Black Lion, Consallback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Love this pub. Found it after getting a call to do some work nearby. They do great food at lunchtime, with massive portions at a good price. Beer is great too with lots of different brews to try.
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The reviews below aren't unexpected but they don't collectively tell you what this pub is and isn't. It ISN'T a canalside dining pub, and on the luunchtime I visited I had to rely on the landlord's generous offer to rustle up whatever was in the kitchen - it was real trencher fare though.
And as for wasting money on makeovers - don't bother. This pub is a classic untouched alehouse along the lines of the Captain Cook in Staithes or the Free Trade.
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Something of an oversight in not reviewing this pub before now,m as we have been here thre/four times in the last 18 months or so, therefore more of a generic review than a specific occasion.
You can get here by heritage railway, canal boat, on foot/bike or by car, but however you arrive, it is worth the trek. The arrival by car is something of an adventure as you turn off the nearest "main" road at the Consall turnoff south of Wetley Rocks and drive...and drive...and drive...down ever narrowing roads to what appears to be the entrance to a private estate and then onwards through the wooded nature reserve until you eventually run out of road in a small car-park next to a complex of railway bridge/canal bridges/footpaths and riverbanks which you need to walk for another 300 yards or so up to - and over - a level crossing over the railway to arrive at the door of the pub. For all its isolation, but perhaps because of the journey required, it is nearly always busy and , on occasions, oppressively rammed - it once took us 35 minutes of queuing back out of the door to get served even just a drink, never mind try for food. They are passionate about the provision of excellent local real ales and hold a very good beer festival in the summer. It does appear somewhat ramshackle and untidy, which really ought to be attended to every now and again, but that's a minor quibble, really. Never eaten here yet, but will do so on our next expedition to what is a stunningly located pub.
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A beautiful day yesterday so decided to go to the Black Lion.
Its about 10 years since we last went.
Superb range of beers and not bad prices either.
Food was pretty good and large portions, well cooked and tasty, but oh how the place needs a spruce up.
Granted that the place needs to retain its character, but cobwebs everywhere, rotten wooden signs, beer kegs all over the place window baskets that if they are not going to be used ought to be taken down, uneven, uncut grass dirty tables with flaking varnish.
What a gem but what a shame, it really could be fantastic. Please, please landlord give it a makeover.
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The Black Lion, was recommended to us as a great pub to visit while we were visiting the Caldon Canal on our boat and as we had visitors on we thought we would visit.
However our hopes were badly dashed. We arrived about 6.30pm on Tuesday 20th September and to say that we were extremely disappointed is mild. The welcome we received was pretty sour and when we started to look at the menu the barman said that he wasn�t cooking though he was cooking for some people who had booked. I said to him that it didn�t say on the website that you didn�t cook on a Tuesday and his answer was that we should have booked. The website says �Our Restaurant serving hours are from opening time until late� however it does also say �please be aware that due to a high volume of customers you are advised to book in advance�. As it was a wet Tuesday night in mid September we didn�t think that it would be necessary to book and as the pub was practically empty when we arrived I can�t see how that would apply. I explained that we were on a boat and didn�t have food on board and it was suggested that we move on to the next pub � not exactly practical at that time of night.
We left the pub and walked back to our boat, unhappy and very hungry. As we had nothing to eat on board I had to serve my guests beans on toast.
I emailed the Black Lion twice but they have not had the decency to reply.
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Superb........ales, friendly staff, no nonsense filling food and even the chickens say hello. Perfect halfway house on a dog walk.
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Unimproved ale lover's pub in a lovely location on the Caldon Canal and Churnet Valley Railway. A good way to sample the great selection of beers is by ordering three thirds of a pint for �2.90 - and there's 10p off for Camra members. No nonsense food offering features huge lunchtime baguettes.
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No reviews ?! This is a classic that it's taken entry in the current GBG to bring to my attention. A lovely walk from the country park, plain and characterful canalside pub, very good beers from Alton (and several ciders), and cheap filling food.
Add this to the Anchor on Staffordshire's list of great canal pubs.
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