Blackbird Inn in South Northamptonshire

Sometimes the best pubs are the ones you find unexpectedly. Whilst on my way to the Cotswolds, feeling peckish I passed this pub and decided to stop and see if they were doing lunch. I’m under the impression they had only just opened up for the day as it was rather cold inside and the fire had just been lit up. They had in-fact just turned the fryers on and were doing lunch. I could tell by the offset this pub was very much a no-thrills, pub grub type establishment and sometimes that is just all you need. I opted for a fish finger sandwich and side salad and it was really nice, filled the gap just nicely and at just £7.95 you can’t complain. How refreshing it was, to see a pub menu that wasn’t over the top expensive. Now that’s a proper pub. Food you can afford. £9.95 for Macaroni Cheese for example. Where do you find prices like that in this day and age? Yes I’m sure not all of the food is made fresh on site, some is most likely to be packeted - but seeing this sort of price for a meal in this day and age is just so rare to find and honestly I was impressed. The couple running the pub (in particular the lady) couldn’t have been more accomodating and made sure we were warm enough and were happy with everything. The pub dog was also adorable. This pub deserves more recognition, because not many places like this exist anymore.

We`d just finished a Croughton circular walk, and needed "refreshment" afterwards. One of the locals said hello as we walked in. Staff were friendly, and there was Tribute, Wainwrights and Directors on tap. I went for the Directors, which was very good. The menu was on the wall, and was varied, lots of it homemade, and great value for money. Sadly, we`re quite a drive away, otherwise it would be become my local. Note to self: have a meal BEFORE going on Croughton circular walk.

Amazing little pub, very warm welcome when entering, and the food is amazing, staff are really friendly, I would highly recommend 10/10

We visited here whilst waiting for our sons kick off. So glad we did! Cosy atmosphere and a warm welcome. Gorgeous log fire and a village feel. The young lady at the bar was really friendly. We would recommended.

Our first visit here and will certainly not be the last. We were made so welcome by all including having a small child and a spaniel with us. A well kept pint of Tribute, excellent simple food swiftly served. A traditional pub with atmosphere and a roaring open fire. Highly recommended.

We were desperate for something to eat this Sunday lunchtime and found that most pubs were booked or had long waiting times. We came across the Blackbird and enjoyed a fantastic Sunday roast at a very reasonable price served by a friendly staff. A good old fashioned pub with no frills but lots of character.

We are semi-regulars at the pub and can attest to it being a really friendly atmosphere. Everyone is happy to chat and new people are always welcomed. When they are allowed to be open (sadly in lockdown now) the atmosphere is quiet with lots of conversation going on. Worth noting that if you need a tradesman for anything, someone here will know! The takeaway during lockdown means that the great value home cooked food is available for collection and local delivery. The Sunday lunch is a must, providing quite amazing value for a great lunch at a very affordable price. Try it - I guarentee you will not be disappointed.

We called in for a light Lunch while visiting family in the area. A lovely friendly girl served us. There is a large blackboard with lots of choice. I ordered Macaroni cheese with salad a chunky bread. My husband had Ham eggs and chips. Lovely hot tasty food. They had lots of people calling in for takeaway’s. Lots of parking. We will definitely return again.

This pub is in Croughton, not Brackley ~10 miles difference. We had a warm welcome here on Boxing day as Brackley Morris, we liked the look of the menu and so went back and were not disapointed. the lasagne and macaroni cheese cold only be faulted for being to large. The accompanying salad was made from fresh REAL ingredients - lettuce leaves torn from a real lettuce, not tipped from long-life supermarket rubbish. Beer was good too!

Walked into the village from our campsite to be greeted by friendly host and locals with a great choice of ales but above all excellent home-cooked food and very reasonable prices. We will certainly visit again

Een tradionele pub langs de weg wat uitstekend geschikt is om een lunch te gebruiken. Ik heb er een chili concarne gegeten die zeer goed was. Ik zal zeker hier terug komen.

Phoned the pub this afternoon spoke to man about eating asked if I needed to book a table for this evening no that’s ok plenty of tables. Drove there went in pub asked where to sit reply was do not serve food on a Monday great.

Have passed by on many occasions but stopped off during our last trip for an early supper. Excellent choice of well priced meals. Friendly service and dogs welcome!

We stopped off here after 6 hours driving back from Cornwall, it was 3:45pm and we spotted the board outside saying food served all day. Just what we needed. We received a very nice welcome by the staff and the three locals in for a beer. We had a drink and the food was prepared fresh and plentiful. It was great pub grub and just what the doctor ordered. We will be back in the future, as we often travel back home this way and we would throughly recommend this pub to others, one of our little gems.

