The Black Horse at Ireland in Central Bedfordshire

Lovely meal shame one of the staff so rude got to say the rest of staff lovely . Hope it's a one off. Been several times with friend who loves the place as do I so will put it down as a one off

It's quite a drive out for us (35 mins) but we'll worth the effort. We're never disappointed.

Excellent Sunday lunch with very efficient & friendly service the food was really tasty . Overall an outstanding experience & looking forward to returning.

Me and my wife stayed overnight in one of the chalets and had Sunday dinner there. We found it to be a lovely little quiet place to stay and found all the staff really kind and attentive. The food was good and as for the service charge I see some people complain about I would suggest a McDonald’s in the future as nearly all places add a service charge nowadays which is always optional and I never have issue with tipping staff that worked hard for it. Would definitely go again.

Outstanding!! From beginning to end . A warm welcome from an attentive gentleman . The food was served promptly despite every table being occupied . I was given a birthday card at the beginning of the meal which was lovely . The food was amazing . I recommend the Salmon starter - Devine . Both myself and my husband thoroughly injured all the food and our time here . The berrymocktail was delicious and beautiful and cost less than £4! All the waitresses was attentive and lovely !! Definitely returning and highly recommend . Oh and I was surprised with a happy birthday slate !!

Really disappointed. Went with friends for a birthday celebration, had to queue 10 minutes to get seated. Waitress who took our drinks order had no knowledge of low alcohol drinks said she wasn’t old enough to drink so didn’t know. Four of us had lamb which was difficult to cut and chew. Have been before and really liked it but this was not a good experience

Superb as ever. Front of house was welcoming and friendly. Sunday roast was excellent as usual and I had a great birthday. Card from staff and happy birthday plate where nice touches. We'll done guys you work really hard to make that place what it is.

Great food and very attentive staff. We will be back. Thanks to all for a fantastic lunch.

Such a shame about the service charge, surely it should be up to the customer to decide wether to give a tip. When questioned the waitress said, and I quote: Well the closer you are to London it is the norm.... I reminded her that London is over 48 miles away, over an hour's drive and this is Bedfordshire!! I run a successful business myself and used to speak highly of this place but now they have lost me as a customer and I won't be recommending to my clients! I can see that I am not the only one complaining about the service charge either, sorry but you are not an upmarket London business like the staff thinks they are. So so disappointing but he ho, enjoy the service charge, you will be losing out on customers 🤷🏻‍♀️

Such a shame about the service charge, surely it should be up to the customer to decide wether to give a tip. When questioned the waitress said, and I quote: Well the closer you are to London it is the norm.... I reminded her that London is over 48 miles away, over an hour's drive and this is Bedfordshire!! I run a successful business myself and used to speak highly of this place but now they have lost me as a customer and I won't be recommending to my clients! I can see that I am not the only one complaining about the service charge either, sorry but you are not an upmarket London business like the staff thinks they are. So so disappointing but he ho, enjoy the service charge, you will be losing out on customers 🤷🏻‍♀️

Four of us went here on a Saturday evening for dinner to celebrate a 60th birthday. As always, the front of house, the service, and the food were all excellent.

The food and atmosphere was absolutely wonderful. Quite the discovery! Will visit again soon.

Good food . Sadly they charge service charge. Not on the menu and it's a con. Won't go there again .

Pleasantly laid out restaurant in a country setting with nicely decorated. Gardens and reasonably sized car park . Olde world style and some outside seating . Food was pretty decent with a reasonable menu and fair prices for the quality of food . Waiting staff were polite. Generally quite a nice lunch and pub , would certainly go again

We have been here many times. The food is excellent the staff are knowledgeable about the menu, helpful and happy. The only thing that stops this being five stars is that you order drinks and coffees and they wait on the counter while staff walk by. We waited fifteen minutes for our first drinks that we could see on the counter. If they put the table number of the tray then any one of the staff could deliver it. I got up to collect them myself only to be told by a waiter that they would bring them to the table. I thought that meant now as we were standing next to them but no she headed off to another part of the restaurant. We probably would have ordered another drink with the meal but as the drinks took so long we didn’t need to. Lastly I prefer the crispy roast potatoes they used to serve the soft ones served now are tasty but who doesn’t like a crispy, fluffy roast potato? Perhaps that’s just me. Having said all this the hot fruit soufflé is amazing and we will be back.

