The Blacksmith's Arms Restaurant in York

Went were a drink and something to eat having seen the pub on the Web with reviews. When I parked a lady came out and said they were closed, permanently. Very disappointing as there was no information to suggest otherwise. The Thompson Arms is only operating as a B & B now so there are no pubs in Flaxton.

Cannot recommend a visit to The Blacksmith Arms enough. The minute we went in we were greeted by friendly efficient staff. The food was amazing the steak required no steak knife. The meal from start to finiish and the service was excellent. The desert was to die for. Would recommend it to anyone.

Visited the Blacksmiths Arms for a midweek meal when lockdown had finished and so glad we did. The atmosphere was cosy with a lovely log fire burning in the background. The staff were very friendly and welcoming. Excellent food served in good time, I had sea bass followed by lemon posset and both dishes were delicious. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

First time visiting Blacksmiths Arms. Lovely pub, roaring fire, friendly welcome. All covid regulations in place. Had the chicken and sea bass .. both delicious. Shame we had to leave once we’d eaten up. Looking forward to returning for an overnight stay nxt year

I visited the blacksmiths arms this week with my fiance and was very saddened to hear the devastating news that the previous landlady of the pub is taking it back on soon...... Total shock and utter dissapointment as unfortunately its the same lady that had an horrendous reputation previously and ran the pub into the ground If you see this pub open do yourselves a favour and carry on driving!

This was our first stay in Yorkshire and we had so been looking forward to a traditional Sunday lunch, unfortunately this has to be the worst roast dinner we have ever experienced! There was no menu but we thought that this may be due to the roast being extra special - on arrival we were told that the choices were beef or pork and very shortly after the plates arrived with dried out meat (yes both beef and pork) aunt Bessie potatoes and average selection of veg. We were not told the price and my wife feeling sorry for the owner, decided not to return the food and paid - we were out within 30 minutes and hence opted not to have the desert. Whilst the pub owner said the pub was suffering from Covid, there was no excuse for such terrible food. Fortunately this was the only poor meal out that week and we managed to enjoy some very good Yorkshire fayre.

Lovely evening meal whilst away on work. Very friendly and abiding by all Covid restrictions. The old coach house has a very rustic warm feeling and I’d definitely visit here again. I can highly recommend the mixed grill 👌and the sticky toffee pudding with custard.

We visited here for 2 nights, D and Alan are a lovely couple and were amazing couldn't do enough for us, breakfast was fantastic. Beds lovely and comfy, rooms lovely and clean I would highly recommend

Called in for a meal last night and had a really lovely experience. Food good and hot. Can recommend the ginger sticky pud. The owners were really welcoming and friendly. If you are in the area you will not be disappointed. Hope the local community will support this pub as it would be a shame for the village to lose it.

Travelled to Blacksmith Arms from south coast with young family. Stayed for 2 nights as we were going to flamingo Land. Great base for it as only a 20 minute drive to the theme park. On arrival ‘D’ the landlady met us at the front Door and welcomed us in and showed us up to our room. The room was very clean, comfortable and spacious, perfect for a family of 4. Ate both nights in the B&B, food was fantastic and service was superb. Breakfast in the morning was amazing. Fill out what you want on the form the night before with a time you would like it. So when you came down in the morning it’s pretty much waiting for you. Just brilliant. ‘D’ and Alan are fantastic patrons, we will definitely be back with the kids and will be staying here for sure. Thanks for a great stay.

Staying near Flaxton we decided to visit this pub/restaurant. What lovely food we had, husband very impressed with the quality of the steak and ale pie. I had the apple and blackberry crumble with custard, yummy! The staff were very pleasant and attentive. If in the area again would be happy to visit.

Was with a friend who was taken unwell, on one of hottest days of the year, to ask for some tap water as we didnt have any money as we were cycling. Told by landlady NO and was told to move off the site. Human kindness at its worst.

Nope. Staff and locals are rude and uninviting. Not worth the bother. Lots of lovely pubs in this area.

The opening hours show the venue as permanently closed. However the public house re-opened in November 2019 and is serving a good selection of ales and food. It is open lunchtime and evening every day apart from Wednesday closing slightly earlier on a Sunday.

We were on holiday in the area and were looking for a meal locally and found Blacksmith Arms in the middle of the village. After a period of not being able to eat out we were a bit apprehensive about what we would find but we needn't have worried. The owner of this establishment could not have been more friendly and helpful and we had a great meal. So much so we then went back a further twice and enjoyed great food both times. The owner and staff in this place were so great we came away with the feeling that we had become friends. They have had rough times over the last 4 months and we would really hope that things pick up for them in days to come. If you are in the area we would definitely recommend a visit there. Book ahead though it is not big. Thanks again

Had two takeaway pizzas from the blacksmiths, absolutely fantastic better than any we have had. Loads of filling & lovely & fresh 👍

We have just returned home from an excellent two night stay at The Blacksmith Arms, it is a lovely country pub and restaurant, our stay coincided with a Curry Night, an all you can eat buffet, which was an added bonus, the food was great, there was a real friendly atmosphere. The hosts Alan & Dee, were very welcoming, nothing was to much trouble, both were very obliging. We would highly recommend a stay here. Nice easy distance of York City.Best of luck for the future Dee & Alan.Mr & Mrs Evans

On our recent visit we had a table near to the bar, in the 90 minutes we were there we overheard the landlady D gossiping to the chef about 3 different customers and not in a pleasant way, as we continued to listen we discovered all 3 were actually locals (their bread and butter). How incredibly unprofessional and short sighted of her, she must be on self destruct!? - STAY CLEAR.

