Stapylton Arms in County Durham

Incredible! Food and service were absolutely spot on. Thoroughly enjoyed our visit. Pub also has a dog friendly area so great if you want to dine with your pups! We all had steaks and they were gorgeous - so good that we’ve booked to come again tomorrow for their steak night! Special mention to Alison and Kirsty who looked after us so well, they were very accommodating and friendly!! And the dogs loved them bringing extra treats ☺️ Thank you and see you again tomorrow!

Visited for a Friday night treat and had a lovely evening. We opted for the wagyu burgers, which were really good, nice and juicy and cooked to perfection. The portions are huge, we both struggled to finish. It’s such a lovely little pub, the staff were really attentive and friendly. Slightly on the pricey side, but you do get what you pay for with some great quality food.

Bank holiday BBQ. Well today the Staps is packed. A DELICIOUS BBQ and a few beer. The car park was given up for additional seating. The food was FANTASTIC as was the family atmosphere.

We visited for over lunch date. Atmosphere, decor and table were fab for a date. The food was divine - we ordered chef’s special cow pie to share. Highly recommended place for a date.

Absolutely amazing food we’ll worth the money , such good quality food , highly recommend. Staff couldn’t be more helpful.

First rate service from a young but well trained staff. Extremely popular so the specials board may be depleted on an evening. Food from both the main menu and the specials board was very good. Fingers crossed they maintain the standard! Highly recommended

We stopped at this pub today as a last minute decision for lunch and were so happy we did! The food was amazing, myself and my husband choose the Wagyu burger with maple cured bacon and chunky chips and the chefs special of salted caramel cheesecake. This is the first time i have found myself clearing a plate of food, even the salad garnish! The quality of the food was apparent, from the moment the plate arrived at the table, we were in food heaven. I truly though the dessert would not be able to complete with the deliciousness of the main but i was wrong. The salted cheesecake was a deconstructed delight with a variety of flavours delicately balanced to perfection. I feel i should mention that service was great and the restaurant ambience/décor provided the ideal atmosphere....but i just want to talk about how stunning the food was and we will definitely be returning soon.

New management GREAT I've been going to The Staps for years. And it has changed management again. The Food is excellent in both short menu throughout the day, the Evening menu and Sunday lunch. Definitely a destination restaurant. Not cheap but if you want cheap there's always Dalton Park. The Bar is reasonably stocked but limited in size.

I decided on slow roast belly pork, what a disaster, it was terrible, tough as old boots, so much so I literally could not get my knife through it and my finger went into a spasam trying to cut into it, staff asked if everything was okay, when I gave a honest answer I was asked if I wanted a steak knife! Shocking, I should have sent it back as it was impossible to eat, but I was with an elderly aunt and didn't want to make a fuss, waiting staff were very pleasant, but why ask if everything is okay then do nothing when it isn't, hence I won't be going back,

We popped in after a walk for Sunday Lunch and it was honestly one of the best I’ve ever had. Lovely service, nice and clean and we all loved the food. Will definitely be back!

We stayed at the Stapylton Arms in one of their Britstops places, I had rung before to confirm they had room and to book a reservation for 4 people, as we had friends meeting us. I explained that we were travelling with 2 miniature poodles and would need a bar table. We arrived around 4.30pm and went into the pub for a drink. We were met by a very friendly atmosphere from the bar staff and local residents and we sampled a couple of very nice local beers. Later that evening we went back into the pub to eat and exactly as requested they had reserved us a table for 4 in the bar area. We had a lovely meal, the menu is nicely set out in different sections, depending on dietary requirements. As we don’t eat meat, I enjoyed the Yorkshire pudding with mash, vegetables and vegan gravy, my husband had the veg burger, our friends had steak and ale pie and a beef burger. The home cooked chips were the biggest we’ve ever seen and I gather they were delicious. We cannot fault the pub, it’s staff, the food, it’s cost or the local residents. We are really pleased we stopped there and hope to go back. Thank you Stapylton arms 😊

Stopped here with a campervan and had a meal and drinks The food was amazing, good everyday classics plus what looked like a well thought out gluten free menu, dairy free options and much more Bear and wine of a good quality

