Food scene
Friendly pub with good food, and Tempest ales now a major craft brewery started by previous landlord/lady. Dog friendly, and when conditions allow, Friday night folk club after 10pm.
12 abantu bendawo batusa
The Cobbles - Freehouse & Dining
7 Bowmont StFriendly pub with good food, and Tempest ales now a major craft brewery started by previous landlord/lady. Dog friendly, and when conditions allow, Friday night folk club after 10pm.
The Contented Vine
60 HorsemarketLarge well-established restaurant a short walk away
Excellent food, especially seafood, and a quiet atmosphere great for couples or small family groups.
Lemon and Thyme
35 HorsemarketExcellent food, especially seafood, and a quiet atmosphere great for couples or small family groups.
Cross Keys Hotel
40-41 The SquareHotel restaurant and bar ideal for any size of group or solo dining.
Pub with family dining, local favourite with older clientele, closest to East Wing of all dining choices.
The Waggon
CoalmarketPub with family dining, local favourite with older clientele, closest to East Wing of all dining choices.
Ednam House Hotel
Bridge StreetA short walk over the kirkyard, good pub and restaurant.
Sultans of kelso
6 Roxburgh StreetAn excellent Indian restaurant just a short walk over the square.
Mackays fish and chips are the best - and on Thursdays from around 5pm, the mobile chippie comes to the Coledale car park in Kelso. Usually sold out by 7pm, takes 20-40 minutes for the order to be ready (wireless alert device or just agree the time).
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Mackays Of Eyemouth
20-24 High StMackays fish and chips are the best - and on Thursdays from around 5pm, the mobile chippie comes to the Coledale car park in Kelso. Usually sold out by 7pm, takes 20-40 minutes for the order to be ready (wireless alert device or just agree the time).
Enzo has been serving fish and chips as long as I've been in Kelso, over 30 years. Sicilian fish suppers and a lot more, pizzas too.
Rendezvouz Fish & Chip Shop
21 HorsemarketEnzo has been serving fish and chips as long as I've been in Kelso, over 30 years. Sicilian fish suppers and a lot more, pizzas too.
China Red
37 Roxburgh StreetSeriously good Chinese/Far Eastern/SE Asian food to take away.
Very pleasant bar and gardens next to the Tweed, dining, functions and you may trip over oilskins sheets and freshly caught salmon on your way in... expensive and like many wedding and meeting venues, check or book (but well worth just wandering in to see the interior).
Ednam House Hotel
Bridge StreetVery pleasant bar and gardens next to the Tweed, dining, functions and you may trip over oilskins sheets and freshly caught salmon on your way in... expensive and like many wedding and meeting venues, check or book (but well worth just wandering in to see the interior).
Our favourite for a drink outside, it's tiny and lovely inside too. A haunt of local musicians, Saturday late mornings/lunchtime and market days almost for certain. Limited but excellent snacks and pastries, no meals as such, fine ales and spirits.
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Rutherfords Micropub
38 The SquareOur favourite for a drink outside, it's tiny and lovely inside too. A haunt of local musicians, Saturday late mornings/lunchtime and market days almost for certain. Limited but excellent snacks and pastries, no meals as such, fine ales and spirits.
Lovely friendly café with a whole range of meals ideal for lunchtime as well as coffee, cakes etc.
The Hoot 'n' Cat
5A The KnowesLovely friendly café with a whole range of meals ideal for lunchtime as well as coffee, cakes etc.
Enjoy the amazing light in this unusual conversion. Reminds me of Valvona & Crolla in Edinburgh thanks to the glass roof bit. Can be busy.
The Cream Chimneys
15 The SquareEnjoy the amazing light in this unusual conversion. Reminds me of Valvona & Crolla in Edinburgh thanks to the glass roof bit. Can be busy.
Sit outside from spring to autumn - even in winter - and you'll get the sun on this side of the square. Good bistro, busy pub at the back.
White Swan Kelso
11 WoodMarketSit outside from spring to autumn - even in winter - and you'll get the sun on this side of the square. Good bistro, busy pub at the back.
