The Barrel
  • Hotel
  • Ballater
  • 8.5/10

The Barrel

Comfortable Accommodations: The Barrel in Ballater offers family rooms with private bathrooms, walk-in showers, and free WiFi. Each room includes a TV, electric kettle, and carpeted floors. Dining Experience: Guests can enjoy British cuisine at the traditional family-friendly restaurant, serving lunch and dinner with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. The bar provides a relaxing atmosphere for evening drinks. Leisure Facilities: The hotel features a sun terrace, outdoor seating area, and live music. Additional amenities include free off-site parking, bicycle parking, and daily housekeeping service. Location and Attractions: Located 65 km from Aberdeen Airport, The Barrel is near Balmoral Castle (18 km), CairnGorm National Park (47 km), and other attractions.

  • Top location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.5)
  • Breakfast info: Full English/Irish
  • FREE parking!
Kids

Children of any age are welcome.

Dogs

Pets are allowed on request. No extra charges.

Address

AB35 5NE The Barrel, 6 Church Square, Ballater, Ballater, AB35 5NE, United Kingdom, Ballater, UK

Facilities

Free parking Restaurant Free WiFi Non-smoking rooms Family rooms Bar Breakfast

Reviews

Patricia 10/10
United Kingdom 🇬🇧

Fabulous- would highly recommend this hotel for a weekend in Ballater

Pros: Our room was cosy, comfy and clean. Lovely bed linen and everything we needed. The staff were fabulous. Very welcoming and helpful. This hotel was great value. Breakfast cooked to order and food and drinks in the bar were excellent.

Dustin 8/10
United Kingdom 🇬🇧

Pros: The bed was very comfortable. The staff were nice. Area and locals are nice.

Cons: Rooms were a bit small. Shower tray was lethal, very slippery.

Angela 10/10
New Zealand 🇳🇿

Pros: Had the absolute pleasure of staying at the Barrel in late October. So warm and welcoming! The rooms we booked were utterly charming, incredibly clean and cozy. There are a few steps to negotiate, and the staff members were so helpful with assisting us with our luggage 🙏 Dinner was fantastic - the meals were tasty, the music choices were just brilliant, and staff were a great bunch! And even though the pub was still full of lively music and people when we headed up to bed, the rooms were very quiet and we had simply the most restful night on our trip. To top it off, brekky was lovely, with everything fresh and wonderfully prepared. Check in and checkout were completely fuss-free as well. Everyone was helpful, friendly, welcoming and we look forward to staying again on our next trip 🙌

Tracy 10/10
United Kingdom 🇬🇧

Pros: The staff were friendly and helpful the barrel itself was warm and comfortable had a good atmosphere it was very clean the location was perfect the little town of ballater was beautiful with surrounding mountains and views it was just beautiful and location to shops etc was excellent.

Cons: There was nothing to dislike

Mary 10/10
United Kingdom 🇬🇧

Would stay again - friendly locals in bar lounge

Pros: Bedroom just refurbished and lovely. Super comfy bed. Breakfast was lovely/freshly made (could have been included in price!)

Cons: Thought we would be staying in hotel for dinner but it wasn't available on the night we were there. Lovely Indian restaurant nearby 👍

Allen 10/10
United Kingdom 🇬🇧

Pros: Perfect location right on the village Square, really comfortable room and an excellent breakfast.

Cartlidge 9/10
United Kingdom 🇬🇧

Good pub. Great location. This was our 2nd time at The Barrel.

Pros: Lovely town. Beautiful countryside. The Barrel is great for and overnight stop en route to Speyside. Breakfast was a properly good, full Scottish. Superb!

William 8/10
United Kingdom 🇬🇧

Cosy place!

Pros: Excellent location, bar and staff really friendly. Food and drinks in bar were lovely too. Plenty parking available

Cons: Shower had very poor pressure but its an old building and we were only there one night so didnt bother us too much.

Malcolm 8/10
United Kingdom 🇬🇧

Pros: Great venue in a brilliant wee town. Want a room to hunker down in after a fun night in a friendly location, this does the trick

Cons: It rained

Caroline 8/10
United Kingdom 🇬🇧

Really enjoyed our stay, the lack of wardrobe and bedside table would not stop us coming back.

Pros: Staff excellent very friendly and helpful. Breakfast was very good. Location excellent.

Cons: No wardrobe. Only one bedside table, even a small table big enough for a cup would have been useful.

Restaurant

Restaurant #1
Cuisine: British
Ambiance: Family friendly • Traditional
Open for: Lunch • Dinner

Accommodation price map

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