The Black Lion, Stoke-On-Trent

If you can find Consall, via Consall Lane off the A522, keep your eyes open and just keep following the signs for Consall Forge (No Through Road) you will pick up signs for the Black Lion after a while. The pub car park is at the end of a country lane and on the opposite side of the canal and Churnet Valley Railway track to the pub itself - a bridge and level pedestrian crossing allows access to the pub with a fair number of chickens wandering about in the beer garden at the front that offers a fine view of the railway and canal - I assume deliveries use the same route as the customers? My route was via the Churnett Valley steam Railway from Kingsley and Froghall, getting off at Consall Station and walking with the track 50 yards on my right until we reached the car park. I found a 3 roomed pub, one of which is designated as a restaurant. Despite its fairly remote location it was quite busy on Saturday afternoon. Ales on offer included Westgate Brewery Gangly Ghoul (a nice dark ale), Peakstones Rock Black Hole, Murf's Ales Duke of Gloucester, George Stephenson and Diesel 37 (specials brewed for the steam gala). As the videprinter twitched away on TV, it got dark and the weather outside turned cooler whilst the fire became more enticing. Warning! Once you get settled here you might not want to budge.

A difficult one to find this but very well worth the effort. As mentioned by the previous reviewers, the Black Lion is idyllically located in beautiful surroundings with boats and steam trains to watch whilst enjoying top beer. Inside, the first room you come into is the bar with tiled floor and fireplace, to the right is a room with table laid and through from there is the restaurant. The place feels comfortable and lived in and could probably do with a spruce up. There's a large garden outside with views and chickens as mentioned below. Food is of the standard boozer variety and our Sunday lunches were plentiful, very edible and good value without troubling the Michelin inspectors. There are five ales on as well as two draught ciders. Skinners Cornish Knocker, Amorillo and 99 Red Baboons from Blue Monkey, Peakstones Rock's Black Hole and Murfs Ales Lights Out. The Cornish Knocker was a touch sour which may well just be how it comes but both offerings from Blue Monkey were exceptional. A tremendous boozer which rewards the seeking out, go by boat, train or with a driver to really appreciate the top ale.

Why this pub is built here “miles” from anywhere, if indeed it was built as a pub, I don’t know. But I am glad they did. There can’t be many more pubs built in such an idyllic setting. The pub is set in the tree lined Churnet Valley at the side of the Caldon canal and the Churnet Valley railway line with Consall station only yards away. The pub itself seemed to be made up of several rooms although on our visit we sat in beer garden which we shared with the pubs chickens. When we arrived it was the last day of the pubs beer festival and the only beer on the bar was the excellent Lights Out by Murfs Ales although I presume more are available at none festival times. As the festival was on I felt it my duty to try out the beers on offer which included a few from the local Peakstones Rock Brewery amongst others in usual festival condition. Anyone making the effort to find this unique pub will not be disappointed.

Official site of the Black Lion, contains menu and real ale details - www.blacklionpub.co.uk

Official site of the Black Lion, contains menu and real ale details - www.blacklionpub.co.uk