Stopped on a flying visit on a motorbike ride out. Really nice welcome and friendly staff. The lasagne, salad and garlic bread was delicious. 10/10 and would happily call in again!

I visit this pub regularly. The staff are lovely and the food is great, especially the macaroni cheese!! Yum yum!!

We stopped off after a long day at Silverstone. My partner had gammon chips & peas which were fine. I ordered the spinach, mushroom and cheese filo pie. When it arrived I asked if what was on my plate was the pie, I was told it was. Well, I have never seen a filo pie like it, or any pie come to that. Filo pastry is supposed to be served crispy, not a soggy sheet stuck on top of the spinach, mushrooms and cheese and then topped off with what seemed like salty wallpaper paste.

I used to visit here every Friday after work with my colleagues 20 years ago... Rob and Vera were always very friendly as were all the local characters.... visited again this weekend and to my delight.... it’s just the same... a great old local village pub with great and friendly staff... and Rob and Vera!! Food was always great .... atmosphere is even better!! Keep it up!

Since moving locally 12 months ago we have visited the Blackbird frequently, and have always received a friendly welcome. The food is extremely good value and there is a good selection of beers / wine / gins. I particularly recommend the Sunday lunch.

I've been several times with friends and family the past two years since moving to the area and I really do love this pub, just my kind of place. It's just a good ol' pub in a lovely village serving great value food from a varied menu and good portion sizes. If they don't have it just ask and they'll do their best to accommodate. There is a lovely little open fire which is so welcoming during the winter months. The staff are very friendly and helpful. I don't think the pub is to everyone's taste, admittedly the snobby lot won't like the outside or inside, but for a village pub serving great value food you can't go wrong. It also has a garden, is family and dog friendly, has a pool table and dart board and your usual slot machines and plenty of events and music. I wish I could visit more than I do.

So on Saturday I attended Croughton family beer festival with my two children to support the play park project (which by the way was a lovely day and the kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves). Sadly it began to rain and so we continued to show our support from within the Blackbird, where we spent some more of our money on drinks and then we "checked out the menu" and purchased some "festival food". Then the electricity went which can't be helped and everyone stayed put continuing to show their support.... my Dad even took a look at the pubs electrics and diagnosed the problem and pointed the landlady in the right direction to get it fixed and that's when my day went down hill!!!! I have never seen anyone so rudely disregard someone's assistance and show no gratitude whatsoever.

Out on a midweek pub-hunting jaunt with my friend. This week's try-out was the Blackbird at Croughton. It's a nice country pub with welcoming owners and staff. The menu had a lot of good standard choices for what's called 'pubgrub' but which I feel should have a nicer name (?Public House Fayre). My friend had the beef chilli with a choice of garlic bread and chips to accompany. He said the chilli was lovely, nice heat to it from the chilli, and moist, the garlic bread very tasty too. I had the spinach, mushrooms and cheese filo pastry pie. The filo has the spinach and mushrooms and the cheese sauce goes over the top. I had chips and peas with my pie. Very tasty. And the portions are generous.

Having slagged this pub in the past, I have to admit the pint of Otter Ale was first class. The whole place looks cleaner & more welcoming since my last visit.

Fuimos a la blackbird inn esta noche para comer después de leer las buenas críticas y no nos decepcionó. Yo tenía los huevos con jamón y patatas fritas y nos dieron una muy generosa porción de magro jamón ni un poco de grasa, mi marido tenía el scampi que parecía encantadora, y no como puede ocurrir a veces demasiado cocido! Tarta de chocolate fudge y vainilla tarta a seguir, una comida muy agradable la casera? Y el personal era muy amable y acogedor, los precios estaban por debajo de la media de 2 platos principales 2 y 3 refrescos dulces vino a menos de £30, honestamente podemos recomiendo visitar el blackbird no te decepcionará! Sin duda volveremos.

Comimos en el almuerzo. Pub antiguo, el personal del bar muy amable. Buena variedad de opciones de comida típica de pub - enorme baguettes, pero si no dan mucho pan que también hacer el llenado de un sandwich. Mi amigo tenía queso macaroni - realmente cursis y caliente.

