Blue Lion in Richmondshire

In all my many many years in North Yorkshire & only living in the next village on, I'm embarrassed to say we had never been here before. However, after today's visit, we are definite fans! Lovely ambience, lovely staff & owner. Sunday lunch was delish. An easy choice to make when booking our next Sunday lunch time treat. Really impressed. Thank you.

Haven’t been for a few years but so glad we went, we had a superb Sunday lunch. It’s a beautiful old country inn with a warm welcome in a little village surrounded by countryside. The service was warm and friendly and also very attentive, we came across at least 5 of the team and they were all lovely. The food itself was superb, myself and my wife had different starters, mains and desserts and we both loved them all. We rarely get chance to go for Sunday dinner so try somewhere different most times but after today I’d safely say this is my favourite. Thanks for a great Sunday lunch

We booked for 2 nights on the 10th September.on our arrival around 3 -30 I unpacked & being tired needed to rest before dinner. I laid on the bed & suddenly felt wet on my back…. The bed was soaked in a very large patch & was wet through to the topper mattress. I informed them at reception they came & changed the whole bedding. Needless to say this was a very bad start, no offer of a discount meal, free drink or any type of good will gesture, even though I did say it would have been a nice gesture. Will not be returning we even refused to eat our evening meal there as I was so annoyed. The meal prices are inflated so was happy to go & spend our money at another public house, this was not good customer relation & I regret booking there as our room was not that good either certainly not comparable with the picture shown on the web site…

I have eaten here several times, always a few years apart as we are occasional visitors to the area. The place never seems to change. Good food, very good beer, and assured service. On this occasion we popped in for a drink one night then dinner the next. A lovely old inn in a beautiful village.

My wife and I booked Sunday lunch here. First time visit as on holiday. What a fantastic pub! Great surroundings with a real historic feel. Fantastic staff, very attentive. Food was excellent! Can't praise the venue and food highly enough!

Booked late so got in last sitting for Sunday dinner, which was probably a good thing cos we were a little bit rowdy especially after a few wines , basically had a room to ourselves, brilliant service and great food special thanks to the waitress Amelia who kept us entertained with great banter x, 😁 go again (Mr Amstel)

We were staying in East Witton for a week, visited The Blue Lion for lunch. I was hoping for a local country pub atmosphere but unfortunately there was very little atmosphere, the staff we helpful but not engaging & a little intimidating dressed in waistcoats & tie on a Weds afternoon. It was raining so we planned an a pub lunch in the local & a few beers after, however once we'd eaten we didn't want to stay due to lack of atmosphere, playing music may have helped because it was so quiet. Food - the minute steak sandwich was very good, however, the croque madame was just OK. This is a hotel & restaurant, not a pub. No atmosphere & expensive.

Was trying to figure out, after my recent experience, why this restaurant was #2 in East Witton and not #1. I think it’s partly the rooms letting it down, and people’s expectations from price. I’ll review our overnight stay separately under ‘hotel’, because that was average. The food however was excellent I can’t fault it. Everything was perfect. The soufflé, soup, steak and I had pork wellington, all gorgeous. The service was lovely. If anyone is reading these reviews from the BL I think it would help if people were offered a choice whether they eat in the bar or restaurant. We absolutely loved being in the bar with its open fire and informality, but I realise some people would prefer the restaurant at the prices charged. Breakfast was superb !!

We stayed at the Blue Lion for two nights to celebrate a family birthday, having eaten here on previous trips and had a wonderful time. The hotel is comfortable and cosy, the staff were lovely and the food is really incredible. The atmosphere in the dining area with the wood fires is lovely in winter. It’s ideally placed for walking - a lovely weekend of long walks in the dales and delicious suppers afterwards!

Sunday lunch at this spectacular pub, the essence of olde england. We sat in a settle looking at the amazing fireplace and cheery fire which brightened up a very windy and chilly day. Very generous portions of the roast sirloin of beef and a good variety of vegetables. I imagine the horseradish sauce was homemade as it tasted like it. What a great pub to live close by, lucky residents of East Witton.

What a lovely , cosy pub. We were made to feel very welcome . A traditional pub with roaring open fires and an excellent choice of beers and spirits. Also very dog friendly which is always a bonus . We had a delicious meal on our last nights stay in East Whitton and after several recommendations it certainly didn’t disappoint . Simply delightful … thank you for making us feel so welcome and keeping us very warm cosy on such a cold wet evening. Will definitely return.