This is our second stay here. 2 rooms, located to the side of the pub. Not sure if the rooms are identical as have stayed in 2, on both occasions. Fabulous bed. Modern bathroom Both exceptionally clean. Good amount of hanging space. Great facilities on offer, including air conditioning…. It was so needed when we visited. Breakfast is a continental style, already present in your room. Yoghurt, fruit, juice, fresh milk, cereals, croissants, butter, jam & cakes. A great sized fridge… big enough for an additional bottle of something if wanted. Coffee machine (although I can never figure it out, even with instructions 🤣) & multiple varieties of tea & coffee to choose from. We had a meal on one evening, the food never disappoints. The staff are welcoming & warm. Shout out to the housekeeper, what a lovely lady she is & what a great job she does. Definitely recommend

Wonderful quality food , cooked to perfection. Exceptional dishes for vegetarians also. Staff are so lovely and very knowledgeable in the dishes they serve. Spotlessly clean and beautifully decorated. Congratulations to the owners in creating a such a special place. You have nailed it.

We've been coming to the Black Horse for very many years and we've never been let down by the quality of the food or the overall experience. Elevated gastro pub food done really well without too much frippery but focussed on really great taste and presentation. I always really enjoy what I have no matter what I order but honestly most times I tend to go for their legendary fish and chips! Staff are always very welcoming and friendly and very attentive. We really enjoy our experiences here and will continue to come for many years!

Had a three course meal last night three of us and i must say each course a delight Most outstanding for me was the octipus salad with a delicious mango and lime sauce The summer fruits souffle was also excellent All in all a wonderful meal .Felicitations au chef ! Definitivement a recommander Danielle

Our favourite restaurant by far! The setting is beautiful and the food and service are faultless, every time. We moved to the area just over 2 years ago and have eaten here probably 20 times or more. We have tried other highly recommended restaurants but none beat The Black Horse, hence why we return here time after time. Very few restaurants manage to maintain this consistency of quality. Bravo!

Went here for a Sunday Roast as it was recommended to us. The staff greeted us in a friendly hospitable manner. Very welcoming and happy. Lovely inside, great atmosphere and great food. Food was quick to arrive and nice and hot. We would definitely go back again. 5 stars.

We visited for our mums 90th birthday lunch and the visit was lovely from beginning to end. The staff couldn’t be more attentive and helpful. The food was delicious , good choices, well cooked, and very good portion sizes, including child portions for those with smaller appetites. The atmosphere was lovely, the other customers friendly too. The flowers and garden well maintained which added to atmosphere. Thank you to all the staff who made our mums lunch so special. If you are looking for a lovely restaurant for any special occasion , good tasting food and great customer service, I would definitely recommend.

Amazing food, lovely location. We felt the pricing was reasonable for the quality of food. The only thing letting our experience down was the serving staff. Not very attentive would be my overall summary. We waited 20 minutes after receiving drinks before someone took a food order, or engaged with us. In this time one member of staff commented to another that we must be desperate to order, whilst not taking our order or engaging with us. We waited another 5 minutes before someone took our order. The food was amazing, really fresh and well cooked. Portion sizes where very large. Overall a fantastic, local, restaurant. Hopefully our experience with the serving team is a one off.

Used as a base for a few days whikst in the areea. There are just two rooms outside the main restuarant. Rooms were comfortable and very well equiped with all you need and good value for the money at £94 Breakfast was basic continental but thus the price with juice, coffee machine, cereal yogurt, crossiant and muffin. Bed was comfortable and skylight if you wake early and a few spiders web hung from the ceiling The restuarant is their main focus as welcome was luke warm as we arrived later around 7:30pm We never ate here but food looked good and it was very busy. I would certainly give it a thums up though.

It's nice.... But they insist on charging 10% extra as a tip, not discussed, not notified before hand, just an unpleasant end to a nice evening. Disgusting practices! I'm happy to tip as it is my choice.

Stunning location amazing food brillaint service I will definitely be back, if you're around please go you won't be disappointed.

