The Black Bull in Scottish Borders

One of the best places to stay in Scotland, went golfing with the lads, owner is a diamond, Staff brilliant, Sophie is a diamond.

We’ve been here a few times now and have thoroughly enjoyed it. My parents live in a village close to Lauder so we often come here when visiting them. Our latest visit was for lunch on Friday 23rd August. The staff are always friendly and welcoming. I also can praise the decor which has the feel of a country pub / farmhouse style about it. Very nice indeed. The food is unpretentious but tasty and high quality. We’ve never had a meal we haven’t enjoyed. The lunch menu is abbreviated from the evening menu, but still enough choice for all tastes. I have no issue recommending this restaurant to anyone who happens to be in Lauder and finds themselves hungry.

Great hotel between Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders for meeting eating or staying. Fabulous decor with locally made furniture and pictures etc. Very interesting and welcoming. Staff were friendly and helpful food very good plentiful and reasonably priced. Extensive menu and goods quality. Toilets immaculate, modern and Molton Brown toiletries very nice. Hope to visit again soon. 😃

From the moment we were greeted by our host to the moment we left and he thanked us for staying with them we could not have asked for a better experience. Top quality accomaftion, lovely restaurant and bar with top quality food and service at a very reasonable price. It's not that far to drive to Edinburghs park and rides so a good base for any trip, We will be returning later this year.

I gained many gold stars for booking this place to stay for a few nights for my family. After arriving during a bit of a parking nightmare with the road being closed for the march - Alan greeted us behind the pub with high energy, Scottish banter and a welcoming manner. The accommodation is superb - attention to detail is amazing and the restaurant (both service and food) was also fab. 11/10.

It was our first visit to the Black Bull. We stayed 1 night to celebrate my wife’s birthday and were very impressed. We received a very friendly welcome from Victoria. The food was excellent. The staff very friendly, efficient and polite. The bedroom was spacious and very comfortable with a large walk-in shower en-suite. The decor was impressive with the unique hand made tables and chairs. We would recommend the Black Bull to everyone passing by in Lauder and we hope certainly to return. Congratulations to all the staff. Regards Ian and Marion Simpson.

Anden besøg dette sted. Første gang for 1 1/2 år siden, den gang kun til middag. Og den husker jeg sim særdeles god. Denne gang både frokost og morgenmad. Altsammen helt igennem velsmagende, flot anrettet og til gode priser. De tager pænt imod gæsterne med både gluten og laktose intolerance.

This is quite a nice little spot, it is just a shame that the owners are such rude & dismissive people. I have been a regular guest for 4 years but will not be returning after my latest encounter with Alan & his wife.

I called at Black Bull for food around 5 .30.pm. Had the fish and chips. The fish was a disgrace. It was a small thin greyish colour. The breadcrumbs were certainly not crispy. The chips, most of the chips were hard. I'm pretty sure neither the fish or chips had been deep fried. Nobody asked if the food was ok. I didn't complain. The best way to complain is to avoid the place. G B. Jedburgh.

Staying close by and wandered in for a drink in the afternoon. Looked at the menu and it looked good so booked for dinner. The Haggis bon bons were lovely as a starter, very tasty. The mains were disappointing. We ordered the chicken curry which came with rice and half of a clearly shop bought nan bread, and the steak pie, which came with a very small portion of 4 carrot batons and 3 small Broccoli florets and a small scoop of mashed potato. Although both the curry and the steak filing were quite tasty, they were both sadly lacking in the meat department. There were just 4 pieces of steak in the pie and 5 pieces of chicken in the curry and yes, we did count them and it really didn't take long. At £16 per meal, this seems a bit steep for what you get. On a plus note, the staff were really nice and the hotel part looks great, just wouldn't eat there again .

