The House of Bruar
The House of Bruar
3.5
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
About
Duration: More than 3 hours
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  • Catherine S
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fab shop, caters for those who enjoy life outdoors but dogs still not welcome
    I love this store and have been stopping here to shop for over 20 years. I just don’t understand how they clearly cater for outdoor type people but they aren’t dog welcoming. Yes they have high end clothes and a food hall so I can understand why they don’t allow dogs in these areas. Yes they have created a parking spot under a cover for when it is raining, but they have a pavilion spacious area with a stone floor to have a coffee under cover, so why dogs can’t come in here I can’t understand. Even birds fly into this area and there is no food served in this space. With so many dog owners why not review this policy. People with dogs like a coffee under cover with their dogs. Come on House of Bruar I can only shop when the weather is good
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 14, 2023
  • Bronwyn M
    1 contribution
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Service is slipping
    I have always bought my clothes from Bruar but of late noticed the quality is not what it was and therefore had to return goods. I am appalled at the amount of time I have to wait for a refund a couple of weeks ago I had to wait 14 days M&S and Next 2 days maximum I have just returned two parcels and I am waiting to see how long I will have to wait to have the parcels acknowledged. So disappointed but have to add Nina is brilliant and so helpful Bruar you are going to have to do better
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written September 26, 2023
  • Katie P
    United Kingdom285 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice and different shopping village
    A little shopping village. Definitely on the pricey side so not for your average person /not for kids but got some absolute GEMS of food bits from the food court. Free parking and a lovely walk nearby. Just a shame the cafe was closed when we had finished (at 1500). So went into Pitlochry instead.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written October 7, 2023
  • WinBun
    Cupar, United Kingdom25 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Divine! 🥰
    What a delightful place! I always feel happy when I've been here. 😊 The lunch was delicious and generous. 😋 I was looking for some artwork and Victoria and Rebecca (Becky) bent over backwards to help me. ❤️ Treat yourself to a visit here. Great walks too and stunning scenery. 👍
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written October 18, 2023
  • ClanFraserTravels
    Aberdeen, United Kingdom184 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Parking here is very exciting. 🙄
    We visited this attraction when we were visiting the area recently. A really nice pace to see but attention needs to be given to the free parking there. To be honest , seldom have I seen such antics and perhaps the presence of a security guard might help? This seems to be a very real problem throughout the Pitlochry area particularly when the enchanted forest and holiday season all merge together. Too many people all needing fed at the same time. We didn’t stick around in the never ending queues Just pandemonium really and we won’t be going back during high season again that’s for sure.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 20, 2023
  • Paddington bear
    East Sussex, United Kingdom60 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great sausage roll and scotch eggs
    We normally enjoy our annual visit here on our way north but I have to say the ladies serving at the hot pie counter could do with a little training in customer service. No smile from either of the staff that served us. A smile goes a very long way when it comes to dealing with the public. And when we asked if the lady could differentiate for us which scotch egg was which that just seemed too much to ask. What a shame. However we thoroughly enjoyed our scotch eggs and sausage roll for lunch. Conversely the staff serving in the Christmas decorations area were delightful. I have to add this bizarre trend for people taking their dogs everywhere is infuriating. Ours was happily napping in the car. Top marks HoB for not allowing dogs inside.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 28, 2023
  • Nick Cutter
    Forest of Dean, United Kingdom60 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worthy of its excellent reputation!
    Great shopping experience. A fantastic excellent quality shop, that’s always busy with the locals and tonnes of tourists. Worth the car journey. Each department has a huge range of items and is beautifully presented. Loved the dog section! It is clear the amount of effort and detail that has gone in to create the shop displays. I purchased a variety of great quality items whilst there. Great cafe too, lots of things to choose from to eat depending on what you’re feeling like. Ranges from hot meals to sandwiches. Lovely cakes too. It’s not an easy place to get there to unless you have a car, but I seriously recommend a visit if you’re in Scotland.