We stopped here for dinner after visiting the Souter Lighthouse, and found a warm welcome and generous portions. Having never seen ‘mince and dumpling’ on a pub menu, we both chose that (one with chips, one with mash) and it was great. Apparently it’s a popular thing round here! Kind of like an exploded cottage pie, with a crispy topped American biscuit/savoury scone. Whatever you want to call it, it was very good. We shared a ginger sponge and custard, as I was a bit full from all that mash, and that was lovely too. It’s the biggest pudding on the menu according to the lady who served us. We shall now roll ourselves out of the pub as it’s quiz night and I don’t think I have the brain left to take part - there’s definitely a food coma incoming.

4 of us went for a walk on Wednesday and then called in to the Stapylton Arms for lunch. We were warned before we ordered that we would have a wait for our food as a party of 17 had just ordered. That was no problem as we weren't in a hurry. We didn't wait as long as we expected and the food was freshly cooked and delicious. Staff were friendly and helpful. We all enjoyed our meal. To be fair we've never had a bad meal there and the staff have always been lovely.

We knew the place was dog friendly, so when we booked over the phone we didn't think to tell them we would be bringing a dog. On arrival, we couldn't sit where our table was due to us having the dog, so they put us in the bar area on a table where there should not have been a table due to room etc. No real explanation from the manageress, just a sour face and a stern "cant go in there" when the young waitress asked her if we could still sit in the original table. Service was rubbish, waited 10 minutes to order a dessert after telling them we want to order a desert. Staff were more interested in chatting to the local clientele than actually making the rest of us feel welcome. Shame really, as the food was good and prices reasonable.

As a party of three we called here on the off chance of lunch. We ere warmly greeted and found the menu to be extensive. However we all independently opted for the corned beef pie, chips and peas. The meals did not disappoint! Fabulous home made pie with plenty of gravy! Lovely atmosphere - it was fairly quiet at lunchtime with locals having a pint. Would certainly return and definitely recommend this pub. The guy behind the bar was friendly and helpful. Thank you.

A lovely country pub. With a cosy atmosphere, roaring fire, local ales, dog friendly, walker friendly and the food is excellent. With a menu catering for vegans, gluten intolerant, meat eaters, children, OAP's and light bites. Its got something for everyone. Go for a walk around the beautifully famous Hawthorn Dene nature reserve, which leads to a secluded beach and then pop in The Stapylton Arms for refreshement afterwards. Highly recommended

We come here regularly for lunch and it is perfect. The food is always 10/10 and it’s dog friendly in the bar and outside. Highly recommend.

My mum and I have just returned from having the most delicious meal at the Stapleton Arms. On entering, we were greeted by Emily who was welcoming and directed us to a lovely table in a cosy corner. We ordered the Corned beef hash pie and the Mince beef & Dumplings which were both absolutely delicious and the portions were very generous. My mum described her dish as “just like my mum used to make”. Fantastic value, wonderful home cooked food and friendly service! Well done to the team! I would highly recommend this wonderful little pub and we will definitely be back on our next visit to Seaham.

The Stapylton Arms had fast become our favourite for lunch and tea. Food is great quality and fresh. Lovely atmosphere and dog friendly. We love popping in. Great options - my favourite are the pizzas and home made chunky chips. They also have gluten free options which are excellent.

What a fantastic pub we were out warking when came across this pub and staff were friendly and food was brilliant. Its was nice to come into a pub full of locals and they were friendly too. Such a nice place to be. We has food and chatted to locals who also made us feel welcome. Will be back

Walk through Hawthorn Dene with my wife and two dogs with the sole intention of a bite to eat and a drink or two. We placed ourselves outside as it was a beautiful day and I went inside to order. The owner and staff were good craic and we ordered two scampi and thick cut chips and mushy peas and salad for my better half. I also ordered fish fingers and petit poi’s for the dogs off the kids menu and explained that to the staff. The meal and service was top drawer and the dogs receive their fish fingers on a plastic plate. The meals were spot on as was the pub itself which is decorated to a high standard and we will definitely be back.