We stayed in nearby Thirlestane Castle, which is why we walked to the Black Bull for dinner. The food was quite good and seasoned well. We split the Haggis Bon Bons appetizer, which we would buy again. For my meal, we both had the beef and ale pie which was quite good. Wife has a glass of red wine and I had a pint of ale. The golden pastry top was perfect. I didn’t finish my mashed potatoes, but enjoyed dipping forks of potatoes into the pie’s gravy. For desert we split a sticky toffee pudding which was warm and delicious. We liked it so much, we went back the following evening. Thanks for the great dining experience.

The food and service were absolutely perfect. I had the smoked salmon with crayfish and my partner the tempura prawns then we both had the Balmoral chicken. Every dish was faultless, beautifully presented and tasted amazing. The staff were attentive and welcoming. Thoroughly recommend.

We were travelling, following the N250 route and we were going to stay in Berwick but there was no where nice to stay, so we looked at local places and came across the black bull. Well we found a true gem of place to stay! The landlady was wonderful, really welcoming and ever so friendly. The bar had some friendly locals and the staff were all lovely. The evening meal was home cooked and delicious!! The rooms have been newly refurbished and was the nicest room we have stayed in on our week road trip. The breakfast was also lush and the black pudding was lovely!! Mmmmm :) I would highly recommend this pub, restaurant and hotel and we will definitely scone and stay again when we are up this way.

We had passed a few times and decided to go in for lunch. The staff were very friendly and professional. The food when it came was beautifully presented and looked delicious. We had the burger, lasagne, fish and curry. Everything was amazing. Really decent sized portions too. Our only regret is that we didn’t visit sooner. Will definitely be back. Thank you for a lovely lunch.

I'm not sure whether this is an old coaching inn, but it looks like it from the outside and is on an old main road, so may have been. To that extent, we chose it for its location, as a stopover on our journey to and from the Cairngorms. We congratulated ourselves on our choice. To get the basics out of the way: the rooms are really well designed and appointed, the beds comfortable and the towels sumptuous. Nonetheless, we found one room far more to our liking than the other (we stayed two nights in the same week). The food was exquisite and the service exemplary. What was also interesting was the décor: the owners have made really imaginative use of wood, leather and metal in the bar, dining areas and guest rooms.

Had excellent soup and the roast beef was excellent with huge Yorkshire pudding and delicious fresh veg, all cooked perfectly - one of the best I've ever had. Cracking apple and winter berry crumble with beautiful custard and ice cream. Bill was also very reasonable. Great surroundings and warm, friendly welcome. Truly lovely experience and we'll definitely return.

Had a really delicious dinner here for my husband's retirement weekend. The food was so good. My husband had the lamb shank which was way too big for him to finish. I had the vegetarian tart with a really fresh mixed salad. The homemade coleslaw was incredible. The staff were really nice and friendly. They actually appeared to be enjoying being there which is always a bonus. We will definitely be back for more if in the area.

Had a lovely stay and dinner here. Staff were incedibly attentive to us. Sam was lovely and even took us outside to direct us where to take our pup for her late night piddle. She was just super and its rare to get such warm and genuine customer service these days. Room was immaculate and place was cosy and welcoming. Food was incredible, had the steak which was cooked to perfection and all the sides were so tasty and complimented the meal perfectly. Only very minor thing I would say is that the outside could use a wee lick of paint and spruce up as it does not do justice to the lovely experience that was had. Hopefully we'll be back one day.

We had a family lunch for my husband’s 60th birthday! In booking I received such a warm welcome and a great choice to pre order our lunch. On arrival we were greeted with friendly staff and had a fabulous lunch. Every one of our 15 guests enjoyed their lunches. Every dish was beautifully presented and so tasty. We all had a variety of dishes with mussels, fish and chips and crumble being the favourites! Thank you so much to all the staff for making the birthday lunch so special.

Well what can I say, we booked an overnight stay having dinner and drinks on a Friday night, we were welcomed by the owner and manager on arrival and showed to our room which was beyond expetations, very roomy and more than adequate for our needs. the beds were luxurious and so comfy! Staff were amazing as always from font of house to management. We love this place. xx

Stayed here august 23, dinner was fantastic, steak to die for staff brill. room immaculate coffee biscuits massive bed

Absolutely amazing experience, 1st Class food & service. Amazing presentation. Very helpful friendly staff. Certainly added to our friendly staff.