Tuvimos una comida mientras viajábamos por Croughton, así que estuvimos aquí para un almuerzo ligero. Que era una pequeña distorsión de la representación. Luz nunca llegó. Tuve el Pollo Korma, era enorme, nunca he visto tantas piezas de pollo perfectamente cocinadas en un Korma antes. Fue precioso, el korma fue justo para mí y no era dulce y no era por mucho coco amplificador abrumado. El arroz era justo y que era una comida deliciosa. Fue el tipo de comida que después de que usted sólo quería un poco de siesta, no tuve suerte todavía tenía un coche para hacer. Mi esposa tenía la tarta de espinacas y champiñones con espinacas y queso repostería. Ella dijo que estaba delicioso y fue servido con una ensalada fresca lado verdaderamente adorable. La comida fue excelente y a un precio muy razonable. Sí, el pub es un pub a la tierra verdadera, no se propala y adorna o artistico pretencioso. Pero eso es su encanto, probar, estoy seguro que no te decepcionará.

Nada especial desde fuera, pero una vez a través de la puerta como una cordial bienvenida. Precioso perro detrás del bar y pub inglés menú sobre tablas. Tuvimos platos principales de huevos con jamón y patatas fritas 3 grandes rebanadas de jamón y queso macarrones con ensalada y 4 grandes rebanadas de pan con ajo. Mi marido no podía creer la cantidad de jamón que recibió y mi queso macaroni era gigante cursi y crema. Tan barato y nada como los pubs caro en nuestra casa del condado de Suffolk. De paso, pero si son demasiado no te pierdas este muy buen pub.

Estuvimos aquí para el almuerzo recibimos una cálida bienvenida. La comida era deliciosa, honesto buena comida. Gran relación calidad-precio. Esta es una gente de pub. Estado aquí antes, razón por esta visita. Recomiendo este pub. Volvería de nuevo.

Hemos estado en el Blackbird aa cuantas veces. El personal es muy acogedor, como son la mayoría de la gente.

Stopped off after Silverstone & thought the pub was rather unfriendly & could do with a clean - shame as it wouldn't take much to make this a good pub.

We eventually found the pub despite NOT being in Brackley High Street as shown on the TripAdvisers's map! It's 5 miles away in Croughton.Nice to see it operating as, apparently, a friendly local. However, food was poor and no fresh veg; we sould not eat there again.

Stopped off on way home from Silverstone. I have to say the food was absolutely excellent and the best food I have eaten in a pub for a long time. Price was good too. It was so good I had to write this review, something I don't normally do.

Called in on our way back from a weekend in Bedfordshire having previously stopped here a couple of times for coffee. Sunday lunch at £6.95 seemed a good deal. It was a choice of chicken or beef roast so I chose chicken and my husband opted for the beef. The food was served in a very good time and was very acceptable for the money, not huge portions but hot and tasty. My only criticism is that as it is a small pub to have bar stools the length of the bar fully occupied makes it difficult to converse with the bar staff and to exchange money, you have to reach through people which to me seems a bit rude.

Stopped at this pub on journey through. Very friendly staff, great food with a good selection Although a chance stop it was worth it. Would stop here again

Roast chicken served with redcurrant jelly (hurrah!), roast beef & horseradish, all the trimmings, extra yorkshire pudding for my sister-in-law who can't get enough of them, perfectly cooked veg and plenty of gravy to be soaked up by the roasties. My idea of sunday lunch, thank you to Rob & Vera. Anyone reading reviews of the Blackbird, ignore the reviews from last year. The pub, and the catering, is back in good hands. BTW I'm assured that the Otter beer is particularly good at the moment.

Real Ale Directors and Otter kept in good order and presented very well.A very friendly lady behind the bar Baguettes ( big choice) freshly served with chips and salad. A good local and friendly regulars.

Well, it's finally happened, thank God! Our lovely village pub is again back in the hands of Rob and Vera. Not a day too soon either!Rob and V decided to retire just over a year ago, after 28 years in the pub. It always had a fantastic reputation for delicious home cooked meals, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.The bloke that took the pub over couldn't have tried harder to ruin this reputation if he wanted to! Opening when he felt like it, food availability was a lottery, and when he did deem you fit to cater for, the food was dreadful.Fortunately for us all, he done a runner one day in January. Since then, Rob and Vera have come back, working tirelessly to regain their pubs well earned reputation.All their hard work has paid off. The atmosphere is back, the food is again some of the finest in the area. Word has got around, and it's once again the thriving village pub that it's always been.Forget the bad reviews from the last 12 months, this had nothing to do with the current Landlords. Come to this great village pub, and you will not be disappointed!

I have lived in the area for 40yrs & this pub is stuck in a time warp of terrible decor, food & beer. I always feel I have to wipe my feet on the way out, it's that bad. Shame because it could be good!