We all came here for the first time after lockdown and it was great, it is great to see that small restaurants have not lost their touches over the lockdown we had the cheese burger, the corned beef pie and pepperoni pizza the meals were amazing and the place was so clean it is a definite must go we highly recommend

Poor Sunday roast. Lacked general seasoning throughout. Turkey incredibly dry. Kids meal delivered with a piping hot plate which took ages to cool down, really wasn't necessary for a four year old. Salt and pepper served in sachets, 3 of each for a full table of 6. Not really good enough for a £12 dinner.Salvaged two points for a good pint of Stella.

We went here as we were out shopping and we came and it was rather quiet but it was a lovely place for a meal and it was absolutely delicious

We were staying nearby at the Kinley Hill Tower and dropped in for a drink and Sunday lunch. The lunch portions were huge and the drink prices were reasonable. Look forward to returning when next in the area.

Vegan curry or chilli is the options for vegans, no soya for coffee either. I had potato skins which came with a salad dressing not vegan! Some staff training needed I think

We’d been planning to visit a restaurant in nearby Seaham but it was closed, then driving home I remembered I’d once had a very nice Christmas meal at this pub so we decided to call in on the off chance and we’re very glad we did. We had the restaurant to ourselves, although the bar next door seemed quite busy. We both went for the steak. There was a little wait for the food which I’m presuming is due to the fact they cook it fresh but when it arrived it was worth the wait. Beautifully cooked to our liking. A pile of proper home made chips and home made onion rings. A lovely jug of sauce of our choice was included free of charge too. We couldn’t fault the meal at all. We also decided to have dessert. My husband had the jam sponge and custard. I opted for the treacle sponge and cream. Again both were delicious. My only slight criticism was the cream came in one of the little tiny jugs meant for pouring into coffee and there just wasn’t enough of it. I could have done with double the amount. My husband was very impressed with the meal at a very reasonable price and is already planning to return

I've been going to the Stapylton Arms for around 5/6 years, since the recent takeover the pub has really moved up a gear. I've recently visited a few times and have enjoyed a meal. The food is the perfect pub food and both me and my girlfriend really enjoyed our sandwhiches. Portion sizing was perfect for me, will definitely be going more often. Staff are very friendly and helpful, not a bad word to say about them. Anyone thinking about going should 100% do so.

Beautifully refurbished pub. The staff and service are second to none, and the food is excellent. Quite possibly the best chips in Co. Durham and

Great food and staff. Only problem with The Stapylton Arms is the seating. I always take my own cushion and I know I’m not the only one. Please don’t ruin a good business for want of better chairs.

Superb food and friendly staff as always. Really lovely pub with log burners in a very pretty village. Thankyou to all concerned.

Waited 20 minutes before we were asked for drinks, told we couldn’t have half the stuff that was on the menu(why advertise things you can’t do?) the rather chubby barman was aggressive when I complained, I will avoid this place and recommend a change of management or a customer service course, 0 out of 5 very disappointing

Had lunch here today, lovely pub warm and cosy with a friendly welcome too.We had lunch and had a mixture of starters all very tasty. Main meals were all excellent huge fish & chips, chicken burger, steak & ale pie, beef roast dinner. Food arrived piping hot and presentation good, homemade chips too absolutely freshly prepared and delicious. We did succumb to spotted dick & custard it was really lovely. Anyone not been here yet get yourself along you won’t be disappointed!! Great lunch had by us all thank you