Very disappointed. Had a meal for 4 people with drinks to start. The total bill with drinks Just short of £100 a little pricey for portion size and quality of.food.Chips (some) large ones not all not cooked through so half raw. Small portions of salad a (a tablespoon) size and peas were the same. We had rib eye steak, Gammon and 2 x scampi meals.We were asked if I wanted egg or pineapple we said pineapple. This slice of pineapple was charged at a £1 which I was told was shown as extra on the menu. I must be blind as I didn't see this highlighted at all? We mentioned the chips before picking out soft eatable ones. Pineapple and/or egg where weve eaten out over the years is usually served as part of a Gammon meal and not as an extra? 4 desserts we ordered were toffee pudding (recommend) 2 crumbles apple and BlackBerry and a brioche bread and butter pudding (served luke warm) with custard on a cold plate. After mentioning our concerns were told the chef would be told. Another couple also complained whilst we were there their food was cold.To top off our evening I overheard D and the waitress who served is were talking/discussing at the till our raised concern regarding the pineapple charge prior to us leaving. Not very professional in my opinion.Poor value for money won't be returning and wouldn't recommend.

We have lived in the village for 20 years and have always used the blacksmiths arms.It doesn't matter who runs the pub it's always a place for people to meet, eat & drink. Finally it's open again so let's hope the Villagers after wanting the pub to open again support Alan and Dee with all their hard work. There is great food and a warm welcome every time you go in for a drink. Book you place for new year's eve and let's make the village alive again. I don't think anyone will be disappointed!Thank you Alan and Dee and the best of luck going forward into 2020.

Had an excellent Sunday Lunch and relaxed afternoon in the Blacksmith’s Arms last weekend. Our food was fantastic and excellent value for money. The service was good and we received a warm, friendly welcome from the Landlady and Landlord D and Alan. We will be back again... and again... and again.

Went for lunch with my friend on sunday and had a wonderful sunday lunch the waitress was very kind and attentive and the food delicious. Everyone seemed very friendly and there was a lovely atmosphere so I feel a little bemused by the negative review.

Only go here if you don't mind the landlady gossiping about you from behind the bar and being generally unfriendly. A group of 4 of us went in for a couple of beers which started off ok but as the day progressed we were quickly made to feel unwelcome with the landlady standing within earshot talking about us, and not in a nice way. We were not noisy or disruptive but she seemed to take a dislike to us. The pub itself is nice enough hence not just one star but when running a place like this surely your hospitality is paramount and defines you as a business, especially one which is just starting up again. We must have spent around £50 in a couple of hours and would have continued to visit regularly if the landlady was nicer but that's at least £50/week they have lost. Might not sound much but being local we could have spent a lot more over the course of a year and word soon gets around. Won't be going back.

At great welcome from D and Al. The steak pie is amazing and the curry was tasty. It’s great to see the pub is so busy. Definitely need to book during peak times.

Great pub, nice and friendly staff,the food was excellent,the beer garden clean and well kept,dog friendly, ....

I enjoyed the stay for two nights. Great full breakfast and a whole pub to yourself! Unlimited tea and coffee anytime. Convenient stop-over for the nearby golf club and wedding venue. Clean rooms and bathroom. Adequate parking. Considerate owner. B&B only and private saloon bar room.

Owner Claire is fabulous nothing to much trouble the perfect host huge breakfast plus cereals and fruit. Rooms large comfy beds great little kitchen to use with variety of teas coffees and juice plus selection of biscuits. Great location for sandburn hall where we went to a wedding plus great pubs around at reasonable prices to eat to. Definitely A☆ deserved.

Called on Sunday and had an excellent roast dinner, the beef was wonderful. Proper home cooked food with no microwave in sight!! Good beer, friendly welcoming staff and a real log fire - what's not to love??

Excellent food good value for money . Warm and friendly atmosphere. Hunters chicken was the tastiest ever and the pie of the week was enjoyed by himself, his only complaint was it was too hot

Had a great meal with my brother in this perfect pub. first time I have ever had deep fried Black Pudding and it is wonderful. The beer is very well kept.

Stopped here for the trackrod rally at the start of october for two nights. Best steak i've had in a long time, lovely friendly staff. Would recommend to anyone!

Este lugar es inconsistente. Solía ser fantástico, pero mi visita más reciente fue una decepción. El menú había disminuido considerablemente y varias cosas no estaban disponibles. Pedimos carne. Sólo un tipo de salsa de queso azul disponible. Yo quería algo raro y mi marido de tamaño. Cuando vinieron los dos tenían más de hecho. Les envió y después de más de 20 minutos y ambos regresaron bistecs eran casi cruda. Patatas fritas (chips) también tenía frío por perfeccionar esta vez y tuvimos que pedir otras nuevas. Nos dieron una pequeña reducción en la factura, cuando me quejé, pero no para compensar una comida decepcionante.

