The Black Bull Inn
Ian Jones, Food and Drink Editor
Want to see the British countryside at its best? First step, a trip out to the historic market town of Sedbergh for a stay at The Black Bull. Not only for the wonderful onsite restaurant, which we covered in a recent piece, this stone inn is also a fabulous overnight stay for those looking to roam around the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. Not to mention it’s a hop, skip and a jump from Kendal in the Lake District.
It’s run by acclaimed chef Nina Matsunaga and her partner, local lad James Ratcliffe. The duo first came to the food world’s attention in 2012 with their Manchester street food stall The Moocher at the much-loved Levenshulme Market. A few years later, after picking up multiple high-profile awards, the couple took over The Black Bull Inn and began a process of serious refurbishment.
They did a sterling job bringing this 17th-century coaching inn into the 2020s while retaining its charm and rich history. The revamped venue opened in 2018 and soon received lavish praise from the public and broadsheet journalists alike.
It’s not hard to see why. In the evening, the bar area is packed with friendly locals enjoying a drink and simple food from the bar menu, giving it a delightful and all-too-rare ‘classic pub’ feel. The rooms are stunning – spacious, feature-packed and restful. From the free-standing bath to the huge, comfy bed, every element is flawless.
Of course, fans of fine dining will adore the restaurant, but the breakfast is up there with the best. Everything is locally sourced where possible, hearty, wholesome and the ideal starter for a day exploring this stunning area of Britain. Looking for something clean and energy-giving? The granola with Lancashire Greek-style yoghurt comes packed with crunchy seeds and dried fruit. Similarly, it doesn’t get much fresher than the mackerel and scrambled eggs on toast.
And for all you connoisseurs of the English breakfast, this is one of the best for miles around. Most notably, the crumbly, illicit-tasting black pudding – so good you’ll go hunting around the village afterwards to find some to take home.
The pretty market town of Sedbergh is close to some of the UK’s most stunning scenery, alongside many of the UK’s best fine-dining restaurants, and the inn itself even contains one. There’s no better place to start your adventure than here.
