The Drovers Inn, Arrochar

Official site of The Drovers Inn - www.droversinn.co.uk

Official site of The Drovers Inn - www.droversinn.co.uk

It's certainly a character pub but the owners appear to use that as an excuse to avoid basic maintenance (take a cursory look at the crumbling exterior). Left room is a bar, with eating rooms to the right and rear. Decorated in a hunting lodge style - loads of taxidermy, black ceilings, a wood burning stove in the old hearth, exposed stone walls, upright piano, old framed paintings, candles and a little snug. Deuchars IPA as the single ale, tinny and horrible. Three Drygate beers in the fridge, expensive though. Ate here and my poached salmon was pretty good value for 12 quid, though judging by others plates I think I managed to find the value in the menu. Aimed squarely at one-drop tourists, it’s heavy on Scottish music and all staff wear kilts (sigh). I also had the misfortune to overnight here and I can say quite categorically that it’s the worst ‘inn’ I’ve ever set foot in. They even had a female Manuel failing to serve breakfast unless you wrestled it out of the kitchen. Pub-wise, it’s worth a nose for the interior and a wee dram but that’s about it. It is nowhere near as amazing as some others would have you believe. 5.5