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The Forbes Arms Hotel, Alford, Aberdeenshire

The Forbes Arms Hotel

4.6
4.6
336 Reviews
£26 to £40
Scottish
Bridge of Alford, Alford, Aberdeenshire AB33 8QJ

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2 people
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
7:00 PM
Booked 8 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for scenic views
  • Charming
The Forbes Arms boasts a new dining experience, riverside restaurant and outdoor patio area overlooking the River Don and William Minto’s segmental granite arched bridge built in 1811. The original Public Bar retains the historic character while the Lounge Bar and the Snug offer a more relaxing place to eat and drink with luxurious furnishings throughout.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    Scottish, Vegetarian / Vegan, Pub
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Wed–Sun 12:00 pm–1:15 pm Dinner Wed–Sun 5:00 pm–7:15 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Neighborhood
    Alford
  • Parking details
    Hotel Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 336 people are saying

The Forbes Arms Hotel reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire

    Best Overall

  • Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire

    Best Service

  • Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire

    Best Ambiance

  • Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire

    Best Value

  • Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire

    Good for business meals

  • Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire

    Good for groups

  • Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire

    Healthy

  • Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire

    Neighborhood gem

  • Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire

    Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Forbes Arms Hotel offers a delightful dining experience with "excellent food and service," highlighted by beautifully presented dishes made with fresh, local ingredients. Guests appreciate the "attentive and friendly" staff and the "warm and welcoming" atmosphere. Despite occasional service delays, the venue remains a "fantastic setting" for memorable meals.
336 Reviews
  1. Patricia

    Aberdeen1 review

    3.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Having visited previously and enjoyed lovely food, we thought it would be a good location for my father in law’s 80th birthday. Sadly we were disappointed. We waited for over 50 minutes just to receive our main meal, which we had to go and find out what was happening to it. Apparently there was a delay due to the oil in the fryer being changed. Two of the mains, and thankfully one of them the birthday gent, were nice. Unfortunately, my husband and I had the halibut special, which came with a seafood risotto, and you could tell it had been being kept hot while the other dishes were being finalised. The fish and risottos were both overcooked and dry. The best part of the dish were the tempura langoustines, which were clearly just done. This was a pricey dish at £29.50 and I wish we had stuck to the regular menu. On the plus side, the staff are nice and it is a good location. Hopefully a one off.

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  2. Emily

    Perthshire3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 20, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Enjoyed the Sunday Lunch very much. All staff were friendly and helpful when querying allergens. Good value for money and the social media content lived up to expectations. Thank you for a lovely meal!

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  3. Hazel

    Aberdeen1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 20, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Absolutely fabulous Sunday Roast, couldn't fault anything. Delicious.

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  4. Kim

    London12 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 12, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Went for a family birthday meal. Lovely tastefully decorated. The Service was very attentive and helpful. Everyone loved the food and reasonably priced. Thoroughly recommend a visit.

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  5. Graham

    Inverness3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 30, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    First class service and food. Very organised on a very busy day for the restaurant. Well done to all from the front desk greeting to the personal good bye - thank you again!!

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  6. Nigel

    Aberdeen2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on March 22, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Really good only minus was paying wanted to split bill took over 30 minutes

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  7. Christopher

    Aberdeen1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 8, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    An excellent meal with brilliant service and lovely setting.

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  8. deborah

    London1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 2, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I recently had the pleasure of enjoying a Sunday lunch at the Forbes Arms Hotel in Alford, and it was an absolutely delightful experience. From the moment we walked in, the staff were warm, welcoming, and attentive, ensuring we felt right at home. The service was prompt and friendly, making the whole visit feel incredibly enjoyable. The food was simply beautiful—cooked to perfection, beautifully presented, and bursting with flavour. Every dish was a treat for the senses, and it was clear that only the best ingredients were used. It’s rare to find a place where both the service and the food come together so harmoniously. I highly recommend the Forbes Arms for anyone looking for a fantastic meal in a charming and friendly atmosphere. I can’t wait to return!

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  9. Jock and Cindi

    Aberdeen1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic meal once again. The steaks were sensational. Highly recommended.

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  10. Sue

    Aberdeen1 review

    3.0

    Dined on February 28, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Starter and sweet good, lamb, fat, chewy and not hot enough. House red excellent. Staff lovely., whole place very comfortable.

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FAQs

The Forbes Arms Hotel is rated 4.6 stars by 336 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United Kingdom
  3. Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire
  4. Alford
  5. Alford

Make a reservation


Booked 8 times today
Google Map for The Forbes Arms Hotel

Bridge of Alford, Alford, Aberdeenshire AB33 8QJ

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Alford
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Wed–Sun 12:00 pm–1:15 pm Dinner Wed–Sun 5:00 pm–7:15 pm
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    Scottish, Vegetarian / Vegan, Pub
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Hotel Parking
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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