This hotel is easy to find in Glasgow and access to the north simple. It is close to eateries within walking distance. The foyer and hallways are very Scottish in their decore and rooms adequate. Breakfast was pretty average but generally we had no complaints.

My Husband and I along with another couple stayed at the Kirklee on Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd November. We were in Glasgow for The Good Food Show and Whisky Live. This is our 3rd year at Whisky Live Glasgow and our second visit to the Kirklee. We stayed in 2005 and found it very friendly, clean and comfortable. We tried to book in 2006, but they were full, so we had to stay elsewhere.

The rooms are comfortable, they have everything you need for a short break. The breakfast is very nicely presented and is served in your room at a time to suit you. It was very tasty and piping hot.
I think for the room rate at this establishment, you cannot complain.

I really should pay much more attention to these reviews. I had high hopes for staying at the Kirklee during our recent vacation to Scotland...it didn't turn out the way I intended.

We arrived at about 6:30 PM on the evening of our check-in date....it seemed nice enough...the facade is wonderful and the location is quiet and a fine neighborhood. I made email arrangements to stay at the Kirklee for four nights at the end of our trip...we'd see Glasgow and take a train to Edinburgh for a day. However, to my surprise, the Kirklee didn't have a room for us. I did have an email from the proprietor confirming the rooms and dates...but somehow my return email with my charge card info didn't reach him because of a spam filter on his computer. The next morning he said he checked into it, and my email was in a cache of spam that is "set aside" in his email...oh well....make sure that you keep emailing back and forth until you are absolutely positive that it is clearly understood that you have a reservation....don't be tricked by the word "confirmation" in any email reply from the Kirklee. However, he kept asking me "did you get a confirmation?" I said yes...but he kept insisting that I needed a confrimation after I send my charge info....I wasn't sure what I got from him, though I did have a copy of my email from the Kirklee that "confirmed" my stay. Procedures should be clearer. But I didn't want to be blamed...I did EXACTLY as requested.

So, that was a mistake...but upon discovery (remember, it's well into the evening now)...it became MY problem. I had to keep pressing the owner for a solution. I had never been to Glasgowm; I wasn't even sure were I was; and to be given the task to find another room was very upsetting.

I kept pushing....he did say he had a twin room. We took a look at it. I wasn't happy. It was tiny. This was our vacation...and well, on vacation, I expect to sleep with my wife (nudge-nudge; wink-wink). I mean, I didn't work this hard in life to sleep separately while on holiday. I kept pushing. I asked him about other hotels...he wasn't very helpful...he said that he "didn't know." I had hoped that he'd call around to nearby hotels that he must have some knowledge about (afterall it's healthy to keep an eye on competition)...no action. Finally, he said that he had a "family room," a four-bed large room, but for only two days, then we'd need to move to another double mid-way through our stay.

Finally a solution.

The large room was OK...it was on the front/top and had a large bay widow onto the street and gardens. Very nice. However, the room was very worn. The furniture reminded me of a dorm room, wallpaper was torn, the carpet was very flat and had many marks and cigarette burns....but it was lodging and it was here.

The bath was a bit annoying and needs an update. Mis-matched tiles, some mildew, a fan that kept running, a sloping floor that gathered a puddle....no big deal, but I somehow expected much better.

We transfered to the smaller room for nights 3 and 4....it was mucho smaller, but was OK too. Same issues as the first room, though much smaller. A very small bathroom...but it was just ok.

The rooms could use a higher standard of cleanliness. I placed a suitcase on top of a wardrobe cabinet (in the smaller room) to get it out of the way ...when I pulled it down it was covered in dust and made a bit of a cloud by the action. Pretty disgusting.

Breakfast was OK, but expect it to be late. We ordered an 8:00 AM delivery in order to catch a train to Edinburgh one day, and it didn't arrive until 8:25! The trains run every 15 minutes, so not a big deal, but who wants to be dressed and ready for a breakfast delivery and then wait 25 minutes.

On our last day, I spoke with the owner/manager telling him we'd skip breakfast because we needed to be at the airport early to fly home. He recommended that we have an 8 AM breakfast and then get on our way...we'd have plenty of time to return the rental car and get through security in the time they say.

OK...but I asked that we get our breakfast at 8 AM promptly since we need to leave. I mentioned the early delay in delivery...he commited to getting it to us first thing and at 8:00 AM...I asked, since we were on the top floor, that we be delivered amongst the first, rather than at the end...and that I insisted that we have service at 8AM. NO PROBLEM I was told. He understood.

We didn't get served. We waited until almost 8:20 AM...then decided to leave for the airport...getting breakfast should be much easier there. The car was packed and we wanted to get out of there. When we reached the first floor lobby, the chambermaid was bringing our breakfast...we took it back to the room and spent another 5 minutes...then left.

Now, it didn't matter if we missed a meal...and with all that's going on in the world, a breakfast just doesn't matter. The annoyance was that the owner/manager said he heard me, and understood, and then just ignored it and didn't tell anyone in the kitchen. That's not a good sign.

My father once told me that "fish rots from the head." In this case it is very true. The manager/owner needs to really hear some of these issues and address them...he has the power to change them...the guests do not.

When there was a problem...I wanted a solution...not "I don't know." I didn't want excuses, I wanted a room. I didn't want to be ignored, I wanted breakfast. I guess I just wanted him to say "We'll take care of it." It was sort of like "tough luck, buddy."

I wasn't asking for much (at least I don't think so). I wanted a room for which I had a confirmation (or so I thought). There was an email glitch at the hotel...but it became my problem! I'm not on vacation to have any problems, let alone how to find lodging in a strange place. The owner needs to understand that he needs to be a "problem solver" when something happens. That a time commitment, though maybe not a big deal to him, is important. That the place needs upgrading and to be properly cleaned. It's not the guests' job to figure all of this out....it is his.

Man, I never thought I'd write complaining so much....but we wont' be back under the present set of circumstances. The place has HUGE potential and could be wonderful....it has "good bones" as they say.

One last thing: Check out the street traffic sign on the up-hill corner...it simply says "Changed Priorities Ahead." I thought it was a sign from God.

Have a good trip, but there must be more satisfying places in the area. The West side is very nice and convenient place to stay...just elsewhere.

Quiet and very clean hotel in West End. Within walking distance to Byres Rd. Owners were very kind and helpful. The scottish breakfast with smoked salmon was the best I've had yet! Do try it!!!