Haven't visited for several years but had a gift voucher to use and will definitely be back. Very good food, nice atmosphere - busy but not too noisy, very clean, excellent staff and service. Reasonably priced too. Did not use the hotel, only restaurant.

Overall really disappointed. Booked for Saturday lunch for my family at 1.45pm. I called in advance to let them know we would be running 10 mins late (I have a 6 month daughter who needed to be put down for a nap before we entered) I didn’t want her crying through the restaurant and to bother other people while they were eating. When we got there, my family were told at the door they would have to order within the next few minutes as the kitchen closed at 2pm. It says nothing on the website, or the confirmation of booking that the restaurant or kitchen closes at 2pm. In actual fact, it says on their website that lunch is served until 2.15pm so we really would have had time to browse the menu and order calmly! However, the compere and kitchen manager (Matthew) didn’t seem to be patient, he wasn’t initially empathetic and ultimately rushed my parents, to the point they felt they wanted to go elsewhere. Really disappointed as this is our local, we are new to this area, we were so excited to try out. I would recommend that the restaurant states clearly on their website & on the booking system that their kitchen closes at 2pm. Also to add this as a note on the automated booking confirmation email. I’m adamant to visit this place again, in hope that the food and most importantly the welcome at the door is better!!

The starter soup was nice, but the main course was so small. We really should have been advised to order sides.

Good quality food, though could have done with a bit more. Service was very good. However thought that the meal was on the expensive side. Also, didn't like the fact that the tip is already included on the bill. Yes could have asked to reduce the amount, but that would be an embarrassment to both myself and the waitress.

Red shrimp broth was quite exceptional in its depth of flavour

This is a fabulous restaurant and the food is amazing, I would highly recommend if you want to eat to find somewhere special , I will be back again

I wanted to eat the whole menu.

Service was good. The wait staff made a few mistakes but were very friendly, so wasnt really fussed. portions were very small and overpriced. Ended up having a Chinese few hours later

Comfortable, smart surroundings, very good service, excellent and delicious food. They have rooms but we only went for a meal

Excellent restaurant in a remote village. Has its own car park although spaces are limited. Good choice of meals and some vegetarian options.

Myself and my partner had an incredible meal here today. Upmarket food with a fabulous prompt service. The staff couldn't do enough for you. It was honestly the best meal we have had in here. We would high recommend you using this restaurant. Needless to say there a gluten free options due to my intolerance.

We just had dinner here and it was so delicious. My Dad is very hard to please and thought the food was excellent. Will definitely be back.

Once again the perfect venue. Staff alway polite and very welcoming. Food as always excellent, and the place itself, perfect. Strongly recommend you give it a try. A real cut above.

An impeccable pub and restaurant, excellent food served by friendly and very efficient staff. The specials were extremely good and the Tomahawk Pork Chop huge and delicious. The perfect lunch.

Excellent food, second to none service, great ambience.

Really excellent food and service as with every time we've attended. Making adaptations for pregnancy and as usual a delightful seasonal menu this time being spring.

Lovely old country pub/restaurant in Ireland. Enjoyed a fabulous birthday meal with family. Great food, excellent service and beautiful location 👌

We stayed at The Black Horse in one of the chalets whilst visiting family. We arrived in the evening and received a very warm welcome from all the front of house staff. The chalet was small but had everything we needed. Very clean, modern & comfortable. Lovely little touches such as remote control for the skylight blind. The included breakfast was continental & left in the chalet for us both mornings. An amazing aray of pastries & muffins, fresh fruit & cereals. Best choice of hot drinks that we have ever come across, range of teabags, coffee & hot chocolate. The bed was extremely comfortable & with underfloor floor heating, a heated towel rail in the bathroom & a remote controlled air conditioning/heating unit we were very cosy & warm. Two very good night's sleep! We booked a table in the restaurant for our arrival on the first night. The staff were very friendly & professional and we received first class treatment from everyone. We had three courses & each course was absolutely delicious. The restaurant was very busy but the attention from staff was spot on & the ambiance was perfect. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay & eating experience here & would definitely recommend. Thank you to the owners & all staff at the Black Horse. We will return!