Another lovely meal at The Black Bull with family. A firm favourite! Happy to see the pre Christmas menu is oot! Will be booking again.

What a fantastic find. We were on a wee mini tour of the borders in our old camper and decided to book the Black Bull for Saturday dinner. I’m so glad we did this, the food was excellent and the staff were very friendly and helpful. We live in Edinburgh but will definitely travel back to Lauder soon, just to have dinner at The Black Bull.

One of the best meals we have had in a while, attentive service, great choices on the menu, perfect table service, fantastic ambience, it's a shame we don't live closer other wise we would dine here every time, will most definitely return to this fantastic eaterie

We ate here whilst staying overnight and were impressed with the quality of the food and the service was very attentive, Bruce looked after us well. We had three courses and all were excellent, fresh produce, lots of flavour and well executed. Highly recommended!

Four of us dined indoors, all having differing foods from lasagne to fish and chips and steak. Great food presented welll and in lovely surrounding with chatty efficient staff to serve us

Decided to call in to The Black Bull on the spur of the moment. The owners were very friendly and welcoming and squeezed us in for dinner, despite not booking ahead. The decor is high class and the staff are efficient and friendly. The food was wonderful with Sunday roasts on offer and I opted for the duck, which was delicious. There was an option to use the gazebo area to the side of the hotel for alcoholic drinks but we opted for soft drinks with our meal in the main restaurant which had a blazing fire going.Great banter with the owners and lots of laughter. All in all a lovely experience and I can fully recommend a visit.

Tried this place out for the first time on Sunday. Happy to say that was not disappointed. We had not booked but the proprietor was very accommodating, although clearly busy found us a table and after a just a 10 min wait our order was taken. Food was excellent, I had the Lamb wife the Chicken Balmoral, deserts too were lovely. Will definitely be back, thank you.

Went here upon recommendation last week for my partners birthday and wish we’d found this place 3 years ago when we first moved here. What a thoroughly fantastic restaurant. Every food course was superb and there were 4 of us with 4 different choices. The owner/hostess was utterly charming and made us feel so welcome the moment we arrived and the table was especially laid for the birthday girl. We were served by two young ladies and they were both impeccable and perfect. Beautiful restaurant, superb and well priced food, oh and great 70’s and 80’s music playing through the superb Sonos system. Cannot wait to go back

Decided to have my first meal out after the recent lockdown at the Black Bull, Have always been very satisfied with the food and service here and was not disappointed on this occasion. First class on everything, please keep up the good work. Also the owners have got this place looking fabulous

While the Black Bull in Lauder is indeed a very handsome establishment, interesting building, stylishly decorated and with a decent restaurant, the owner-management are nothing short of appalling.The food I had was indeed fair, as was the price, and the service from the staff seemed good. However, the way that I heard the owner-management speak to the staff, in the most demeaning and unprofessional way and for what seemed no apparent reason, was nothing short of bullying and power harassment. The young staff and servers knew their jobs and were doing them well, but it seemed the owners were having a bad day and they took it out on their staff which is indeed power harassment. The shouted and swore at their staff within earshot of customers and it made the whole experience disgusting. My party of four have vowed never to set foot in the Black Bull again and vote with our wallets. I can only hope the young staff tell these bullies where to go and get themselves a better job.Sadly, it also seemed that this establishment may have been breaking rules, as the indoor table near us seemed to be getting served alcoholic beer in non-alcoholic beer bottles. Shame of you for breaking rules and thinking you're above the rules.

have never had a meal in the blackbull before so decided to go today lovely restaurant lovely surroundings and lovely staff we decided to have the fish and chips it was ok but prefer battered fish but the hotel was let down by unruly noisy brats who love to scream and annoy customers, so my advise would be to put all brats in a section of the hotel where they cannot be heard, or go when they are in bed or nursery0r school !

