The Samson Inn in Northumberland

We stayed in an air b&b a minutes walk from this pub and only stumbled across it because I did my usual desperate search for decent gf food - and what an amazing find! So many choices for the main dinner meal, I ended up having chicken goujons and chips which was excellent. So good we ended up coming back for sunday lunch! A whole sunday lunch pre marked gf and df, no questions, no compromises - made my holiday! Really good with the kids too. Can not recommend more.

This is a place we have passed any times - so glad we finally tried it! An old fashioned interior and with an old fashioned welcome The rare breed burger was wonderful and the chips the best we've ever had And there is a range of craft ales to try Next time we must stay the night so we can sample more than one

This is ok to pop in. There is a typical bar menu and there are friendly staff.Tthe home made soup is good and real ale is served

We were walking Hadrian’s Wall Way and this was one of my favourite places we stayed. The welcome and food were really good and the rooms felt really special - spacious, comfortable and attractively decorated. We both said ‘wow’ when we walked into our rooms.

We had a meal after a day walking Hadrians Wall. The menu is good pub food and the portions are sensible. The beer is good too. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Highly recommended.

we stayed here when walking the Hadrians Wall Way - it is right on the walk. The rooms were very comfortable and the food was really excellent - we recommend the steak pie and the pesto pasta which were really great.

Very much is what it is. A nice pub serving really good simple food well cooked and hot. In my opinion very good value.

Stopped off here as part of our walk for a well deserved drink and some lunch The pub is rustic with many original features which I quite like. The lady who was working on Wednesday 10 Aug was extremely busy but she was very friendly, well organised and did a great job. The lunch menu was mainly sandwiches, with a small choice of Mains and desserts We had the cheese and chutney sandwhich, the falafel sandwich which both came with fries and a small salad. The chicken goujons were nice and came with a small amount of fries and a honey and mustard sauce Overall- a warm welcome from a nice pub that does good pub grub.

We booked for Sunday dinner for a family get together meal. Two parties came together at the Samson Inn. From the first the staff could not have been more helpful, because the group size was 8 they asked if we could pre-order food. When we arrived the table was ready, the waiter checked about the vegan option and made sure it was exactly as my son wanted. We had standard roast meats from the Sunday menu as well as a vegan option and a cheese soufflé. All were well presented and delicious. After this we had desserts, a gorgeous treacle tart, their chocolate marquise and rice pudding. Again well presented and tasty. Throughout the meal the waiter was attentive and friendly answering any questions and being generally helpful. I would definitely recommend this place for simple but well cooked food.

After waiting for nearly an hour for our food, they realised they had forgotten to put the order through the till. They then delivered food to the table and it was not what we had ordered. When they eventually delivered the right order nearly an hour and a half after ordering it was very low standard - a tasteless burger with little more than the patty in the bun and a fish pie consisting of a bit of fish with mash on the top that had clearly been thrown together in a hurry so no egg and minimal sauce. There was minimal apology and the waiting staff just tried to avoid us. Very over priced.

The host at our accommodation, Hadrians Holidays, gave us a lift here for tea. Very friendly staff and nice food. Add in a perfectly pored Guinness and that's a recipe for a nice meal.

Since we were staying In Glisland 2 nights, we ate here both nights and this place did not disappoint! Fresh salads turned out to be an unexpected and wonderful surprise!

Excellent staff who are very friendly, food was to a very good standard and prices are reasonable. We can recommend the fish pie and the pasta, good choice of local beers, the bar man let me try all three before making a choice. Also good location as it was just a short walk from where we stayed on a short break.

Cheerful service with decent pub food, a nice end to a hard days hiking … we stayed down the road at Dacre House, which excellent.

The outside looks a little shabby as this place was probably the station inn so is more functional than many country pubs. This is very much a local pub that caters for visitors especially walkers. There is a good menu suiting most tastes at a reasonable price. The food is well cooked and served by the friendly staff, also it is very tasty and of an ample portion. I suggest you book as much in advance as possible for dinner as the tables were full of a mix of diners early on in the evening. Nice ales too. There is a small car park at the rear with a bigger one over the road. Beware when coming out. You are straight onto the road which then has a blind bend around the railway bridge. Very near the Hadrian's Walk path at Poltross Burn.

