The Old Black Lion
Top rated by guests

8.5Excellent
(711 Ratings)
"The staff was exceptional. James was delightful, as was everyone we interacted with.
No request was too big, and they always went out of their way to meet any and all request.
The restaurant was top o..."
Verified guestDon't miss out! Price and availability may change
2 guests · 1 bedroom · 1 bath
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Well priced for this locationPriced under area average
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Surrounded by beautiful scenery but just a few minutes' walk from Hay-On-Wye's center, this charming inn has a traditional wooden-beamed bar. Dating back hundreds of years, Oliver Cromwell is rumored to have stayed in the 17th century.
Free WiFi/internet
Free Parking
Non-smoking
Heating
Bar
Balcony/Terrace
WiFi/Internet
Garden
Accessible Parking
Key access
Contactless check-in/out
Housekeeping available
Fire alarm
Fire extinguisher
Cleaning products
$$$$
Top rated by guests
8.5Excellent
(711 Ratings)
"The staff was exceptional. James was delightful, as was everyone we interacted with.
No request was too big, and they always went out of their way to meet any and all request.
The restaurant was top o..."
Verified guestDon't miss out! Price and availability may change
Ratings and reviews
8.0 / 10.0
The staff were extremely friendly and helpful and we were made to feel at home.
We very much enjoyed being able to join in with the pub quiz night!
Many thanks for a lovely stay.
It's a very old property with inevitable drawbacks, but that was part of the charm - so not really a disadvantage.
10.0 / 10.0
The staff was exceptional. James was delightful, as was everyone we interacted with.
No request was too big, and they always went out of their way to meet any and all request.
The restaurant was top of the line! The chef prepared our Hereford steaks perfectly.
The beds were comfortable. (Kudos for a working towel warmer) The location was walkable to everything in town.
Truly wonderful experience.
We loved everything
10.0 / 10.0
Liked everything. Lovely pleasant staff with a good welcome. Quick check in and shown to our room which was lovely and warm which was a BIG plus as it had recently been snowing and was -1 🥶 had a really good meal in the evening and would definitely recommend 👍🏻
Nothing everything was great.
8.0 / 10.0
Great quirky room apparently with a friendly ghost, which we had no experience with, thank goodness. Staff and food excellent.
10.0 / 10.0
Cozy and friendly
9.0 / 10.0
Location was great, rooms were beautiful and well-equipped. Restaurant was lovely and convenient. Onsite parking was very convenient.
Water pressure and temperature in the shower was a bit unpredictable.
8.0 / 10.0
I love the pub, the food and the staff
Closing on a Sunday
9.0 / 10.0
Stayed for one night, visited the Christmas Fayre and book shops.
The staff were friendly, the room was a good size and comfortable.
The menu for dinner didn't have many options but we both found something we liked and thoroughly enjoyed.
The breakfast was good although they were out of kippers but the chef offered smoked haddock instead.
The property is set in a pretty village location, would stay again.
8.0 / 10.0
Great location and super menu
Good food but staff were v officious and we were rushed
9.0 / 10.0
A real gem of a place, with amazing staff. We couldn't have been made more welcome - delicious breakfast and dinner. Log fire in the bar was perfect after a cold bike ride
9.0 / 10.0
Friendly staff, great breakfast, fab location.
9.0 / 10.0
The place and room were really nice.
10.0 / 10.0
As always, I had a wonderful stay at my favourite hotel in the Uk.
The staff were amazing and the evening meal was stunning.
We booked breakfast for the Sunday, which was also good value for money.
My favourite room is usually the Cromwell suite because of the views but if I dont stay there I always ask for a room in the coach house which is slightly quieter because its seperated from the main hotel.
Our room was clean, and I look forward to my next stay at The Old Black Lion.
See you all in a couple of months.
Nothing I didn't like about my stay.
9.0 / 10.0
Location and friendliness of the staff
the pillows
8.0 / 10.0
Quaint hotel with great location. Friendly staff. Able to walk just a couple of blocks to the "downtown" area.
Beware that space is limited in the dining area and parking area. The town also rolls up early and doesn't open early. Dinner isn't served anywhere until 6pm.
10.0 / 10.0
We recently had a family dinner at The Old Black Lion the night before our wedding, and many of our guests stayed at the hotel for the weekend. From start to finish, everything was absolutely perfect.
The food was incredible, everyone commented on how delicious their meals were, and the staff were so warm, friendly, and attentive. James couldn’t have been more accommodating; nothing was too much trouble, and he made sure everything ran smoothly.
The hotel itself was fantastic. Our guests were so happy with their rooms and the wonderful hospitality they received. We have stayed at The Old Black Lion many times before and knew it would be the perfect place for our family and friends to stay while celebrating our wedding at The Globe, and it truly was.
Thank you, James and the whole team, for making our weekend extra special. We can’t recommend The Old Black Lion highly enough. The people, the food, and the atmosphere are just outstanding.
7.0 / 10.0
Nice staff, largely clean room, good location, wonderful view, very good steak.
