Black Bull Inn, Moffat

I walked past the Black Bull on my way into the town from the camp site, deciding when I saw the words "Real Ale" on the wall as I passed that I would call in here on the way back at the end of the evening. It was moderately busy in the beer garden at 7:30, but very quiet when I came back two hours later. I walked into the back of the pub, getting a rather odd look from the lass who was doing a bit of tidying. As I approached the bar, where one of two hand pumps had a pump clip on, she said, "we're actually closed". I said, "at 9:45?". She said that since the Covid lockdowns there had been a change of emphasis to food, and everyone had finished eating and gone home; they'd had no customers for 45 minutes. I tried to negotiate a swift half, but she said the till had been closed. Well, they may be doing a good trade in food, but they seem to be missing out on the later drinks trade. When I went back to the Star, it was still busy.

Official site of Black Bull Inn - www.theblackbullmoffat.co.uk

Official site of Black Bull Inn - www.theblackbullmoffat.co.uk

Looks open

The Black Bull is about a mile from the M74 and is a bit of a strange one by having 2 distinct buildings separated by a middle courtyard that is used for alfresco drinking and dining. The main hotel part was established in the late 16th century and amongst one of the oldest hotels in Scotland.Robert Burns once stayed here and inscribed one of the windows(a replica of this is seen on the wall of the Railway Bar) It is also thought that that the infamous murderer and alleged grave robber William Hare stayed here during his escape to Ireland after turning Kings evidence against William Burke. The Railway bar is a basic longish thin bar with a dart board and snooker table plus a moderate amount of old photos and a few curios. No real ale on in this bar but did not try the Hotel part