Restaurant at The Old Black Lion in Powys

The Old Black Lion was the perfect intimate dinner venue on a cold winter saturday evening. All three courses me and my partner had was scrumptious, the white bait starter was particularly note-worthy, large for whitebait, juicy and crispy. The mains was also very good value (you can't go wrong with the steak). The atmosphere was idyllic, is as cosy an old pub can get. If you want an escape from the centre of Hay that's still only walking distance, this is where you should have your dinner.

Very accommodating, olde pub. Generous food portions and kind, friendly staff.

Great food, cozy, warm and welcoming front of house team. Stayed for 3 nights nothing was too much trouble. Thank you Fran

Lovely pub to stay and have dinner. Short stroll into town, free parking. Note that breakfast isn’t included in room prices.

Take a step back in time, loved our stay.

Went for a meal whilst on a break in Hay. The staff were super friendly and the staff were really nice. Really glad we went there!

Lovely location. Room was superbly done & decorated. I have mobility issues, and it was difficult. Food was excellent. Beer quality super. A lovely, really old inn. Staff were really lovely.

A perfect getaway, made even more perfect with our accommodation, amazing food and service and overall hospitality. Stayed for 2 nights over the New Year festivities and we couldn't have been made more welcome. The New Years evening menu was themed (Alice in Wonderland) and it was truly incredible. Tasty, inventive and like nothing I have seen/tasted before. If you want a to stay somewhere friendly and accommodating in a quaint, cute and rural location then get booking! Can't recommend enough 😊

After a lot of hype lately locally I expected a delicious Sunday roast. Despite a strong start, pork and black pudding Bon-Bon’s were fantastic, the roast beef was like trying to chew through well worn work boots! After the main courses were replaced, the second run was still tough and no care taken with the plating up, slopped on as clearly taken exception to my complaint. Missing elements of the original plate, parsnip and roast carrot…. My complaint was confronted by the chef, who said I came in with a bad attitude, which couldn’t have been further from truth, full of festive cheer!!! Avoid if it’s only due to the chefs attitude.

We were a party of eight friends who pre- ordered their Christmas Dinner. The food was terrible ...Soup to much chilli so I was unable to eat it .Welsh raebit all bread.Mains arrived luke warm.Bread sauce liquid. Belly pork no crackling Jelly like substance on the top. Deserts awful Christmas pudding over heated in the micro wave.Baked Alaska weird..Unidentifiable substance on the base ?

My partner and I were staying overnight in a separate hotel, but were lured in when were spotted an advert promising live jazz. All our expectations were exceeded! The food was amazing but the skill of the jazz band was phenomenal! Eating here without the music would still have been wonderful, but with the jazz music it was simply exceptional!

My husband and I had dinner here on a Tuesday when there was the Simple Suppers menu. Service was excellent, the ambience was lovely and the food was GREAT. I had the bavette steak frites and my husband had the boeuf bourguignon. Both were absolutely delicious and nicely presented. The cheesecake was also excellent. Our only slight reservation was the restaurant wasn't very warm, otherwise it was a superb experience and one we strongly recommend.

We went for my daughter's 16th birthday dinner. Lovely setting and ambience. As it was Tuesday night, there was a limited menu, but still enough choice. We had whitebait and pork belly bob-bons for starters. Both great. Large whitebait, perfectly cooked, and tender, tasty pork. We both had steak and chips for our main course. Cooked exactly as requested. Really good! We were too full for pudding. Friendly service as well. We'd definitely go back.

Friendly service in a cozy pub. We were able to book at short notice and even on a wet Monday in October the pub was full. Staff were friendly and the food and service excellent, at a moderate price.

Disappointing and not a recommendation. Whilst the starter of Per Las mushrooms was excellent and my wife’s main course of steak was also good. My main course of Ox cheek was poor. It was over cooked, tough (I had to go and ask for a steak knife), grisly, lacking temperature and worst of all tasteless. I didn’t eat much and when clearing the table I politely provided my feedback, which was graciously received. We came two years ago and it was excellent, but after this evenings meal I simply cannot recommend. For information, I received a glass of wine discount from my bill, which was a third of the cost of my inedible main course.