Having forgotten about the Stapleton Arms despite residing only a few miles away, we decided to dine here on Sat evening. Our decision was made by reading the positive reviews here on Trip Advisor, and in particular seeing another reviewers photograph of the chicken kiev! It has been over 20 years since I visited, and I was pleasantly surprised at the renovation work that has clearly taken place since my last visit. I called to book earlier on in the day suspecting it may be busy later in the evening. Friendly reception from staff upon arrival with order taken promptly. There is a good choice menu serving in my opinion, good honest old fashioned pub meals. There was a wait for the food to arrive, about 25 mins, however this was not an issue. I’d rather wait in the hope that food is being freshly prepared and cooked. I chose the chicken kiev, which I found to be fresh, well cooked and extremely tasty. It was served with a lovely fresh salad, coleslaw and chips. Now the chips, they are absolutely fantastic. I am always disappointed at the chips usually served in pubs, they are either frozen rubbish, badly cooked, or taste of dirty cooking oil, not here though. They were outstanding, fresh tasting and cooked to perfection. I really could not fault what I was personally served.My partner had ordered the black and blue burger, and whilst there are no major criticisms she regretted her choice. She felt that the bun it was served it wasn’t the best, found it to be crumbly and somewhat oversized for the content. The burger is reported to have been very tasty and well cooked, as was the black pudding, however she felt the size of the black pudding was a little too large and overwhelmed the burger. Sadly the onion rings appeared of the frozen variety, and somewhat overshadowed the otherwise fresh ingredients used for the rest of the meal. Overall the food was extremely good, fresh and good quality ingredients used.We would most definitely return in the future and would recommend to others.

Went to their comedy night (monthly) indulged in a magnificent Cheese and onion pie ,served by a charming young lady .great choice of affordable drinks delightful bar staff and the comedy was great too

We went on a recommendation from a work colleague and we were not disappointed. We both had the homemade chicken kiev which was beautiful and the homemade extra thick chips were absolutely gorgeous. We will definitely be back again soon

My wife and I have had Sunday lunch on numerous occasions at the Stapylton Arms and enjoyed their delicious food every time. Nice staff and a lovely pint. Dog friendly in the bar which is handy for us having two Border Collies. We would recommend "The Staps" without hesitation.

Visited here for Sunday lunch. Have been here before and had been disappointed (left a review) but as its close to home we thought we’d give it another try. Our order was taken quickly and we didn’t wait long for the food. So far so good. I was nearly finished my meal, when I moved a large carrot and found a long black hair underneath. Me and my partner have fair hair. As you would expect I couldn’t eat anymore. When the waitress collected our plates I showed her the hair and she said she’d mention it to the chef. We sat for a few minutes expecting someone to come over and apologise. After a few minutes we got up and my partner went to the bar to pay the bill. The waitress never mentioned anything so he asked her what the chef had said. She replied that the chef had said they would try hard for it not to happen again! No apology, nothing. Needless to say we definitely won’t be back.

Paid another visit to Stapylton Arms today with a group of lady friends who had never visited before. As usual lovely friendly welcome,drinks order taken while we viewed menu. Orders taken and meals quickly arrived. We all enjoyed them before going onto ordering desserts which were delicous.

Arrived with our large family group-very friendly welcome, great menu with lots of choice & even a special veggie/gluten free menu. Food was delicious & everyone left very happy. An excellent local village pub - we’ll definitely be back

Went to the local village pub to be met by a very rude land Lady who was very off hand when we tried to order food

Very friendly staff and great service. The food was very good and generous portions. Lovely little village. a gem of a place. The only downside for me was the seating, it felt a little over crowded, squashed together. very nice experience

Just got home after a fantastic meal. Four of us enjoyed every bit of our experience at this place!! Mussels plump and delicious and the Barnsley lamb chops were out of this world. Have family over from oz and they were so impressed. David and his team are so warm and welcoming. You can not go wrong here, honestly

Party of six went on the 9th august ordered meals'one of our party ordered chicken melt she asked if it was spicy and was told no.

Delicious food at very good prices.

Came here by accident. But what a find. We ordered turkey and beef. The meals arrived faster than a bolt of lightning and were nice and hot and tasted delicious, The atmosphere in the pub was relaxed and friendly. Would definitely come back.

We visited for lunch for the first time. It is a lovely little pub in a beautiful village near to a great walk through Hawthorn Dene. There is an extensive a la carte menu and a special lunchtime menu. We chose from the a la carte. My husband had the black pudding stack and declared it amazing. I had a prawn cocktail and it was excellent. Our mains were the Staps burger which was declared the best tasting burger he’d ever had....! and Italian chicken melt. All good, large portions and very reasonable prices. The staff were very friendly and efficient. The only very slight criticism we had is the dining room lacks character for the type of pub it is and chairs uncomfortable. The bar area in contrast is delightful and cosy and if possible this is where I would have preferred to eat.