This pub have tasty food and I will recommend to every one. Staff were very friendly. Have a small garden so u can eat outside. Pub is small and cozy. I really liked it. Thank u for delicious food.

Thankfully the food was better than the accomodation because there is nowhere else to eat in this village. Breakfast was excellent. The pub itself is dark and dingy unfortunately as was our room. Friendly welcome and staff did their best

We called in for dinner while walking the wall and found a great friendly local pub with a really warm atmosphere. The staff were charming and couldn’t do enough for us, the food was hearty and delicious, perfect after an energetic day, couldn’t fault the...

I had a very nice evening meal here after a long day's walk, Hearty food and a nice pint wrapped up a very good day.

We called in for a late lunch, bang on the end of food service time (we didn't realise this before we went in). The lady behind the bar was a star and fed us anyway! The food was delicious and portions generous. The rare breed...

Sent also to the Samson Staff....... Hi, just a quick thank you. We stayed last Saturday night. Staff busy and new but very good. Explained they were finding their feet. They were cracking. Food was cracking, service was also cracking. The room, lovely. Very clean...

We were made to feel very welcome at the Samson. Close to the Wall, we were given a comfortable room with en suite at the back of the property. We had a hearty evening meal and an excellent breakfast. Very friendly and helpful staff.

What an absolutely delightful Inn to stay at - my wife and I had three nights there and enjoyed every minute. Staff so friendly and very efficient, food - excellent and out room excellent. Big plus for me, an old codger - there is NO...

Friendly staff, tables nice and clean, well organised pub. They serve food from 6 and we were easily able to get a table on a Saturday evening. Nice cheese pasty meal and fruit crumble with custard and nice cold beers.

Friendly pub with excellent food. Perfect stop after a wet windy walk along Hadrian’s wall. Would recommend the locally sourced beef burger and the twice baked cheese soufflé. Very clean. Log burner to warn us up. Good range of vegetarian options.

Absolutely fantastic lovely young gentleman very attentive,frie day and chatty. Excellent food, excellent service thank you so much and a happy new year

Second time here. Now the last. Food no where near as good as last time. Average pub food with high price. Service was really good, that's where the two stars go.

Great staff who were really welcoming after a very long,wet day .Comfy warm rooms and lovely evening meal and breakfast served by smiling staff and obviously prepared by chef who takes pride in his work.Well done and thankyou

We visited The Samson Inn on our way to Northumberland and were not disappointed. The staff were friendly and welcoming and the food was great. Our dog was also welcome too in all areas of the pub.

Just back home after a very nice Sunday lunch at the Samson Inn. The Shin of Beef was Delicious, as were the Yourshire Puds and Gravy, lovely fresh veg, cooked well and well presented. The service was great, a very pleasant and professional young lady...

We stayed here as a group of 7 walking Hadrian’s Wall. A comfortable stay in this traditional old pub. Tiny bathroom but good size rooms. A little road noise and despite it being next to a railway line, we were not disturbed. Friendly staff and food good. (Especially the breakfast) served by a delightful lady. Thank you.

What a fabulous place! Friendly warm and the rooms were just superb. A special shout out to Lyndsey and Maisie who were simply great ! The food was delicious and the over night stay was comfy and each room was clean and freshly decorated Not an extensive menu but that helped really because what there was to choose from was prepared well and was really tasty! Couldn’t fault the breakfast at all or our packed lunch which was a real treat

As we were walking Hadrians wall and staying at a local B&B we pre-booked a table at this venue well in advance as it was the only place to get a meal in the evening. The cask beer range was very limited (just generic bitters) so we opted for a bottle of wine with our meal. The food was reasonably priced but not brilliant, for example my gammon and egg were over cooked. Despite booking 4/6 weeks earlier we were given the smallest table in the bar area and it was very cramped. In fact 1 guy who came in later than us and had not booked was given a large table and sat there hugging a glass of wine all the time we were there (we suspect he told them he was reviewing the area as he was always on his laptop or making notes). When we left there were still a number of tables still empty, yes we understand they were probably reserved but surely you we could have had one of these at the onset. The venue also looked a little tired and need of a revamp. We would not choose to eat here again if in the area.