    Visited January 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written October 29, 2023
  • Butsy19
    Scotland, United Kingdom702 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Food Hall never disappoints
    Stopped off here on our way back from Inverness today. A lot of different shopping options to browse through, food Hall, clothing, house and homeware,gift section, restaurant and cafe. Although some things are expensive, the quality is excellent. The food hall never disappoints and I always go away with lots of goodies.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 29, 2023
  • Lauchlin T
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Best fish&chips you’l try😍
    Stopped at the chip shop 2/12/23 approx 4PM on our way back to Ayrshire from Inverness and i must say the best fish&chips i’ve ever had! The lads working had first class service & food was amazing, i’d 100% recommend this chip shop to anyone close by or passing the area! I’l be back 100%
    Visited December 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written December 4, 2023
  • joppie230261
    Glenrothes, United Kingdom41 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent as always
    I visit two or three times a year and one of those trips is always at Christmas. The items aren't cheap by any standard but are normally very good quality and sometimes they have sales. I always buy food for making Christmas hampers for people and they have an excellent array of goods you don't find in Tesco,Morrisons etc. If you are lucky enough to be there when it has snowed then a trip to the falls is worth it. The cafe this year was extremely busy and unfortunately the food wasn't hot but cool. Tasty none the less. The butcher sells excellent quality meat and the counter with pies, meats etc is worth a punt. I don't buy their alcohol as it can be bought much cheaper elsewhere. The fish and chip shop has some wonderful smells when cooking. The vegetable come plants outside the shops are mid to high priced. I was surprised to find their chestnuts come all the way from china. And they are far cheaper than say the Edinburgh Christmas market. All in all worth visiting if only you have a browse or a bowl of soup.
    Visited December 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written December 13, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

3.5
3.5 of 5 bubbles1,577 reviews
Excellent
571
Very good
444
Average
223
Poor
144
Terrible
195

Woody's family
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom61 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020 • Couples
Visited The house of Bruar for a break in our travels. Covid rules where non existent no one way rule. For the restaurant we had to queue for at least 5 min in the rain once in we where asked if we had a reservation. Who going to book a table for a service station. Then it seemed a hassle to get a table once seated we where asked what we wanted to eat then get informed they stopped serving food from 11am and only opened at 10 am we sat down at 1105 so very poor service and high covid risk
Written August 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Reviewer, Thank you for leaving a review following your recent visit. Our restaurant is very popular with travellers and locals alike so following the changing legislation we are now only taking table bookings, and we also have a one way system in place. All the information is available on our website, and social media pages and we are sorry you left feeling disappointed. We appreciate all customer feedback and are working hard during these unprecedented and ever changing times to keep our staff and customers safe. We hope you will not be deterred from visiting again. Kind regards, Will Stephenson Head of Restaurant
Written September 1, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Sue Dixon
8 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020 • Friends
This is our usual stop when heading to and from the North of Scotland. I was very disappointed with our last visit last week and felt very unsafe. There were far too many people in and around the place, the restaurant was still doing self service and no names or phone numbers were taken for track and trace. My tuna sanwich was nothing short of mush and obviously the company weren't offering the new government discount Mon to Wed. The one way system didn't allow you to visit the toilet after eating without rejoining the huge queue to re-enter. Very disappointed!
Written August 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Sir / Madam, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review I am sorry that you were disappointed during your recent visit to Bruar. We very much understand the concerns you have brought to our attention but please rest assured we are following procedures and government guidelines. We have now installed some temporary outside loos as we feel this will allow a significant improvement in the Food Hall and restaurant areas where it has been particularly busy. Track and trace is available on our website under customer services, and we are no longer doing self service. These are unprecedented times and we are all trying to find a new normal, and as we do this we continue to strive for high standards, ensuring our staff and customers remain safe, whilst adhering to the government guidelines and advice. Thank you again for taking the time to write and we hope to see you again soon at The House of Bruar. Kind regards Will Stephenson, Head of Restaurant
Written August 11, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Vickie W
19 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020 • Solo
Really disappointed that due to ‘Covid Restrictions’ you can buy a lot of expensive stuff but not a cup of tea. You now have to book the restaurant in advance which isn’t really possible when you are driving from Inverness to England and don’t know when you will be there. You can get cold drinks at the fish and chip shop but not a hot drink even though there is plenty of space to sit outside. I’ve been here twice with this new regime and now my advice is stop at Pitlochry or drive on to Aviemore. I used to enjoy stopping here for refreshments and little gifts and there is absolutely no reason why they can’t even provide even hot drinks like garages do. Too complacent! Very disappointed.
