King's Arms Hotel, Girvan

This impressive building is over 250 years old and is the only hotel and public licensed drinking place in the historic village. There is a bar, lounge, beer garden and restaurant, all separate, on the ground floor, in addition to the upstairs bedrooms. I had a reasonably priced meal and a pint in the lounge before returning later to the bar for a few more pints. The lounge is quiet and comfortable and decorated with interesting old photos of the area, with a mixed male/female clientele of locals, passing visitors and residents. The bar is more down to earth, with a tiled floor, basic décor and exclusively male drinkers (although no more than half a dozen at any point in the evening) who, judging by their conversations, were all villagers. There is a real, but unlit, fire, a dart board which was actually being used, a juke box and a TV showing BBC Northern Ireland rather than BBC Scotland. My pint of Tennent’s lager cost me £3.15 (it was 5p dearer in the lounge) and Carling lager, Stella Artois, Caledonia Best, Tennent’s Special, Guinness and Strongbow cider are also on tap. The beer garden at the back of the building is a garden in the true sense of the term as there were washing lines hanging in the corner, away from, but visible from, the tables. As a notice on the north facing side of the building points out, this is the last stop for food and drink before the Irish ferry (at Cairnryan).

This is a friendly village pub in a pleasant coastal location. Tennants ales, and a fine selection of malts. Good food, very reasonable prices. There is a separate no-smoking restaurant. Lounge and public bar are also no-smoking nowadays. Large car park to side.