Delicious food, friendly staff, comfortable ambience- we were able to chat and did not feel disturbed by other diners or overly loud music. Service was rather slow but it was peak evening meal.

Overrated and nothing special very disappointed Food was very dry with a limited menu that wouldn’t appeal to many, they had nothing with a sauce. Worth looking at the menu online before you visit. Would have liked to have seen a specials board to create a little more choice. Sadly wouldn’t return or recommend

We visited Hay on Wye and whilst in the area we went into The Old Black Lion for a Sunday Lunch, we hadn’t booked but we were greeted with a friendly smile and asked to choose from a selection of tables still available, they were very busy but still made us feel very welcome. The Sunday roast beef lunch was first class, our best for some time at a reasonable price, highly recommended.

Good pint in pleasant surroundings

Phoned to see if they could provide a meal for a group of 13 on a Sunday evening even though we were not staying at the hotel. Delighted that they were happy to open the kitchen for us. They provided a limited but thoughtful menu which we ordered in advance. Cannot fault their helpfulness and service. Dishes were all served at the same time and food was beautifully served. The food was of a high quality and well cooked. All dishes were delicious particularly the fish bake. Will definitely be going back there. Would thoroughly recommend.

It can't be rated at the moment as it's closed. Sadly. Not looking like it might reopen in the near future either.

Great pub hotel and restaurant with its own parking

We had a fabulous evening in the restaurant, starting with nice beer and ciders and finishing the evening off with some port, a wonderful cheese plate , a nice chocolate Petit Peux a la Chocolate and a jazz trio. We can highly recommend the goat cheese risotto (which we had without the peppers, due to allergies), the tofu and the pork loin (which could have been cooked just a tad less, but was still quite good.) Our server was very attentive to the allergy issue, both when we stopped by to make our reservation and then when we arrived. She had great recommendations all around - and was happy to provide a taste of the lager and ales - and made the night special. The restaurant is cozy and we loved the fact that they had a jazz trio playing on the Friday evening we were there. We would definitely return, because there were several other items on the menu we would love to try.

Just very good food . Quiet, no music , old fashioned. Tables well placed inviting an element of privacy . Portions not large , but adequate for a lady . Good choices . Not an overwhelming menu. Well worth future visits and I’ll be back for sure……….

Poor service seeming to rely on the fact that there are not many pubs in Hay on Wye. I popped in first for a drink and waited at the bar area, staff appeared behind me to wait on tables and I was not acknowledged, Then a senior staff member appeared behind the bar, looked at me, said something to someone else (out of sight), did not acknowledge me and left. A staff member did then appear and serve me. I had a Lucky Seven pale ale which as a bit flat although tasted fine. I was seated in the snug area. My partner then arrived and had the same issue being served at the bar. She only ordered a tea and came to sit with me. We waited over 15 minutes and no tea had arrived. I popped back to the bar to query this, and I was apologised to and the tea made quickly (we had been forgotten about). It feels like service is not a priority in this venue.

Disappointing visit to what has always been a favourite pub in Hay on Wye. The beer was excellent (Butty Bach) but my small main course tagliatelle was almost tasteless (husband’s chicken was fine). But the dessert was awful … tiny slice of spotted dick and tiny jug of lukewarm custard. It used to be a real treat to eat at this pub and we were really disappointed. When we asked why the portions were so small we were told that apparently the you get the same size portions whether you order a la carte or otherwise (don’t really understand this).

Stayed in Hay for a couple of days mountain biking in the Black Mountains. So pleased we found the Old Black Lion - it was just what we needed. Exceptional hospitality from James and his team, superb food, great beers and a comfy bed. We’ll be back!