We had not been here for a few years and on our previous it was OK but nothing more and for the money it needs to be better than that. At the time the place seemed to be living on its past reputation. Decided to try again recently and it really was excellent. For starters we had carpaccio of beef and cheese soufflé, both of which were delicious. Mains of pork tenderloin wellington and sea bass were both fantastic in particular the pork which was beautifully cooked and came with a wagyu black pudding. Staff very pleasant but the place has a number of separate dining areas and staff can occasionally overlook you. Would definitely return.

We were recommended this restaurant as we were visiting Grantley Hall for our anniversary, we managed to fit in a visit for lunch the day before. So glad we did, truly delicious food, it’s so nice to see a restaurant to leave the decor as it was intended, old fashioned and real and total focus on delivering amazing food. As soon as we viewed the menu I knew it would be good, for me to have a soufflé on the menu is always a good sign of a top confident chef We ended up having 3 courses for lunch as the menu was so good. We already want to come back and will make an effort to, it’s about 2 hours drive. Staff were friendly and warm. So much history in this restaurant too. Highly recommend, and hope to return one day

We have eaten here many times as we have a holiday lodge locally, tonight was a disappointment. Arrived slightly early for our 7.15pm table so ordered a drink at the bar and were taken to our table in The Snug. Orders promptly taken and served by a young girl who was friendly and chatty. Food was delicious as ever, the scallops to start so tasty, my husband declined a starter as he loves their desserts. Seabass main perfectly cooked and the pork tenderloin Wellington a welcome addition to the menu. Our plates were cleared at 8.05pm, " did we want to see dessert menu" yes please. 30mins later, no dessert menu. By this point we had no drinks left either. We did try to catch the waiters eye when in the snug but to no avail and not one person checked on us. My husband then went to bar to ask for one....no one there. Eventually we both got up, went to the bar and ordered a last drink, when the waiter arrived, as our taxi was due at 9pm. A very disappointing end to our evening. There was no one actually " managing" the restaurant and the fact we were totally forgotten about reflects this. Will we come back? Possibly.....but there are many other excellent restaurants in this area with far better service!

We are VERY impressed! We loved the service (relaxed and efficient), the food, and the charming atmosphere. The staff are friendly, informed, and attentive. The pub is set up well for walkers. They have detailed maps of walks of various lengths around the Dales and the village.

Very nice restaurant and great wine and service, it is just very expensive not a village pub, a restaurant , but food excellent, you get what you pay for

Had the halibut but at over £32 it was so disappointing. A meagre portion size and so thin it was dry on top. For the price the quality was very poor

Having recently moved to the Dales we had been recommended by a few people that this was worth a visit. We decided to stay overnight for our birthday celebrations. The room, though large, and cool considering the heat, was tired. The shower didn’t work properly, the shower screen was broken and the toilet seat was loose. WiFi was weak. For a DB&B package and the prices on the menu, we would have expected to eat in a dining room rather than the bar area. Both main courses were over cooked. My halibut (£31) was dry rather than succulent and my husband’s sirloin steak (£36) was medium rather than medium rare, as ordered. Whilst the rest of our food was tasty, we don’t feel the menu prices were justified and the breakfast was rather average. All staff were very friendly, polite and courteous. Overall it was ok but I think they need to substantially up their game to stand out against strong competition in the area. We conveyed our thoughts to the receptionist upon departure, so hopefully these were passed on to the owner(s) accordingly.

We had dinner at the Blue Lion as it was our 48th Wedding anniversary. The Restaurant is in a lovely location and the staff are great. Food pretty good too it was just a shame that we had to wait ages and ages for each course, too long.

The Blue Lion is in a great location for exploring the area. Lots of beautiful walks and villages to visit. We stayed for two nights and it was nice. The breakfast was nice. Dinner was nice. The problem is that for the prices they charge you want more than nice. The rooms were comfortable but quite small. Plenty choice for breakfast and food was freshly cooked. Dinner was a massive disappointment and massively overpriced, we really should have sent the scallops starter back, regrettably we didn’t. Charging £4.10 for a small bog standard cup of coffee is not on. We loved the area and will definitely return but not to the Blue Lion.

This is the most majestic place, beautiful old building in a lovely location on the village green with great old world atmosphere in bar and restaurant, and comfortable charming rooms. The food feels a bit pricey but these days more than ever you get what you pay for and the menu is unusual and quality great. And finally the staff are wonderful, very friendly and attentive. If you hadn’t already guessed, highly recommended!