My favourite restaurant. Excellent food, service and surroundings.

Absolutely brilliant experience, service was amazing and the food and drink was perfect. Great menu and atmosphere.

A lovely public house located in the countryside. I stayed here overnight for business and was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant was full and I was lucky to get a table as I had not booked. The food was fantastic and the service was perfect, not over the top checking if you were ok, just the right amount. The car park is vast and set back from the accommodation at the back of the building. The accommodation is quaint from the outside and full of creature comforts when inside. Immaculately clean and all aspects of the perfect stay covered. A continental breakfast is provided and I had enough food to take with me on my onward journey to have for lunch. I would definitely recommend this pub and it's accommodation.

We visited for Mother’s Day and it was absolutely fabulous from start to finish. We received a wonderful welcome, the restaurant was beautifully decorated for Mother’s Day, the service was spot on and the food was perfect. We all ordered different things and it was all delicious and beautifully presented. And to top it off the mothers received a lovely gift! It was truly the best meal we have had in a long time and we’ll certainly return.

Had Mothers Day Lunch here. The service and food was excellent even though they were very busy. Highly recommend.

We visited for a joint Mother’s Day and Wedding Anniversary dinner. As expected, it was a set menu but there was still plenty of choice and the quality was amazing. Being a busy time, we thought we may get rushed through as has happened at other places in previous years but we had nothing of the sort. Whilst the staff were attentive, they gave us plenty of time a space to enjoy our evening and the great food. We were allegedly sitting on “the best table” and have to say, it was excellent. Roast beef cooked to perfection (if like me, you like it pink) and the pudding was amazing

Had a really lovely meal at The Black Horse. Recommend the pie 🥧

I didn't see the rooms, but if the pub/restaurant is anything to go by they're spectacular. Wonderful, friendly, jovial and helpful staff and food that is out of this world. The Black Horse is a must visit if you're in the area.

Although I have been an occasional restaurant customer, that's my five star assessment (and yes you can also just pop in for a drink) I was unfortunate to have had an electrical problem with my car as I was passing, I live locally. I decided that parking up in the Black Horse was a good idea, the car had already come to a stop a couple of times. My intention was to evaluate the problem, and decide what to do. With the thought that I may have to abandon the car in the car park, I briefly told the staff my problem, and was immediately offered a pint "on us". I logged on to their WiFi (there is absolutely no phone reception) did my stuff and left half an hour later, much happier and warmed by the consideration of the staff. Use the Black Horse if you can, it's worth it.

Superb!! We visited with family to celebrate a big birthday and a silver wedding anniversary. We arrived and were seated promptly, where we found birthday and anniversary cards waiting for us on the table, which was a nice touch. All the staff were polite and knowledgeable with regards to the menu and were able to answer any questions relating to it. We all chose the roast, the food was outstanding, fresh, piping hot and the presentation was lovely. Everyone cleared their plates! We then ordered desserts and again, we couldn’t fault anything we ordered. We finished up with coffees all round, and everyone on our table complimented the coffees, they were piping hot, smooth and creamy. Sometimes the coffees at restaurants can be bitter and lukewarm, I’d go again just for the coffee tbh!! It was a very busy service and despite this, the staff remained efficient, unflustered and helpful throughout. It’s clear that the standard of service is not compromised and all staff could work well under pressure. Even when a group of customers arrived but hadn’t booked, the member of staff who spoke to them was so informative, polite, and although apologised explaining that they didn’t have space for them on this occasion as they hadn’t booked, he took the time to chat with them and recommended other local places that they could try for a ‘walk in’ meal. So much more personal, than a, “sorry we’re full, you need to book” response! I would highly recommend a visit to this lovely restaurant, but would suggest you book if it’s at the weekend. Well done to all the service staff, chefs, bar staff, managers etc etc, this was 10/10 from the moment we arrived until the moment we left! It’s so refreshing to visit somewhere that genuinely cares about the customer experience! Thank you for helping to end our special celebratory weekend on such a high and positive experience!

As always, an amazing meal with great service, welcoming staff and lovely food

Recently went for Sunday lunch, first time visit. The staff were so lovely and friendly, service was top notch. Food and drinks were amazing - so pleased with the roast beef. Atmosphere was great, very cosy. Would definitely return again, thank you!