Written October 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Madam, Thank you for leaving a review following your recent visit. Our restaurant is very popular stopping point. Following government guidance we are only taking table bookings for the restaurant seating area, although we do have a Take Away service in our conservatory area where tea, coffee and sandwiches are available. We are sorry you left feeling disappointed. We hope you will not be deterred from visiting again. Kind regards, Will Stephenson Head of Restaurant
Written October 6, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Food Traveller
144 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020 • Couples
Traveling from Glasgow to Inverness we decided to stop at the house of Bruar for some Breakfast we’ll we’ve all experienced poor motorway cafeterias in our time but this establishments restaurant is the worst yet. Actually a motorway cafeteria would have a better choice. My wife went for the full English presentation dreadful quality shocking even the plate was the wrong size. I went for a roll in fried egg they must have cooked the eggs when we were at Perth if you want to charge these prices get a chef that can cook and give patrons a better choice l am fed up listening to restaurant’s blaming Covid for there poor management. Lovely shops but stay clear of there restaurant 1 out of 10
Written August 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear reviewer, Thank you for your review of your recent experience of The House of Bruar. We are very sorry you have had a negative experience during your recent visit We are constantly reviewing what we offer at The House of Bruar and are very active in making changes so that visiting The House of Bruar is an enjoyable experience for all our customers, we are sorry you have felt let down. We hope that you will visit us again in the near future. Kind regards, Will Stephenson, Head of Restaurant
Written September 1, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Neil R
3 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020 • Family
On our visit yesterday, I was shocked at how poor the arrangements were for managing social distancing. No attempts were being made to restrict numbers entering the food hall and restaurant. No arrangements were in place to manage the flow of visitors inside or maintain distances of people in queues. Worst of all, there was no attempt being made to ensure customers indoors were wearing face masks. In short is was a free for all. It's a poor attempt from an organisation that pretends to have such high standards.
Written July 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Reviewer, Thank you for taking the time to leave feedback regarding your recent visit to our business. I appreciate your feedback and I can assure you that we are taking all precautions possible to protect ourselves and our customers during these uncertain times. We are following all Covid-19 secure guidelines and are committed to an enhanced cleaning protocol, the floor is marked out every 1 meter to encourage social distancing, we have sanitising stations at every entrance, and all surfaces are being regularly disinfected. We are also collecting contact tracing information at every till point. Whilst customers are encouraged to wear masks and keep a safe distance, unfortunately we cannot enforce this. I very much hope that you won’t be deterred from visiting again in future. Kind regards, Will Stephenson Head of Restaurant
Written July 21, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

186543Oldpete
Inverness, UK21 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020
We visited the main conservatory restaurant for coffee around mid morning and decided to return for lunch after a walk to the falls. To our amazement we were told that the sandwiches were not on sale as it was lunchtime - it was hot food only. There was a bakery for takeaway sandwiches but we weren't allowed to eat them inside, despite the fact that it was now raining heavily.

I didn't really want a hot meal - although it did look quite nice - and was put off by the prices. Also a little surprised that the chefs were both wearing their mask around their necks rather than over their faces. But for a little care and consideration it could have been very pleasant, instead it was awkward and disappointing.
Written October 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Reviewer, Thank you for leaving a review following your recent visit. Following government guidance and to adhere to social distancing rules we are only allowing indoor seating for customers wishing to have hot food from our main restaurant area, which unfortunately does not serve sandwiches. Sandwiches are only available to Take Away from our conservatory area. We are sorry you left feeling disappointed and hope you will not be deterred from visiting again. Kind regards, Will Stephenson Head of Restaurant
Written October 27, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Matt
20 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020 • Family
After a recent visit which was really enjoyable. My wife managed to lose her purse I phoned them when we realised which was over 70 miles away. Not only did Richard Christie help us locate the missing purse he sent it recorded delivery to our next hotel free of charge first class service which I don’t think you would get at other places
Written August 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Sir/Madame Thank you for taking the time to visit and leave a review. We're delighted that we were able to reunite you with your lost item. I shall pass on your compliments to Mr Christie. We look forward to welcoming you to our store again soon. Kind regards Emily McIntyre - The House of Bruar Team
Written September 16, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

trhugh
8 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • Couples
Not very friendly staff. We arrived at 4.30 , the kitchen was closed for hot food but we only wanted coffee so that was fine. Staff were cleaning and putting things away so it felt a bit uncomfortable asking for something and it wasn't clear if the cafe was still serving because there was no sign up that we could see. We asked a girl who was stocking shelves and she was helpful but the lady serving the coffee looked utterly fed up and annoyed maybe although she wasn't rude just unwelcoming. It felt like an inconvenience. The toilets were being cleaned by two ladies, again it felt as if people being in there was an inconvenience and only two sinks were accessible for washing hands, the others blocked off by the cleaning lady with a big basket bin, I'm not sure that was OK due to covid it never left any space between users. Two small lattes and two bits of shortbread for £9 later we left feeling pretty underwhelmed. Every time I've gone in here , which isn't often , I've felt the same leaving. Overated and overpriced. The building is nice though hence the two stars
Written August 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Reviewer Thank you taking the time to review following your recent visit. I am sorry to hear that you had a negative experience. I will look into your complaint regarding the signage, and staff, however I must state that all of our team are customer focussed and polite. Regarding our Restaurant, we do feel our prices are consistent and reflect the fine quality of produce we sell, always served with a smile and in a courteous environment. We hope to be able to welcome you again soon. Kind regards, Will Stephenson Head of Restaurant, Fish & Chip Shop and Bakery.
