The Black Lion Inn in Staffordshire Moorlands

After a very pleasant hill walking day in the Grindon area with a group of mates, The Black Lion Inn was the perfect ending. This pub is a rare species. It is simply , a welcoming traditional country pub with a soul! Fab ambience, stonework,hospitable staff, excellent food at a very reasonable price and looked after, local craft ales. Close to a perfect 10. Just my opinion.

In a world where is not beyond the wit of man to make things quicker and cheaper, the Black Lion bucks this trend. The food is excellent quality, cooked to perfection, not a microwave meal in sight. The welcome and the service is excellent, the beer fabulous. This what a country pub should. I will become a regular here.

We were staying in Ford and were recommended the Black Lion Inn as somewhere we might like to go to celebrate our 25th wedding Anniversary. We were not disappointed by this charming village pub restaurant. The staff were lovely and looked after us from the moment we arrived. However, we were most impressed by the food - my daughter and I both had the rib eye steak and my wife the fish and chips. All three were excellent. Starters and desserts were also excellent. We would highly recommend this restaurant if you are travelling in the area.

The Black Lion has it all - it’s a proper pub with a darts board, pool table , a good selection of real ales and the food is outstanding . Definitely worth a visit.

Gorgeous little cosy old pub. Friendly staff and delicious food. We had the pork burger and Matt’s chicken. Both were great. The Bakewell pudding was gorgeous. Dog friendly too. Thank you for a lovely evening.

Beautiful spot and the food was homemade and delicious. Great place for families and walkers travelling through the village

Absolutely lovely pub! The food was delicious with lots of choice on the menu, so much so that whilst in the area for 3 nights, we visited for dinner twice. The staff were friendly and made us feel very welcome. Wouldn't hesitate to return if back in the area.

Visited twice in the last 6 weeks following walks up the Mainfold Trail & wanting a local [ish] village pub open at Lunchtime. On both occasions a real friendly welcome upon arrival followed by decent service. We all had on the last occasion a variety of meals - Fish & Chips / Tagine / Pork Belly followed by Guinness Cake / Cheese Board & Ice Cream. All meals well prepared / presented & clean plates returned. There's looks to be a mix of Good Food for some & a variety of Rooms / Games / Quality Ales for locals. The Pub is 'Lived In', nothing fancy but boy I wish it were my local.Thanks for a lovely lunchtime meal, nice pint of Chatsworth Gold & hopefully we'll be back soon.

This is a great pub. In a lovely village, nice & cosy, and with excellent food. We were a family up from London, staying a few miles away, and the Black Lion offered a great menu of outstandingly prepared dishes - way better than the usual pub fare offered by rival establishments in the area. I heartily recommend the Chicken & Leek pie (nothing like the usual bland offerings) and the Bakewell pudding - both superb. Good beer too.

Fabulous food, great service and good value. Never been to the Peak District before, and chose this place on the basis of recommendations on Trip Advisor. So glad we did. It’s a little off the beaten track and you wouldn’t come across it by accident, but it’s definitely worth a visit. We had their scotch egg for starters, roast beef and Sea Bass for mains, and finished with fruit pavlova and Guiness cake. Couldn’t fault any of it - all the food was restaurant quality - if not better. Highly recommend this to any one.

In the Peaks for a holiday and was recommended the Black Lion by locals for unpretentious but elevated food that feels like really, really good home cooking, professionally presented. Lovely menu with a great range of dishes, definitely something for everyone. Salmon with pesto crust and new potatoes, pork belly with tomatoey bean cassoulet and Parmentier potatoes, chicken burger with slaw and siracha mayo, parsley and lovage soup, local cheeses, rhubarb fool with homemade shortbread, chocolate Guinness cake. The chef is also baking the bread, choosing seasonal, local greens and salads, fresh herbs, making ice cream and sorbet etc. Bar and table service were lovely - friendly, efficient and helpful. Highly recommend.