I have been working locally to Croughton and eating at the Blackbird since early 2009. Since the new managment took over the place has gone to hell in a handbasket. I have tried it twice. First time I showed with the new managment, I was turned away due to a group booking was due to show in 30 minutes. Not sure why the cook did not have enough time to whip up 1 meal for myself. The second time it was beyond rubbish. Like stated below the food was overcooked, takes ages to get, etc. Dont even try the beer. When is the last time the taps have been cleaned?? The older couple who ran it for years seemed to have no issues with what the Blackbird is experiencing now. Not sure why is it so hard for current managment. Such a sham

I Have been posted in the UK now for three years. I Took the family here many occasions, dam this place has gone down. I do not know what has happened as the land lord & his wife really looked after us when we used to frequent this quaint little English bar. The food was bad. Fries were all burned we had to wait for one of our meals and the ale was real bad.I Now take my family to nearby Brackley. I only have 8 months of my tour left and i feel sad that the couple have let the place go. We will not be using the bar again.

The Blackbird is a real locals pub - they offer food but i have never sampled it. Its a friendly place and the Staff are always pleasant. It is not a busy pub but have been a few times with work mates and a good time has been had by all.

New management is in and this is what I'm seeing:Food - Never tried it but I've heard, then seen with my own eyes, three people order food and the meals come out one at a time. The cook makes each meal one by one instead on grouping them so they go out at the same time. Definitely don't eat with a big group or when others are eating. The guy definitely needs more training in the kitchen. Drinks - the beer is ok. Sometimes it tastes a bit funny. I heard the lines aren't thoroughly cleaned properly or on a regular schedule. Maybe that's why my buddy got the trots after a night of drinking at the Blackbird. Be careful with what you get and see what beer on tap has been flowing so you can have a "fresher" beer. Atmosphere - its the same old blackbird but more dull. New owners and they haven't invested anything into improving the pub. Its quite boring most of the time that I've turned up. So sad for a village pub. They've even gone and made the two fake posts below because of the negativity. I heard they weren't open on Christmas and New Year's eve like the pub use to be. So far they're breaking the villager's traditions. I wish that there were owners or managers there that actually cared about having a good pub, to have pride in being part of the village. Right now they seem like the black sheep.

Had a very lovely meal. Staff were very helpful and food some of best ever hadDefinitely will call in again

NEVER EAT HERE: The most disappointing Christmas lunch I have ever had, salmon roulade starter served on a side plate with no garnish, no lemon wedge, there were two slices but not even 1cm thick & I was given a tea spoon to eat it with! There were three slices of Roast turkey but it was thickly sliced & very dry, the gravy was thick & lumpy, green veg was insipid & fell off the fork, no stuffing, no sausages in bacon, no stuffed turkey thighs, which were included on the menu & who serves tinned sweet corn with roast Turkey, all the food was cold as the one waiter served one plate at a time, whilst another man stood behind the bar doing nothing, we had to ask for two meals twice, the hazelnut parfait was in the plastic pot it came in, was served in a soup bowl & was rock solid, the Christmas Pudding came with custard not brandy sauce as advertised, the crackers were so cheap it was hard to determine what the plastic novelties inside were & most of the plates & bowls were chipped which of course has hygiene issues. DISGUSTING!!!

They knew that 19 walkers were coming for TWO WEEKS BEFORE WE ARRIVED,!!! But we're tol d that they couldn't cope with us and so we had to find another pub to eat in . The proprietors were extremely Rude ! I have never written to a review site to complain before but I'm really angry with the way we were treated!!

I eat here every time I make a trip back to England. The food is always hot and fresh, the staff are welcoming and friendly service is excellent. If you are anywhere near Croughton I highly recommend that you go give it a try

I went here for dinner the other night with a friend. I just moved to the UK and am about to move into a house within walking distance of this pub. The food was very good, the service was amazing, and the staff was very friendly. I plan to frequent this establishment.

if you want good quality food at a very reasonable price served in a friendly atmosphere you need look no further, even the locals are friendly!

Pub food was basic, good home cooking. Nothing fancy but overall we were pleased we popped in on our way through the village. Would go back again.

This is a very friendly country Pub that does very good - far better than average pub food.Vera and Rob have been there some twenty years or so and are very good at running this lovely country pub.

Friendly pub, staff very helpful, food excellent, home cooked, will be going back. Made children welcome. Maybe could do with a refurb, but will be returning again.

I have been going to the Blackbird Inn for almost six years now and have never had a bad meal. Rob and Vera are extremely nice and caring couple and therefore it is always nice to go for some lunch. I even drive there with my children to have some amazing food. Give it a try on your way through Croughton.