Not been open for very long. Huge restoration project. This is meant to be a more relaxed version…read moreof the typical Costley and Costley hotel and restaurant chain. The food is more like pub grub. If you have visited other places owned by this guy, you might be suprised. The staff are nice enough but I can remember being kept waiting a bit long one of two times I've been there for lunch. The prices are not a lot cheaper than other Costley places, but the food is a lot different. Bigger portions and not as well presented and not that special. I had a salad plate which was really unappetising. An variety of salad stuffs just flung on the plate - prawn mayo, curried rice, potato salad etc. And a lot of cheese! It looked like they had emptied out five tubs of supermarket salads onto a plate of lettuce. Bit disappointing. However, it was very soon after opening and the second time I went there it was better.

The Electric Brae has been a weird memory in my life as long as I can remember. My Dad is from down…read morethis way, and every time he would drive us back to his hometown for whatever reason, we'd invariably take a detour here to see the Electric Brae. For those uninitiated, "brae" is a Scottish word for a hill. This in essence, is a "magic" hill - there's a laybay with the stone you see in the picture, and not much else. Park your car on the hill, take the brake off... and the car rolls uphill! Pour some water on the floor - it runs uphill! As the stone says, it appears to be an optical illusion, or some people think it's magnetism, others prefer to just go with the theory that it's MAGIC. Whatever it is, it's a hell of a talking point if you're looking to confuse tourists or children, and it's a genuine one off in Scotland. I did hear tales of somewhere similar in New York, but that could just have been hearsay... pro tip: Stop in the layby near the AA phone point, that's the sweet spot :)

A pub which at one time was owned by the singer and entertainer Sidney Devine.As its name suggests…read moreits is in the harbour area of the town,but does have some competition from several others nearby.A pleasant enough place it has a cosy sitting area to keep you snug and warm on those cold winter nights.Prices are not much different from other pubs in the town and as a result the Inn is usually used as a stopover in many a pub crawl.

This was my 2nd time at a Cook School Dine and Demo evening the first time being more years ago…read morethan I care to remember! The Dine and Demo evenings are like taster courses--you don't actually do any cooking but you learn how to make food, come away with recipes and do a LOT of eating (and drinking!) You're welcomed with a cocktail (or wine/beer if you prefer) and then taken through to the kitchen where the chefs talk you through the evening's menu--in our case it was "American Diner." As the chef talked us through we were given a riff on potato skins---baked sliced of potato topped with crème fraiche, bacon and chives, something I will definitely be attempting at home as they were AMAZING. All the while the chefs are cooking away your glasses of wine or soft drinks get topped up so you can relax and enjoy. We had two more starters of mac and cheese and chowder. The mac and cheese was okay, nothing to write home about but the chowder was really lovely with loads of smoked fish and mussels for those who ate them. I should say at this point they cater to food allergies (they even have a whole gluten-free night) and left coriander out for me in the recipe it appeared. After the chefs have walked you through making everything you go back to the dining room while they finish up and you are served your main (which you watched prepared)--we had pulled pork cheeks on a sweet corn cake with courgette slaw and cheddar/chive rolls. It was really tasty and was then followed up by an overly indulgent pecan pie. Again you're getting wine this whole time! It is a really fun evening to have with friends or as a couple. The American Diner wasn't authentic American food but a more Scottish, posher take on it. I'd definitely recommend going to anyone. It is worth noting that public transportation isn't really an option. The Cook School is in Crosshouse in pretty much what is sort of an industrial estate. The Kilmarnock train station is 2.5 miles away so you could get the train and then a taxi or there is a Premier Inn within walking distance so you could make a night of it. Luckily of us my mother-in-law lives 10 minutes away so we get a lift and a place to stay! Definitely well worth it and I can't wait to plan our next night!

I was given a trip to The Cook School as a 30th birthday present and after a bit of dithering on my…read morepart I plumped for a trip to East Ayrshire for Game Day. First thing to note is that it's pretty much in the middle of nowhere, I'm lucky enough to be able to drive but if you can't I'd suggest you find a lift as I couldn't see any easy public transport routes to hand. The day starts at around 10 in the morning where you meet the people you are cooking with and having a freshly made scone or two. You then go into the kitchen where you are given a workstation and a plan for what you would be making that day. It is a mix of demonstration and cooking at a level that was more than comfortable for me but not too taxing for the less experienced cooks in the room, If I was being picky I didn't get to spend as much time doing the more difficult stuff as that was left to the chef but you can understand why it's done. You get to make 3 or 4 dishes along with a couple of demonstrations, all of which you get to eat in the dining room at the back of the kitchen at the end of the day. Any spares you make or leftovers you get to take away in a doggy bag. I'd go back to the Cook School but I would want to make absolute sure that the dishes I were cooking weren't something I had done before as some of the dishes I ended up with I have been known to knock up in my house. Overall a good foodie day out.

There are two sections to this beach, either side of a small peninsula. There is about half a mile…read moreof sandy beach on the Saltcoats side and about a mile of sandy beach, strewn with flotsam and jetsam, on the south side. I visited the less populated long beach on the south side of the peninsula. It is absolutely ideal if you have a big dog who loves the sea and it is sunny and the sky is blue. At the beginning of the beach there is a huge portrait of Robert Burns painted on the back sloping wall of the beach. It's been there for years but now he has a pair of shades on. About two thirds along the beach you come across the naturist part of the beach where there are about ten men spread out in their own areas sunbathing and taking the occasional stroll near the sea. I think that the people of Stevenston should come down once a year and give the place a wee tidy as there is just a little too much debris from the ships lying around.

What can I say...if it is not the best school in Scotland it is one of the best. The teaching is…read moresuperb as is the whole ethos of the school. Great place of Education. The results speak for themselves. Amazing.

An excellent wee school. SO friendly, and very welcoming for children and parents alike. That staff…read moreare brilliant. The ethos is amazingly encouraging for each child. It has one of the best records in AYR. Well Done Doonfoot Dazzlers

A modern campus with up to date technology on offer for students. The library is a bit dire but the…read moredesign magazine selection is quite good for the kind of college it is. Really close to the train station.