Buccleuch Arms, St Boswells - Melrose

Within the heart of St Boswells, a village nestled beside the River Tweed in the Scottish Borders, stands Buccleuch Arms. This historic establishment has become a cornerstone of the local community and a popular destination for visitors seeking quintessential Scottish hospitality, fine dining, and a place to relax. Operating as a multi-category venue, Buccleuch Arms seamlessly blends the charm of a traditional Scottish restaurant and pub with modern comforts, offering a comprehensive experience catering to various tastes and occasions.

A Timeless Location and Ambiance

Located at The Green, St Boswells, Melrose TD6 0EW, United Kingdom, Buccleuch Arms benefits from a prime position in a picturesque setting. St Boswells itself is a charming village known for its independent shops, cafes, and pubs, offering a relaxed atmosphere away from the bustling city life, yet conveniently close to the historical city of Melrose with its iconic abbey. The Buccleuch Arms is often described as a building steeped in history, providing a warm and inviting ambiance. Patrons frequently mention feeling a sense of traditional British pub culture combined with the quality expected of a modern hotel and restaurant. The venue is particularly noted for its welcoming staff and comfortable, well-maintained interiors, making it suitable for both casual visits and more formal occasions.

Diverse Offerings: Dining and More

The culinary expertise of Buccleuch Arms is a significant draw for many visitors. The venue boasts several dining options under one roof:

• British Restaurant: Offers traditional and contemporary British fare, focusing on quality ingredients. Their menus often feature locally sourced produce, reflecting the best of the Scottish Borders region.
• Scottish Restaurant: A dedicated section celebrating Scotland's rich culinary heritage. Specialties might include classic haggis, neeps, and tatties, or more adventurous takes on traditional dishes, often prepared using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.
• Beer Garden: An extension of the pub experience, featuring an extensive range of craft beers, ales, and cider served at tables set in a pleasant outdoor area. This is a popular spot for lunch, dinner, or simply enjoying the sunny Scottish weather.
• Pub: The traditional heart of Buccleuch Arms, offering a wide selection of drinks, including real ales, and classic pub food, providing a more casual dining option.

Furthermore, Buccleuch Arms functions as a hotel, providing overnight accommodation. Guests staying on can enjoy the added convenience of having breakfast prepared at the venue and access to other facilities. Crucially, Buccleuch Arms is also recognized as a premier wedding venue, offering comprehensive packages tailored to couples seeking a memorable setting for their special day, combining rustic charm with professional service and catering.

Customer Experience and Reputation

Word-of-mouth and online reviews significantly shape the perception of Buccleuch Arms. The establishment maintains an active presence on platforms like Google My Business, where it has accumulated a substantial number of reviews – a total of 1006 reviews. These reviews consistently praise the restaurant's food quality, the reputation of Head Chef Lee Croxford, the friendliness and attentiveness of the staff, the cozy atmosphere, and the excellent value for money. The overall customer satisfaction is reflected in the impressive average opinion score of 4.2 out of 5. This high rating underscores the venue's commitment to delivering a consistently positive experience to its patrons.

Historical Note and Atmosphere

Often associated with heritage, Buccleuch Arms benefits from its historic building. Many visitors appreciate the cosy, traditional interior design elements, which contribute to an authentic atmosphere. While modern comforts are present, the venue retains a sense of place that appeals to those looking for a genuine Scottish experience.

Recommendations for Visitors

Whether you are a local resident enjoying a night out, a tourist exploring the Scottish Borders, or planning a special event, Buccleuch Arms is highly recommended. For those interested in traditional Scottish cuisine, booking in advance for dinner in the Scottish restaurant is advisable, especially on weekends. Lunch in the pub or beer garden is a popular choice for a casual meal. Given its status as a wedding venue, it is essential for event planners to contact the venue well in advance to discuss requirements and availability. The Buccleuch Arms website (buccleucharms.com) provides detailed information about menus, accommodation options, function spaces, and contact details. For general inquiries or reservations, the telephone number 1835822243 is available. St Boswells is easily accessible by car, and it's worth exploring the village and nearby Melrose for additional attractions.

