The Masonic Arms, Kirkcudbright

With a couple of Good Beer Guide pubs to visit in the attractive town of Kirkcudbright, we first started at the Masonic Arms. The Masonic Arms has a couple of decent size rooms. The front bar has a couple of handpulls, whilst the rear room contains a fantastic gin collection. No sooner had we walked through the door, we were told that we couldn't come in, as no children were allowed. I decided to stay for a quick half whilst a group of elderly customers were trying to tell me about some other pub that allowed children in. I tried to explain that I was specifically in Kirkcudbright to visit the Good Beer Guide pubs and they ignored my explanation whilst continuing to promote this other place and became quite uppity when I firmly told that I wasn't interested in any other place they wanted to tell me about. The barman was a little friendlier despite his initial refusal to serve us. I told him where I was going next (the Selkirk Arms Hotel), about which he was quite critical. He said that the place had become more of a bistro and that we wouldn't get in without a reservation. I quickly tried to make one online, but to no avail. The solitary real ale here was Deuchars. Although the barman was pulling another through. With the rest of the family hanging around outside, I wasn't inclined to stay too long in a place that clearly didn't want our custom. So, it was a short and disappointing visit.