Stayed at this hotel overnight. Excellent accommodation and the evening meal was delicious. We had a lovely cooked breakfast and the staff very helpful and friendly. We will definately go back in the near future.

We were staying at the nearby Thirlestane Castle and enjoyed 2 evening meals here and a breakfast here during our visit to the area. The food is really nice, made with quality ingredients, beautifully cooked and presented. The building itself is also beautifully presented, clean and tastefully decorated with some stunning artwork on the walls.The staff were also so welcoming and friendly, making us and the children very welcome.We had a look at the rooms and they are also well presented and beautifully furnished.As the owners surname suggests they take a lot of pride in running a quality business!Thank you for looking after us we will definitely be back!

Visited for lunch whilst on a day out in the Borders. A warm welcome by the waitress who sat us at a table by the window. The surroundings are lovely with impressive ‘real’ wooden tables. There is also a more informal setting in front of the wood burner for those who maybe just fancy a coffee. There is plenty of space between tables and hand sanitisers at each setting and everything looked spotlessly clean.A good choice on the menu which also caters for vegetarians. We both had a starter and a main, opting for the ‘smaller’ portion which was a deliberate move to leave space for a pudding! The smaller portions are a good idea particularly for those who can’t always manage a full main course. We had the fish and steak pie and both were delicious.We had a very enjoyable experience and were very impressed with the surroundings, service and value for money. The venue also offers accommodation and whilst we were there we took the opportunity to have a look at one of the rooms which was beautifully furnished and spacious.We will definitely return and highly recommend the Black Bull as a great place to visit for a meal.

With the covid regulations we had to eat at 4.30 and the staff were apologetic, but we had 2 excellent meals during our week in the area. The vegetarian dishes were very tasty.

Met up with a pal for lunch. Enjoyed a goats cheese tart & a small chicken curry. Decent prices for menu items & Would recommend both dishes. Service was friendly & informal. Realised when I got home that we weren’t asked for details to track & trace as we were walk ins. Apart from that Covid measures were good.

We visited the Black Bull 4 times last week for lunch and dinner, the food and service was excellent, Allan and his wife are a great couple of hosts ,we would definitely recommend it.

I booked a 2 night with 2 rooms for 4 guys, to explore and ride around the border.We arrived and the rooms were ready and absolutely excellent. Due to covid 19, everything was well worked and very safe.We booked a table for the evening meal, I can only say the food and service was of the highest quality, the following morning the breakfast was again the best quality with excellent service.Thanks to Alan and all the staff, we will be back soon for another lads trip. Bill

Ate dinner here last night with my wife to celebrate our last day of holiday and what a culinary treat it was. The food, drink and service was excellent. Started the meal with Scallops and black pudding, main courses of local sirloin steak and sea bass and finished with desserts of apple crumble and sticky toffee pudding. All courses were cooked to perfection and the local sourced sirloin steak was one of the best I have ever eaten. A small but great choice of wine led us to enjoy a delicious white from Sicily followed by a great single malt from Dufftown. The young ladies running front of house were friendly, efficient and attentive with a good sense of humour. If you get the chance to eat here then please do so.

Had dinner at the Black Bull in Lauder a couple of weeks ago, everything was in place to prevent the spread of covid, tables well spaced and the staff wearing pipe. The atmosphere was great and the food was exceptionally good. Service was brilliant, nothing too much trouble, and the house wine was of superb quality. Will certainly be returning when next in Lauder.

Great to be back, even in these uncertain times. Room was really good, the food and service was again brilliant. Thanks to all the staff for making me feel welcome and safe! Hope to return later!

We were made very welcome by Allan and Mandy at their friendly, family run hotel. The food is great and well priced. The rooms and beds are very comfortable. Great location in the beautiful Scottish Borders. We will be back again.

Stopped for lunch during Covid, well set out with sanitiser on every table. Staff friendly and food and beer was excellent. Our dog was welcome in the bar area. Would definitely return.