Having checked the website first which says Dinner 6.30pm til late. We arrived to check in for the night at 8.20pm. I said we'd like to have dinner but was told that the kitchen was closed! There was a group of ladies finishing their meal and also another couple at a table. I explained that we had driven 300 miles that day and that we had last eaten at 10am at a Service station. The chap replied "oh, they're not very nice places " My husband then said that we'd checked the website and it said that dinner was available until late. The chap repeated that the kitchen was closed. He was indifferent to our plight. I then asked what were we supposed to do? Where could we get something to eat? He replied the Blue Boar - a local pub or the Tapas bar......I was astounded at his reply! He then showed us to our room, and to add insult to injury, the hotel information sheet in our room said that dinner was served between 6.30pm and 9.15pm!!! We went to the Blue Boar and had a delicious meal, I would highly recommend it. We returned to the Old Black Lion at 10.20pm, thinking we would have a drink in the Bar before going to bed ......only to find the establishment in complete darkness!!!! So we let ourselves in and went to bed! In the morning we had our breakfast, which was very pleasant although I was disappointed when looking around the room to find that the carpet was covered in dog hair! When we checked out , no one enquired about our stay. They just took our credit card and that was it! No thank you, no have a safe journey....nothing! The room was very nice and clean and the location was lovely but their service leaves alot to be desired. For the price charged I expect better service.

We had booked a table for two and our dog for lunch on a Thursday. We ate in their beer garden which is a lovely little sun trap. The staff were very friendly, especially the lady who looked after us, we had full table service which we didn't expect, but she took excellent care of us and everything was super efficient. I had their smoked salmon sandwich and my husband had ham salad, both delicious and hugely generous portion of perfectly seasoned fries. One thing to note is that you cannot tip on card, but luckily we had some cash on us. Would highly recommend.

Staying in HOW for a week Phoned at 1130am in a Sunday for 4 adukts and a dog an 1hr and 30 mins later we 3 riadt beef and 1 roast pork, followed by x 4 spotted duck puds. All the food was outstanding no wonder why they have so many awards on the wall. We booked for curry and quiz on the Thurday. Reasonably priced. Beer was top notch. Book a table is my only advice. Rs

Booked via email after making an enquiry via website for a table the next days and the response was quick and efficient. We went for a midday lunch and the staff was nice and friendly with us and the others surrounding. We enjoyed our meal very much! The food was great! We had the specials of the day, soup for me with beetroot, orange, mint and my husband had the steak with fries, roast veggies, greens. In addition, I ordered from the regular menu the cold sandwich with local ham and for dessert the spotted dick.

This place came recommended so I was expecting good food. I wasn't disappointed with the great meal that we had. Beautiful lamb, cooked to perfection (and freshly cooked). A very tiny moan would be that side vegetables/potatoes are a little pricey for the quantity. I always have a niggle about veg being extra, but it was quality over quantity in this case. The food choice wasn't huge for mains, steak, pork belly,fish and a pasta dish, but, as I said, quality over quantity again applies. Service was very friendly and efficient. The wine was lovely and there was an extensive choice. We did not indulge in desserts, but from what I saw they looked good. The price of the food is not cheap (but nowhere is these days if you want a decent meal), but for a special occasion it is a treat. Would return to eat here if in Hay again.

Fantastic service and scrumptious food. I would definitely recommend. Be aware that taxi services in Hay are very limited, so we ended up having to walk a mile back to our B&B. Which was quite lovely on a starry night. We did try to thumb a lift but locals were not very keen to help.

We had a lovely stay in this beautiful old building. The staff were extremely kind and we loved our dinner and breakfast. The beds were comfy and it was all very clean.

If I could give more stars I would. First impressions are everything and we were met with the loveliest welcome and it ended with a fabulous goodbye. Parking on site. Great location. Beautiful roast.

We had a very nice two course meal,with excellent wine.The pork belly was very good. Service was very good and staff friendly

Superb dinner, imaginative menu, good wine list, delightful staff. Bonus live jazz as it was Friday night! Highly recommend.

Very good food and beverages with great service. There happened to be a jazz band playing while we were dining which wasn’t my cup of tea but it didn’t distract from the quality of the experience.

We had room in annex, was not very warm, at one stage there was a problem with main boiler. This was sorted after a short delay. Disappointing menu, not a great choice. We had RIB eye steaks, mine was OK, but wife's was rather sinuey. Both served with one tomato and one mushroom . At £28 rather overpriced. Better value food and drink at the Tapas bar in Hay. Breakfast at £10 was decent value.