Disappointing meal for our family of four. Busy Friday evening with skeleton staff. Food was well presented but the plates were cold and the food barely warm. My wife left most of her meal due to this but the waitress did not comment on why the meal had been left. Overall a disappointing dining experience.

Nuestro B&B; recomendado el anfitrión de brazos de herrero como un buen lugar para comer, pero tengo que decir que nos decepcionó. Todo parecía sorprendentemente caro para lo que era en efecto pub grub-aunque la comida era bastante agradable y el personal era amable y acogedor. Es un edificio bonito y tiene un buen ambiente de pub, pero el país textiles son, francamente, sucio. Yo realmente no creo que los clientes deberían sentarse en asientos sucios, con lo que parecía una quemadura de cigarrillo cerca de mí. Tenía carácter, pero sería mejor si se limpiaba.

Siempre hemos estado muy contentos con este hotel acogedor, amable y pub país pero nos decepcionó en general en nuestra visita reciente para la cena. En primer lugar, llegamos a saber que nos íbamos a ser los únicos en el comedor, así que decidimos comer en el bar en donde hay pocos personas para más de un ambiente más amigable. El servicio era rápido, pero las camareras necesitaba saber un poco más sobre la comida que estaban de mantenimiento cuando pregunta. La comida que servían era más almuerzo porción tamaños standard &. Los postres eran mal presentado y demasiado caro. Realmente lo siento pero no será visitar hasta este lugar.

Comimos el viernes por la noche. El pub estaba lleno, con una encantadora chimenea mantenernos cálida y acogedora. Ignoramos la junta interesantes ofertas y tuvimos nuestra habitación 'pescado y patatas fritas y patatas fritas./sobresaliente 'El 'enorme Flaxton Flipper, y bien presentado: cantidades y calidad eran igualados por el sobresaliente.

Fuimos para una cena reservada. Muy pocos personal en el bar, sólo una limpieza/camarera acosadas para toda la pub. Ella llegó como antipático, pero creo que sólo destacó. Las comidas tomó una hora y eran decididamente normalito. El pescado era fresco pero más fritos y el pastel no era genial, con muy hecho judías verdes. Ensalada de carne de monte del marido estaba bueno.

Typical country pub, walked in on a Thursday evening to be welcomed by a warm welcome by the staff. The thick soup was delicious. The fillet steak was tender and cooked just to our liking. Thanks for looking after us so well.

If your looking for a lovely fire roaring get away with home cooked food to die for you don't need to go any further than this gem ! Claire the owner is the perfect host , making you feel very welcome and relaxed from the moment you walk in . With quaint super clean bedrooms and extra comfortable beds your sleep will be a good one . We were pigs and had all 3 courses of Claire's amazingly home cooked food . The tomato soup and deep fried Brie with cranberry starter , followed by a perfectly cooked ribeye with crispy homemade chips ! Finished off with a gooey chocolate brownie and treacle tart ! ( drool ) ! Has the perfect country getaway feel to the place ! Sunday dinner is a must too , can't speak highly enough of the place . A certain must try !!! Will be back again & again . Thank you!!

We were told about the blacksmiths arms by friends so we thought we would give it a go one Friday night, booked no problem, service from the bar staff was friendly, I ordered a steak, I asked for peppercorn sauce, this was not on the menu but I presumed they would be able to make one up as I've never been to a restaurant or pub for a steak where I couldn't get a sauce with my steak, well here I couldn't, I was told my the waiter after he returned from the kitchen that the cook said she can't make one up as she was out of peppercorns, funny that as there were loads in pepper pots on all he tables, made me wonder if she couldn't be bothered or simply a rubbish chief! Well the meal came, sauce less, steak was average, had better, had worse, the chips were frozen! When paying the amount we paid and especially now a days with such competition around the good places to eat in York I would have thought they could make their own chips! Husband said his was poor and was annoyed with me for recommended we go, sorry Blacksmith arms but my experience was poor.

Recently had a family birthday meal here and all 6 of us were disappointed. Lovely pub but absolutely no atmosphere. Menu very limited. The portions were plentiful but I'm afraid that's the only positive thing to say. A couple of us had Baked Brie to start with & it was tasteless. The main course was really disappointing. I've never had gammon as salty in my life, fried egg was over cooked. The sweet & sour chicken was inedible & all of us tasted it and agreed it was more like a burnt bbq flavour. We complained about this but the response was atrocious. The woman said it was homemade from scratch and she inferred that perhaps our tastebuds were not as discerning & maybe we were only used to Chinese takeaway food. We are all successful retirees & have holidayed all over the world. I have lived abroad & have spent time in Singapore & Australia & have certainly experienced a wide variety of Asian dishes. Believe me this sweet & sour sauce was not like anything served in Asia. The chips were also claimed to be homemade but I'll eat my hat if they weren't oven chips. The whole meal was totally overpriced & not worth the money. They did offer to not charge for the meal which was uneaten but as the final bill was not itemised we couldn't tell if they had or not. We will certainly not be returning.