Lovely old-fashioned bar room with settles and a fire, and good beer. But the food was very poor despite being expensive. Wensleydale blue chees salad came without any Wensleydale cheese and lamb maind dish had two nice-looking piices of meat which had no flavour at all. Service a bit forgetful too. We came on the first night of a week's stay in the village so would have eaten here a couple of other nights too but because the food was so poor we chose to drive to other places every night.

We have just returned from a stay an enjoyable stay at the blue Lion. Lovely truly dog friendly hotel/pub in beautiful surroundings with amazing walks right from the door. The food was very good, we enjoyed the breakfast and both an evening meal and Sunday lunch.

The classical violin music set the tone for what felt like a rather formal atmosphere - dark wood decor rather reinforced this. But the food was fantastic: I don't think my starting Wensleydale cheese soufflé could have been bettered, and the main course of a tenderloin pork and black pudding wellington was beautifully presented and tasted even better. The dessert menu had an amazing set of options but I opted for the cheese plate. It's not cheap but the quality of the food merits it. (PS please ignore Brian W's review below - portions were a good size and it reads like inverted snobbery to me)

Had Sunday lunch there and very happy with the meal and friendly staff. Could not fault it and will go back when next we are in the area. We did not have our dog with us, but there were dogs there so it looks very dog friendly.

Food was good but quantities minimal as in all these pretentious establishments. For the prices charged would expect to dine in a more sophisticated restaurant, whereas it was basically in the bar.

We visited two weeks after the pub had changed hands. Having been before we were slightly apprehensive that it might no longer be as good as it was. Happily, the food was even more delicious than previously. Generous Yorkshire portions of beautifully cooked smoked haddock...

Well received with a high standard of service. Food was to a good quality and well presented. Above average but not amazing is a fair assessment.

From having one of the best starters we have ever had, we both opted for a twice baked wensleydale soufflé which was VERY delicious and top notch. We were so looking forward to our main meals. But we were so disappointed; we had a duck...

Had our lunch today with friends. We were placed at a table suitable for us with more space around it than you would normally get. The menu was really varied and offered a huge choice as well as further choices on the many blackboards around...

Beautifully quirky venue with bags of character. Echoed by the welcoming and professional staff. The food was delicious. The cheese soufflé was melt in the mouth, served alongside the complementary freshly baked bread. The venison suet pudding was excellent (although not the hottest) and the...

I called in for a spot of lunch and went for the Dover Sole. The menu said roast potatoes but not really sure how the potatoes had been cooked. They certainly weren't roasted. The meal was, at best average. Didn't give me the impression that...

We booked The Blue Lion's private dining room for a family party to celebrate our engagement and my 30th. It was the first time we had been together as a family for over 2 years, and The Blue Lion was the perfect location to celebrate....

Visited for a birthday lunch with friends on a crisp sunny winter day. After a brisk walk in the wind above the castle we took up our table in the back bar area of the Blue Lion. We had our dogs with us who dried...

Visited for a late Sunday lunch with family and friends. Excellent 3 courses enjoyed by all of us. Lovely ambiance in the bar area. All the staff were friendly and attentive. Would definitely recommend.

First let me set the scenario. Special occasion Lovely well laid out room, cosy with a real fire keeping you warm Friendly and efficient staff Excellent well kept beer So why only average ? The food, it was oft poorly presented not as per menu...

Have visited here a few times. Ate in The Snug this time in front of a lovely open fire which was great on a cold winter day. Lovely food, the pea and ham soup special was so tasty. The food is excellent washed down with...

We find this place remains ever excellent! The service is professional, efficient, friendly… with a good dash of gritty humour… The food is without fail really good. Just the right amounts beautifully cooked and presented… and excellent value for money. We return again and again...

We are big fans of the Blue Lion and have never been disappointed. The food was delicious- the toffee apple souffle was a winner! The atmosphere is always cosy and welcoming and again we were not disappointed. We passed a very relaxing evening and enjoyed...

We visited the Blue Lion on a Sunday night in October. The staff were charming; the food was of a high standard; and we were able to pick things from both the lunch and supper menus. It is an attractive building nicely decorated inside and...

We have visited the Blue Lion a good number of times over the last few years for both lunch and dinner and have always found it exceptional, unfortunately over the last couple of years visits have been hampered by COVID. As it was my birthday...

Lovely staff, well kept beer and superb food with delightful old fashioned decor and comfortable bedrooms. I certainly hope that they will have me back one day!

The rating of very good is for the quality and variety of food on offer in the restaurant, but sadly not the service, which was very patchy. The waiters are dressed in formal French waiter style, in black with long white aprons, which gives you...