Another gem on our hadrians wall walk. Great welcome from all the friendly and welcoming staff and a comfortable well sized room. Had a really tasty meal and some good beer and wine at sensible prices.

We had a beer here after finishing a particularly hot days walking on Hadrians Wall. Nicely kept cask ale.We returned later for an evening meal where we had good service, nice food and more good beer.It's a nice pub with a good atmosphere which also supports the local community.Make sure you book as this place is very popular,;and the only place to eat in the village after 6pm

Best Sunday Dinner. We've ate here lots of time but the Beef Sunday Dinners are by far the best around. We've sat in and taken away and both times we can not fault anything. The beef is perfectly cooked.

We have just had the mist delicious evening meals at The Sansom Inn in Gilsland. My sister and I gad the lamb tagine and my husband had steak and chips. All three meals were beautifully cooked and very flavoursome.The service was very friendly and efficient and we got our meals very quickly.

We ate in the Samson Inn on Saturday 14th August whilst staying at the Brooklands Villa during a walking holiday along Hadrian’s wall. The menu had plenty of options with the staff being very knowledgeable and attentive. The meal was lovely and we had a great evening. Would recommend the Samson Inn.

The food here is fabulous! The sausages were amazing, as were the burgers with meat from Susan’s Farm. There’s lots of choice and good gluten-free options. Service is friendly and efficient.

Lovely friendly welcome. Lovey decorated and clean. The meals were delicious all 3 of us enjoyed our meals. Bangers and mash. Gammon and chips and Samson burger.

Visited here with friends on a Sunday and enjoyed a very tasty Sunday roast followed by delicious pudding. Very peaceful little pub with friendly staff and tasty food - great little find!

I foolishly thought that there were 2 pubs serving food in Gilsland and so didn't think to pre-book. However when we arrived at our B&B we were told that the Samson Inn is the only place to get food in Gilsland (July 2021)! It took us a while to get through on the phone as didn't answer until opened for food around 6pm ish. But we then spoke to a very helpful and friendly manager who managed to squeeze us in for a meal on both nights of our stay in Gilsland. We have eaten here years previously and the number of tables available has been greatly reduced, due to covid, so were very lucky to be able to get a table at last minute, squeezing us in at 8pm and then 7.30pm the next night.Typical pub fayre and menu is a little limited, but everything was tasty and always served with a smile. My lamb tagine with couscous was a bit spicy and delicious, around £13. My husband really enjoyed his mash & chips. Our second evening we had burgers which were immense! I really enjoyed the super tasty side salad and loved the bacon marmalade thingy on the burgers! Both nights our bill came to around £36 for 2 main meals, with a soft drink and small glass of wine, including tip.By the way, we highly recommend the B&B we stayed at in Gilsland, it was definitely our favourite from our 8 days walking along Hadrian's Wall - The Hill On The Wall B&B.As the Samsun Inn is the only food option in Gilsland you might not have much choice but to eat here! But we enjoyed our meals and the very friendly service we received made this a very pleasant dining experience.

We booked here based on the reviews, and we're not disappointed. Not located where you'd stumble upon it. Fabulous service and brilliant home cooked meals. Definitely leave room for dessert.

Myself and a friend went here for our evening meal. Neither of us drink alcohol and we were both pleasantly surprised and very impressed with the options of non-alcholic drinks. It is not something pubs normally ctaer for but we both really enjoyed the drinks we ordered, trying something new. We also both had the fish pie and it was amazing - so nice. Highly recommend.

Visited here with my son, unfortunately we could not get accommodation, but on the way to our hotel we stopped in for dinner. We were too early for dinner, but as the staff were so nice and managed to fit us in for dinner 2hrs later. (You must pre-book as sooooooo busy). We stayed and sat in the beer garden. The staff were lovely, chatty and friendly. Nothing was too much trouble and they even brought out my coffee. Dinner was quick, hot and excellent. Oh my son had a local lager and loved it, so much so i had to pull him up the hill.I would have loved to stay here as convenient to trail, great food and super friendly.Book, book, book early.

A great pub with a lovely local feel, buzzing but good service and excellent food. Good vegetarian and gluten free options, clean rooms and friendly staff. We really enjoyed our stay and wouldn't hesitate to recommend this as a perfect example of what an inn should be. It's also very reasonably priced for accommodation, food and drink.

