The Black Bull Inn and Hotel was built around 400 years ago as a coaching Inn providing accommodation for travellers, coachmen and horses. The Inn is situated in the picturesque village of Coniston, beside the beck and in the shadow of the 'Old Man' mountain. We have 11 comfortable bedrooms each with bath or shower en-suite, colour TV, tea/coffee making facilities, hair-dryer, full central heating and double glazing.
The character of the rooms and inn has however still been retained. The most recent addition to our hostelry is a microbrewery Coniston Brewery, in which we brew our own beer, Bluebird Bitter and Old Man Ale. These are made using only the finest natural ingredients available and our local mountain water.
The character of the rooms and inn has however still been retained. The most recent addition to our hostelry is a microbrewery Coniston Brewery, in which we brew our own beer, Bluebird Bitter and Old Man Ale. These are made using only the finest natural ingredients available and our local mountain water.
Services
We have 11 en-suite Rooms, all with flat screen TV, bath or shower, tea and coffee making facilities and comfortable beds. We run a continuing refurbishment program, striving to ensure the highest standards of cleanliness. The rooms are a selection of twin bedded, double bedded, family, triple rooms etc.
3 Night Mid-Week Specials and New Years Eve bookings are non-refundable in the event of cancellation. We strongly recommend travel insurance. Bookings - Unless clearly stated otherwise, all prices are per person per room per night including breakfast & VAT at 20%. Please call for availability. Room Damage - We reserve the right to apply an exceptional cleaning charge, when a room is rendered unusable for 24 hours during your stay.
Former home of John Ruskin. Brantwood is the most beautifully situated house in the Lake District. Brantwood is both a treasure house of historical importance and a lively centre of contemporary arts and the environment, welcoming in the region of 30,000 visitors a year. Brantwood is open to the public all year.
The Black Bull Hotel has been owned and run by the Bradley family for the past 40 years. During which it has been altered, whilst trying to retain the original features but combining modern facilities. The Coniston Brewing Co. opened and started supplying our Real Ales in 1995 and is run by Ian, the Bradley's son and his team.
Reviews (15)
Fatjue
Dec 29, 2021
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Neil Edwards
Dec 27, 2021
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Barbara Havelkova
Dec 15, 2021
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I didn't stay the night and only had food. I had a veggie stew. Sadly, the cook must assume that if you're vegetarian, you hate both food and yourself. It was completely appalling (and I just came from a full day winter hike - I would have been happy with little). At £16, it was the worst cost to performance ratio I have seen in a very long time. On the plus side, the bar staff were friendly and I was glad to have a toilet and WiFi.
Matthew Simmons
Oct 27, 2021
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I totally agree with recent reviews around how friendly the staff are and willing to help. Lovely pub that is warm, friendly and a good selection of nice ales.
Room very clean and well stocked with added extras like tea and coffee. Shower great and all in all a lovely place to be visiting. It may not be 5 star hotel decor in rooms but is well kept, nicely done and matches a nice old pub. Will try food another day but room and bar very happy with.
Room very clean and well stocked with added extras like tea and coffee. Shower great and all in all a lovely place to be visiting. It may not be 5 star hotel decor in rooms but is well kept, nicely done and matches a nice old pub. Will try food another day but room and bar very happy with.
Hesseh S.
Oct 11, 2021
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Located in heart of Coniston, the place is very popular with locals and tourists alike. The place is 400 years old and interior reflects this though very much open plan. The beer which is self brewed is great and best reason to go into the pub . The food is reasonably good but actually nothing special, a little over priced and portions not great If there was a Weatherspoons in town they would easily loose their food trade.
Jon Tudor
Sep 17, 2021
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Roger Byron
Sep 03, 2021
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Matthew Sproston
Aug 17, 2021
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Lovely pub, great location, great breakfast, friendly staff, nice rooms.
Only down side are the prices for food and drink which seemed a bit expensive but standard for the area unfortunately.
Most restaurants start at £20 a bottle of wine or £4:50 a pint of a beer.
Situated right in the centre of coniston its perfect for the local activities. Good selection of local ales.
Only down side are the prices for food and drink which seemed a bit expensive but standard for the area unfortunately.
Most restaurants start at £20 a bottle of wine or £4:50 a pint of a beer.
Situated right in the centre of coniston its perfect for the local activities. Good selection of local ales.
