More about Mercure Ardoe House
Good overall stay at the Ardoe House
by TripAdvisor Member Stena
Stayed at this hotel on business. The hotel is 10-15 minutes outside Aberdeen so not for those who are looking for a central hotel with bars and restaruants on their doorstep. You need to catch taxis or have a rental car if you want to get around. There is nothing within walking distance of the hotel. This is a country castle type hotel with a modern 'bolt-on' at the back. If you get a room in the 'bolt-on' it will be a modern room and you could be anywhere in the world. The room was however nicely refurbished and the soft furnishings were very tasteful. The hotel is 3.5 pushing on 4 stars in my mind. I wouldn't go here if I was looking for a luxury country break with full on pampering. The hotel does however has a lovely large indoor swimming pool. The public rooms in the 'castle' part of the hotel are very grand - large open fires burn and there is a very nice cosy feel. The staff were very attentive throughout my stay and the overall feel was generally good. This is one of the better hotels in Aberdeen and I would definitely stay here again.
We came back for more!
by TripAdvisor Member Walco
This was our second stay at Ardoe House, previously spending three days as part of a dinner and breakfast package earlier at Easter.
We had such a great time in April we were almost a little nervous at returning in case it did not live up to our previous experience, especially as we had booked a lower grade of room this time round. However again we loved the place and wanted to stay longer.
The elements that make Ardoe so great for us as a couple on a short break are - cosy atmosphere, fantastic restaurant and great gym/pool facitlities.
The breakfast and dinner are of an excellent standard and the overall ambience is superb - if you have time to enjoy the details - not sure if you would if simply here on business...
Nice pool and very well equiped gym mean that you can really relax, and feel pampered.
The staff are on the whole very proffessional and helpful, some of the staff can be a little off hand at times.
The one drawback the hotel has would be the bar prices which verge on the extortionate, for both alcohol and hot drinks, however the main bar is very well stocked and almost makes up for them.
Not what I expected
by A TripAdvisor Member
My wife and I stayed for 3 nights over the Easter weekend. We wanted to make it a bit special so we booked a suite. When we checked in, we were initially impressed by the surroundings and our room was fairly large and spacious. It was in the tower in the old part of the hotel had a spiral staircase to a lounge with marvellous views over the gardens and beyond.
We had dinner in the hotel twice and the food was excellent.
There are a few issues with this hotel that would put me off staying again.
The majority of the hotel staff do not speak good English and we had several misunderstandings about housekeeping requirements. The staff were very pleasant and obviously were trying to please but when they didn't understand simple requests such as "Can we have some milk?"....Housekeeping is something that the Ardoe House does not do well. Our bedroom was not dusted and there was a haphazard approach to replenishing things like biscuits, water, soap, etc. We asked for extra pillows, these were provided and promptly repossessed the next morning! The feature lounge was never dusted, tidied or had its waste bins emptied during our entire stay. When we switched on the electric fitre in the lounge, all the power in the entire room went out. Thanks to the very nice maintenance man who got the power back on. We were advised not to use the fire again!
The lounge bar did not appear to be cleaned or tidied during the day and there was evidence of that in the evening i.e. newspapers lying about and crumbs on the floor. It doesn't make you feel very special when you are dressed for dinner, having a pre-dinner drink and your feet are treading nuts and other detritis into the carpet.
A good hotel starting on the downward slope?
Just OK
by TripAdvisor Member havecardwilltravel
We stayed here as part of the package with our tour of Scotland. The place is pretty, but the diningroom wait staff and the front desk staff seemed to care less if our stay was a pleasant one.
Lovely atmosphere and excellent cuisine
by TripAdvisor Member Lys
Whilst we did not stay here my family and I had a Sunday lunch in their lovely Olde Worlde dining room. The food was excellent and cooked and served to perfection. Staff most attentive and our pre lunch drinks in the bar resplendent with lit fire, Sunday papers and drink was a lovely start to a relaxing Sunday. A lovely hotel to relax in; we would certainly consider a long weekend here.