We hadn't booked a table however this was not a problem on the evening we visited, though it might be prudent to book . The food was good & plentiful & service was friendly , only drawback was pie had no bottom crust as was served in a ceramic dish . The pastry was tasty but the filling was watery. Friendly local village pub.

Called in early evening, very quiet only two people in, lady behind the bar was very friendly, but you could hear her feet sticking to the bar floor,glanced over and could not believe how dirty it was, the general area looked dirty.After visiting the ladies toilets which were very dirty and seeing the oil slick of a carpet immediately outside them, we decided to look elsewhere.

Good fresh pub food, nice atmosphere and professional service. You can also sit outside on a nice sunny day and enjoy the lovely views of flaxton

We enjoyed our dinner so much the first time we went there we returned a couple of nights later while staying in a nearby B&B. The food was very good. We particularly enjoyed the chicken pot pie which contained very flavourful chicken and a light and tasty thin crust. The ales went well with our meals.

This pub restaurant was recommended to us from our B&B host and what a great place. Old beamed ceilings and friendly staff with locals having drinks in the bar.Food is excellent, although did think the home made burger was a bit pricey at £12.95 as it didn't have cheese and bacon on it and for that price you would expect just a bit more than just a plain burger, even though it was tasty!Definitely recommend it!

My husband and I visited with his parents and enjoyed a traditional Sunday Lunch. Very generous portions of an array of vegetables and a choice of three meats, plus alternatives for those who don't fancy it. Desserts were home made, but not quite up to the same standard as the main. Also very reasonably priced.

My partner and I arrived on Friday night for a 2 night stay. We ate in the pub on Friday night and found the food, service and atmosphere to all be brilliant. Claire - the owner not only keeps a lovely clean pub but she does all of the cooking and the food was delicious. We shared the brie and stuffed peppers to start and then the hunters chicken and the pork. Breakfast in the morning was perfect - cereal, toast and then a full english! A great way for us to start the day as we were going to a wedding. I would highly recommend this pub to anyone looking to stay in the area. Great value for money and we will look forward to visiting again!

As we usually like to go for a quick fillet steak ,which is one of the best in the area,obviously a great butcher........We had guests staying with us who wanted a traditional Sunday lunch,where else but , "Blacksmiths Arms.Flaxton".. Always a Healthy portion,tasty,and great value for money.Today was no exception ,perfect Beef,Lamb ,and Haddock for the smaller appetites..beautiful vegetables,and good service.We are very lucky to have this facility on our doorstep, why go any further?? Did I mention the honeycombe icecream? Well one wouldn't go without trying that little gem.......if you had a spare corner? Thankyou Clair and team... Be back sooooon. Wx

Visited just before 9 pm , appeared busy in the pub. Bit unsure what to do ie waiters service or sit down. Asked the girl she told us to sit down if found a table, I then had to ask for menus. We decided what we wanted, then the girl wandered over to sort the table out. Has she was leaving she informed us my dish of choice had sold out,,,A young man said he would get our order and would just go get note book then return, we waited a while , I then decided to go to bar to confirm where we had to order? The girl told us she would take our order as it was busy. We ordered the seafood platter and fish and chips. We sat back down and waited. After about 15 minutes the young man came to ask us what we wanted????The food arrived. The fish and chips were ok , but the fish was bit watery like it had been cooked from frozen and quite tasteless. Batter good. Chips ok.The fish platter which was £16 consisted do very small but tasty fish pie topped with cheese, sml prawn cocktail, 3 battered prawns, 3 fish pieces, 2 slices of lemon. No chips, no peas. With the exception of the very very sml fish pie it was all predictable.Could we have not been informed how small this dish was, could it have been suggested we may like some side orders.We were asked on several occasions when we were eating our food how it was.We then finished and the young man came over and asked how it was again, we mentioned we thought the fish platter was small , he just laughed,, no we meant it,He then came over with the desert menu at £6 each.We eat out on a regular basis and I feel that this is a pub,, not a restaurant, it it charges restaurant prices for actually very average food. We did not order a sweet as we felt it wouldn't be worth it. Disappointing meal. The owner I assume also came over and asked if we had enjoyed it and apologised for been busy? We both didn't feel like we could tell her how we really felt.We maybe was unlucky that night? I don't know but there are lots of other places to go in the area.

Went here as I was staying in a cottage in flaxton ,it was reccomended on a brochure we found so we gave it a try , the staff are very friendly and accomadating and it's nice to see a family work together ,a few things to point out ,the menu was limited and I didn't see any vegetarian option . If you like fish and chips this is the place to go ,my steak was a little overdone for my favoured medium rare and as the staff were so nice I didn't want to appear fussy. That said the wines on offer are lovely and the surroundings are homely and rustic ,if they have a rethink on menu choices and maybe upgrade kids menu options I'm sure this restaurant / bar will be a real gem

Our second half-term stay and once again we were delighted. Such a welcoming, family run pub and B&B. Nothing too much trouble. Great room for 5, plenty of space so not tripping over each other and everyone slept well. Brilliant freshly cooked breakfasts kept us going all day! Lovely dinners with antipasto followed by duck and finished off with treacle tart a particular favourite. Good beer and excellent value champagne too!