Visited with friends. Had steamed mussels to die for and fish pie amazing. A little pub out of the way but well worth visiting ahain

Have been a couple of times now and have never been disappointed (apart from the cheesecake having run out)

Have eaten here at lunchtime on a number of occasions and the food has been great. However as a birthday treat, my husband booked a table one evening. I ordered lasagne which arrived looking insipid but it didn’t appear to have any sauce between the lasagne sheets and it was so dry, it was inedible. I did complain to the waitress and was offered a free desert but I’m afraid it wasn’t enough to tempt us back.

Been here twice in the last week, once for a midweek lunch and once for a Sunday lunch. Both times the food has been very good. The menu is varied and caters for most tastes, in our party of four all of us were satisfied with our meals and desserts. I have to say the dessert portions are generous.

A lunchtime visit, the food was 1st class and only a short wait. Only negative was the "canteen" style seating.

Very happy will be back soon. Easy to find and the food was much better than expected in a pub, obviously a good chef!

Visited for Sunday lunch after reading good reviews. We were given the full menu but then after deciding we were told only Sunday roast available, a choice of beef or pork. Everything arrived very quickly after ordering, all on the plate together including a lot of gravy, which would have been better if served separately. The pork was a couple of slices of processed type meat, no crackling, did not seem like it had been carved from a joint of pork. Vegetables were tasty, but again already covered in gravy which is not to everyone's taste. On a plus note the beers and the atmosphere were good. The rest of the menu seemed quite varied so we may return to try something else during the week, but not the best Sunday lunch.

We have visited this pub three times for lunch and on each occasion, the food and service has been excellent. Sandwiches are delicious and my daughter in law had Carbonara which she said was the best she had ever had.

Having had a walk through Hawthorn Dene we decided to call in for lunch. Dogs are allowed in the bar area which is great. Molly our Golden Retriever was made welcome and was given treats and a bowl of water. A lovely ambience and lovely staff.

Visited last Sunday as it’s the nearest food pub to where we live. We were greeted by warm friendly staff. We were shown into the dining area and offered beef, turkey or pork as the meat options. We all had different we were all impressed with our personal choice. Lovely selection of veg and proper Yorkshire’s. Really enjoyed it and will visit again soon.

We booked here for mother’s day. We had eaten here before so knew the food was ok. On arrival we were told our table wasn’t ready, which was fair enough as we’d expected it to be busy. Over thirty minutes later we went and asked how long our table would be, to be told it was ready, just needed setting. The staff behind the bar had been standing chatting, no one had approached us, which made us feel that we’d been overlooked. We went into the restaurant expecting it to be busy and most of the tables were empty so couldn’t understand why we’d been waiting so long. Anyway ordered our food, which came quickly and everyone seemed happy with what they had, apart from the fact that we felt rushed. My sister hadn’t even put her knife and fork down before they started clearing the table. The lady did apologise and said there was no rush but it didn’t seem that way. We left feeling slightly disappointed.

My husband had the Corned Beef pie which he said was great. I had the Vegetarian Platter which was enormous, lots of cheese, salad, chutney etc. The real ale was spot on, HE said. A very pleasant place and the staff are lovely.

Took my mother here for our lunch. Staff were very friendly and attentive. The food was superb and very reasonably priced. Will most certainly be coming back.

My mother and myself have visited this establishment twice in the last week and on both occasions we were really impressed with the food. My mum got the senior citizens 3 course special. Prawn cocktail to start. Fish chips and mushy peas then ginger sponge and custard. Each dish was a good size portion and the food was superb. I had the mixed grill followed by Eton mess. Both were huge portions and excellent quality. The mixed grill was cooked perfectly. The service is great. The place is clean. Excellent value for money. We will definitely be back.

I had steak which was okay but nothing out of the ordinary. This came with chips and nothing else, a few mushrooms or a little salad would have enhanced the meal. I won’t be returning in a hurry

Absolutely delicious food, a lovely pint and great service. The Thursday Steak night is worth attending too.

