Tinto Hotel, Biggar

Official site of Tinto Hotel - www.facebook.com

Official site of Tinto Hotel - www.facebook.com

Official site of Tinto Hotel - www.tintohotel.scot

Official site of Tinto Hotel - www.tintohotel.scot

Damp and dripping from my winter hike up the nearby Tinto Hill, from which the Hotel takes its name, I approached its impressive exterior with some trepidation. It wasn't evident from the signage, outside and in, that it actually had a public bar and, even if it did, I didn't rate my chances of being served, in my dishevelled condition, too highly. However, I needn't have worried. At the reception desk, I was directed to a small, lounge style room just off the main concourse, where I was soon joined by a barwoman. As Guinness was available only in the "surger" variety (i.e. a can topped up with a surge of foam a tap), I opted for a pint of the rarely found, but very pleasant, MacLachlan's Best Ale, costing £3.60. The draught choice is fairly limited, with only Carling lager, Carling cider and Coors light also on tap. The bar, though, isn't the main focus of the hotel. It is dwarfed by both the adjacent restaurant and the function suite and the other customers, judging by their conversations, were residents rather than locals. Surrounded by five acres of gardens, the hotel was built in 1914 and has long been a popular wedding venue in the Lanarkshire area. In addition to these and other functions, musical Tribute Nights are now held every Saturday. One in honour of Tina Turner and Cher was in the process of being set up while I was there. This certainly isn't what you could call the village pub, but as there are no others in Symington, it's the only option.