Stuart Williams
Jul 21, 2021
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The best pub in the Lake District? Probably. The beer is certainly world beating in my measured opinion. I’ve been visiting annually for near gone 20 years and have only ever been served superb, well kept beer. The staff know their beer and although traditional in their approach to customer service ensure visitors are very well looked after. We’ve had a fair few meals here over the years and if you’re looking for traditional pub food which is cooked and presented well this is a good spot for a respite from hill climbing.
Kim H.
Oct 31, 2019
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Whilst staying in Coniston on holiday we chose this pub for a lunch time meal rather than the evening. With it being half term it suddenly filled with families with disrespectful children & dogs.
On arrival barely anyone in and not knowing the brewery ales, the landlady offered us several taters. We settled on Blackbird & Bluebird ales. Both strong but likeable.
We decided to both have the Cumberland sausage with mash and green beans.
The green beans where hot but barely cooked the rest was ok for a pub meal.
Our overall experience was not special but nice to see lots of images of
On arrival barely anyone in and not knowing the brewery ales, the landlady offered us several taters. We settled on Blackbird & Bluebird ales. Both strong but likeable.
We decided to both have the Cumberland sausage with mash and green beans.
The green beans where hot but barely cooked the rest was ok for a pub meal.
Our overall experience was not special but nice to see lots of images of
Ashley Y.
May 10, 2017
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We stopped for a quick lunch and the food and drinks here were pretty good.
We tried the olivers light ale and stout. Both of them were pretty smooth. I also ordered the chicken liver pate and the chef's burger. Amazing the food were pretty good. The patty in the burger was very tender and juicy.
The only part I didn't like was the service. I understand they were kinda busy but still I think they could offer better service.
We tried the olivers light ale and stout. Both of them were pretty smooth. I also ordered the chicken liver pate and the chef's burger. Amazing the food were pretty good. The patty in the burger was very tender and juicy.
The only part I didn't like was the service. I understand they were kinda busy but still I think they could offer better service.
Jessica H.
Mar 23, 2015
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After a long walk through Grizedale Forest, we were desperate to find somewhere to eat. Unfortunately we were looking at 5pm, which turns out is the witching hour when it comes to food, with the majority of pubs having 5-6pm as their downtime for food.
After giving up on Hawkshead, we took the short drive to Coniston and ended up at the Black Bull. It was warm and there was a table free, so we were already made up! It was soft drinks all round at this point, though I saw some approving nods towards the selection of beer.
The menu is traditional 'pub grub' - fish and chips, chicken curry
After giving up on Hawkshead, we took the short drive to Coniston and ended up at the Black Bull. It was warm and there was a table free, so we were already made up! It was soft drinks all round at this point, though I saw some approving nods towards the selection of beer.
The menu is traditional 'pub grub' - fish and chips, chicken curry
Lars F.
Oct 30, 2012
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This is local! Really local. There were a lot of people at the bar and in the seats and tables around the the main room. Mostly couples, but two large groups, one hikers and the other maybe school pals. No one was really eating, just having a pint to end the day. The back area has some slot machines, but that area was dark and quiet. Everyone was up front or at the bar. The pub brews it's own beer, Coniston beer. The oatmeal stout was good and the barley wine was potent. I think 8.5% versus the standard 4.2%. I had a "bat" which is the UK equivalent of a flight, but with only three
Qype User Dubpip
Jan 16, 2009
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Lovely looking traditional pub and used to be my favorite pub in Coniston, however on revisiting it recently I was gobsmacked at the price of the ale and food that they served. It seems that they can get a way with charging £3.50 - £4.00 a pint because they know most of their punters are going to be tourists and not going to be in there to drink all night. These aren't UK prices, they're European prices!!!! What really hacks me off is that they brew their own ale in their backyard. What right have they got to charge such prices. I would advise anyone visiting Coniston to avoid this
Qype User Anin
Nov 29, 2008
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This is another one of my favourite pubs in the whole world, I've passed many a very happy evening in here. It is a really big pub inside and so there's always lots of space if you've got a large group with you but there are a couple of open fires with armchairs if you're just in for a cosy romantic drink. They make the famous Bluebird real ale here which is really good and they serve excellent food which is now locally sourced and really nicely made (it is standard pub fare, sausage and mash, scampi and chips but they also do local specialties like potted scrimp which is worth