Where to start….checking in was fine although not particularly welcoming. We mentioned we had stayed in that same room a few years ago and got no reaction (this was from one of the owners by the way). Room is quite nice, no TV reception due...

Came here for dinner and whilst the ambience is nice that is where it stops, waitress staff are nice and polite but the Head waiter (I believe he was called Mr Turner) was not helpful at all. A pre-booked table and yet regulars turned up...

Was lovely and definitely a step up from your average pub grub just a bit too quaint and stuffy for us for a lunchtime in our walking gear! That being said the food was really really lovely and we'd have probably had great fun working...

The Blue Lion Sunday lunch used to be outstanding, with excellent home cooked food, well worth the pricing. The prices haven't changed but the food is now merely good enough. It's now like a bought in Sunday roast you can get anywhere, OK if you...

Never changes always excellent! We had lunch with friends. The service could not be bettered!! We all thought our food really good. I had the vegetarian main which was tasty and delicious… Others had plaice and lamb dishes. Starters were perfect … Desserts equally so…...

Stayed over for the one night on the 24/06, a warm welcome and friendly staff. Room No. 5 was very pleasant in it's decor, although the tiling in the bathroom although nicely done, hadn't been tidied up (as if no one had checked out the...

We were on holiday and looking forward to our last evening in Yorkshire, which would be spent at the Blue Lion. Our booking was for 630pm. We arrived about 15 mins early. It was pouring with rain, and we were pleased to be inside. As...

I loved the fireplace and the whole ambience of the restaurant. The food was very well presented and tasted good, however, I cannot fully agree that it was value for money! I would still like to come back one day and try some other dishes!

Based on price and reputation we were expecting a standard just below Michelin 1* Overnight Stay - We booked a Superior Courtyard room. The room was a good size with beautiful exposed wood roof trusses. Whilst the room was quite adequate it could have been...

We had a pre lock down lunch. As always the place was faultless . The welcome was as warm as ever. Plenty of smiles and chat but totally professional too... no issues with speed and efficiency of service. Excellent beer and wine... no issue with...

Two lunches, one excellent the other dire. The flatiron steak my wife chose was tender, well flavoured and perfectly cooked. The Blue Lion platter I chose was awful; poorly presented, no salad dressing, pork pie with freezing cold, soggy pastry, a tiny piece of blue...

The Blue Lion has for many years been considered a Yorkshire Dales gem, built on a reputation for providing good food, good beer and good cheer at a reasonable price. Sadly, after a recent visit, only the good beer still stands. The concept of service...

Stayed for 2 nights in the hotel,expensive for the price and everything in the room needs updating.Not sure why they didnt upgrade during lockdown. The bar was ok but nothing special,the chairs looked like they were about to collapse and wonky tables. Restaurant was ok,just...

We (2 couples) visited the Blue Lion twice for a meal during our stay in East Witton. We had Sunday lunch and because it was such a success we booked to have dinner on the last night of our stay.For Sunday lunch we had starters of devilled pig cheeks, baked scallops followed by roast chicken & roast sirloin with Yorkshire pudding. Cheese and deserts to finish.The meal on our last evening consisted of wood pigeon, Wendsleydale souffle & beef carpaccio as starters. Followed by confit of duck cassoulet, chicken with tortellini. A couple of shared deserts to finish.Excellent.2 great meals, good beer, gin and wine.

Having been twice before our expectations were quite high but they were not realised. Limited choices and rather small portions, the duck was not even a full leg, service was so slow we got fed up of waiting. Nice touch with the bread which kept the pangs of hunger at bay and when we shared two desserts they brought plenty of plates and cutlery. But they do need to smarten up the room, for the prices they charge we expected a bit more comfort, not mismatched chairs.

I don't think a slightly negative review will harm the Blue Lion as during our stay the hotel was full and the restaurant extremely busy.I suspect that little has changed in this hotel in a number of years and that is clearly part of its charm. However this could be achieved without such rickety dinning tables and I felt a good re-paint would have helped.Our courtyard room was small, but clean and comfortable. Breakfast the next day included was freshly cooked.The service was good and friendly throughout, and strict COVID measures were in force.The menu, is perhaps a little old fashioned in content, but whoever cooked the food knew what they were doing and the quality was clear, albeit that the dishes were slightly "heavy" in style. Prices were also "Heavy" with starters around £10-£12 and mains £20-£30. The wine list had some preposterous markups.Given its location, I would expect this hotel/restaurant will thrive, but a little more upgrading would certainly encourage a return.