We visited the Stapleton Arms for the first time last week. And we will certainly be back. Atmosphere, service, food and choice were all first class. And the portions were huge. I am a big eater normally but having seen what other customers received I opted for a "small" Sunday lunch and it was at least as big a normal portions at other places. And tasted great. Highly recommended.

Decided to visit after seeing good reviews and pleased we did. The pub is lovely food good and the little one enjoyed her fish and brownie to go

Went on a Thursday as we heard it gets busy at the weeknds. In a lovely farming village, the pub is warm and cosy. The owners are welcoming and friendly, and the food was excellent. Big meals, all home cooked. Sunday roast looks good but is apparently very popular, so book. Around £9. Lunches looked good too. Will go back and join the walkers around this pretty area and try some more from the menu.

Visited here for the second time after posting an earlier review in October 2018. Sat in the bar area this time and I found it more welcoming than the dining area at the other side of the pub. Ordered the Staps Burger this time - large portion, tasted lovely. One of our party ordered scampi and was asked if they wanted jacket potato or salad. One would think that it would automatically come with a salad of some sort anyway. She asked for jacket potato and that’s exactly how it arrived - dry scampi on its own and a jacket potato. Just 2 items on quite a large plate. No side salad or garnish. She said it tasted fine but it was a bit of a bare looking plate so she won’t be getting it again.

Nice little pub that’s over 170yrs old. It has thankfully not been stripped of its character. The food is nice hearty fayre, I had homemade corned beef pie with chips, mushy peas and gravy and it was delicious! Sunday’s dinners are supposedly fantastic and we’ve made a promise to go back for one x

Staff- lovely and can’t do enough for you Place- relaxing and friendly Food- beautiful Nipping clean :)

The place..very well appointed and very comfortable. supported by a good crowd.

Heard this pub had recently changed hands and decided to pop in on Christmas Eve lunch time, booked a table and received a warm welcome.

Was lucky enough to get late booking for Christmas day. Food great, nice choice of both traditional and modern. Excellent quality and plentiful, cheese board for each person could have served all three. I had Christmas pud which I thought might be too heavy but it was delicious, light and just enough with delicious custard. I think the others might have liked coffee and mints after to finish off but not a criticism. Leisurely meal with one sitting so never felt rushed and had lovely afternoon. Staff very helpful and engaging. One of our party is disabled and uses a Walker, we were in side area off the bar which initially was full of men presumably sent out for a pint pre-Christmas lunch. Explained problem of friend getting through to table and Manageress suggested he go through back of bar, which could have been perilous to bar staffs ankles ! But all survived unscathed. Did not eat for the rest of the day. Planning to book for next year.

Decided to return (Fr i07/12/18) to The Stayplton Arms for lunch previous visit was for Sunday Lunch .

Went today for Sunday lunch with mum. They let her have a small plate which was only £5, they seem to really care about pensioners and were happy to offer it to her. There was more than enough for her, mine was huge. I must admit I was a bit trying today, I was fussy and kept asking for different things but nothing was any bother, still got great smiles and made to feel welcome. When it came to dessert they didn't do smaller portions of spotty dick which again was a large portion, they just brought us two spoons. Really good value for money and staff could have been better.

Recommended to us by friends and overall it was very good.

Had Sunday lunch today and can highly recommend it. My partner and I both had roast beef and it came out very quickly, absolutely piping hot and very large portions. Lots of meat which was very tender and perfectly cooked vegetables and creamy mash - and a huge Yorkshire pudding. We both had desserts which were equally delicious. We will most definitely be back!

Went here today at lunch time with friends. My husband and myself had the senior citizens 3 courses for 9.95. We were not disappointed it was well worth the price. Everything was piping hot and was delicious. Would highly recommend a try. Parsnip and honey soup was absolutely gorgeous. Wouldn't mind the recipe. The staff were lovely and will definitely be going back

I’ve been to this pub countless times over the years, as a child and an adult. From the years when Ken ran the place, to Brian and now the new owners. Visited here again for the first time since the latest ownership, couldn’t fault the food - absolutely superb. All fresh, huge portions. Couldn’t fault the staff either, they couldn’t do enough for us. I’d love to end the review there but having visited this pub many times I can’t help but think back to what it was like beforehand - the atmosphere, the cozy-ness , the character that it had. All that has sadly gone now. Dank, grey plain walls in the restaurant, wood floor throughout - it all creates a sad echo about the place. It used to be such a bustling pub full of warmth and character. It’s unfortunately turned into yet another ‘gastro pub’, with zero atmosphere. That being said, the food is spot on but I don’t know if that’s enough for me to keep going back.