Visited here on a Sunday around 1pm with 4 friends. We had travelled up from Manchester to use the bank holiday for wild camping and walking some sections of the Southern Upland Way. We walked from Longformacus to Lauder and onwards to Melrose.We opted to sit outside as the weather was nice, the owner came straight out and welcomed us with menus. He was incredibly hospitable and humorous. Was told, in jest, as we were from England our pints would cost 30p more along with other banter. Between us we had the Lasagne, Steak and Ale Pies and a Burger, along with several pints. The food was great and came to our table within 20 minutes, well presented and just what we were after. Would recommend a visit if you are in the area and hope to visit again.

Thank you for your welcome & Hospitality. I messed my booking up and you still offered acclamation and a credit from my original booking, very kind to me when i was a little stressed . The evening meal and breakfast where fit for a king. I stayed in the family room and had an excellent nights sleep and the bed/ linen where again fit for a king.Will not hesitate to stay agin when up in scotland again. Thanks John

We were staying nearby, and booked up a meal during the recent 'eat out' campaign,This was a first visit here for the 4 of us (adults).We were all of the same opinion..great meals, great service, friendly staff and comfortable and cosy eating area.We all had different meals and every one of us were impressed by our choices.Would certainly pay a return visit when we are back in the area.10/10 from us all.

We are staying in Lauder for a week and made what turned out to be a great decision and came in for a meal on arrival on Saturday. I had haggis bonbons to start and wife had halloumi. This was followed be chicken curry pie and lasagne. All dishes were perfect. So good in fact that we booked for a further 3 nights in the week.We are just visiting for 2nd time, beautiful steak cooked to perfection and chicken breast with a mushroom and white wine sauce, again an excellent meal.Very dog friendly as our 2 boxer dogs were offered a drink before us.We are genuinely looking forward to our next 2 visits

Passing by the village in our camper van and decided to stop for dinner. Best fish and chips ever! Fresh and crispy breadcrumbs and homemade tartare sauce. Lovely sticky toffee pudding to finish. Lovely staff, presentation and place to eat. Will be back

We called in earlier in the week for a drink. Both the locals and owners seemed friendly. We were shown a lovely spot next to the ‘real fire’. We were introduced to a local who had associations with our local area.We returned later in the week for food. Again a lovely warm welcome from the owner who went out of his way to chat to us.My husband had leek and potato soup for his starter. He found it very flavoursome if a little salty. My husband chose steak pie. The beef was nice and tender with light flaked pastry. The carrots and peas went well. I chose lasagne. I would have liked a little more meat in it. However, this was served with ciabatta bread with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. I was in seventh heaven eating this alone. The pie was served with chips which were also delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed the vanilla creme brûlée. My husband was very satisfied with his huge plate of Scottish cheese and biscuits served with fruit.It looked as though the place had been recently refurbished. We loved the dining tables which were made from recycled wood and other material.We were staying locally but I am tempted to return to the area and stay at ‘ The Black Bull’ in one of their rooms.It is certainly worth a visit to soak in the friendly atmosphere and eat there.

Clean lovely decorated rooms owners are lovely people and the staff helpful and efficient. If your around the area this place you want to stay lve only been but will be returning. I wouldn't checkout anywhere else like carfrae the shining comes to mind 😏

We stop by on a regular basis and the food is excellent, never been disappointed Great services and lovely home made soup. Portion sizes are good and prices are very reasonable. Will continue to stop by on our frequent journey through Lauder.

There are some 'traditional' places that are either horribly fake or over-cluttered. This isn't. It is the real thing and it's great. Warm, comfortable, welcoming.Nice open fire (in winter!).Varied menu suited everyone in our large party. Food was well-presented and wholesome. Well worth areturn trip.

We popped in on the way down south and didn't regret it. Had an amazing lunch! While it wasn't obvious from the menu if anything was gluten free, I asked and ended up having a gorgeous burger with gluten free bun. The manager showed us round and we had a look in a couple of bedrooms which looked beautiful. Would definitely stay there if in the area.