Lovely meal using local produce. Vegetarian option was one of the best I have had for a while, my partner says his burger was very tasty . Good service and high quality food!

Stopped here for one night very comfortable and clean and lovely food definitely stop again it’s perfect for the Hadrian’s wall path walk

Lovely local pub with great character. Friendly helpful staff, fine local beers and a great range of non alcoholic drinks too. Excellent gluten free options, with reassuringly strict processes to keep coeliacs safe.

Stayed 2 nights first class service with excellent food and drinks on offer. Staff extremely friendly and pleasant. Been previously and the number of tables have been considerably reduced in line with covid regulations felt safe. Room clean and tidy with walk in shower. Ideal location to see the best bits of Hadrian's Wall.

We visited this pub on the recommendation of the hosts of the B&B we were staying in, and we are so glad we did. The staff were friendly and really helpful. They catered to our allergies and their whole menu is labeled as to what dietary requirements their food meets. They were especially good if you have a dog with you. They bought our westie a bowl of water and humoured us when we ordered her a sausage (its her holiday too, after all). They made her a temporary dog bowl and tried to ensure it was the right temperature for her. The food was amazing; freshly cooked and the meat was juicy. I would highly recommend the Samson Burger, the Bacon Jam was surprisingly really good! Thank you to all the staff for a lovely meal

11 of us on bikes turned up on sat 26th June with kitchen Closing in 20 mins and they were kind enough to accommodate us all. And another group of about 8 or 9 turned up as well looking for food. Staff were brilliant and the food was great.

Really friendly and welcoming, good service. Stayed locally so ate here regularly. Good selection of drinks. Nothing too much trouble. Nice menu just don't expect gastropub, it's good honest pub food. Little pricey but that's the only slight negative. Would recommend.

Visited with our disabled friends for a meal and the reception we received was second to none, escorted patiently to our table and told we could leave from the side door rather than walk right through the pub. The food was absolutely wonderful, well cooked and flavoursome.With the quality of food and welcoming, caring and attentive staff I would highly recommend a visit if you are in the area.

Our first meal out since lockdown and it was absolutely first class. Delicious food, lovely staff and happy atmosphere.

We recently stayed at Brookside Villa B&B in Gilsland and through them ordered an take away prepared by the staff at the Sanson Inn (which sadly is currently closed). After a hard days run, the meal was just what we needed - the fish pie was a mix of excellent flavours and the lamb hot was also great. All the puddings on the menu sounded great and the ones we chose were. We can recommend their takeaway meals and look forward to returning when the bar is open again.

The Samson Inn chefs - Maurice and Sara - have provided over 200 take-away evening meals for my B&B guests over the past weeks. Great food and an essential service. Thank you to all the staff who are pulling this together, Denise & Gerry

Gilsland's only Inn and I think we got there on a bad day. This was our last night on a 4 day walk along Hadrian's Wall. We had a comfortable night in our room and the staff were friendly and helpful. However, the food was not up too much. Fish pie was all potato and the lamb hotpot was undercooked and had too much untrimmed lamb fat in it. Breakfast was lumpy scrambled egg, and some salmon thrown on top of it. Good selection of ales at the bar but the website ordering process (covid) was clumsy and hard to work (no way to order breakfast on line except by a cut and paste process). After three efficient and accessible experiences for meals/beds in previous B&Bs on our walk the Samson Inn scored low marks for its approach to the covid problem - seriously over engineered!

Lovely people, great food! We had a take away for four (the pub is closed) which was really nice. 2of us are vegan and our needs were perfectly catered for, including breakfast. We had chestnut & mushroom pie with chips & veg, and coconut milk rice pudding which was yum. Room was clean and comfortable.

Pub itself ids still closed but the chefs who supplied lovely dinners to our B&B in Gilsland deserve a special mention. Thank you

Staying at the Brookside B&B, we had dinner delivered from the Samson Inn. I thought I was in heaven after the fish pie. It was creamy, had big chunks of fish and the most delightfully light mash on top. Yum.I had ordered the apple and cinnamon crumble for dessert with trepidation. I'm not a lover of cinnamon. My mum never added anything to her apple pies or her crumbles except a hint of clove. So often there's so much cinnamon you can't taste the apple. Except for the fact that it (almost) is my life's mission to test every decent apple dessert going I would have ducked this one out.Thank goodness I didn't!There was just the slightest hint of cinnamon. Just enough to get enhance the apple flavour. Delicious! And served with egg custard.Yum.