We very much enjoyed our stay in the Cromwell Suite last October and look forward to returning in September. Excellent food and service by friendly and polite staff.

Had a lovely meal with quite a large group of friends all our food was excellent and the service was friendly and efficient. Highly recommend!!!

Without doubt the best restaurant in Hay and surrounding area. The service is first class, nothing was too much trouble. A good welcome from the Landlord James and his wife. A very varied menu offering superbly cooked food. The tastes, textures and presentation are equal to many well known restaurants in the Cotswolds and even London.

There is a reason why this is called Hay on Wye hidden gem, devine why they are not Michelin Star I do not know, certainly the food is M.S presentation as seen on MasterChef. Service is excellent and the restaurant and Lions den are immaculate

Attended Winter Hay Book Festival, lovely weekend, good food, quirky accommodation. Will definitely visit again

We booked a table online for the restaurant but recieved no correspondence telling us that they were already fully booked. This meant that we couldn’t book a table anywhere else. On top of this, the person who we spoke to on the phone was boarderline rude to us when we explained the situation. Very unimpressed with the customer service we have recieved.

It's great to go somewhere where you feel that the staff really want everything to be right and the whole team here were working hard to make that happen. We were all super happy with our meals, the crab/lobster sauce starter got rave reviews. Beer was judged to be on perfect form! Friday Jazz was also really good, not too dominant and added to the good atmosphere. We look forward to coming back.

We had a wonderful meal at The Old Black Lion last week to celebrate a family member's 95th birthday and couldn't have been happier with our chose of venue. They were extremely helpful when we contacted them beforehand and organised a beautiful bouquet of flowers from a local florist on our behalf for the table, which looked lovely when we walked in the room we ate in. We had a warm welcome when we arrived and the service throughout was excellent. All the food was delicious and beautifully presented, with something on the menu to suit everyone. The turbot and lamb main courses are to be recommended and the specially decorated birthday pudding plate for the birthday 'girl' was a lovely touch. If you are looking for excellent food, friendly, helpful service in a relaxed atmosphere, we would definitely recommend visiting here. We can't thank James and staff enough for providing the perfect setting and excellent food which helped make the day special for her. We couldn't have chosen better.

A very pleasant restaurant within an atmospheric pub. Cosy atmosphere with dining area split into separate areas making it seem more intimate. Friendly service and dog friendly. However the high spot was the food. Quite a small menu but everything was freshly cooked and beautifully presented.

We ate in the bar area as we were here with our 2 dogs. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. Nothing was too much trouble and they even brought a bowl of water over for the dogs. The staff were very friendly and welcoming and we were even able to leave our cars in their car park whilst we went and had a look around the local shops. All in all a fantastic experience and we can highly recommend a visit to the Old Black Lion.

A beautiful old pub serving excellent cask ales and keg options. The food is hearty and prepared with care, but the most outstanding aspect of our visit was the level of service: the staff went above and beyond to ensure that we were comfortable and sated. Highly recommend and we will certainly be returning.

Great food, great atmosphere. First time visiting the Black Lion, I had the risotto, it was just amazing,loads of flavour. The roast beef looked great and plenty of it. There was no pressure to eat and run, which was lovely. Can't wait to visit again.

We had a wonderful family birthday celebration meal here with wonderful food. We were seated in the Lions Den so we could bring the dogs. The staff were friendly, accommodating and informed about the menu choices. The food was incredible serving delicious pink lamb, pork belly and other incredible dishes. All dishes were beautifully presented and delicious, I was far too excited to eat it so no photos taken.

We booked a meal here as part of our wedding anniversary this year, while staying near Hay. The service was excellent with good attention given to our dietary requests. We both had sea bass which was beautifully cooked and the setting was very relaxed. Thank you.

Had a lovely meal, the service and food was incredible and all went well till about 9:30 when we heard lots of shouting from outside. The owner (I presume?) was shouting at the lovely barman who served us all evening. He then came into the bar and shouted at the 2 other members on the bar using some bad language. I pity the staff who try so hard and they don’t deserve to be treated that way. Ruined our whole night and we won’t be coming back

The quality of the food and service is second to none. The pork loin was superb and the sticky toffee pudding was excellent. We will be back as in my opinion it's one of the best restaurants in Hay. Highly recommended.