Visited on 2 consecutive nights for dinner over bank holiday. Food great each time and service fantastic. Owner, Claire, made us feel really welcome. Will definitely be returning!!

Went to this pub after being told that this was a good place to go, we were staying quite near and went for my partner's birthday. We found that there was a limited menu which we thought would mean that everything would be done well. The food at best was average and over priced and the drinks were also expensive. I would not recommend this restaurant at all

You walk in to a lovely, quaint country pub, that offers a good selection of wines and draft beers and, a varied menu, with friendly and attentive staff wanting to go the extra mile to make sure your experience is enjoyable. The special board of starters, main meals and desserts changes regularly. Being a fish lover, I can recommend the Fish Pie, the Fish Platter and, of course, the huge Fish and Chips called the Flaxton Flipper. If you like cheese and mushrooms, you have to try the Mushrooms on Toast as a starter. Just devine! You are always, always made to feel very welcome. I very much look forward to my meals out at this pub and, have to say, that the food, drink and service is always worth the wait. This pub draws clientele from York and beyond. So, better safe to book to avoid disappointment. Even if the pub is full when you get there, the snug will not disappoint and you are guaranteed a cosy, sumptious dinner! Rest assured that the owner goes the extra mile to make sure that your experience of the Blacksmiths is an enjoyable one. If you are looking for pub food in the YO60 area, look no further than this lovingly cared for country pub! Enjoy if you go!

Overpriced and under staffed. Too few staff resulting in poor service. In my opinion this is pub food and service at restaurant prices.

A welcoming fire warmed up a cool wet May afternoon and we received a warm welcome on a quiet lunchtime-normally they are very busy. We were immediately served our drinks, but had to wait 10 minutes before being asked for our order. We ordered a couple of starters, both tasty but not very large for the £5.95 price tag. The main course-we all ordered lamb, was a good size, and also of good quality. The meat was fat free and tender and tasty, the vegetables plentiful with the cauliflower cheese particularly good, lots of roast potatoes. At £12.95 it wasnt cheap but we were happy with the value. Once ordering we didnt have long to wait and the staff were very friendly. There was a good range of beers and the coffee was hot and a good way to finish off the meal.

went out with friends for a meal & was told this pub was a good place to go. Found the meals was over priced & the staff under trained. Was shown to our table & the waitress didn't asked if we wanted drinks, just walked away & came back with the menu's still didn't ask if we wanted drinks. waiter & waitress didn't know which table ordered what because they kept come to table asking if we ordered what they had, which we hadn't. when our meals came the waiter handed my wife her meal saying the plates was very hot instead of putting the plate on the table then tell to be careful the plates are hot. he was holding the plate with a towel. Had to ask for the dessert menu three times, then it took forever for them to come back & take the order. The bill came on a bit of scrap paper. Not impressed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Walked in to a lovely roaring fire and warm reception from the very polite young man behind the bar. Hadn't booked but were told even though they were very busy they would find us a table in the snug. Quick service, friendly waiting staff and food that was worth waiting for. All freshly cooked to a great standard. We will be going there again

Three couples having an evening meal together. Very good food, I had the Flaxton Flipper, a great piece of fish. The only grumble, the young man who took our order and served our food insisted on addressing us as "guy's"

We were welcomed by a huge open fire, giving off lovely heat in a chilly February night. The friendly serving staff brought menus and drinks whilst we chose our meals. There were four of us, each choosing a different combination of starter and main - some from the menu and some from the daily changing specials board. All were delicious. We liked that the menu stated which butcher, fishmonger and greengrocer provided the ingredients. We didn't have a pudding - all too full - but noticed there were half a dozen listed, usual suspects like sticky toffee pudding and chocolate brownies with ice cream. Coffee is also available. The atmosphere and the staff made this a really pleasant evening and we certainly will return.

We found this pub while out and about while we were staying at Griffon Forest and it was great.The first night we just had a few drinks and the atmosphere was lovely even though it was quite busy so we decided to eat there a few nights later.We did pre book a table which I'm glad about as the pub was full by the time we started eating, the food was lovely and the steak I had was cooked and seasoned to perfection. All the wait staff were bubbly and friendly and to be honest with the fire roaring and the great atmosphere me and my husband could have stayed there all night. Would definitely recommend and even though the food was locally sourced and freshly prepared the price was very reasonable. Will visit again the next time we are near Flaxton

Arrived at 7.30 place full but young lady behind bar still managed to squeeze us in on a Saturday night enjoyed so much came back for Sunday lunch friendly and helpful.Get in early to avoid disappointment

Some couples might be put off when the server comes back to the table to say that both mains they had ordered were off and the restaurant had run out of fish, but somehow the atmosphere and the friendly service compensated for the temporary disorganisation and turned a routine teatime visit into a memorable one.We had booked a stay at Claxton Hall Cottage Guest House nearby and our hostess Carol recommended that we book a table at the Blacksmiths Arms. We arrived well after dark and could see from the number of cars parked outside that we had made a popular choice. Entering the pub we were greeted by a roaring fire in the grate and very friendly staff. The atmosphere was really cheery with patrons clearly enjoying their visit. Lots of laughing and chatting.Despite the glitch with the menu choices, the food was really good. Clearly home made and fresh, well presented and good portions. Very enjoyable. The beers were good and service very attentive. Definitely one to try again next time we're in the area.