Called in on the off chance but wasn't disappointed, the staff were excellent and the food wonderful. The menu was full of surprises and not too expensive but the food was tasty and beautifully presented, the owners were also on hand to chat to. Definitely one to recommend a visit if you are in the area.

No vegetarian choice in lunch menu, grudgingly offered a pie with egg in it. Won’t be back. Very quiet, no one else in.

Met two friends here for Sunday lunch. The restaurant has been renovated since I was last here and it’s really beautiful. Lovely natural wood tables, comfortable seating and nice and cosy. Service was great, with friendly helpful staff who were very efficient. The menu featured various Sunday roast options, along with other choices, a nice selection. I had smoked haddock fish cakes with lime mayo dressing and mango, roast chicken with mealy pudding and veg with roast tatties and a very tasty creamy mustard sauce. Managed to squeeze in chocolate fudge cake and a couple of coffees over relaxed afternoon blethers. Food was perfectly cooked and presented, and delicious. Very impressed. Will definitely stop here again.

We were so lucky to book The Black Bull. What an amazing pub, with the most fabulous sumptuous rooms. I could have stayed forever.I booked online on Christmas Day for a stay on New Year’s Day, and sent an email asking to book a table for a meal. I wasn’t sure if the pub would be open. Mandy was very accommodating, replying very quickly to my question.We arrived late afternoon and were shown to a beautiful bedroom on the ground floor. Furnishings were top quality, so comfortable and such a large room. The bed was so comfortable and a superbly appointed bathroom.Our evening meal was divine, made very special by the lovely French man who served us. (I’m very deaf and not good at picking up names) Breakfast was just as enjoyable and I have to say the owners are just the most hospitable, welcoming people, I have ever come across. Nothing was too much trouble. We so look forward to going back, thank you

We had seen the good reviews on trip advisor and have to say the Sunday lunch we had was fabulous. It was exactly as described on the menu, vegetables were cooked to perfection and the roast beef was delicious. The staff were polite and friendly and the meal was very reasonably priced. A lovely place to eat, did definately recommended.

We chose the Black Bull to visit as a family of four to celebrate a family event. I cannot praise it highly enough. The ambience early on a Friday evening was great, it was busy but service was still fast. The steak was cooked to perfection, and just how I ordered it. The profiteroles were honestly the best I have ever had....covered in a gorgeous hot chocolate sauce. I wouldn’t hesitate to visit again, and probably will!!

We travel regularly up from the South to visit family and reach Lauder at lunch time. We love The Black Bull. It’s friendly, comfortable, warm, great food and most importantly dog friendly. Everytime we have visited we have been made to feel most welcome.

What can I say, brilliant and visited twice. First visit was for Sunday lunch, we both had roast beef which is from a local source. Fantastic value and we were made to feel very welcome. Busy for the time of year but no problem getting a table as we had popped in the day before for a cheeky pint and reserved the table.

Lovely welcome, very friendly. My friend was late but they were very accommodating and allowed us to sit by the fire and wait.

We have eaten here several times now and tried many different dishes between us. The food is excellent and we look forward to returning to the Black Bull. Lovely laid back surroundings. My only gripe would be many locals who think it is acceptable to stand around in groups in the middle of the dining room and have loud conversations, however probably to be expected in a small community.

We stumbled upon The Black Bull by accident, the best accident by far.

De regreso desde las abadías de la frontera a Edimburgo se pasa por el bonito pueblo de Lauder y allí se puede parar para disfrutar de una excelente cena en este restaurante.

Me, my partner, and our dog Bilbo, are staying in Lauder for the first time. We always have a ‘treat night’ on the Wednesday of our annual week in Scotland and tonight we chose the Black Bull.

After a 19 mile hike on the nearby moors, our party of twenty thirsty walkers had to decide on which of the two pubs to go into. We chose the Black Bull. Mistake. Although it was a Saturday early evening and not all that busy, members of our party were repeatedly told that we "were in the way" by the unfriendly manager/landlord. We were a group of well-behaved forty somethings, chatting to each other, as you do in a pub. He stopped a member of his staff halfway through making a coffee for one of the group, saying "we are too busy to be making coffees". No idea what the food or hotel are like, but the signs are not good. I think customers should grant him his wish, and not get in the way of his efficient running of the place.