My sister and I stayed here after walking the dragons back near by. We had a wonderful stay. The rooms are comfortable and well appointed. The owners of the pub were lovely, helpful and welcoming and the food was amazing. The village and surrounding area are so beautiful. We would definitely visit again ❤️

What a beautiful, relaxing place to stay. Superb setting as Butterton is just idyllic. The pub/dining area has been sympathetically restored by the current owners to retain the traditional look, full of nooks and crannies and exposed beams. The bedrooms are modern, bright and beautifully kitted out. There is a lovely touch of supplying homemade biscuits, fresh coffee and a superb selection of Clipper drinks in the bedroom. The dinner menu was superb - there was nothing on it that I wouldn’t have been happy to eat and, what we did choose was outstanding. Breakfast too was fantastic. Their homemade oat/yoghurt pots are delicious. Matt and Hannah have made this a very special place. We will definitely return.

We had a lovely evening here very attentive staff, really good food. I had a lovely risotto and all the food we had was good.

Great food, excellent staff, superb service. Could not have asked for anything else. Topped off a great weekend away with friends

Another "spot-on" lunch. Food, beer, ambience, staff and service all excellent. My fifth visit this year, consistently top notch. Superb village pub in a lovely area.

Stayed here ( Room 2 ) Sat & Sun 13/14th. Had an amazing time and we both would highly recommend this beautiful Inn. We were welcomed by a very charming lady who showed us to our room with a brief run down on all the usual details . The room was beautifully presented, spotless with nice toiletries and quality towels. Everything you need including a nice touch of Fresh Milk in a flask & fresh cookies is in the room. In the bar the Ale was exceptional & I was reliably informed by my good lady that the wine was also good too. Service throughout our stay was faultless both Saturday & Sunday. We had dinner both days & our meals tasted as good as they looked. 5 Stars for the Sunday Roast which was amazing. Despite the Inn being absolutely packed on the Sunday the service by all the Staff was 1st class. Have to also mention the fabulous Sunday Breakfast & the very polite chef who chatted to us before feeding us with a quality Full English before we headed off walking. This was a great Birthday weekend made better by The Black Lion. A huge thank you to everyone who played their part. Well done guys.. Obviously we will be returning. Richard & Tracy xx..

Nice food - terribly slow service. Had to ask for menus, had to ask for order to be taken, mains took nearly an hour for 4 people. Had to ask for dessert menu and waited an hour only to find out the chef had misplaced our order. Didn’t bother to stay for desserts as it had been over 2 hours already. Shame really as mains were nice. Wanted to check it out to see if suitable for pre wedding meal. Won’t be returning.

Exceptionally good food including melt in the mouth beef stew with horseradish dumplings, and excellent venison and pork belly dishes. Grapefruit tart and Bakewell tart also delicious and clearly made with love. A very special meal. Loved the green ethos of the place too.

Delicious food and drinks. Slow roast belly pork, celeriac and peakland pithivier and a smaller haddock in beer batter with 3x chips and mushy peas. All cooked beautifully well with excellent service to make this lunchtime a definite 5stars. Great dessert too fill our bellies to the max. Thank you.

Lovely warm cosy pub with log fire going on the range. Stayed here overnight. Great room , newly painted and very clean. Warm cookies especially welcome! We had dinner and breakfast here. Top notch food and great atmosphere. Very friendly staff.

We stayed for one night and it was lovely. Room was a good size and clean- loved the cookies! We ate in the pub and the food and atmosphere was great, really cosy, and the staff very friendly.

A wonderful pub for a weekend away. Warmly welcomed. Walks right from the door. We stayed 2 nights in a cosy comfortable room. We really appreciated the little touches like fair trade and eco-friendly products. The highlight though was the amazing food. Gorgeous dinners and wonderful breakfasts. Thoroughly recommend, would love to go back.

Amazing food, great atmosphere and friendly place to eat, we celebrated my Daughters 40th here, nothing was too much trouble, Hannah decorated the room and table for us and we all thoroughly enjoyed home cooked delicious food ,

Lovely unpretentious pub selling really good local ales. Food was top drawer .We both had the venison and the Bakewell tart and custard. Highly recommend. Lady who served us (.Louise ) both drinks and food was very friendly and efficient