My partner and I dined here this afternoon. I had the roast beef and my partner (doesn’t do vegetables) had the Burger. We both really enjoyed the food, the deserts were amazing, we had the lemon crème brûlée and the strawberry soufflé. The Service was excellent, not been for a while but will definitely be returning in the near future.

Having been dining here for almost 20 years and have always had a lovely meal and enjoyed eating here. Very welcoming host Darren and Matthew always very friendly and professional. A great team of staff. Lovely birthday lunch and nothing was too much trouble. Lovely atmosphere and good service as always. Crab Tian was lovely and my friend has whipped goats cheese tart which she said was really good. Roast lamb was great, large portion with good vegetables and my friend had the nut roast which they enjoyed. Nice orange creme brulee and we both had an after dinner drink. A great birthday lunch, served by great staff and this is why I come back time and time again. Thank you for a very enjoyable lunch

I visited The Black Horse with my son, his partner and his two children last Sunday the 28th January to celebrate the birth of their second son - we were all really looking forward to having dinner out and the experience was awful. My son’s roast lamb was completely inedible, he could not cut it and the cut of meat looked awful, after complaining he decided to ask for what his partner and I had, the chicken supreme as he was starving by then. The chicken meals were not amazing either, my husband and my son could have cooked it better! After some time somebody did come to my son to apologise and mentioned that a couple of customers had complained that the cuts of lamb were poor,no refund was offered. After looking at other reviews it appears that it isn’t unusual for the lamb to be poor and inedible and I advise prospective customers to avoid it as the problem does not seem to be being addressed. Obviously we will not be returning.

Beautiful food, friendly and attentive service (including actively taking the need for gluten-free food seriously when notified), and a relaxed, cosy setting.

Love this resturant they always welcome you with a smile. Food and service always amazing would definitely recommend

Excellent food and warm and friendly welcome

Three of us visited in December for Christmas lunch. Food as always was lovely, staff were attentive and service here is always exceptional.

Had 3 course Christmas dinner turkey for main was lovely dessert sticky toffee pud again gorgeous the starter was awful said caramalised onion tart was more like a flat square of soggy pastry covered in soggy onions! Staff were lovely very polite helpful and welcoming shame about the starter but lovely christmas atmosphere

Had a family meal there this Sunday and was very impressed with the food and the service very clean and I will definitely be back

Good apart from to many swimmers in the summer.? 🤪.

Went for Christmas meal. All good up to desert. The tiramisu had about 10 times too much choclate powder on it which spoiled what else was a well cooked and tasty meal.

Evening meal was OK apart from the over cooked chips. Service is exceptional. Value for money a little on the high side. The room (No2) was cosy and well equipped. The continental breakfast in room was very good. Very comfy bed. Only minor issues were, numerous cobwebs in bathroom especially behind door when closed. Room fridge was very noisy. Apart from that a lovely place to stay. Thank you

The staff are lovely and friendly and the food is amazing

A great place, with lovely staff & fabulous food! The gluten free choices are amazing, they have really increased the choices on offer which is fab for me. The maitre d is always friendly & knows the menu inside out. The whole place has a lovely ambience & we will be retuning very soon!

Brilliant gastro pub. Food and beer both on point.

Lovely meal with very attentive staff. Highly recommended.

Always absolutely love coming here. The service is impeccable and food is amazing. Matthew is extremely welcoming and professional, always makes the experience better. All other staff are great too. Thank you.

Starter was good but main course of fish cakes was disappointing and seasonal vegetables as extra were poor pak choi snap peas.

Love this place and always great food and service

Lovely food and excellent service

Cannot praise this highly enough, amazing food ,superb staff, gorgeous setting ,absolutely first class .

Great service very professional and attentive, food was very good quality and quantity- have to say the staff were spot on and professional great evening.

Had sunday lunch here, the lamb was rather poor, so was substituted for beef which was not much better. Both very tough and hard to cut even with the steak knives provided. However the service and customer care was second to none. So we will be returning.

As usual this place never fails To disappoint. Fantastic service and the food is fabulous. Great ambience.