Overall, Buccleuch Arms, St Boswells represents a well-rounded establishment that successfully combines quality dining, comfortable accommodation, a vibrant pub atmosphere, and a dedicated wedding venue within a beautiful Scottish setting. It is a highly recommended stop for anyone visiting the St Boswells area.

👍 Reviews of Buccleuch Arms, St Boswells

Mytholmroyd

This would have been a 5 star review but we had such a wonderful experience on the first visit we went back two days later. We called in on Tuesday afternoon during a circular walk from Dryburgh with our dogs. Lovely sunny day, sat in the beer garden with a drink and then stayed to eat at 5pm when they started serving food as the menu looked good. Had a three course meal and it was superb - compliments to the chef. Young staff were very friendly, great service, assured us we would be welcome to eat inside as they were very dog friendly but even though it was very quiet inside we stayed in the garden. Left a decent tip as they had looked after us so well. Went back on Thursday just after 5pm following another long walk, left the dogs in the car as not sunny. We went inside asked at the bar if there was a possibility of a table for two (we would have been happy to eat in the garden again if that was the only option) and were met with a curt 'Have you booked?' We said no and then were told we couldn't have a table. Not one smile, no offer of a drink (it's a pub too), no explanation or apology why (we are fully booked/aren't serving food until 7pm/short staffed etc) and then just silently stared at until we left. Very weird experience. Totally bewildered, we went to Hunters up the road and couldn't have been made more welcome - fabulous family-run restaurant and great food. All's well that ends well I guess!

Tony F.

5/5

Great experience. Wonderful service in the restaurant with several of us wanting changes to the dishes on offer.
EV charging at the place at better rates than most public rates. It does have a charge for leaving you car attached and not charging, so remove when done. It is capable of delivering 11kw so factor that into the charge times.
Plenty of parking in the two car parks.

Oliver B.

5/5

Stayed here on our trip to Scotland and the Highlands.
Conveniently located.

Food is delicious, room was cozy. Here and there you see that the room is somewhat older, but no actual issue here.

The surroundings are very nice.
Take a stroll at the river, very beautiful.
Ended by error on the ground of the donkey asylum and received a nice donkey welcome.

Catherine A.

3/5

Incredibly disappointing that a pub/restaurant in such a prime location and clearly popular, has so little to offer vegetarians and vegans. Visited for Sunday lunch a few weeks ago and it was very poor! The service was perfunctory and it felt like we were being moved on the make way for the next. But the main issue is the lack of good vegetarian options. Hope you can improve this so I can improve my next review!!

John B.

4/5

Here for a funeral wake. Been past many times but never been in.
Service good, venue good. Food very basic but presumably you get what you order!! However, well worth a visit.

Lucas A.

5/5

Stopped for a meal, a bit on the steep side for a pub meal, but it was well worth it. Burger was really good and filling and service was great.

ytshome

Called in this afternoon to give it one last chance (after a less than perfect meal last time) and very glad that we did. The new menu (mostly the same but with some nice extras) was a big hit with my better half. The sticky chicken goujons were particularly good and in fact all of the meal and the service was much improved to the extent that we are seriously considering changing our reservation for a different restaurant tomorrow, so well done....now just keep it up

walkmanFife

Stayed here one night while walking the Borders Abbeys Way. Quite surprised at some of the other reviews here as our experience was all positive. All the staff were excellent and went out of their way to be helpful. They were certainly earning their wages the day we were there as there was some lunchtime event, a funeral in the afternoon and a full meal service in the evening.||Our walk for the day had ended at Dryburgh Bridge, leaving us with a rough path walk of nearly two miles to get to the hotel. We weren't keen on walking that way back to the bridge before another 14 miles to Kelso (given that we are 70 and 72). Special mention to Steve, who not only managed to find us a taxi for 7.15am but also arranged for us to have a bacon roll before leaving in the taxi and also arranged a packed lunch for us. We would have struggled without this extra help.||Our rooms were absolutely fine and contained everything you might need. Food in the restaurant, though not "fine dining" was absolutely fine and well cooked and presented.||Overall, a good stay and I would certainly go back and would recommend it.