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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Black Lion, Nantwich
Nantwich
CW5 5ED
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Pub SignMan left this review about The Black Lion
This atmospheric old pub is reputed to be the oldest in town and seems happy to play up to this claim by creating a traditional ale house ambiance. You enter into a small front bar with scuffed dark floorboards, timber framed walls, lots of dark beams across the ceiling and a small servery to the right. The bar has a nice panelled counter and traditional bar back which blend into the room's old-fashioned aesthetic. There are a couple of tables and chairs to the front and left, whilst a staircase to the rear leads up to what I assume is an upstairs overspill seating area. A fireplace next to the stairs was helpfully lit on a bitterly cold evening, and from here, a step at the rear takes you into an intermediate room with a padded bench and a few more tables and chairs. Three walls here are covered with fancy floral wallpaper and decorated with elaborately framed mirrors, in sharp contrast to many of the other walls which bear numerous ancient looking timbers. Moving on again, you reach a rear bar with a quarry stone floor, banquette and chair seating and plenty of typical traditional bits on display, such as ceramic and earthenware collections, old black and white photos, a grandfather clock, old bed heating pans and so on. The ceiling is visibly sagging in places and a sign on the stairs warns of uneven steps for some additional 'old building' authenticity, whilst the 70s pop/rock soundtrack felt hip and contemporary by comparison.
Weetwood beers dominate the handpulls, with the range on arrival comprising Best, Cheshire Cat and Old Dog plus one guest ale that I forgot to note down. Two very young barmaids gave punters a friendly welcome and they poured me a good pint of the Cheshire Cat, which I enjoyed drinking whilst taking in this interesting building.
I suppose in many ways this is Nantwich's destination ale house, inasmuch as its a surefire bet for some decent ale and it has an historic, traditional interior that's worth visiting for in its own right. I enjoyed my stay and whilst it didn't exactly blow me away, I still thought it was better than any of the other pubs I saw around town.
Date of visit - 18th January 2024
On 7th June 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Black Lion
The Black Lion entrance leads to a small front bar area with long table in the window and a large round table against the left wall that must be a nice spot on a cold winters evening when the fire is glowing. The bar, that runs up the length of the right hand wall, serves this front area, a small mid-section with seating and a larger rear bar, where all of the locals were assembled during a recent Thursday evening visit. I didn’t note the presence of any televisions, but there was some background music playing in the rear bar. Upstairs is a dining room and lounge that I didn’t visit on this occasion.
The bar supports eight handpumps, four in the front bar and four in the rear. The cask ale options during my visit were Weetwood’s Old Dog, Cheshire Cat and Best alongside Coach House Brewing’s Innkeepers Special Reserve and Tatton Brewery’s Gold. A limited standard keg range is also available, as is food. The cheeseburger is priced at £11.95.
This is a traditional 17th century pub with low beams, exposed brickwork and stone floors that is certainly worth a look if visiting Nantwich.
On 15th May 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Hurdle left this review about The Black Lion
A very good olde world timbered pub in ancient market town. Like many pubs in town, a small front view leads into a long interior split into different parts. Weetwood Bitter and Cheshire Cat were doubled up on both bars, with Sandstone Edge and Stonehouse Station added on the front bar, and Weetwood Old Dog and Rudgate Brew No43 added at the rear bar.
On 29th July 2018
- rating: 9
[User has posted 710 recommendations about 648 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Black Lion
Small half timbered building split into three areas. A front bar with four pumps, a rear bar with four pumps of different beers and a small sitting area in between. Old boards in the front two rooms, new flags in the back. There's an outside area with a couple of humourously named spaces but I didn't investigate too far. Classic olde English pub, the beers not bad. The layout makes service a bit difficult for the staff so you may have to track them down or shout.
On 15th September 2017
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3599 recommendations about 3279 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Black Lion
A lovely little pub that can have a rather cramped feeling to it at first, however, the pub is split into 3 small areas plus an upstairs lounge. The servery is also split into 2 bars with 4 handpumps on each bar and all dispensing a different ale. A small outside area to the side is available for lung cloggers. A good selection of cask ales.