We were having a road trip, so read reviews and booked here for lunch with friends. We were the first to arrive at 12 noon, but it soon filled up. The starters were amazing, souffle, salad, soup and scallops... We then had steak, smoked halibut and 2 x potato rostis... All in all, a delicious meal with wine, finished with puddings and coffee! Would definitely return if we were in the area again. Only slight criticism was there was only vegetarian main, and a choice would have been nice. Lovely all the same!

For some the interior of the restaurant may hold an old fashioned charm but for us it was a collection of wobbly auction house tables, stained ceilings and in need of a major upgrade.The menu seemed to contain recipes from the Fanny Craddock cook book.My husband’s starter was very small scallops with cheese sauce served in a shell.The smoked haddock had a sauce that was far too runny and had little flavor other than cheese.The staff had started to lose interest at this point so we left. And the wine is overpriced.

What a joy to return to the Blue Lion.The service as ever was nigh on perfect.Everything was served with professional efficiency and a smile even though they were very busy.The health and safety arrangements could not have been better.The food as ever was superb.The scallop dish was superb.The roast beef was perfection.The desserts were first class.Working in the industry as we do we know hard it is to keep standards high and to please everybody.We have never in thirty years had a bad experience here....quite the contrary we love it.Thankyou Paul and your splendid team.Austin and Tim Millgate House Richmond

A great shame as the venue is beautiful and we were really looking forward to dining there. The place was rammed but with only 4 serving staff it was chaos. We waited for ages for our orders to be taken and to be served. The Cheese Souflee had no cheese in it and my Queen Scallop only had a sliver of scallop in the shell. At £12.50 they could at least have served the whole thing. Mean. Probably bought-in. The following pork tenderloin could not be cut with a knife. A chainsaw would have struggled. Worse, the food was cold. It probably sat on the dumb waiter for most of the 50 minutes it took to serve. An adjoining customer complained similarly - cold food - which was subsequently replaced after a long delay. Ours was removed un-eaten with an apology with no alternative offered. The Blue Lion is over-rated, over-priced and provided overwhelmingly poor service and food. Avoid it at all cost.

We accidentally stumbled upon this pub while on holiday in the Yorkshire Dales. We're so happy we did, the food was simply outstanding. We had the 3-course set lunch which was very reasonably priced at £31 and every single course was delicious. Special mentions for the Cod, the Wensleydale soufflé and the Sticky Toffee Pudding which was perhaps the best Sticky Toffee Pudding I've ever had. It's very clean and the wine list is excellent. Would really recommend.

We stayed overnight, the rooms are spacious and clean. Although bottled water is provided there are no other refreshments in the room (it may be to reduce the risk of infection). Dinner in the bar was excellent. There is a good choice of starters and mains, we thoroughly enjoyed every course. Whilst the wine list is not extensive the wines on offer are good if a touch pricey. Standout dishes were: the food gras, lobster and Waygu braised short rib. Worth driving to East Witton for any of those three. The staff are polite and professional. The Covid precautions are excellent. Highly recommended

Very nice service and pleasant place to eat. I would say the food is good but not exceptional for the price - £26 for a 2 course Suday lunch. The plum crumble was small enough to enter the Guiness book of records!

Booked a table indoors, on arrival noted that there was hand sanitizer and signs for social distancing so far so good. But we counted around 7 members of staff none wearing masks and on several occasions were less than 1 metre from each other. It seemed quite disorganised, people were wandering in and being served drinks at the bar, others were served drinks at the table. There was a specials board which meant people got up to look at it even though the specials were printed on the menus so it was totally unnecessary to have the board at all. The condiments were not single use and were already on the table so no way of knowing if the containers had been sanitised. Didn't feel comfortable with the arrangements and will not be returning. The food however was good.

Love it here. Had a fabulous valentine dinner, steak was so tender. Wine delicious. Fires roaring. What more could you want? Oh yeah, crepes suzette flambé’d at the table !!

We stayed in the accommodation at the Blue Lion for 3 nights. An unusual little village with nothing going for it but the restaurant served great food ,and the surrounding areas are well worth spending time in.The accommodation was comfortable and clean but around 3 stars.