We arrived (2 people) having booked into another place which had no restaurant, on arrival they were fully booked, but very nice friendly lady behind the bar fitted us into the snug, they were very busy but service was good, food excellent, good decision to eat here, book to avoid disappointment, well werth a visit if you staying locally.

Have read some of the rather unkind reviews from August and I felt they merited a comment. It really wasn't the pub's fault there was a two hour power cut throughout the whole area on that evening due to some twit with a hang glider crashing into the power lines because it was dusk and he didn't see them (fortunately he was unhurt) and they coped really well, despite there being no electricity. We regularly come in here as it is such a nice, traditional village pub serving generous portions of really good home-made food, sourced from local suppliers. Great location in the small village of Flaxton, a short drive north of York. The pub has a lot of character and the roaring log fire makes it even more homely. Claire and her staff are always very friendly, welcoming and attentive - you can't fault them. As we are vegetarian, Claire always cooks us something special and she came up trumps this time. After the delicious platter of olives, we enjoyed roast peppers, one which came with salad and chips, the other with hot vegetables (new potatoes, red cabbage and carrots) which, as usual, we shared - see photo. This was washed down with a most palatable bottle of red house wine (at £12 quite good value and a decent wine for the money). For dessert, one of us had the bread and butter pudding and the other the ice cream. For a two course meal (three if you count the olives) including bottle of wine and a tip, it came to a reasonable £50. Highly recommended.

Warm welcome from the staff, cosy bar / restaurant area, food absolutely outstanding. Cannot recommend enough, so pleased we found this place, do not miss!

Started well with complimentary olives and water brought to the table without having to request it. Excellent service and really lovely food which was reasonably priced. We will definitely go again soon.

My brother had his birthday there & the food was outstanding, the staff were wonderful. Highly recommend anyone in the area to call in. :-)

It is certainly popular and at first they said I would have to wait 20 minutes for a table, but then they said I could sit down anyway.The menu is quite limited (although there is a selection of specials) and even more limited as quite a few items weren't available.The service was okay but lacked any attention and rather felt they were going through the motions. I would alos say it was quite expensive for what it was.

We booked a table for 7.30 and were greeted by a waitress who asked us to get our drinks and she would then show us to a table. The barmaid serving drinks had to ask us 3 times what our order was despite it only being a pint and a lime and lemonade!! We then sat at our table and waited for menus. We placed our food order (a steak and haddock and chips) and my husband ordered a glass of red wine to be served with meal. This arrived after 10 minutes served in a brandy glass!!. By this time we had been waiting for our food for an hour when the waitress came to us and apologised but our food order had been forgotten but she promised we would be served next and could have free drinks on the house. As we already had drinks we said just knock the price of these off our bill. Then there was a power cut - obviously not their fault. The clock continued to tick and by now we had been waiting an hour and a half. The waitress then asked me if instead of a haddock would I accept fish goujons - I said yes anything to speed up our food. The final blow came when after another 15 minutes (1 hour and 45 minutes after placing our order) another table was served their food - steak!!!!! We decided enough was enough and went to the bar to settle up. Bearing in mind we'd had a pint of beer, a lime and lemon and a glass of red wine the only drink they were prepared to knock off was the lime and lemon!! We are fairly easy going people but we thought this was outrageous and asked to see the owner. Apparently she was too busy to come and speak to us so we said we would only pay for the wine. Off the waitress went again and returned saying no !! We'd really had enough by now and said look we are only prepared to pay for red wine and offered a £20 note. We haven't got any change was the waitresses reply to this!!!! Anyway I could go on but we paid for the wine and left!!Chaotic, disorganised, rude, would I recommend this pub NO!!

I went with the intention of having a meal but I have to say That I was appalled at the attitude of the owner not only toward her staff but also her customers. I left without eating there and will not be returning.

We went by way of a recomendation, and when greeted by a cheerful waitress offering olives as soon as we were seated we thought we'd struck lucky. Sadly the beautifully presented food was plain and deep fried, utterly lacking in seasoning and rather over priced for what it was. The menu had looked so promising too :-(

The Blacksmith's Arms was a pub we ended up visiting because it was within walking distance from where we were staying in Flaxton.The ambience is nice and traditional, and the man behind the bar was very professional and courteous. We ordered food, though we were both slightly disconcerted by the young age of the waitresses, who seemed to be children.My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the delicious food but were taken aback when the manager, a woman, informed my husband that he had “massacred” the steak by asking for it to be very well done. Even when he replied “each to their own” she persisted with her point.If a customer wants beef rare, medium, well done, or very well done, that is for the customer to decide - not the owner! Having dined at some of the world's most exclusive restaurants where we were served precisely what we had ordered without any comment, I found this woman's comments to be unprofessional and somewhat insulting, thus I have lowered my rating from 4 to 3.