Loved it. Peaceful, great ambiance, n lovely servers

Booked for Sunday lunch as always excellent service and food

What a great little restaurant! Staff were faultless and food was absolutely delicious. Would definitely return.

We are celebrating our wedding anniversary this weekend and booked in for a meal and an overnight stay in one of their rooms. We had a really warm welcome and shown to the room with explanation of the facilities and the in room continental breakfast. We then went through to the restaurant for a drink before dinner. Excellent service, great front of house engaging in conversation and in lovely relaxing surroundings. Now for the food. A great menu selection of specials and a la carte. It was absolutely delicious. Perfect. Really tasty and quality produce cooked to perfection, and served by the lovely friendly and efficient staff. A special touch was an anniversary card on the table from the team and a sweet selection with a happy anniversary message. All in all, a wonderful evening and we look forward to coming back to experience this lovely place again. Thank you Darren and Team.

Restaurant only visit. Super nice atmosphere, cosy and welcoming. Specialising in local produce. Staff were incredible. Lovely romantic and cozy group setting. Can't wait to go again..

We went for a good quiet Sunday lunch. The staff and service was first class. Sarah served us very well with humour. We had the Sunday lunch roasts. The Lamb and Pork were Very Good, and can really recommend them. Generous portions and hot. A Very Good visit and will be coming back. Many thanks to All the staff

Had Sunday lunch with friends,food and service was excellent. Could not fault it.

Fantastic service excellent food great atmosphere. A brilliant dining out experience staff really attentive and made everyone in our group feel special. For the service and food it is the place to go.

Stayed in one of the chalets whilst attending a friend’s party at the Black Horse. Lovely welcome and shown personally to the chalet, everything explained. Very comfy, well appointed. Highly recommended.

It's a beautiful setting. Gorgeously decorated and very comfortable. The staff are so welcoming and friendly. Wonderful service and the food was top quality . We really enjoyed our meals, thank you 😊

visited with family we hadnt seen in a while and it was one of the best meals i've had in a while. Service was amazing and the food even better. I very rarely have 3 course but I couldnt resist today and all were amazing.

Booked this for my son’s birthday What a fantastic place super professional people the food and setting is excellent A must and we will definitely be going again soon.

My wife is allergic to gluten and for once in her culinary experience she was spoilt for choice. The fish and chips were probably the best we have ever had. Nice vibe. Busy on a Wednesday lunchtime which speaks volumes and had to book.

Lovely restaurant, with delicious food and fantastic service. Definitely recommend

Food was average for all of us. The trimmings weren’t fresh for the roast. The nut roast in particular was probably the worst I ever had unfortunately… The Yorkshire pudding was too eggy Expensive for what it is. Was ok to try the place but wouldn’t return.

I enjoyed a lovely evening meal at The Black Horse tonight with some family members. From the moment, we entered the restaurant we were immediately greeted by the pleasant and attentive staff at the restaurant. I can’t really describe what the specifics of the experience were, but I am immediately felt welcome and at ease. The restaurant had a steady flow of customers, but that did not prevent the staff from giving us the suitable level of attention, ensuring a prompt and personal service. This carried on throughout the duration of our visit, and I cannot fault any of the staff. In terms of the food, I personally had the Marinated Heirloom Tomatoes for starters, the Local Rump Of Lamb for main and finished with a Chocolate Ganache. I really enjoyed all three courses, the portion size was good and the quality was excellent. I was particularly impressed with the lamb, cooked to perfection! Would very much recommend and we will be visiting again!

If you want to spoil yourself this is the place to go. Menu covers most budgets but if you're in spoil yourself mode expect to pay around £60 per person. But trust me you won't be disappointed with the food or service. Especially like the special touches like anniversary / birthday card and a little special treat at the end. Its the attention to those little things that keep us going back again and again and again

Lovely old pub restaurant with a good menu choice and excellent service. Will definitely be back again.

We celebrated a family birthday today. The staff we brilliant- attentive and their hilarious humour was on form - such fun people. The food was delicious thank you we had a great time

Very friendly and helpful staff! Stayed in one of the chalets which was pretty and quaint, gets very warm in there though! Easy to find the place and although we don’t eat there the food looked great!