Room needed dusting in places. And an issue with a dinner that we didn’t have being charged to our room when we checked out. We didn’t have to pay it but it was a conversation we shouldn’t have had to have at all.
10.0 / 10.0
Lovely pub with superb food and drink, our evening meal was absolutely tremendous! The staff were very attentive and friendly. The room was well appointed, clean with good bathroom and amazing views from the bedroom window. Good private parking, would definitely come back again!!
Nothing
7.0 / 10.0
Location
Friendly staff
The rooms - poor headroom.
Very difficult door handles
9.0 / 10.0
The dedicated staff, the general atmosphere, the service, the location, the building and we had an excellent breakfast and dinner
All was good
10.0 / 10.0
The accommodations presented a charming, rustic aesthetic, creating a welcoming atmosphere. Its strategic location offered convenient access to various points of interest, ideal for exploration. Each morning, the provided breakfast was exceptional, offering a delightful start to the day. However, it was unexpected to receive an additional charge for this meal. As i thought it was booked in with room for the price we payed, Addressing this billing discrepancy will ensure a seamless experience for future guests.
Nothing
9.0 / 10.0
Great, attentive team and fabulous food.
All good.
9.0 / 10.0
Breakfast was good
Nothing to dislike
8.0 / 10.0
Lovely location, easy to check in & parking available. Staff were amazing & breakfast was very tasty!
7.0 / 10.0
1. Very poor quality toilet paper
2. Breakfast Saturday 8.00 am. Waited c. 30 minutes after ordering. Then gluten-free breakfast very poorly cooked. Considered quitting before it was delivered.
9.0 / 10.0
It was central so easy for walking around the town. The beds were comfortable, and breakfast was excellent!
We were there for two nights, and nobody actually came to replenish any of the tea/coffee in the room, despite the clean the room sign being on the outside of,the door.
10.0 / 10.0
Great location. Friendly and professional welcome. We enjoyed the pub quiz. Good that parking was available.
10.0 / 10.0
Room and pub excellent... wonderful dinner and breakfast...host/owner very accommodating and interesting to chat with!
Nothing
10.0 / 10.0
Lovely old pub with amazing food
Nothing
8.0 / 10.0
We had a very pleasant room on the ground floor of an annexe. Good modern bathroom facilities.
Dinner was very good and the staff were very friendly and helpful. Very nice breakfast
The inn was just out of the busiest part of town but within easy walking distance
Nothing.
8.0 / 10.0
Good proximity to Hay, nice characterful pub, helpful staff
Room felt a bit dated but had most of what I needed and the bed was comfortable
10.0 / 10.0
Excellent location for the village of books! The food was wonderful and great care was given to my daughter’s food as she is a celiac!
8.0 / 10.0
Room very pleasant and staff kindly upgraded me from a single to a double.
Staff were helpful and let me leave my car there for a few hours after checking out -much appreciated.
Good location and though i didnt have dinner there, the menu had items i would have liked to try.
At breakfast the sausage was very good, the coffee not so much.
6.0 / 10.0
Nice central location
Poor bedding for a heatwave ! 12 tog duvet on the bed, not very new looking sheets/ duvet cover
9.0 / 10.0
Booked 2 twin rooms. Both rooms were very nice,clean and comfortable Good storage space, tv and Wi-Fi, tea and coffee making facilities available.
We didn’t eat at the venue so can’t comment on the food. Lovely bar area with outside beer garden.
Great location
Nothing we didn’t like. Staff really friendly and helpful.
10.0 / 10.0
Beautiful old fashioned pub with lots of beams. The staff were excellent, very professional & welcoming, especially a lady called Jo. Breakfast was superb. Great location too & private parking.
There was nothing that I didn’t like. However, it would have been nice to have been warned that the bar & restaurant closed early on a Sunday. But that is only a very minor criticism of what was a truly lovely stay.
8.0 / 10.0
I liked the location and it was fairly quiet and peaceful.
On 2 of the evenings when eating, they had run out of many of of the options on the menu... one evening there was only 1 thing left that was gluten free. There also was quite a wait in getting served that evening.
9.0 / 10.0
Perfect location in Hay, at an excellent price. Ample parking. Superb breakfast. Welcoming and warm.
8.0 / 10.0
Lovely characterful old building in good location in Hay. Parking available which is a plus in the town. Highly rated restaurant which was a reason for picking the Black Lion. Staff were efficient and friendly.
The full menu is not available every day which we didn't know and would have altered our restaurant booking had we done so. Not a problem - if we know! Rooms aren't cleaned every day except on request.
FAQs
Does this property follow enhanced cleaning procedures?
Yes, this inn has implemented enhanced cleaning procedures and processes to keep you healthy and safe.
Is parking included with this inn?
Parking is not specified as an available amenity at The Old Black Lion. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this inn?
We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this inn. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.
Is The Old Black Lion pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this inn is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at The Old Black Lion?
We found 15 amenities for this rental. This includes free wifi/internet, free parking, non-smoking, heating, and bar.