Called in after walking The Wall, & without booking. Excellent service & real ale, & a very good meal.

Gilsland is a small village, just off the A69 but a logical base for anyone interested in the Wall, with Birdoswald and a milecastle nearby. The Samson is a former coaching Inn, and the name derives from an loco that used to ply the Newcastle-Carlisle railway, so expect bags of character and don't be too surprised the rooms are fairly compact. They are cosy and comfortable and my partner and I had a good night's sleep despite the fact it was blowing a gle outside. We stayed for Dinner - my wife opted for the homemade soup, while I was tempted by the cheese soufle. Both were superb. The mains were great too: my burger was very filling and satisfying, with side salad and chunky chips fried to perfection, while my wife loved her lamb tagine. Desserts did not disappoint either - the marquise au chocolat was magnificent, as was the treacle tart. The temptation to test the drinks menu was irresistible I finished with a glass of Cragganmore, while Mrs G chose a speciality gin. Breakfast was impressive too. Verdict: excellent. We believe the Samson punches above its weight and the fare, with a heavy emphasis on local produce and supported by a well-stocked bar was a real treat. NB this is a small village, rural setting - phone signals are problematic but the Samson's wi-fi works well.

the people are so warm friendly and cant do enough for you. the food is good, and copious amounts, one needs a good appertite. The beer is well kept, and a good choice. The rooms are tidy and comfortable. near to lots of walls for the wall and lovely countryside. cant recommend it too highly.

I first dined here in 2017 when walking Hadrian's Wall and had always wanted to make a return visit some day. So two of us ate here on 2 consecutive nights in mid February, A mixture of starters, main courses and desserts - none of which could be faulted. Fresh salads, vegetables and truly wonderful home made burgers and a generous fish pie! Rice pudding with coconut milk and caramelised pineapple highly recommended. In north Norfolk we are spoilt for choice for good dining but this not-so-little pub could hold its own anywhere in the UK, including London. Well done the owners, bravo the chef(s)! This place is not just great value - it is inexpensive by any standard. Be ready to tip for the cheerful, helpful service.

Food was exceptional for the price. Spacious bedroom and the big double bed was very comfortable. Friendly people and a great selection of ales and spirits in the bar. The substantial full english breakfast was of very high quality. Stayed for two nights but would have loved a week.Andrea and Gary.

For my Birthday I wanted somewhere close to Hadrians Wall for an overnight stay then walk the wall the next day. The Samson Inn situated in Gilsland was perfect, lovely warm welcome, atmospheric, food good the prices were very reasonably priced . Nice little Village Pub. If you are planning a trip to Hadrians Wall stay at the Samson

We stayed in Gilsland for three nights and ate here each night. Very friendly staff, good atmosphere and relatively simple but very tasty food. Recommended.

Auf unsere Tour quer durch Nordengland nächtigten wir in der Nähe. Die Empfehlung von Denise dort zu Speisen war Super.Die Tagessuppe, Süsskartoffel, war sehr gut abgeschmeckt. Das Avocadogericht sogar grandios.Das Mousaka wie auch mein Lamm mit Couscous perfekt.Unbedingt dort einkehren.

Went with friends to this pub and had great pub grub, good beers and excellent service. The only thing that let it down for me was the chairs. They were so uncomfortable. I actually could not wait to get up and walk around. Such a shame as it became to focal point of a good night

nice snap and beer friendly nice choice of gins nice beer and gins nice food and pudding good choice if board games

We stayed in August. Very comfortable room. Very quiet. Excellent food and staff. Perfect for visiting Hadrian's Wall.

Good food but very busy as expected. Comfortable settings for weary travellers.we had done a very long stint on Hadrians wall and this inn was a welcoming place to stop for a meal. Service good .

We visited here on the recommendation of our B&B; hosts and weren't disappointed. We'd been asked to come a bit earlier as there was a large group booked in at the time we'd asked for. There was a good choice on the menu, the staff (and the locals!) were welcoming, the service was good and we had a very good meal.