We had a quiet lunch in the Blue Lion bar today.A great place for a cosy delicious lunch on a winter’s day... the fire was warm and welcoming as were the waiting team....They welcomed our whippets as warmly as us... The food as ever was nothing less than superb....We both had an inventive mackerel starter followed by an equally inventive beautifully presented fish main...lots of small extra touches which worked.We often go here when returning from traveling and the cupboard is bare...it fits the bill so well.The coffee was superb...and after a week in Italy that is praise indeed...Lovely beer and wine.We both agreed over lunch ... one of our favourite spots in the world for an authentic experience of an English Country pub with superior food.Excellent value too.We heard that in Sunday in the middle of the storm a couple drove from Scarborough for lunch and then drove back!!!! That is testimony indeed to the place!Top marks to the Blue LionAustin and Tim

We booked a table to celebrate a birthday, but were hesitant after reading some recent negative trip advisor reviews talking about the quality of the food, poor service and the restaurant being overpriced. Rather than cancel we thought we would continue with our booking and make up our own minds. We were welcomed on arrival, it is a lovely building with a cosy dining area split over several rooms. We were lucky to be sitting near the open fire which added to the ambience. The restaurant wasn’t very busy, we didn’t order starters, but our mains still took a very long time to reach us. The manager did apologise to us and other tables for the duration of the wait. The food was good, but not worthy of the high prices, the chicken supreme was nice with a hazelnut veloute and a truffle tortellini which unfortunately hadn’t been cooked enough as the pasta was very tough, I was surprised to only have one on the plate too.We had a generous portion of vegetables which were all cooked well without excess water in the dish, they were also well seasoned. The ox cheek suet pudding had very tender meat that had been cooked well and had a good flavour. The structure of the suet pudding was nice and light rather than dense and heavy, but this did mean it collapsed slightly. This was served with colcannon potatoes and extra sauce - which was useful as one of our party had the pheasant which was a slightly drier dish. Our daughter ordered moules mariniere as a main rather than a starter, this was a generous portion with a flavoursome sauce and some extra bread to mop it up with. Despite comments above about the prices we were only charged for a starter portion of mussels, which was very reasonable - although not sure if this was a mistake.The service wasn’t great, with one member of staff rather sullen all evening. We didn’t order dessert as we had been put off by the waiting times.All in all a very pleasant evening, although we won’t be rushing back.

We recently stayed at the Blue Lion for 2 nights between Christmas and New Year . The Inn was welcoming and inviting with real fires and low lighting . My wife and I took our dog along and he was made most welcome . The food can only be described as first class, with similar service . My wife had genuine food envy when my starter arrived on our first night (a twice baked Wensleydale cheese souffle') so much so she ordered it on our 2nd evening . I had the pheasant breast wrapped in pancetta and stuffed with aramagnac infused prunes - faultless !! Breakfast matched dinner with attentive service to match more excellent food . Our room was warm and cosy.. No complaints from us other than the 4 bridges and a castle circular walk map to Middleham needs updating as we would still be looking for Chris Thornton race Co , which is now Micky Hammond , a small price to pay for an excellent stay ...

We like to drop in late for a drink and enjoy the warm comfortable main bar, the log fire in winter and the well kept beers. I mention late because at lunch and earlier in the evenings the bar is often largely given over to diners and it's quite crowded with tables very close together.However the Lion did shine when we took fifteen folks back for dinner a few days before Christmas: we had a room to ourselves and once the staff warmed up they did a great job in satisfying 15 three course a la carte courses and a large number of drinks orders. The food was Good Pub level with one or two slightly better and one or two slightly more disappointing dishes but nothing unexpected. A good night out.

We came here for dinner between Christmas and New Year. Booked a table for 6 plus dog. I chose parpadelle followed by ox cheek pudding. The pasta was first class - as good as any I've had - and the pudding excellent. The service was excellent, and although there were a few delays, they were explained and dealt with really well. Wine list also excellent. One of my go-to choices for a group meal where you want something a bit more special but in a lovely, traditional pub environment.

We went there with my family for a special occasion. It was Awful. Over priced food and bad quality. The steak cost £28 I would of rather bought one from a super market and cooked it myself. Awful quality and cold. The owner wasn’t bothered that it was bad quality he just looked at you like something he’d stepped in. Really wouldn’t waste your money here far nicer places with nicer atmospheres and food near by! Wensleydale heifer can’t be beaten it’s a similar type of place but the staff are lovely and the food is beautiful a far better option that the blue lion! One person was gluten intolerant and they had plenty of advance notice about one person being gluten intolerant and they said they had options. On arrival they had nothing at all. Completely useless. Would not recommend at all