What a gem we discovered! Never been to either the Black Lion or to Butterton before. But what a charming village with the amazing ford and the sweeping views over the valley. It was snowy when we went and quite cold and squally outside, but as soon as we entered the Black Lion we were met with a warm welcome and shown to our amazing room. The room was absolutely perfect in every way. Very newly refurbished and spotlessly clean. The bed was super comfortable and there was even chilled milk in a flask and fresh chocolate cookies for a welcome cuppa. We were celebrating a birthday and Hannah had saved us the perfect table in the pub right by the roaring log fire. The menu is fantastic and we could happily have chosen anything from it. The whole Friday night atmosphere in the pub was lovely - very full of locals and visitors with an extremely happy buzz and chatter. The food was magnificent and all the staff were enthusiastic and friendly and welcoming. Our only regret was that we just had one night and could have easily stayed longer. Breakfast was equally stunning and freshly prepared, in the lovely dining room and after leaving Butterton we enjoyed a fascinating morning exploring Leek then the Roches (in the snow) before wending our way through the beautiful White Peak and back to Sheffield. It was the perfect short stay and we will most definitely be back.

Loved it - warm, friendly welcome, excellent service, log burner & open fire. This place has a great atmosphere and fantastic food. Lovely location, opposite the church, too. The perfect Peak District pub! So good we’re going back tomorrow.

A friendly greeting on entering from both the young lady behind the bar and a local enjoying a pint, we were offered a seat in front of a log fired range, most welcome on a cold February day. A good range of draught beer, Bass plus three varied local ales plus a choice of lagers and cider. There seemed to be something for everyone on the menu and the food was excellent. The presentation was smart and the flavours and cooking first rate

We were staying in Butterton o ly 10 minutes walk from the pub.Excellent food and prompt service. I highly recommend this place and would not hesitate to visit again.

First time there, and I'll be back! Soon. Excellent and interesting food, with a wide range, obviously prepared with care and pride. Meat dishes cover the field (sorry!) from lamb to venison and the "Overnight roasted pork belly" with its trimmings (beautuifully soft and tender it was) : and the veg mains can include the likes of wild mushroom stroganoff, beetroot and tofu burger. Full menu available at lunchtime (not just in the evening) , as well as lighter items such as sandwiches and Scotch Eggs Decent beers, and very good attentive & caring service. It's a lovely comfortable building, pub old-style, and with the efficient Moorlands Connect bus you don't even have to drive home afterwards.

A quirky old inn with a bucket load of charm. It’s not a Premier Inn and being seriously old it has cracks and uneven stairs and gaps in the walls and ceilings but that somehow adds to its charm. Bedroom was comfortable with a decent en-suite but the real win (apart from its peaceful location) is the quality of the food. Ok it’s not fast food but if you like well cooked and presented food there’s a lot to like. There is plenty of locally sourced seasonal produce and a first rate breakfast as well. Loved it.

Had a really lovely meal here with friends last weekend! All our food waws delicious, beautifully presented and with very nice service. Nothing to fault, lots to praise, cannot understand why the place was not packed! Do not hesitate to go and keep this lovely place busy. Wholeheartedly recommend.

Lovely traditional pub with warm welcome. Large car park. Good choice on menu - we had the pork belly and fish and chips . Good portion , well presented and tasted delicious. I succumbed to the apple & raspberry crumble & custard to follow which was scrummy. Several small rooms off main bar all displaying interesting historic items . Loo nice and clean . If your passing pop in for some great food !

Very enjoyable stay. Lovely dinner and breakfast. Staff and Manager very friendly and superb location.

What a wonderful pub in a picture postcard location. Even when phoning ahead the lady was super friendly (you can just tell can’t you when it’s going to be good?) My wife and I (and 3 labradors lol) received a very welcome upon arrival also. We sat near the fire and the wine and real ale was top drawer. The food was to die for, and the chef is clearly very talented and puts everything into each dish. The staff were incredibly attentive throughout. I couldn’t recommend this place enough and hope to return. Thank you everyone, you deserve nothing but success.

What a gem of a find!! A delightful pub in a delightful village in the Peak District. We went on a spectacular walk to Thor's cave beforehand which wasn't far away. The Sunday lunch was delicious and generous portions, cooked to perfection. We couldn't fit in pudding, but they sounded wonderful. Our children loved the darts and pool table. Great that dogs are welcome too. Would highly recommend.

Booked lunch at this lovely pub on the recommendation of our daughter who visited in October. The staff were friendly and helpful, the food was delicious, very dog friendly. It was a great ending to our very wet stay in the Peak District. Great to be in a pub that has retained its history.

