Scot House Hotel, Kingussie

Despite the fact that it was after eight on a Friday night when I called in here for a pint, the place was amazingly quiet. There was only one other customer, who was eating his dinner, and with no music and no TV, I didn’t feel inclined to stay for more than one pint. When I asked for a pint of Guinness, I was offered the “surge” variety - the beer comes out of a can and is topped up with a surge of gas from the tap. In view of my previous experience of it, I declined and opted for a pint of Belhaven Best, costing £3, instead. Disappointingly, the only other option available on draught was Carling lager. The one room bar is sizeable enough and not unattractive in itself, but this is a pub which could make a lot more of itself if it made a bit more effort. A greater variety of beer, some low level music and a TV would be a start. To be fair, it was winter when I visited and it might be more lively during the summer tourist season.