Opened during lockdown, this indulgent patisserie/coffee/ice-cream/shakes emporium often has queues!
The Dessert Diva
11 WoodMarketOpened during lockdown, this indulgent patisserie/coffee/ice-cream/shakes emporium often has queues!
In the passage between the square and The Cobbles Inn, you'll find Luca's amazing ice creams. Just the best. And - in the wee yard next door he's got a pizza oven taking orders for pizzas which taste as if you are in Italy. A walk down by the river below Chalkheugh Terrace will reinforce that impression - it's like a tiny bit of Amalfi!
Becattelli Artisan Gelato
6 Bowmont StIn the passage between the square and The Cobbles Inn, you'll find Luca's amazing ice creams. Just the best. And - in the wee yard next door he's got a pizza oven taking orders for pizzas which taste as if you are in Italy. A walk down by the river below Chalkheugh Terrace will reinforce that impression - it's like a tiny bit of Amalfi!
Turkish take-away magnate Ozkan has grills all over the Borders and it's easy to know why they have succeeded - kebabs a slice above the rest (but it's a bit of a walk up Roxburgh Street).
Ozkans Grill
44-46 Roxburgh StreetTurkish take-away magnate Ozkan has grills all over the Borders and it's easy to know why they have succeeded - kebabs a slice above the rest (but it's a bit of a walk up Roxburgh Street).
Caroline started her coffee shop 30 years ago, and her husband Alan created some of the best videos of the Borders, sold there. Great cake, sunny outdoor seating on a wide pavement.
Caroline's Coffee Shop
45 HorsemarketCaroline started her coffee shop 30 years ago, and her husband Alan created some of the best videos of the Borders, sold there. Great cake, sunny outdoor seating on a wide pavement.
Hidden in plain sight, this excellent cafe has a tea garden - just next to W H Smith and Hume's ladies' fashion shop.
Off the Square
20 HorsemarketHidden in plain sight, this excellent cafe has a tea garden - just next to W H Smith and Hume's ladies' fashion shop.
It's a fish shop, Turkish expertise, pizzas of course and the friendliest staff. High quality fish. Closest takeaway to East Wing.
The Townhouse Takeaway
32 WoodMarketIt's a fish shop, Turkish expertise, pizzas of course and the friendliest staff. High quality fish. Closest takeaway to East Wing.
Sightseeing
This waterfall is only a short walk through beautiful woods from parking (on the road junction verge, can be muddy). It's not an easy walk however, and involves a bit of scrambling up slopes, negotiating fallen trees, and careful treading on narrow path sections above the stream. It is one of the most beautiful small waterfalls in Britain. No mobile phone signal, don't go alone, wear good walking shoes and if it's been raining take wellies (the stream has stepping stones which are fine when the water is low).
This waterfall is popular and 'known'. There are other waterfalls close to Kelso with great short walks to them, but you won't find them publicised as locals do not want the restricted off-road parking and access paths overloaded. I have covered three waterfalls in my photo magazine website for Cameracraft - https://cameracraft.online/2021/09/06/three-waterfalls/
If you are an enthusiast photographer please do ask me for tips on local spots to get out with your camera!
Routin Linn Waterfall
This waterfall is only a short walk through beautiful woods from parking (on the road junction verge, can be muddy). It's not an easy walk however, and involves a bit of scrambling up slopes, negotiating fallen trees, and careful treading on narrow path sections above the stream. It is one of the most beautiful small waterfalls in Britain. No mobile phone signal, don't go alone, wear good walking shoes and if it's been raining take wellies (the stream has stepping stones which are fine when the water is low).
This waterfall is popular and 'known'. There are other waterfalls close to Kelso with great short walks to them, but you won't find them publicised as locals do not want the restricted off-road parking and access paths overloaded. I have covered three waterfalls in my photo magazine website for Cameracraft - https://cameracraft.online/2021/09/06/three-waterfalls/
If you are an enthusiast photographer please do ask me for tips on local spots to get out with your camera!