Came here to meet friends, having never been here before. Hannah is an amazing hostess and nothing seems to be too much trouble. We had lovely food and great beer. Having lived close to the Peak District for many years and having visited a lot of it, finding this secluded spot with such a great pub was a revelation.

Since our first visit two years ago, my partner and I have visited several times. Today we had the best lunch there. Gorgeous mini bread loaf with caramelised onion butter was amazing as were the sausage roll and Moroccan croquette. The festive themed turkey main dish was exceptional. Service was a masterclass in warm welcoming hosting.

Three of us went for Sunday lunch and the food was outstanding. Roast Beef, Roast Lamb and vegetarian roasts were all very tasty. Scorch Egg starter and Bakewell pudding deserts did not disappoint. A beautiful village setting in the Peak District.

My wife and I stayed overnight at the Black Lion Inn on the 7th. The owners and staff are very friendly and provide exceptional service. Our room was very comfortable and immaculately clean. The food was delicious, locally sourced and home grown. I thoroughly enjoyed the locally sourced organic venison with home grown chard. And my wife's steak was perfectly cooked. There was a fine range of beers and wine all well priced. For breakfast we chose the full English which included local sausage and home grown tomatoes. It was tasty and set us up for the day. Next time we visit the White Peak we will stay there again!

Just superb.... Visited the Black Lion 4 times in 5 days during a recent trip to Butterton.... Service was sooo friendly (as were the locals!) very reasonably priced drinks, and the food (special shout out to the lamb pie, and the chicken butter with Sourdough bread) was fantastic!! Will def be back next time we're in the area!!

We arrived without a booking for the restaurant, but they managed to fit us in, thankfully. The service was good and the food was fantastic. Reasonably priced too. I chose the lamb pie, which was delicious. My husband had the steak. He says the mushroom...

Great food on an extensive menu. Cosy pub, big car park that happily accommodated motor homes overnight. Staff are attentive and friendly. Overall 5* night

We stopped here for an evening meal and as soon as we stepped into the place we loved the traditional, unspoilt feel of the pub. The bar staff were really welcoming and friendly and catered to our needs perfectly. The food was delicious and my...

We stayed for one night and had dinner and breakfast. Our reception was warm and cheerful. The room was exceptionally clean, with a range of thoughtful detail like proper milk in a thermos flask. The bed was comfortable and sleep quality excellent: it was very...

We dined at The Black Lion several times during our stay in Butterton and on each occasion the food was brilliant. A true village pub, quaint and unspoilt, with lovely staff and friendly locals. We will definitely be back next time we are in the...

We can't stop talking about the great time we had at this pub restaurant the other night. The food was fantastic and service excellent. If we lived closer we would visit all the time. Hopefully we will return one day!

Fabulous area, great food with a great menu, the sandwiches were huge at this pub and the barmaid was very attentive and helpful. They also cater for gluten and dairy free so we will be back with our granddaughter another time. We thoroughly enjoyed our...

Had to two Sunday lunches here! Excellent food! Brilliant service! Highly recommended! Roast beef and roast lamb are superb! Staff are lovely and accommodating! Bar is excellent!! Can’t recommend enough! Many thanks

Called in here for lunch on a walk in the Peaks. Very warm welcome on arrival. Lovely beer and great food (we had cheese sandwiches with a side of chips). Proper country pub. Would definitely visit again.

Accidentally stumbled upon the Inn, took a look at the menu, saw that they grow their own salad greens, and decided to give it a try. Everything we ordered was great, and the service very pleasant. One of the best dinners we’ve had in a...

We had dinner here and were positively surprised by the fantastic tasty food. What a culinary delight! The atmosphere in the Inn was great, not least because of the very friendly waitress. An absolute must.

This country pub is a big step up from usual pub food - varied and adventurous menu, lots of vegetarian choices, really talented chef, but it is only marginally more expensive. Good friendly ambiance, family run. Well worth the effort of finding the beautiful village...

The last time we were here was a fairly unremarkable experience, the Sunday lunch being pretty dreadful owing to the awful quality of the beef. Back with friends tonight against my better judgement. Tonight was slightly better, though not quite what you would have expected...

Went to the Black Lion Inn with my wife and 2 friends. We had dinner and stayed overnight with breakfast in the morning. We all had an absolutely fantastic stay. The staff were all really friendly and helpful. Hannah and Matt, the owners were friendly...