En route through mid Wales and our.visit to Hay was made special by a delicious lunch stop. Best silky smooth cauliflower soup and tasty Caesar salad. Husband had lamb loin with veg. All perfectly cooked by a chef with a great palate. Waiting staff efficient and very pleasant. Looking forward to next visit!

We visited the restaurant as a family of four. We were blown away by the food & the service we received. The menu & food was unfussy but cooked to perfection. The ingredients were all locally sourced & tasted amazing. We had such a good meal that we returned for another visit on our last night in Hay. Again there was nothing we could fault. We all agreed it was one of the best restaurants that we have visited in our travels in the UK. It is worth every award they have or will undoubtedly get in the future.

An amazing evening, great service and superb attention to detail. We felt very well looked after. Cheese Souffle to die for! Thank you to James, a fabulous and genuine host. We will be back, both to the River Wye for more fishing, and evenings spent at the Old Black Lion. Fantastic. Call in, you will be so very pleasantly surprised :-) PS I'm not related!!! Just had a great time!

What a beautiful pub! The food was wonderful and the staff were so lovely to us. We were a very large group (we did book beforehand) and they were quick and attentive. It was a wonderful evening

Set in an old pub and retaining a lot of charm; menu was mostly British classics - everything we chose was cooked excellently. Would particularly recommend the salmon starter and the roast lamb main.

Ideal place for a meal. Food was excellent. It was delivered promptly. The staff were all extremely friendly and helpful I would definitely recommend this as a place to visit.

We researched restaurants/pubs in Hay on Wye, The Old Black Lion came up as the most popular. The staff were very friendly and helpful and the food was very good. On the negative side, there wasn't one vegan main course. and just one vegetarian choice,...

Excellent Sunday roast that they easily made gluten free! This is a very nice old pub with a garden in the backyard. The owner was very friendly and good service overall.

Delicious food, clean and cosy and with very welcoming staff. We really enjoyed eveything. Also price was very good. Choose this restaurant for food or for a drink only! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Fabulous lunch and friendly and welcoming staff- the whole experience was first rate- great menu -delicious salmon steak and lamb with mouth watering desserts and excellent coffee-highly recommended

We booked for a special birthday dinner and anniversary treat after excellent on-line reviews. But, although the lamb rump was tasty, the portion size was on the small side. However, the most expensive item on the menu – the steak – was served overcooked and...

Six of us traveled for 10 days within Wales and England. We all agreed, that our dinner at the Old Black Lion was our best meal.

We booked at the last minute, having been disenchanted with the Hay Festival restaurant, & we were fitted in cleverly & willingly to an already full restaurant. And despite their being so busy, we were made so welcome by James, & all the staff, who...

Popped in for a quick drink, the young lad behind the bar was amazing. So welcoming and on the ball with the service, a great asset to any business

Extremely disappointing return visit, having last year had a delicious, if expensive, meal with friends. The setting is a surprise: a traditional, comfortable pub with old-fashioned carpet and wooden beams, but with a menu whose prices would not be blinked at in Pimlico. Service, as...

Absolutely fabulous meal for my Mum’s 70th. The food is so delicious. My Mum was delighted. Staff were lovely too.

I’m all the times I’ve been to Hay on Wye I’ve never visited the Black Lion. What a fabulous pub. Very friendly staff who were very pleasant and informative. The lunch menu was very varied so I chose the Chilli Hot dog . It was...

Great atmosphere and very attentive staff serving the delicious, well cooked food. We will definitely be back and hope the accommodation is as good as the restaurant.

Fabulous- all I can say is definitely recommend for friendly service and great food. We all had Sunday Lunch and was definitely one of the best we’ve had in a long while

Booked a table for 4 and was relieved that there isn't an allocated "time slot" which had been the reason for not returning to a previous haunt. No rush here, just really good food (duck and venison were worth the decision) in great surroundings. Staff...

Extremely friendly owner and staff. Imaginative and freshly prepared food. Friday night has a live jazz band. Booking helpful as this seems to be a very popular destination. Would highly recommend.

