We arrived in snowbound Grantown with guests helping the proprietor to clear mounds of recently fallen snow on cars and driveways and made to feel very welcome by all, quickly enjoying the warmth of the drawing room fire and generous cups of tea with homemade Christmas cake. Throughout the stay the snow was a stunning backdrop to a stay in a lovely period private house hotel with excellent service combined with fine wine and very good food.

We arrived tired and excited to be in Grantown after a long day of driving, but were greeted as if we were something on Sonia's shoe. Yes, she will respond back to this review that she did the "right" thing by asking us a couple of questions, offered us tea, explained the rules... all as if memorized from a book titled "how to be pleasant", but I felt nothing but irritation from her as there was no feeling behind the words, and no smile and we had NO idea she was the owner. She never introduced herself.
The sitting room was a little frighting. (as said by other guests). IT was full of cards and thank you notes from previous guests as if she were trying to prove something.
Yes, rooms were clean and dinner was well done, but the atmosphere was a little stuffy. I felt like we weren't allowed to laugh or have fun. Then we were told that we couldn't have the house alarm code and we had a curfew at night. WHAT? Other guests had the code and we felt singled out. I have stayed in Grantown on numerous occasions in other guest houses and never felt so small.
Then I was abruptly approached by Sonia accusing me of falsely saying she was not welcoming. She had her list of what she does to welcome each guest and bombarded me with the list which left me speechless. If I was on my own, I would have left. I have never been treated in any Guest house like this. In contrast, our next stop was Aslar House in St. Andrews where (within one minute), we felt like family. AND guess what? They didn't ask us where we had been, didn't offer us tea... they just were warm and fun and genuinely seemed to like what they did.
Sadly, despite the cleanliness, the good food, and William, I was very disappointed.

We have stayed at this hotel & also journeyed just to eat there, with friends & family. It is a very pleasant Victorian Villa hotel, a few minutes from the centre of Grantown.

The bedrooms (ensuite) have been modernised in-character, to the highest standard & the public rooms are a Victorian delight -- Warm, comfortable & welcoming.

The food is quite exceptional, individully prepared by the Owners - Sonja & Bill Marshall. My onion/allium allergy was willingly catered for - without loss of flavour - as Sonja is a quite exceptional cook.

I had a lovely 4 night stay at this delightful Hotel. Nothing was too much trouble for the proprietors William and Sonia Marshall. The rooms were beautifully and tastefully decorated and furnished and every comfort was ensured. The evening meals were superb and their wine list was exemplary. Once they knew I was a vegetarian they went to great lengths to produce imaginative meals for me. Sonia's oven baked mushroom risotto with parmesan cheese on my second night was simply to die for. My non vegetarian companions were equally thrilled with the meals they had during our stay. Watching the red squirrels chasing around in the grounds at the front of the hotel from the dining room window at breakfast was a real pleasure. The setting is lovely and peaceful and just across the road from the hotel there is easy access to some lovely woodland walks leading down to the River Spey.