Beautiful old pub. The food is sensational, we had the Sunday roast lunch and chose locally sourced beef. It was excellent as were the roast potatoes and veg. We chose the Bakewell pudding as desert and that was incredible as well. Highly recommended

Came here for dinner with friends and wasn’t disappointed. Good selection of real ales and excellent food. The burger and lamb pie were the stand outs. Fantastic service from friendly staff, and a great atmosphere. Lots of people eating and drinking and enjoying themselves. Off...

Don’t judge a book by its cover….the food was delicious with a good range of interesting vegetarian options as well as modern twists on the meaty classics. The new owners are gradually doing this pub up so currently the decor is dated but it’s well...

Food and service were both exceptional as they easily coped with our large group of walkers who had booked for dinner. An excellent range of beers to cater for all tastes, complimented the superbly cooked and presented selection of both starters and mains. One or...

Had a very enjoyable family lunch. Interesting ales, great food, nice friendly service. We felt unrushed and relaxed and had a lovely time. Vegetarians well catered for, and all the food was home made and good portions. Really can’t fault it. Bet it’s nice in...

Fantastic food, atmosphere and service.. really good value with great portions … the place to go for Sunday lunch… you won’t be disappointed!!

Went for a walk locally and raced here for lunch as got lost and pushed for time! Arrived here but bus6 but very relaxed! Friendly staff- owner out front and partner in kitchen and lovely waitress. Ok we only had beef sandwiches and chips but...

We have just had a lovely weekend away at the Black Lion Butterton. The room was really comfortable and had a great shower. Hannah and Matt were superb hosts and made us feel very welcome. Supper and breakfast were delicious. Matt is an excellent cook....

I love this pub. It has the most fabulous location next to the Manifold valley. The food is lovely and so is the beer most of which is locally sourced. We sat out in the sun today and it was glorious.

Amazing place and friendly atmosphere. We came without a booking, but that did not matter as they managed to fit me and my boyfriend in. The table we got was amazing probably bigger than what we needed, but a great table none the less. We...

What an absolute gem... This place is beautifully run. Lovely small touches like the cafetiere with fresh coffee and milk in the bedroom together with home made cookies as a welcome gift. Gorgeous bedroom and bathroom. Fantastically helpful and friendly staff. The food... Oh my...

Sunday lunch with friends in a pub I’ve always had a lot of time for, until today. Difficult to fault the location and the beer but that’s where the praise finishes, other than the fact that dogs are allowed inside. Staff were uninterested in the...

The staff were lovely and welcoming, and the food was amazing. The chefs were able to accommodate my family member who is gluten free, with a wide variety of options. The most beautiful pub in even prettier surroundings. We will definitely be going back.

We had a lovely two night stay. The inn is a cosy 18th century building with open fires and a warm welcome. The food was absolutely fantastic. Great choice of local ales and gins too. We happened to land on a quiz night and we...

Lovely lunch in this traditional Peak District pub with a walk around this picturesque bill. Will be back again soon.

Arrived at 15:40 (food served till 4pm)on Easter Sunday without a booking.. The pub was busy with dinners, we asked if there was any chance of a table and if Sunday lunch was still available? The team were able to sit us in the restaurant...

Lovely country pub, had fabulous food including scotch eggs, lamb pie and belly pork, all excellent and very reasonably priced. Stayed in campervan in car park with lovely views over peak district. Hosts and staff team very friendly, welcoming and accommodating. Definitely recommend.

We had to amend our booking a couple of times and the staff were very accommodating and helpful. Our table for 6 was ready for us on Easter Sunday in a busy but very friendly olde pub. Great decor and feel. The young staff were...

This is the perfect pub. Great selection of beers and gins, and delicious food all made from scratch, especially the lamb shoulder pie! Friendly, efficient staff and an attractive old building.

Fabulous evening enjoying dinner at the Black Lion, Butterton. Our meal was top notch with friendly smart service. Excellent in every way! Thank you.

We stayed in the car park in our van and walked the peaks in the area. On our first day we entered the bar and from that moment we received nothing but excellent hospitality from staff and customers alike. Great atmosphere and to cap it...

