Eating Out on Arran

Having visited Arran for the last 20 or so years we have become quite familiar with the places to eat out at. We have patronised the Brodick Brasserie which is situated in Alma Road, just off the sea front. The establishment is run by Iain MacFadzean and his family and was run by his father before he took over. In the time we have visited it, it has been completely re fitted.

The Brodick Brasserie

If you look on "Trip Advisor" you will see that in nearly all cases it gets a very good write up, both for the quality and quantity of its food. It is, perhaps a little pricy compared to some of the other establishments on Arran, but, you get what you pay for, and where The Brodick Brasserie is concerned you will get a well cooked, beautifully presented, tasty meal. I have never tasted a more delicious Pizza than the ones prepared at the Brodick Brasserie! The bases are cooked by the resident chef - (none of you Pizza Hut rubbish) and the coverings of either salami and pepperoni or chicken and sweetcorn are mouthwatering.

However there are three or four comments which criticise the attitude of Ian to his customers. We have never had any reason to complain at his attitude, in fact during the times we have visited we have been engaged in conversation with him many times, and discovered he has friends who live in Baildon. This year when we were there he told us he was going down to their sons wedding. 

The dining area in the Brodick Brasserie

The well stocked Bar

There is a wide selection of starters, main courses and sweets displayed on a large blackboard at the end of the dinging area. This is regularly changed and updated.

The selection of food available on the blackboard

If you are looking for a slightly less costly meal, then the place to visit is the Pierhead Tavern in Lamlash.

The Pierhead Tavern in Lamlash

The Pierhead Tavern is your "friendly local", with a dining area which is
adjoining the bar area, although meals can be taken in the bar. The meals here can be best described as "wholesome" as well as tasty.

An unusual feature of the end wall in the dining room is that it is completely built of large pebbles. (See the right hand side of the photo above.)


For a cuppa or a less substantial meal you can visit The Coffee Pot, situated in Whiting Bay. Here you will get good home cooking at a reasonable price. 



The Coffee Pot in Whiting Bay

The Coffee Pot has an outside seating area where you can take your cuppa and relax whilst admiring the view of the sea (which is across the road) and mainland Scotland.

The outside seating area at the Coffee Pot

All around the dado shelf on the walls of this establishment are a collection of coffee pots of all shapes and sizes. There is a large coffee pot above the garden entrance to the cafe too!

The Coffee Pot above the garden entrance

It was whilst we were on the Isle of Arran last year that we came across a newly opened bijou restaurant on the front at Whiting Bay. The establishment was called Coast, and is aptly named as it is quite literally on the coast!

The view from the conservatory of Coast

As usual, we got talking to the owners of Coast, and discovered that they both had been employed in high powered executive posts in Glasgow, but had decided that the stresses of their jobs were not for them, so they decided to look elsewhere for employment.

One of the owners came from Arran, and it happened that a property had become vacant on the front at Whiting Bay. The co owner had chef qualifications, so they decided to purchase the property and open it up as a restaurant.

Russell Lee & Mark Currie the co owners of Coast

From the moment you walk into Coast, you sense that you are going to enjoy the experience. Mark acts as the "greeter" and he has a very welcoming and bubbly personality which will very soon put you at your ease. He shows you to your table, where he will take your drinks and food order.

Either he or Russell will return within a short space of time and bring your drinks and a plate of freshly baked bread and butter. The bread is the most delicious I have ever tasted, and I learnt that it is baked by their resident lady cook. It is her speciality tomato bread.

Starters, Main Courses and Sweets are tasty, well cooked and beautifully presented. The Brodick Brasserie used to be our number one choice of eating place, but this year it has been overtaken by Coast!