We were staying in Lauder for 5 nights and ate in the Black Bull on our first night. Food and service was very good so we booked for another night. My meal was very good again but the other main course was overspiced but was changed for something else with no trouble at all. Again, the service was good.Would go again

We made two visits for lunch in the past month. Lunch menu is very limited, but that does not bother me if the food is good. First visit on a Saturday was first class - lovely fish, fresh and flaky and beautifully cooked. The chocolate fondant was spot on and had the WOW factor - result very satisfied customers. Second visit last week was a disappointment - different chef perhaps? Fish was overcooked, burn edges difficult to cut through and more like thin frozen fish. No chocolate dessert which was a pity though icecream and crème brulee very acceptable. On the basis of this visit, it may be some time before we bother returning.

Popped in for lunch....first visit and will definitely be back! Food is incredible!!! Top class!! Very warm welcome....viewed guest rooms which are of a very high standard......exquisite taste with each slightly different. High quality all round....with friendly welcoming owners and staff.

We decided to eat at the Hotel. The best pie I have ever tasted was chicken, leek & haggis. Its not often so many people eat somewhere & everyone is happy with the service & the food. The Black Bull certainly ticked all the boxes. They followed it up with a tasty breakfast before we set off in the morning

Visited here a few times while in Lauder, very friendly, rooms in the hotel are of a very high standard, although we never stayed, the owner showed us around, we did however eat in the restaurant a few times and the food was beautiful, good selection, very reasonably priced but most importantly very delicious.

Travelled from Musselburgh to Lauder and enjoyed a lovely visit to the Black Bull. Had lunch in the Bistro , a fish & chips and a salmon with pesto potatoes- both were absolutely delicious and and beautifully presented. Fantastic hospitality from Alan who showed is round the whole building. The newly refurbished rooms on the ground floor were particularly impressive and we look forward to returning again very soon. We have a special celebration coming up in December, so thinking this would be an ideal venue to celebrate with a birthday meal and an overnight stay in one of those fab rooms! - Tracy & James.

We had a great time at the Black Bull, we were there when the area was having torrential rain and a yellow weather warning had been issued. We have a dog and he was able to eat and drink with us during our stay which was great. As a testament to the cleanliness of the room, our Labrador walked into the glass door of the walk-in shower because it was so clean. Nothing was to much trouble and the staff and owner were great. Allan was always there with his brand of humour which kept us entertained, cheers mate. The food was superb, I can personally recommend the venison burger and the roast beef, my partner is a vegetarian and she informed me that he food was equally great. I wholeheartedly recommend this venue and would gladly stay again.

We came to Lauder as a stopover for another trip and our stay here has been the highlight of our holiday so far. The owner is lovely and a real character and everyone who works at the hotel cannot do enough for you. Food is absolutely delicious and so reasonably priced and the rooms are just stunning. So pleased we booked here and will be coming back!

We were in Lauder for a weekend event at the castle, and had booked a meal at The Black Bull for 50 on the Sunday evening.

Called in here on the os chance of getting a meal and was pleasantly suprised with hte quality of the food and the friendlyness of the staff

We arrived into Lauder exhausted, thirsty and tired - the Black Bull was weary walker and dog friendly with a convivial atmosphere. We enjoyed a libation, left to get cleaned up a returned for dinner. The food is excellent as was the service and they were happy to have two dogs (asleep) under the table. This is a properly dog friendly place. We loved it and will be back.

Good food. Good drink. Good service. Definitely worth a visit. Main dining room is a bit tired but the food and service make up for it.

Another week in the Scottish Borders saw me visit the Black Bull in Lauder. Concerns about the car parking were short lived (I have a van) as there was access around a few back streets to get to the car park.

Wonderful hotel and restaurant. Every attention to detail in the rooms!!Staff very friendly and helpful. Very much a must stay if in the area. Quaint town.