Called in for lunch and to feel very welcome. Lovely pub and fantastic food and a great pint of beer

Great experience. Lovely friendly service, charming traditional atmosphere, excellent menu and great food. Had a delicious and memorable dinner. Great smoked salmon and audergine to start. Braised beef shin and Leek & Cheese pudding were really tasty. Definitely best food pub in Hay.

We pre-booked a group of over 20 international visitors. The communication was excellent and the food and service we received was outstanding.

We booked a table for four and stated we would have our dogs with us. Whilst I appreciate that some pubs have specific areas to eat with our canine friends, I don't expect to have less of an experience JUST because we have dogs with...

Just been here for Sunday lunch and the food was really lovely. The apple crumble and custard was so light and nice would deffinately recommend a visit here to anyone staying in the area. If we come back we will deffinatelt be going here again...

Lovely atmosphere and staff, the most delicious, high quality food, which was beautifully presented. The duck was really yummy, as was the cod. Definitely the best place we have eaten in Hay On Wye! We will definitely be back. The goat cheese stater was also...

We loved our evening - jazz in the background, super service. Food was delicious and beautifully presented. We had the duck and the cod and then the rhubarb for pudding - all amazing. Highly recommend.

I have eaten here multiple times with my partner and the high quality food and service has always remains constant. Easy to see that everyone there is hard working and it shows in the great customer experience as well :)

What can I say ! The old black lion 🦁. What lovely pub ! Food is excellent. Always a warm welcome . Jodie is brilliant.. always smiling. Service Is impeccable.. always on the ball looking for the next thing todo ! Nothing is to much...

We had an excellent meal in a completely full restaurant last night. All of the dishes were very imaginative and well presented. Congratulations to the Chef and to Jodie and her colleagues for their very attentive service on such a busy evening - well done...

We booked for 30th December. Myself & my husband arrived to be given a very small table squashed in beside the bar when the whole restaurant was virtually empty. Next we were told that three 'mains' were off plus one starter. Allegedly because 5hey had...

We went to The Old Black lion for our usual Christmas get together with friends. The positives first. Really good staff , friendly and helpful . Good steaks and served with beautiful sauces. The negatives. Not very Festive. Too expensive for what we had. I...

We had an excellent lunch in the Old Black Lion. The warm and cosy restaurant was busy on a weekday but the service was impeccable. There was an impressive attention to detail, from the tableware and glassware, to the trimmings that accompanied our selection of...

We absolutely loved it at The Old Black Lion. From the warm welcome to the cosy fire to the delicious food and the magician barman with great card tricks, the whole experience was great. We liked it so much that we came back the following...

It was a very quiet Monday lunchtime in December but we were warmly welcomed, quickly served and the hot sandwiches and Black Lion ale were tasty and most welcome. Bar area is attractive, toilets clean and tidy. We shall return

Service and good exceptional. A very busy night but nothing too much trouble. Highly recomended. We had mussels which were fantastic. Thankyou so much

Popped in the other day as I was visiting the area with a friend. Great welcome from staff and the menu looked interesting so decided to stay for food. We were soooooo glad as the Winter Vegetable salad was delicious and the Serrano ham with...

I do not want to give a good review as everyone will go there but I have to be fair the meal was brilliant as was the service will be going again we also stayed overnight brilliant again

Well ..a variable experience overall with some great staff compensating for others that we’re just not “tuned in” or maybe it was their first day. Food wise it was OK. They’ve won good food awards three years on the trot and some dishes were more...

We walked right in on a Thursday night - no reservation. We were seated straight away. Watered. Fed. All with a smile... Food is good too...

Superb food served by really friendly staff. A great experience all round. A very cosy ,old style pub with a good selection of drink and food

This is one of our favourite restaurants in Hay. The food is always delicious, and the ambience and staff are lovely. As a result, my partner and I hosted our wedding reception here. The food was out of this world - the chefs catered to...

The food was overly salty and the price too high. I would not recommend this place. The toilets though were very clean.

We thought we would eat lunch in Hay but could find nowhere offering more than snacks as one pub was shut for the day. We had given up and bought a ready meal in Spar. However the lady there told us how to find The...