Having had a really disappointing meal in Thornton-le Clay on a recent visit to the area we decided to try this pub which is close by.Very welcoming,cosy,open fire,excellent food ( flipper and wonderful seafood platter). Very good,reasonably priced wine and faultless service.A brilliant experience,we will be back!

Called for Sunday Lunch after reading Yorkshire Post article. There was six of us and the meat i.e. pork, lamb and the beef was tough really tough. In fact the pork and lamb were inedible and sent back, even the Yorkshire puddings were rubbery. Obviously we complained and the waitress was excellent, offering a reduction on the bill and a drink on the house. She explained that it was normally her Mum in the kitchen but she was on holiday and "there were issues in the kitchen". Maybe next time Mum has a holiday it would be better to close the kitchen. Regrettably, we wont be back -just in case!!

Dropped by for lunch at the Blacksmiths ArmsWe had read that it was a great place to dine...Yorkshire Post a few months ago.Well we waited 30 minutes,as did another couple for our orders to be taken,we only stopped for a main course.The veg was good and plenty of it,The hand pull Local Yorkshire ale was good,the Roast beef was ok but nothing special "homemade gravy was as thin as water,and tasteless the yorkshire puddings were squashy and doughy :-( The waitress young was unprofessional and lacked any guidance or direction and dressed in an unironed grey hoody with leggings and pumps was not attractive.We felt disappointed as we had been waiting to try this pub out for a while,indeed the couple opposite us who were also disappointed had travelled all the way from Newcastle.I also was a little concerned to overhear that we were classed as one of the ..."WALK INS" perhaps we should of booked...or may be not !!!!Sorry great location but it needs tweeking on the things that matter when you are out for lunch

We had a quick meal in the Blacksmith's on Tuesday of this week. Steak isn't usually my number one choice as it can be SO bad. but I can honestly say that this is the best one I've eaten in a restaurant for some time. It came cooked exactly as requested (rare), which is also .... rare! The burger was first class, too! Service great, welcome warm - very many thanks!

This is a wonderful little gem tucked away in the village of Flaxton. We travelled up with friends and stayed on a bed and breakfast basis for the weekend. Our rooms were delightful, very spacious bright and clean. Claire and her staff were very helpful, friendly, polite and accommodating - and so were the local patrons. We booked our table for dinner on the evening of our arrival and were so impressed with the quantity and quality of the food, we booked for the following evening too! It does get busy in the evening, so we would recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment! Cannot recommend highly enough - we will certainly be making return visits!

After a mix up on the meal opening times and then told the credit card machine was not working (not their fault), we thought we would try elsewhere. The staff were so helpful in turning the situation round. So glad we stayed,food was outstanding in taste,quality and value. Only managed 1 dessert,and again that was delicious. Staff and owner so helpful and attentive. Definitely on my list to visit again. Thank you for an excellent Sunday lunch.

Had just driven 3 and a half hours, the day after our wedding. Wanted to relax with a drink and possibly food. The Arms was recommended. Walked in to no seating, as tables were reserved for eating guests in the bar area. Regulars were taking up the bar seating. We got our drinks and asked the bar staff, if we could sit at a reserved table, to drink. Yes we could, until the people arrived. We felt as if we had to rush to drink, as we had nowhere to relax. Then, the restaurant waitress came over, to say that we would have to move when the restaurant booked people arrived. This made us feel even more unwelcome. Then, when the reserved guests arrived, we were informed that there was a bar seating area tucked around the corner. Why did no one tell us about this at the beginning? Thoroughly unrelaxing experience, sorry to say.

Outstanding food at really reasonable prices. Fantastic atmosphere. probably the best Sunday roast I have ever had and the service is fabulous, helpings are generous, vegetables cooked to perfection.

An amazing local pub with fabulous food and caring service staff. When ever I wanted a relaxed moment, I am here. Great place to be at.....

Went for Sunday lunch with family, for the first time after it was recommended. Couldn't fault it, we had a delicious lunch with generous helpings of meat and a good selection of very well prepared vegetable and excellent service. We stayed for 3 hours and never felt rushed, just left to relax which we needed as we were absolutely stuffed. Very highly recommended, well done

A really fantastic Sunday lunch and excellent value, friendly team and good food. Sadly missed out on our first choice on deserts but fab anyway.

Ate here when staying down the road. Lovely atmosphere, food and staff! Cannot fault it! The owner even came and topped up my glass of wine for free! (I didn't ask!)

We were staying in the area and popped in for a Sunday evening meal. Food was lovely and keenly priced. Beer was great and staff and locals were lovely.

We hadn't booked a table in the restaurant but the owner was more than happy to accommodate us and said he'd need the table by 8.30pm. No probs it was only 7pm.Isn't it refreshing when someone makes the effort to help?The food was excellent, nicely prepared and plenty of it.Staff were friendly and overall it was a very enjoyable couple of hours.The pub is busy and that says it all - people are voting with their feet and frequenting The Blacksmith's Arms. As York residents, we'll certainly be back to sample the atmosphere.Highly recommended.

My wife and I have difficulty in eating out due to the fact that we both need a gluten free diet. On viewing the menu it appeared that there was nothing suitable for us , but on speaking to the lady manager our problems were solved .It had been three years since we had tasted fish and chips and we were really pleased when she offered to prepare ours by using gluten free flour and gluten free beer for the batter.The result was a meal that we will long remember , all made possible by someone who prepared to go that little bit extra to provide a service.