My wife and I stayed overnight when walking Hadrian’s Wall. The staff were friendly and helpful. The en suite room was clean, tidy and large enough for the two of us, and had tea & coffee making service. We had a lovely meal in the pub, made with fresh local ingredients. The vegetarian options were delicious and the prices very reasonable.

Well kept pub, staff were friendly and helpful. Plenty to choose from the menu and the food was good. Location was good for exploring Hadrians Wall.

En mycket trivsam traditionell pub som ägs av samma personer som driver Willowford Farm B & B. Om du bor där kör dom gärna ner er till puben och hämtar senare. God mat och öl.

Hungry after a day pedalling up the numerous hills in the area, we visited for our evening meal. The pub has many interesting features and beautiful wooden tables.

Dropped in hoping to get a table at 7pm on a Saturday and luckily we could. Lovely food in a lovely little village pub, nice relaxed atmosphere and friendly and efficient service.

Great pub very close to Hadrian's Wall, great atmosphere, good cask ales, excellant food, has beer garden as well. Everything for a relaxing time after a walk.

Comfortable dining room, good menu, friendly staff - happy to exchange onion rings when overcooked without fuss.

We came here after doing the walk from Steel Rigg nearby (highly recommended, even if there are a lot of ups and downs!) The menu at lunchtime is more limited than in the evening but most people should be able to find something. I had the ploughman's; the cheeses were a bit cold but the pickled egg was intriguing. A friendly waitress, if a bit distracted.

We stayed here for 2 nights in June. It was a lovely, clean, comfortable Inn. Very friendly and helpful staff. The food (dinner and breakfast) was excellent. It is in a great location for walking Hadrian’s Wall. We will be back.

While on our way to Newcastle we stopped for lunch after seeing it advertised and we were so glad we did!

I looked on trip adviser for a local restaurant....... The Sampson came up trumps going by the reviews and lovely food photographs.

We dived straight into mains as we were starving, so probably missed out on great starters! Deciding on the Samson burger and Steak & Ale pie, with lemon posset and sticky toffee pudding to finish, t'was lush, the staff were great for seating us so soon seeing as we just appeared without booking!

We came on a Sunday lunch time. They offered a small menu plus roasts. I always think this is a good sign as places normally do a few classics very well.

Really enjoyed our dinner - food was totally delicious, and the coffee was sublime. Staff very friendly & service great. Booking pretty essential, but the

A brilliant meal. The service was top notch. Not too fussy, but friendly and efficient.

Oh wow, i don’t know where to start. Staying in Low Row Brampton for 8 nights and decided on the Samson Inn for my birthday meal last night having taken a sneaky peek the evening before to ensure we would be ok to take our dog (not wanting to leave him in the holiday let whilst we went out). It’s Dog friendly so this suited us well.

We had a meal here whilst on our Hadrians Wall walk. Fish pie was nice, and the steak & ale pie was OK, if a little small. Service was very attentive. We had puds, which were also quite small but tasty. There's little choice for walkers overnighting at Gilsland, so I guess we should be thankful!

Following a day of hiking along the Hadrian's Wall Path, dinner at The Sampson Inn was a great treat. The atmosphere was pleasant, the staff was friendly, the food was served quickly and was well-prepared, and a good selection of beers was available to enjoy. Highly recommended.

The Samson Inn has a great atmosphere and superb food from a good choice menu. The local beers were also excellent and we thoroughly enjoyed our evening out

I had seen the good reviews on here for the steak & ale pie and we weren't disappointed. Wonderful taste and the best chips we've had in years.

Excellent vegetarian meal with a pint of local brew. Tasty sumptuous meal beautifully presented .Super friendly service.

Had a really good meal here this week. Staff were really helpful and friendly too. Good atmosphere in one room setting, several people enjoying playing board games.

Fish pie packed with different fish in a thick, creamy, cheesy sauce with a crunchy, golden, cheesy crust. Broccoli still firm to bite and deliciously buttery swede and carrot mash.

Myself and my partner had a meal here and it was nice... friendly and polite staff- the meal choices were a little limited but were still nice with what we chose

Very good service, good choice of lunches with local produce. comfortable seating albeit a bit dark inside.

Great service and meals. There is a very nice restaurant area. Staff friendly and helpful. We would recommend.