Have been out and about this week with visiting family/friends & have visited a few pub/resturants over the last week. Well they say save the best till last and we are so pleased we did. Booked a table today for Sunday lunch,for 12.45 after looking at reviews. Quiet on arrival but as the saying goes 'a bus load came in after we arrived ( well not actually a bus but lots of customers). A good mix/age range of clients.

Visited at 7 on a Saturday evening and had the dining room to ourselves for a while, but it filled up as the evening went on. We found the menu varied and the vegetarian menu had far more to offer than most places. We chose pie, mixed grill, and veggie Thai curry, and it was all totally delicious, beautifully cooked and piping hot. The service was friendly and efficient, and prices very reasonable. We will look forward to visiting again soon!

Nice pub with very pleasant staff. We had a very good meal after along walk in Hawthorn Dene. Will go again and definitely recommend a visit

Enjoyed the most fantastic vegetarian Sunday lunch at the pub. Couldn't resist the 3 courses, as the food was absolutely delicious - Can't be faulted. Staff & hosts are lovely. Looking forward to our next visit soon.

Visited with husband daughter and two dogs (who were made to feel just as welcome as the people with two nice bowls of water). Firstly, very welcoming friendly staff and really nice atmosphere in a beautifully decorated place. OMG the food... Totally amazing... Ordered lasange which came with all the trimmings a burger which came with chips onion rings and salad and the potato skins all really nice and the price was extremly reasonable. Well done to the staff and management lovely place and we will definitely be back.

Went for a Tuesday lunch for 4 after a walk in close-by Hawthorn dene, what a nice surprise this place was. A warm welcome, friendly staff, good beer, wide choice of food on the menu and great value for money. Seems to have been newly refurbished, and all is working well, great facilities and I imagine this would be good on a night and weekend too Definitely one to recommend as well as the walk in the Dene round the corner.

Our party consisted of 5 adults and 3 children. The service was brilliant and the food was fantastic. Everything tasted fresh and the home made chips were extremely tasty. Good portion sizes and even my husband couldn’t finish the mixed grill. Would highly recommend and would definitely return. The in laws are very critical when eating out and they were also impressed.

I’ve been meaning to try this pub for a while and so pleased I did. I had the parents up for the weekend so decided to go for lunch on Bank Holiday Monday. There was a steady flow of people the whole time we were there with walkers, families and pets. It’s got a lovely little beer garden and dogs are welcome inside and out - I’ll definitely be back with my two. There were 3 real ales on offer which pleased my dad. The meals were fantastic value and very large portions, we all decided on the sandwiches- a Brie and Bacon melt, a BBQ Chicken melt and a Marie rose prawn. We could have just done 2 between us as they came with crisps salad and coleslaw. My parents were very impressed with the senior citizens menu on offer and vowed to go back and try it next time they’re visiting.

Walking into the resturant reminded me of a very stalk village hall .The Sunday lunch was the worst Sunday lunch I have ever had,came to the table swimming in gravy,cabbage,carrots all stewed with no flavour,Yorkshire pudding burnt and lumpy mash,very very disappointed .

After friends told us the Stapleton Arms had been taken over and refreshed we went to try the Sunday lunch. Glad we did we were so full from the size of it we all didn’t finish! Good value for money and well decorated to refresh the pub since the last time it was open.

There were approximately 8 people in the restaurant when we arrived, and we ordered drinks and sat down.