Amazing Sunday roast- we had the beef & lamb with huge yorkshire puddings. Generous serving with a good variety of veg. The bar staff were attentive, friendly & informative. Really cozy atmosphere & warm enough with fires on a snowy weekend. Highly recommended for a...

There are few different rooms within this old building. It makes it quite cosy although it was a little chilly where we were (I imagine if they'd have had the fire lit it would have been toasty). The menu is a mix of classic country...

Excellent pub, lovely food, warm welcome and great service. We returned after an enjoyable visit last year and had another great experience. Enjoyed it so much we visited twice this week. Thanks to Emily for the wonderful service. See you next year when we come...

Difficult to fault! Good food at reasonable prices. Friendly and efficient staff. Frequently changing selection of local cask beer. Cosy ambience. Nowhere better to go after walking in the Manifold or Dove Valleys and the surround hills.

Stayed two nights for a winter break, absolutely lovely! Food is great, lots of local ingredients and everything was delicious and freshly cooked. Also, very good value for money - we ended up eating there both nights as it was so good - as was...

Lunch (main course and pud) at The Black Lion was tremendously flavoursome. Relaxing too, none of that ‘we want your table in X mins’ nonsense. Lovely old rambling traditional pub. Good owners. Really enjoyed it.

A wonderful 'proper' pub with newly done-up and simple but tasteful rooms with comfortable beds. Loved the added touch of the cookery books to browse. We enjoyed an evening meal where we found good value and high quality..even better was breakfast; thick streaky bacon with...

Found this hotel for a trip to alton towers. it was pitvh black and was taken down the strangest route by sat nav we was fearing for our lives haha. But we finally found it and itwas not at all as expected inside. Very modern...

Great little pub in the village of Butterton. The staff are all very helpful and the food is fantastic. A visit to the Black Lion Inn is a must

We all had the Christmas menu which was excellent. Will be going again. Ambience was perfect with a open fire keeping us warm on a cold day.

If there is a more welcolming Public house / Restaurant in England, I haven't found it. I called in for a coffee, en route to the funeral of a dear friend, and was sp pleased to be there. I recommend the Bl;ack Lion Inn to...

Lovely pub set in old village of Butterton. The welcome was warm and the food was excellent. The staff helped with a family birthday and made an excellent birthday cake

A group of friends and I rent a cottage nearby to play D&D for a long weekend every now and then. We know of another property nearer Leek that we sometimes rent too, and the group were discussing which of the two properties was best...

Made a brief lunchtime visit, while staying nearby...v pleased that it was dog friendly, good beer choice and tasty food. Impressed at all the eco/sustainability info on display. Would gladly visit again.

Lovely country pub, very accommodating. Fantastic vegan options for both dinner and breakfast which is hard to find in the middle of the Peak District! Will definitely stay again!

We stayed one night, using it as a base for walking in the Manifold valley and Dovedale. The pub is a proper old village pub with wood fires and excellent beer. The chef is outstanding, the rooms clean and welcoming, and the staff very friendly....

We stayed here for one night during our road trip in the peak District. Very comfortable & dog friendly room. Lovely staff & good food. Parking right outside the door. Would definitely stay again.

High quality fresh, locally sourced food, prepared to perfection. Young proprietors friendly, professional and committed to giving guests a wonderful stay. We stayed B&B including delicious breakfasts. The room was very comfortable, with nice touches such as USB charging points, gorgeous soft towels and a...

First time I've been to this pub, but was very impressed, cute pub, staff are very friendly and helpful. Went in with my husband for food Which we had the roast, I had the beef and my husband had the pork. Food was amazing, one...

Black Lion offers 1st Class Accommodation and Dog Friendly. Excellent Food using local produce.. Great menu and of course Breakfast… High level Service by attentive staff. A great weekend stay for me with the dog. Some great walks without driving.

Stayed here finally after our booking from Jan had to be cancelled, due to us having Covid, and we struggled (our schedules) to get another date booked. Really lovely place and the breakfast we had was gorgeous. Charming little quaint old pub but the rooms...

Interesting chef-led menu, excellent quality, good value- absolutely a cut above all the local competitors. This was our second visit. I cannot praise it highly enough

Fabulous village pub, super friendly and helpful staff when we were camping nearby. Great pub food too a lovely place to walk to if you are nearby.