The Black Bull, Cumbria

Overview

Having made a huge success of the Three Hares Café & Bakery in vibrant Sedbergh, James and Nina Ratcliffe lovingly restored this rambling 17th-century inn in 2018.

The building oozes historic charm and original features have been retained in the informal front bar. Expect a traditional pub feel - warm, dark hues, wooden floors, red leather seating in cosy corners and two wood-burning stoves - perfect for hunkering down after an invigorating walk across the Howgill Fells.

However, tradition meets contemporary in the split-level dining area, where the heritage feel is mixed with pale grey walls, trendy lamp shades and local landscape photos, along with plenty of succulent plants and ferns. The stylish modern look compliments Nina's innovative cooking.

Away from the bustle of Sedbergh's main street, the peaceful rear garden enjoys fell views and is the place to relax and eat on warmer days - tuck into wood-fired pizzas and chargrilled meats from the brilliant BBQ shack, or chill out by the wood-burner in the rustic, stone-walled Stables bar. Kids will love the chickens and pigs and you may see one of chefs picking seasonal herbs in the small kitchen garden.

The staff provided exemplary service and warmth. We felt so welcome that it was more like we were staying at a friend of a friend’s country house rather than a pub in the middle of the Yorkshire Dales.

Simon and Jen - The September Chronicles

Rooms from

Doubles: £125

Good to know

All major credit cards accepted
Disabled access
Alfresco dining - BBQ Shack & Stables Bar
Parking available
Dog stay: £25 per stay

Town and city
There's plenty to keep the whole family busy in the buzzy town of Sedbergh, including book shops galore and a brilliant arts and crafts centre.

Outdoor adventures
You're midway between the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales here, but there's plenty of local walking on your doorstep, including the stunning Dales Way and hilly Howgill Fells.

Dog-friendly
Dogs are very welcome in the cosy bar and can stay overnight in three of the rooms - £25 per stay.

Fine dining
An exciting and innovative menu offering British, European and Asian-inspired dishes.

Rooms

Having climbed the fine oak staircase, which embodies traditional 17th-century charm with its dark panelling, deep red carpet and original stained-glass window on the second floor, the 21 rooms come as a real surprise.

Be it a classic, superior or luxury double room - or perhaps you've opted for the luxurious suite - all are completely unique, incorporating original features and named after local fells. The design and décor are influenced by Japanese aesthetics with clean lines and natural tones creating a peaceful ambience.

The rooms feature woollen blankets on big comfortable beds, local handmade furnishings and earthy colours on panelled feature walls. The three luxury rooms and the suite feature easy chairs, along with vast glass-walled bathrooms with deep tubs and walk-in showers. Added touches include bespoke Petrichor toiletries and locally sourced artisan teas and coffee and homemade biscuits. Rear rooms enjoy views of the fells. Wake up to a fabulous breakfast - mackerel and scrambled eggs or hot ham and eggs - then head for the hills.

Restaurant & bar

Drawing inspiration from Nina's rich Japanese heritage and James's Dales upbringing, Nina's exciting and innovative lunch and dinner menus successfully combine British, European and Asian-inspired dishes.

Provenance is key, and the menus change daily and evolve with the seasons, utilising the best local ingredients available; notably slow-reared, native-breed meat from surrounding farms. Evening dishes range from wild Lakeland venison, ox tongue, blackberry and beetroot, to Mansergh Hall pork, lotus root, XO and spinach, and desserts like apple, and egg custard, rhubarb and gingerbread. Good bar snacks are available all day - cheddar and chilli jam sandwich, Howgill Hereford beef burger, platter of home-cooked ham and artisan cheeses.

Allow time to peruse the carefully selected wine list as it offers depth and diversity, great value and showcases innovative, independent, sustainable and seasonal producers. Beer-drinkers will not be disappointed with the choice of eight real ales and craft beers on tap.

Things to do

With stunning views across the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, the Howgill Fells are a fabulous area to explore by foot. Spread across Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire, the fells are a walker's paradise - although surprisingly quiet - so you'll have the big skies and undulating hills all to yourself. Or, why not tackle the Dales Way - which runs for 80 miles from Ilkley in West Yorkshire to Bowness-on-Windermere in Cumbria, following riverside paths and passing through the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

One real local highlight is the Settle to Carlisle Railway, an iconic line which takes riders through jaw dropping scenery in the Yorkshire Dales and Cumbrian Fells. The railway itself has plenty of Victorian architecture, remote station buildings and huge stone viaducts - but it's still part of the UK rail network.