Booked for a Saturday evening for a Christmas meal for a party of 6. One of the party was gluten and lactose intolerant for medical reasons and not by choice so when the table was booked 2 weeks in advance I had a detailed discussion with Paul, who identified himself as the owner. In that discussion Paul explained that they were experienced in dealing with the issue and that a significant percentage of the menu could be adapted to suit. On arrival the relevant party member discussed the options with Paul to be told that the options included pea soup, mussels and a plain chicken breast or steak! He even stated there was no gluten free bread available, despite one of the lovely waitresses finding some when asked. Having being sat at the table for 20 minutes from arrival we sat with no drinks watching two of the waiters behind the bar not doing anything we realised that table service was not an option.Despite what we thought would be a reasonable menu, albeit expensive, the food was distinctly below average. From 4 starters the 2 were average. From 6 mains 3 were steaks. All were poor in quality and one was served cold. Paul was very arrogant and dismissive of any blame and the original steak ( supposed to be medium rare) was redelivered back a few moments later as a very hot but very well done steak! Amateurish at best.The fourth member of our party had pasta carbonara which also arrived cold and not properly cooked. This also was dismissed by Paul as being an issue of personal taste on pasta. Having planned to spend the full night there we paid in full for every meal/drink and headed to a more appropriate venue. In summary we decided on the Blue Lion, knowing that it was expensive, but thinking the cuisine quality and service would be commensurate to the occasion.The food was average to poor at best and the service was patronisingly poor with the exception of two young waitresses who were fabulous in trying to deal with the shortcomings of Paul and the rest of his team. Honestly we left with the impression that Paul views his customers as things that he has to tolerate!For our next trip we will be returning to the already tried and tested Wensleydale Heifer at West Witton who have already delivered at all levels. Book at The Blue Lion at your own peril!

As above/would recommend the restaurant but stay in a local b&bStandard of courtyard room very poor (room 10)-people who have stayed there have consistently told me room14 is the best room.Room 14:-Door needs draught proofing-had to use bed cover along bottom of doorNo grab handle or anti slip mat in showerKettle plug in a stupid position on bottom of the wallTwo small armchairs would have made the room more “comfort friendly”Radiator again in a stupid position- down the side of the bed-2feet between wall an bedBiscuits(?) interesting taste and questionable againIn a nutshell a poor quality room ( for the price) therefore use the restaurant but stay in a local b&b

Late lunch here after long walk and how fab was it. Twice baked Wensleydale soufflé just beautiful and the sticky toffee pudding outstanding. Main courses not too shabby either! Cod for me. Pheasant for the birthday boy. Great cooking and friendly service.

The welcoming open log fire should tell you everything , however the bare boards seem a little disconcerting , fear not you are in good hands for the food and service far out way the initial impression . This is a no nonsense foodies must.

I used to live in this area and the Blue Lion was the go to place for foodies. So, after my previous visit being some 20 years ago, I had told my wife what a wonderful place this was and looked forward to showing her this little gem of a restaurant (still run by the people from the days when I used to go), on the lovely Dales countryside.

Wow. What a fantastic little place. Food and service was brilliant. The owner took great care of us and should be proud of his family run busines. Could not find one fault and I have worked in this industry for 30 years. Look forward to returning as one of the best places i have been too.

Visited the Blue Lion last Saturday to celebrate my birthday.

Food was delicious from a good choice, attentive staff team, just a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

I was staying at the Blue Lion, and had dinner in the restaurant three nights running. Normally I would have gone somewhere else for at least one evening meal, but there was absolutel no incentive to do so because the food was so good here.

We went here for a group meal for a special occasion. It was a busy evening but perhaps there were not enough staff available, but the service stood out for the wrong reasons unfortunately. No wine was offered by waiting staff even once, and when very politely asking to order another bottle, I had my head bitten off by the waiter about how many other things he had to be doing. Then a waitress unfortunately poured cheesy haddock sauce down by back by mistake, but never really apologized. My silk dress dry cleaning bill will add to the already-overpriced cost of the evening!

We chose to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary at this restaurant and booked months ahead as we were visitors in the area for the week. We were seated in the 'snug'. I had booked the restaurant and I am not sure whether this would have made any difference. Our meal was really lovely and the service was good. However, it did not feel a special evening. The snug where we were sat was pretty ordinary and there was certainly no mention of our anniversary, despite this being mentioned at the time of booking.

We popped in for our annual lunch on our way to Muker. The ambience, the service, attention to detail and quality, have been consistently excellent. We trust that Craig's work will be maintained after he retires.

All staff have a very professional yet pleasant manner. Room was very clean and comfortable . Menu was fab and the lamb was melt in the mouth . Only advice would be to add some more vegetarian dishes to menu and have less creamy dishes. Overall a great choice for a stop over and a cosy night!