If you're in the area it's well worth making a booking here and if you're smart enough to have booked a room, it simply is a no brainer.

I went to the Blacksmiths Arms with a group of 12 friends. We received a very warm welcome from Nigel and Claire. Lots of locals were there and we were greeted as if we were regulars! Our table was ready for us when we arrived, service was prompt and we enjoyed an excellent home cooked meal at this friendly and relaxed pub.

We had dinner in here on Saturday evening. Pub was very busy, which is always a good sign. Wine is quite reasonably priced and of good quality. Everything comes from local suppliers so you know it is fresh and wholesome. It was a nice homely touch to have a platter of olives on the table to nibble at before the food arrived. Service was good and attentive. Having been here several times we know the portions are quite generous, the menu (we are both vegetarian) varied and the food of excellent quality. Instead of having a starter this time (Claire's port and stilton pate is heavenly) we decided to save ourselves for the main course and dessert. One of us had the butternut squash curry and the other the sweet and sour aubergine. Both were delicious and came with rice. The 'Praline Pecan Delight' ice cream is wonderful and not to be missed! One of the mature gentlemen (in his 80s) at the next table said the 'Flaxton Flipper' was the best fish he has ever had! Claire and Nigel have made it a really good place to eat and we shall certainly be back to enjoy their hospitality. Full marks to them. :-)

Went Easter wekend with family and was very pleasantly surprised with what we saw. Having lived in the area this was our first try at the Blacksmiths. Welcomed by a friendly host and seated at our reserved table near a very warming log fire. We had a variety of meals from the selection on offer and on the whole we were very delighted with what we got. The selection of beers and wine was welcome and not pricey.

Our party had a varied age group from 5 year old to 90yrs, nine of us in total. The pub itself was very busy as one would expect for Easter Sunday, but the service was efficient and prompt. The staff were friendly and accommodating. There was a choice of 4 mainstream meats and 2 vegetarian options on the specials board. Children were provided with smaller meals from the main menu.There is an a la carte menu for evening meals which was quite extensive.After the meal there was a children's egg hunt in the back garden, supervised by the hosts, and well done. Small plants were gifts for the ladies and Easter eggs for the gentlemen.7 adults ( 2 being vegetarians, and one having an appetiser ) with 2 children cost £82

Had Sunday lunch here yesterday. From arrival to departure we were looked after very well. The meal was lovely. Freshly cooked meat and vegetables piping hot. The pub itself has a nice friendly atmosphere. Open fire burning away adding to the idyllic village location. We'll be back!!

We braved the snow and decided to go out for a meal. We hadn't been to the Blacksmiths for many years but had heard it was under new ownership so gave it a go. We had not booked and when we arrived this looked like a big mistake, the place was very busy. However the fire looked attractive and we thought we would get a drink and see if they could squeeze us in. Luckily they did, finding a table 'out back' somewhere which was brought in and promptly set. The food was wholesome and delicious. The Blacksmiths is a family run place, daughter behind the bar, mum and dad in front of house. Extremely friendly, nothing too much trouble. Short wine list but obviously hand picked and very reasonable. Excellent evening. The Blacksmiths represents how the English pub can be saved and thrive.

The Blacksmiths is a nice typical local pub/restaurant with cosy interior including a lovely warm log fire. Menu is typical good pub grub and the service is friendly. A great range of local beers plus regular favourites. The wine list is small but adequate. A good local and not expensive.

I found this pub very welcoming. The bar maid was very smiley and chatty. Once we were seated the waitress prompty took our order and the meals were lovely (steak and fish) Would definitely recommend. The atmosphere was lovely and they even had some nice christmas music on which was nice. Lovely village pub and will definitely be visiting again.

We stopped here in Oct taking our eldest back to Uni. Found the place by trawling web. Didn't know this was a new venture by the landlady - but she is very good host.The room we stayed in was above the bar - OK for us because we didn't go to bed til late - but it would be noisy to be there whilst bar was still open.Room had additional heating in it - which was lovely.Only 1 cup though and 1 towel on our first night - found that out in morning!Room wasn't made up for us for second night - the landlady had been very busy - but not a great touch for £85 / night.Food was OK - not brilliant - but certainly passable (except for veggies which were not good)Resataurant was really busy on the Saturday night - room was made for us "as guests" which was really appreciated.Beer was well kept - and a good variety as wellAll in all - a pleasant weekend, in a pub with plenty of potential.

Had had good reports from friends who have previously visited since the new management took over so was looking forward to it. We were disappointed though, there were only four tables occupied but the waitress took far to long too take our order and we had to call her over in the end. Food was ok but nothing special, though lots of fish in the fish pie and the gammon steaks were large. The vegetables were soft and tasteless,one was ratatouille. Didn't fancy anything on the very limited desert menu. Thought it was a bit expensive for a rather ordinary pub meal. It was pitch dark outside in the village and the limited parking meant we had to park further down the road. As it was raining we got rather muddy - recommend a torch to anyone going! We won't be back, sorry.