Atholl Arms Hotel, Dunkeld

The public bar of this imposing and luxurious hotel is called The Meeting Place. A corridor leading to the toilets continues to a lounge largely populated by residents, but open to everyone. This features “traditional” Scottish music which permeates through to The Meeting Place if the juke box or TV aren’t on. Behind the main bar there is a larger area with substantial additional seating. Unfortunately, this wasn’t required, as the place was very quiet on both the Friday and Saturday nights I visited. This isn’t surprising as it is expensive compared to the other pubs nearby. A pint of Guinness cost me £3.70 and Tennent’s lager, Heverlee Belgian lager, Caledonia Best and Magner’s cider are also on draught. A pair of hand pumps dispense Ossian and Strathbraan Head East real ales, the latter locally brewed in Perthshire. A beautifully situated riverside beer garden, across the road, would undoubtedly be the best meeting place during the summer months.