Visited this pub for the first time in years. What a transformation. Sleek modern bistro style while retaining original features like wall labelling and beams. Lovely food, great service. Light, bright and good mix of couples, family and friends, so caters to all. Nice sitting area outside too. Food plentiful, fresh and appetizing. Eating areas restaurant and bar area, lovely decor. A lot of thought has gone into this refurb and will definitely go back soon.

we went to the stapylton arms as my husband had found out it had been reopened went thursday evening. We ordered fish chips and mushy peas, it was cooked to perfection fish nice and thick, chips perfect the best we have tasted for a while. The food was piping hot and served by very cheerful and helpful staff. We will be back to try your Sunday lunch

Great service and fantastic food!! We heard the place was open again and thought we would give it a go. So glad we did, would definitely recommend a stop here!!!!!! We loved it!!!!!

Visited here as a family when it had recently reopened. The issues first started when we were shown to our table. There were 6 of us dining, 2 of us arrived early and we were sat so close to another table that the rest of our party would physically not have been able to get to their seats without the other table leaving their seats. I asked the waitress about this and her response was to laugh and say that the table arrangement ‘didn’t make much sense’. No alternative was offered? We moved the table ourselves closer to the wall however there was still very limited room for the rest of our party to get to their seats and it was obvious it was disturbing the other table. We even overheard them saying that it was not common sense to arrange the room like that. Disappointing considering we’d booked weeks in advance - it certainly made our experience less enjoyable and the experience of the other unfortunate table. It took a long time for the waitress to take our drinks order. Food took over an hour and a half for the main to arrive. In fact, 45 minutes after the food was first ordered the waitress returned saying one of the mains was out of stock. One would expect this kind of information to be communicated much earlier. For home cooked pub food I expect to wait for the food to be cooked from fresh but 45 minutes later and we are having to select alternative dishes? Very poor. Another 45 minutes later at least, we queried where the food was. We had 2 young children in our party and they were becoming very frustrated with having to sit so long and were hungry. We were assured the food would arrive shortly after that. The children’s meals came first however were so hot they had to wait even longer for them to cool down. Again this would usually not be an issue however just added to the frustrations we’d felt especially as they knew the food was for young children. The rest of the food arrived 10 minutes later and was just okay, steak and ale pie was very salty and lots of gristle. My partner had the steak, this was very fatty. Chips were good. We didn’t order dessert as we’d already been there over 2.5hrs for one course. Rather than prolong the bill paying (after waiting for what I’d deem more than a reasonable time) we went to the bar to pay so we could leave. Staff, while friendly, were not equipped to deal with a busy restaurant. Our waitress was very pleasant but did not once ask if we wanted further drinks, did not check how the food was etc, on top of the other issues mentioned. Very disappointed overall and would not return.

Visited the pub early Friday evening, very good atmosphere and very friendly staff. We will be back soon to Sample the food

Great service and food. Love what they have done with the place, excellent choice of beer. Warm and welcoming

This pub has recently opened after a refurbishment. It has been up for sale quite awhile and was recently opened by local villagers. It is now nicely revamped but retains its original character and serves meals early evening. It is back to being a lovely village pub with a great atmosphere in the evening.

We visited the Stapylton Arms for lunch last week with friends who have relations in the village. We understand the pub has recently reopened under new ownership and were interested to see what changes had been made. I'm pleased to say that the old shabby village pub has been replaced by a bright, clean, modern refurbishment, but retaining the comfortable village pub atmosphere, with a good choice of wines and cask ales. As we're of a certain age, we went for the pensioners menu, which I think was available Mon. to Thurs. I had the chicken liver pate, followed by mince and dumplings and veg. with sticky toffee pudding to finish. Three courses for under a tenner, all tasting wonderful, and with very generous portions, served hot, speedily and with a smile. My dining companions were all equally delighted with their food and choice of wine. There was also one or two course options available. I will return !!!

We ate here recently in a large party of over 20 people (adults and children), our food was excellent and beautifully presented, a variety of meals had by all....I myself had the mushroom beignet appetiser which was very tasty followed by the slow roasted lamb shank which was melt in the mouth delicious and served with a great selection of vegetables. The new décor is very attractive and the whole place is immaculate with very attentive and friendly staff, excellent customer service. A gorgeous place to eat and drink in the fabulous village of Hawthorn... can not wait to return again. Thanks and well done to the staff for a very enjoyable experience.

We have been visiting the Stapylton Arms for many years now, and thought we’d have lunch after its major refurbishment under new ownership.