The Black Bull Hotel

Hotels
6.9 (676 reviews)
38 Market Steet , Kirkby Stephen , gb

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Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Restaurant
Family rooms
Garden
Pets allowed
Luggage storage
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Great location
Good food
Cons:
Cleanliness issues
Tired decor
Overpriced for some

Categories

Cleanliness
5.65
Concerns about cleanliness noted, including mould and unkempt areas.
Service
8.15
Friendly and helpful staff were frequently mentioned.
Location
8.15
A very convenient location, although some noise was reported.
Room Quality
6.15
Room decor needed updating; some rooms had issues.
Amenities
6.65
Basic amenities were available but some facilities needed improvement.
Value for Money
6.15
Mixed feelings regarding value; some reviews found it overpriced.
Food and Beverage
7.15
Food and drinks received positive feedback.
Overall Experience
7.15
Generally good stay with some notable issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-06 00:58

Property Description

Garden Oasis and Exciting Activities
Experience the serene garden and shared lounge at Black Bull Hotel. Enjoy a delicious meal at the on-site restaurant and unwind at the cozy bar in Kirkby Stephen.

Recreational Fun for Everyone
Engage in a game of darts or tennis during your stay at this 3-star inn. Explore popular activities like fishing and canoeing in the surrounding area.

Nearby Attractions and Convenience
Visit Bowes Museum and Brougham Castle, both just a short distance away. With the Teesside International Airport within reach, your journey to Black Bull Hotel is made convenient.

Book now to indulge in a delightful stay at Black Bull Hotel, where comfort meets adventure.

Important information:

Parking is subject to availability due to limited spaces.
This property does not accommodate bachelor(ette) or similar parties.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: MME

Property Policies

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed on request. Charges may be applicable.

  • Parking

    No parking available.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in public areas and is free of charge.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for £0 per person per night when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 17 years old stay for £0 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    You haven't added any extra beds.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

6.9
Based on 676 reviews
Cleanliness: 5.65
Service: 8.15
Location: 8.15
Room Quality: 6.15
Amenities: 6.65
Value for Money: 6.15
Food and Beverage: 7.15
Overall Experience: 7.15
P
Philip • solo_traveller • gb
3
Disappointing
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Electric sockets in room did not work, including TV
Expensive and poor value

2026-07-02 • via Nuitee
J
Jane • couple • gb
4
Disappointed, I'm afraid
Pros:

The bed was comfortable

Cons:

We advised prior to arrival that our bags were being dropped off, but were met with resistance, so not great customer service from the outset. Upon arriving, we felt like an inconvenience. We were shown where the exit was for when we left the following day before anything else !

Our room was hot and this was before the heat wave ! We had the window open and a fan on all night, but we did not sleep well

Breakfast was only available from 9am. Being on the Coast 2 Coast, we wanted to get up and out, but the chef was not available to cook any earlier

2026-06-28 • via Nuitee
E
Emma • solo_traveller • nz
7
2026-06-27 • via Nuitee
R
Robert • solo_traveller • gb
5
Spoilt by bathroom design
Pros:

Great location and really friendly staff

Cons:

The separate bathroom was tragic. The bath was too small to have a proper bath and no screen or curtain to make it a proper shower. You ended up sitting in the bath showering with the pipes off the tap, like a child.

2026-06-25 • via Nuitee
P
Peter • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-06-22 • via Nuitee
F
Francis • solo_traveller • gb
8
Nice short stay
Pros:

Friendly staff upon arrival. Was in the village for the Yomp weekend. All I needed was a place to stay and this was great. Centrally located/comfy bed

2026-06-21 • via Nuitee
C
Carol • couple • gb
1
Would not recommend this place at all
Pros:

Nothing

Cons:

Staff

2026-06-20 • via Nuitee
M
Mike • solo_traveller • gb
7
Good location
Pros:

The Black Bull Hotel offered reasonable accommodation at a fair price. The breakfast was decent and included in the price.

Cons:

The shower head was cracked so the water went everywhere, a minor irritation though. Breakfast has to be paid for the night before as bar staff are not available in the mornings to take payment. The earliest breakfast sitting is 9 am which is rather late when an early start is needed.

2026-06-19 • via Nuitee
N
Nicholas • solo_traveller • gb
5
Basic room at the Inn
Pros:

Good location on the High Street.

Cons:

Basic, old (and old-fashioned) room over a bar. This is an inn, not a hotel. If they called it as such expectations might be better managed. Shower sprayed over the screen and soaked the room. No food available as it was Appleby Horse Fair week and almost all hospitality closes down for the duration for fear of theft or worse - not really the Inn's fault.

2026-06-17 • via Nuitee
C
Charles • couple • gb
8
Enjoyable stay and would return again.
Pros:

Staff were friendly. Had a nice meal in the bar after a long hike up Wild Boar Fell. Hotel was quiet at night.

2026-06-16 • via Nuitee
D
Diane • solo_traveller • gb
9
2026-06-14 • via Nuitee
F
Fiona • couple • gb
10
Good stay made very welcome
Pros:

Comfortable

Cons:

Nothing

2026-06-14 • via Nuitee
J
Joe • family_with_children • gb
5
2026-06-14 • via Nuitee
P
Paul • couple • gb
10
Historic pub/ hotel in the middle of town
Pros:

Location and the little extras , not saving on tea and coffee

Cons:

It was all good really

2026-06-14 • via Nuitee
S
Serena • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-06-08 • via Nuitee
H
Heather • extended_group • gb
8
Great location and comfortable beds and pillows for the end of day!
Pros:

Needed somewhere to stay a night whilst moving house. This was super comfortable in a great location. Staff were lovely. and the bath at the end of the day was 🤌🏻

Cons:

As you’ll read in other reviews the pipes made the odd noise. It’s no biggie! It’s a characterful property and should be embraced!

2026-06-08 • via Nuitee
P
Philip • solo_traveller • gb
5
Served a purpose while hiking but should not use the location to just take money
Pros:

Located in town centre

Cons:

Had to pay for the breakfast, WiFi was shocking, bath had hairs in it

2026-06-08 • via Nuitee
I
Ian • couple • gb
7
2026-06-05 • via Nuitee
J
John • solo_traveller • gb
8
2026-06-04 • via Nuitee
C
Claire • solo_traveller • gb
8
2026-06-03 • via Nuitee