Stayed overnight during a long weekend. From the moment we arrived the staff and owners were very attentive, extemely friendly, and perfectly helpful. We dined in the restaurant and the food was absolutely first class, and incredibly good value! I hope nobody steals their chef!! Star worthy!

We stayed five days in Lauder at the Thirlestane Castle. We ate at the Black Bull every night. It was our favorite time of every evening. Great food and staff. We loved Clark the manager and The owner was so great he even gave my husband a shirt! We would highly recommend and we'll return again in the future.

We had a fantastic meal at the Black Bull. It was going through some renovations in the back, but completely unnoticed. The most important things about a restaurant it scored maximum on - great food and great service. My wife said the peas were the best ever, and i absolutely loved the Haggis bon bons. Not a single starter, main or dessert was less than 5 out of 5.....all either best ever or close to. Well done chef. The service from a polite, well trained, authentic team was top class. A must visit, we never had time to go back to sadly.

Disappointed on our first visit.

Would definitely recommend the black bull the hosts ‘Manuel’ and wife run the place well. We loved our room 12 but on our next visit we are looking forward to stay in one of the new rooms on ground floor No expense has been spared from the linen to the modern bathroom Eat in the restaurant the service and food are great

We ate lunch and dinner here. Both were excellent. The lunch soup was delicious and at dinner we all had something different so we could taste various things.

Passed this restaurant on the way home from Edinburgh and decided to stop for dinner. The restaurant is decorated lovely and tables are nicely spaced, I ordered the steak pie and my boyfriend had the cheese burger, the food was lovely but my only two comments would be

Made to feel most welcome. Both Mandy and Alan proved to be exceptional hosts and food was excellent quality and value. Would not hesitate to return.

Lovely food. I had the King Prawn linguine partner had the home made lasagne. Deserts were exceptional. Alan, Mandy and staff were professional but friendly and very welcoming Would not hesitate to return, had a very pleasant evening.

Awesome visit - ate in the restaurant as part of hotel stay - the haggis bon bons are a must and my steak was the best I’ve had in a long time. My colleague ate the steak and ale pie and looked very pleased indeed!

Stayed over the Easter break. Room was terrible as pic"s show. Damaged walls in bedroom. Huge burst wall panel in bedroom. Rusty and sharp edged radiator, bathroom walls full of mold/damp.

An impromptu meal and drinks at The Black Bull, was the perfect way to spend the afternoon following a hike around the Lauder area of the beautiful Scottish borders.

Ended up in Lauder on a Friday evening. Went to The Black Bull for some food and this turned out to be a very nice meal with great quality meat for a decent price. Good service and a relaxed atmosphere. Excellent rating due to the combination of all of these.

Thank you Black Bull for a hassle-free, comfortable, friendly stay and delicious dinner and breakfast. My wife, two teen girls and I had a family room that was the perfect stop-off for our road trip to the Scottish Highlands. We’ll stop again next time!

my partner were up in Scotland for a few days and i went for food 2 nights running as food was that good, the beer wasn't bad either,the staff were very friendly and helpful, as was Alan the owner who gave us a tour of some of the rooms , they looked fantastic and well worth a stay.

We live in and work in Edinburgh and occasionally just randomly pick somewhere out of the city to go to for lunch. We don't go with reviews but just decide on a place and try it out (irony understood that I am compelled to write this) . So yesterday we plumped for the Black Bull in Lauder. From the outside it looks like any other country town hotel. It didn't look terribly inviting. Mind you it was a dreach March day so everywhere looked a bit dull. It was a really lovely surprise that it was so comfortable and cosy inside with nice decor and wood burning stoves. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. The food really was far better that our expectations. Typical pub grub yes but hot, tasty and plentiful. The surprise was the price of drinks. It was very inexpensive. We will be back again and again because we really liked this random find.

Had two lovely meals at The Black Bull, Lauder. Vegetarian option of sweet potato and coriander cake was delicious as was the venison burger the night before. Highly recommend .