THE BEST
by TripAdvisor Member brucelee440
This is going back a couple of years now, but my wife and I were married at Ardoe. The staff could not have been nicer and more professional, the meals were some of the best I have ever eaten and the function and accommodation was brilliant.
Ok, that was 2002, however we have gone back every year since then to celebrate our anniversary and they have never let us down. The leisure club and spa are tops and the staff are as professional and friendly.
This is one of the best hotels we have stayed in - WORLDWIDE, and I reccommend it to everyone who asks.
Brief - bur great !!
by TripAdvisor Member Jambo2006
I was in Aberdeen on business for 6 weeks and very unfortunately only managed to stay here for the last few nights.
Oh how I wished that I could have found it sooner !!
The very best hotel - no complaints - the decor, staff, food - ambience were just wonderful.
I'll be back next time.!!
Really enjoyed this hotel
by TripAdvisor Member Jen&Tim
We got married at this hotel in December 2006 and loved the overall experience. We have had many, many positive comments about the food served at our reception, although the drinks are expensive here. The location is wonderful and the interior is the great - especially in Winter with the fires and opulant decor.
We stayed in the Devenick suite which was lovely. We especially liked that they turned down the room in the evening and left the local newspaper and the bedside lights on. Unfortunately they did not leave us bathrobes but everything else in the room was great.
We checked bookings for my parents 4 times prior to the wedding (after booking via an internet company), however on the day the booking was not found. The hotel more than made up for it by booking my parents into a luxury room in the old building with amazing views, a four poster bed and huge bathoom. We could not thank them enough for sorting this for us.
The breakfast was one of the best we have had - everything you can think of was available and the staff were lovely and accomodating when we waned to move tables together to sit with family.
Overall, the Ardoe was a wonderful hotel for a wedding and I cannot fault the staff and their service. The hotel is lovely and all our guests who stayed loved it. We would definately recommend the Ardoe again and again.
Beautiful first class hotel!
by TripAdvisor Member 1875
Stayed for 1 night at this lovely hotel. Great staying in winter as the coal fires mean you don't wan't to go outside! All the public rooms are so traditional. We had dinner and breakfast and couldn't fault the food - it was fantastic. Leisure facilities first class. Will definitely stay again.
Seriously let down by poor and expensive dining
by TripAdvisor Member AnonymousScotland
There are some good things about this hotel:
- public areas are good: roaring fires, a lounge which looks out over attractive and peaceful gardens (a nice place to sit for an afternoon and have tea)
- the standard room was much larger than the average hotel room
- the bed was large and comfortable
- some nice touches - robes, decent toiletries
- the breakfast tasted not bad
- the setting is good
But there are some pretty bad things:
- the worst is the food. The bar and room service menu are the same - a very limited selection, over priced and poor. A "mediterranean burger" was tiny and served in an ordinary roll, not the advertised foccaccia, and came with 6 mass produced potato wedges that were still frozen - at a cost of £17
- we didn't try the restaurant menu - paying £12 for a starter and £28 for a main course which emanated from the same kitchen as the terrible bar food was not particularly enticing
- the nice public rooms were all off limits in the evening - you were only allowed into them if you had eaten in the restaurant. crazy (especially when you have paid handsomely for the room, and to eat in the small and shabby bar)
- breakfast an eye-watering £19.50, with no option just to choose a continental breakfast
- there was no functioning heating in the room. that was eventually remedied by a small electric heater being produced.
- service was erratic - the bar meal took an hour to arrive, it took 15 minutes one morning before someone would catch our eye to enable us to order tea and coffee at breakfast - the attitude of the staff varied from friendly and helpful to downright surly
In summary, this hotel is overpriced and needs to improve its food. I would only stay here again if I was on expenses - and wouldn't eat there even on that basis.
Photos
Marischal
Regency Room (19th century)
The Union Street
You might fall in!