Great food Great accommodation Lovely village setting We felt at home immediately and will definitely return So easy to get to from Newcastle too

We stayed overnight and were really looking forward to our visit having heard very good things. Unfortunetly we felt really let down by a number of things. Initially the bar area looked lovely and the menu fantastic. Our accommodation was OK but certainly in need of a bit of care and attention. The toilet seat was broken and the grout in the bathroom needed attention. Our TV was not working and there was no iron or ironing board in the room or WiFi. We had reserved a table in the restaurant in the evening to be later told that the restaurant was empty and we could eat in the bar. The bar area was busy and we were seated in a very awkward spot in the way of others. The food was poor for such a fantastic sounding menu. The mussels as a starter were not served with any bread. The duck was described as slow cooked in a honey glaze. It arrived as half a duck with the skin on with a cold potatoe rosti. The porchetta arrived and was tasteless and totally disappointing. The cheese board was the best thing about the meal. Totally underwhelming, sparse and forgettable. The prices certainly do not reflect the quality of the food. We went onto have coffee which did not reflect coffee at all and was so weak. The first pint of beer had to be sent back and replaced as the taste was odd and the bar man confirmed this. In the morning we went for breakfast and yet again no improvement. We again did not sit in the restaurant and sat in a small room in the bar. The food was poor and appeared to have been cooked earlier and kept warm. The coffee again was totally tasteless. When we checked out we were offered no reduction in price due to the TV not working in the room and the WiFi being down even though the owner commented that it should be an insurance claim for them. All in all the staff worked incredibly hard. The food was not good enough for the prices they charge. The hotel looks tired and in need of a good update and clean. Such a shame.

We spent a week in a cottage in East Witton and ate dinner in the Lion twice, the first time in the cosy and atmospheric bar area, the second in the more formal restaurant with tablecloths and more light. Apart from that, the menu is exactly the same in all three rooms. Between us we had the porchetta with baby apples, lamb cooked two ways and the halibut. All were very tasty, perfectly cooked, and came with a side serving of vegetables, which unusually included leeks, one of my favourites. Some wine is available by the glass or in a 50cl carafe. Attentive service.

We went here twice. Nice building well maintained and presented. Service was good. Most impressive dishes were the sole, mussels, suet meat pudding. Vegetables were very well done and plenty of them. Not the cheapest place and more of a place for a special night out.

This place knows how to do Sunday lunch properly. Lovely roasts, lovely veg, excellent Yorkshire puddings. It's very popular, so don't forget to book in advance!

We had high expectations having read various glowing reviews and were extremely disappointed. Generally we found all the food including the homemade bread rolls to be under seasoned and the vegetables both scant and a good 5 minutes off al dente! Our individual meals, porchette and chicken supreme were of forgettable quality, the pork whilst tasty was dry and the chicken supreme plate boasted 1 tortelloni as the starch content! I do not have the biggest of appetites and I was even left hungry after the main course. The maitre’d took our comments back to the kitchen and we were advised that the chef had seasoned the food and that the 1 tortelloni was considered an adequate starch content......A very disappointing last meal in the Dales. Not to be recommended!

We have visited the Blue Lion on a number of occasions over the last 28 years, and have always enjoyed the food and ambience so it certainly deserves a review. During our recent visit we managed to secure a table in the main bar which, with its flagstone floor, antique furniture and muted colour scheme, is one of the most atmospheric places to eat in Yorkshire. Service is friendly and efficient. Although the food is rather pricey the quality is worth it. The menu listing is wide ranging and includes lots of interesting dishes. We chose the lamb and rosti - both had a combination of textures and flavour and were extremely tasty. Our starters and desserts were equally as good. The Blue Lion has always been one of the few places we keep coming back to, and our latest visit confirms this will continue for many more years to come.

Recently ate at the blue lion for Sunday lunch. Undoubtedly one of the best Sunday lunches I’ve had. Couldn’t ask for a better service. Will be returning!

My wife and 2 year old daughter booked in for lunch on Saturday at the start of a 3 day break in the dales 8 years or so after our last visit.

Amazing gastrobub and hotel, set in a gorgeous village. this quite rightly has a great local reputation, great lunch must be fantastic to stay

Book here for Sunday lunch every time I visit The Dales, Paul deserves all the accolades possible. Sunday lunch particularly is unrivalled, delicious locally sourced food, the restaurant staff have worked there for a very long time & Paul is always present & overseeing everything. Just love it, & it’s a fabulous place to watch The Tour de Yorkshire from ‍♂️

Having visited the pub for meals over the last 5 years, we have had mixed experiences - the food being the main draw, we decided to stay over Good Friday and the Saturday.