed .. so eating in external bar with limited fixed menu . Food appalling …we are on the Scottish coast and mussels , fish cakes and salmon are disgusting , overcooked culinary disasters. A terrible advertisement for fresh costal fare. We were informed that bar service was unavailable after 10.00 pm.. superb news after 2 rounds of golf, a hurried chaotic horrible meal and then asked to leave bar as they refused to pay staff to keep 30 customers willing to pay to have a few drinks ( fantastic business model … NOT) The staff are not to blame for this decision .. they were only obeying orders . Rooms are fresh and clean and breakfast perfectly acceptable . But the prices charged and the food and chaotic availability of service are well below standard, totally unacceptable. Staff are minimally trained locals with no understanding of customer service and have no interest in the success or otherwise of this establishment. This may sound a harsh review , but we are being ripped off by a hotel group that are resting on the laurels of having a famous golf course on their front lawn … and sadly that golf course ( Machrihanish ) is in even a poorer state than the Ugadale . This is a failure waiting to implode.. if it were not for the fact that I have been a regular rerun visitor for 40 years , I would not even have taken the time review this, but I feel a connection to the area and community and it’s tragic that the hotel group think they can provide 2 star service and food at 5 star prices. With the current cost of living crisis, this is a disgrace.. and the International visitors once they have played the faded jewel of Machrihanish links… covered in weeds and appalling condition, will never return, and due to social media this will quickly become a dead duck. I had no pleasure writing this review.. but it had to be done … poor service, terrible food and top dollar prices.

Beautiful part of the country and a comfortable stay. Good facilities. Had a great stay despite the weather!

We loved everything about our experience at the Ugadale: authentic and unkept hotel, golf across the road, quiet and serene space. Magical!