Written August 25, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Mrs J R
Glasgow32 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022 • Couples
Definitely not dog friendly. Dogs can not go anywhere beyond the car park. They have a poor attempt at a dog car parking area which is closed off. It has a covered area but no use if its closed off. Ridiculous attempt to make up for not allowing dogs anywhere in the building or external seating. A massive outdoor courtyard which would be ideal for those to sit and eat/rest with dogs but it's used for additional sales and very cluttered. Considering the lack of services along the A9 it is a disgrace they do not provide adequate rest and eating options for those travelling with dogs. Sitting in a car park is less than ideal. I think they expect dogs to be left in cars whilst people shop in the extortionate retail offering? Totally irresponsible and not appropriate.
Beyond my irritation at poor dog facilities, the toilets are cramped and lacking in number, and eating options are very limited. Almost no quick take away options. If you arrive after 5.30 no toilets available. Fish and chips outside main building only available at certain times and again with lack of toilets. Limited take away food consisting mainly of sugary sweets or extortionate treats. The restaurant is expensive and ultra busy.
If you want to be ripped off and put up with lack of choice or no dog facilities by all means stop here if not I thoroughly recommend stopping at Blair Atholl or Pitlochry for great choice, better value eateries and more dog friendly stops.
Written June 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to post your review, I am really very sorry you felt so unsatisfied during your visit to House of Bruar. I agree, our dog parking is closed off at present but this is just temporary maintenance works which are taking place, and we hope this will be open again soon. Like many retailers and food establishments we do not allow dogs within the building but we do have seating in our courtyard, and situated at the rear of the site we have a dog walking area to let your four legged friends stretch their legs. As we are at the foot of the beautiful Bruar Falls, there is ample space to have a decent walk to let the dogs enjoy the fresh air. With regards the fish and chip shop, it is a hugely popular stop off for hungry customers into the evening, but as with most takeaway outlets we are not obliged to offer toilet facilities, the nearest is the public conveniences in Blair Atholl. We do take all feedback seriously, and all comments have been passed to the relevant teams for their attention. Thank you again for your feedback. Kind regards, Jenny Dow
Written June 17, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Fiona C
Aberdeen, UK9 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2020
We visited on a friend's birthday to have lunch in the restaurant. The full menu was advertised on the wall in the restaurant but in fact there was just some salad - it was a cold day in December, not exactly salad weather - and one hot dish, roast beef, on offer. No potatoes, no veg, no gravy, just a couple of slices of roast beef. Oh, and with chips, most of which were like leather having been left over from the previous day.
The bosses at House of Bruar should eat there occasionally to experience what they serve up to paying guests.
The House of Bruar's advertises itself as 'Scotland at its very best'. As locals, we find it embarassing that visitors would pay the high prices they charge for such terrible food. It's a rip off.
Written December 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Madam, Thank you for getting in touch and taking the time to leave a review. Please be assured that these are not the standards we aim to uphold and your feedback will be passed on to the senior management team. We hope that when we are able to open our restaurant again that you will come back and have a better experience. Kind regards, Louisa - The House of Bruar Team
Written February 8, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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