On 15th December 2016
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Oggwyn Great left this review about The Black Lion
Unchanged since the previous reviews this is a great little pub , lots of little nooks and crannies to poke around on the two floors and a friendly ghost to bump into and the odd low beam .
Good beer selection with the pumps split between the two bars , no carling for lager drinkers its warsteiner or kaltenberg .
A great pub well worth a visit.
On 20th February 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 797 recommendations about 683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about The Black Lion
A beautiful black and white timber framed pub built in 1664 and very nicely looked after inside retaining many original features and with a very comfortable feel.
The landlady is clearly very proud of the place and rightly so and is more than happy to answer questions and encourages you to have a mooch around. It makes for a warm and friendly welcome.
Regular beers are from Weetwood: Best, Cheshire Cat and Old Dog with the three guests on our visit being Cottage Lord Nelson, Lymestone Stone The Crows and the excellent Roosters Anniversary IPA. A good range there with 2 being over 5%.
An outstanding pub which would be first on my list in Nantwich and which I'd make a long diversion to visit.
On 8th October 2013
- rating: 9
[User has posted 683 recommendations about 682 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Black Lion
Dating from 1664,this pub is full of original features and has a fabulous exterior.It is also surrounded by many other historic buildings in Welsh Row,in this very upmarket town.
The front entrance leads to a small bar with ales listed on boards above.The room here is all timbers and plasterwork with a comfortable bench seat in the bay window and period furniture elsewhere.The old wooden floors and the smell of wax polish was comforting.The central fireplace has old steps to one side leading up to the lounge,two rooms with more beams and worth exploring.The front room has a low ceiling and a long dining table with room for two smaller tables while the back room has chesterfield uprights and sofas and has the feel of a private members club.There is a flatscreen in this room,switched off.
The remainder of the ground floor comprises an open snug in the middle and a back bar with a banquette and some stools.Both sections here had their own bar access.The back room is where a couple of locals gathered on our midweek lunchtime visit.
There is a courtyard outside,partially covered by an awning ,while a conservatory has been constructed to one side.The new owners have lovingly created an interior worthy of close inspection,it is top drawer.
The attractive landlady was chatty and friendly ,explaining they have six real ale options,usually three from Weetwood with rotating guests which resulted in the outstanding Roosters Anniversary IPA (£3.60) and sure to make beer of the week.Food is served with a narrow choice of dishes but a proper chef at work.Nibbles were advertised on boards.
Rightly in the 2014 GBG,this pub was a revelation,much improved by the new team and now a must visit in Nantwich.Worth the walk down from the Shropshire Union aqueduct over Welsh Row,this will be top of my list for a revisit when I'm next in town.
On 3rd October 2013
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
David Wall left this review about The Black Lion
Well worth a visit six hand pulled beers, three being Weetwood, Adam the barman is a great cellarman.
On 25th January 2012
- rating: 9
[User has posted 4 recommendations about 4 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Black Lion
Visited in May 2010
Small, but attractive looking traditional inn dating back to 1664 and situated in the centre of town.
The characterful interior features low beams, some exposed brickwork and a mixture of flagstones and wooden flooring. Although nooks and crannies create 3 different, but adjoining separate drinking areas, the use of large tables mean that seating arrangements are not as user friendly as could be. Additional room is available in an upstairs lounge. There's an outside drinking area at the side of the pub which, with some unusual roofed seating, feels a bit like drinking in a garden centre.
On my recent early evening visit, 6 real ales were on, of which 3 were from the nearby Weetwood Brewery - Cheshire Cat, Best and Old Dog. Other beers on were Cottage Phantom, Rugby Brewery Union and Stationhouse Buzzin. Prices ranged from £ 2.60p to £ 3.00p. My pint of Cheshire Cat - £ 2.80p - tasted a bit uninspiring. The pub has been in CAMRA Good Beer Guides, but it's not in the 2010 Edition.
Worthy of consideration for a visit if in the area.
On 21st October 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]