The Blue Lion
Main Road, East Witton DL8 4SN England
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#1 of 4 hotels in East Witton
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Surrounded by the splendor of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and nestled in the heart of iconic Wensleydale the historic 18th century Blue Lion Inn encapsulates the finest elements of traditional rural England. Paul and Helen Klein have run the Blue Lion Inn for over 25 years creating a blend of quintessential English coaching inn with modern comfort to relax and recharge. Whatever you require of the Blue Lion, be it real ale and food at the bar to candlelit fine dining and beautiful accommodation you can be sure that your stay will be homely, welcoming and full of friendly character.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Restaurant
Hiking
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Baggage storage
Newspaper
Breakfast available
Special diet menus
Non-smoking hotel
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Room features
Telephone
Flatscreen TV
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Historic Hotel
Languages Spoken
English
Location
Main Road, East Witton DL8 4SN England
Getting there
Car HireSee all East Witton car hire
670Reviews4Q+A100Room tips
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We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
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As long-time visitors (since the 1990's) for sentimental reasons we go back to the Blue Lion every couple of years, each time hoping for the fabulous vibes of our earlier visits. But sad to say what was once a truly magical experience has gradually tapered away to the frustratingly inconsistent. The level of welcome and service seems gender-related; attentive and friendly female FOH and waiting staff absolutely top notch, waistcoated males minding the bar grumpily old school and exuding lofty indifference. Unless you're one of the favoured 'regulars' or part of a loud-talking shooting party, of course. I was made to feel invisible and insignificant at the bar when one of these showed up. Food better than average gastro-pub fare but distinctly underwhelming for the money. The room we had was tired, in need of re-decoration and poorly cleaned - the previous occupants' waste bin had not been emptied when we arrived. Nice. Overall experience - distinctly mediocre for the money. To be fair to new owners, in our experience this has been the trend here for the last few years. Comparisons may be odorous, but up the road is the Wensleydale Heifer in West Witton, fishing in similar waters but without that slightly-pleased-with-ourselves edge. .....who always seem to get things just right. Sadly, it finally feels to us like the end of our affair with the Blue Lion. Sorry. Maybe it's just us........…
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Helpful
Have been coming to the Blue Lion for years because we’ve not once had a bad meal. Since change in ownership I honestly think it’s got better. The food is delicious, excellent service and the decor very subtly updated.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
We have been eating at the Blue Lion for years… Todays’s lunch was one of the best ever… The whole place was looking spritely.. New garden furniture… new staff uniforms… new paint…new menu… We loved our lunch… The scallops were excellent… the bread was superb… a new source… Two Dales sour dough…heavenly… The carpaccio of beef was outstanding! Good to see the old faithfuls on the staff still there with their impeccable service … Excellent to see the new owner is a fully hands on operator which shows! Altogether a faultless lunch… The changeover has been seamless with some improvements on what was always a pretty slick operation… We feel well placed to assess working as we do in upmarket hospitality… Thanks for a great experience… Austin and Tim Millgate House Richmond
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Same great welcome. Very good food and glad change of ownership hasn’t changed it much Always enjoy visiting and must stay again soon. Lunch was great. Proper welcome and proper chips. Will return soon
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Our lunch was absolutely wonderful, the food is excellent. Front of house team outstanding led by a great woman who knows her stuff! We will definitely return. It’s quite clear now to those of us who eat out that we will have to pay more for this type of service and cooking, we perhaps just don’t go out as often as we used to to soften the blow!
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Date of stay: May 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Disappointing stay. Check in fine. Friends had dog friendly room in courtyard which they said was fine. We were in main building room 3. Clean with good towels but room in need of decorating as was bathroom where all floor tiles badly cracked Food generally ok but overpriced. Vegetarian Rosti dreadful. Extra veg £4.95 for 2 carrots and parsnips a joke! Pleasant female staff but men surly. Breakfast nothing special . Didn’t have skimmed milk so good luck if you request oat or soy milk! Croissants late first day Dining area uncomfortable and tables too close together unless you are really interested in the neighbouring conversations Certainly wouldn’t go again
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
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Room Tip: Go elsewhere
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+1
We visited The Blue Lion for lunch. There were six of us and from the moment we arrived we received the warmest of welcomes. The old coaching inn is located in the very picturesque Dales village of East Witton and close by to Jervaulx Abbey. There is ample parking located at the rear. We entered through the main entrance and walked straight into a characterful room where there were tables and chairs, a real fire burning and a well stocked bar. The menu was excellent and we all thoroughly enjoyed everything we ordered. The presentation was excellent, the food plentiful and delicious and the service top notch. We were lucky enough to speak with the owner who herself is a delightful and very friendly lady. This establishment is a credit to her and her team. I have no hesitation in recommending The Blue Lion for a choice of venue. There is a set lunchtime menu or an a la carte with specials. It’s the perfect choice for celebrating a special occasion or just to enjoy a traditional cosy inn/pub. We really enjoyed our time here and continued to rave about it long after we had arrived home…
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
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1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Stayed at the Blue Lion this weekend for my birthday treat. The inn is in a beautiful village and the sun was shining. We had drinks in the beer garden whilst the sun was up it did drop Chilly so we moved indoors where the fires had been lit so was lovely and cosy. We had a dining table near the open fire. Fabulous wine selection and we had a bottle of Marlborough Sauvignon Seleni. Hubby had leek and potato soup, the lamb shoulder and for dessert apple soufflé, I had chicken supreme and creme brûlée for dessert. Nice touch of warm Fresh bread was given before the start and was lovely with tasty butter. All the staff were so lovely and friendly. We had full English breakfast this morning all freshly cooked and delicious - big thank you to the lovely Jane for giving our old springer a sausage of her own! 10/10 to The Blue Lion!! …
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
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Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
I order the lamb shoulder and ask for mint sauce on the side. Waiter gives me a disgruntled look and tells me the chef won’t be happy! I hardly ordered a dollop of vanilla ice cream to side with the lamb. Either way, extremely arrogant. And for £35,00 the dish wasn’t even worth it….The restaurant has gone down a few notches unfortunately.
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: Don’t ask for the mint sauce
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Helpful
A lovely welcome. Nice fire. Small but wide menu. We all had hot sandwiches. They were lovely but over priced a little. Children had blackcurrant and lemonade which cost more than the beer which was disappointing. Ok all round but a little pricey.
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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ALSO KNOWN AS
the blue lion hotel east witton, blue lion east witton, blue lion hotel east witton
LOCATION
United KingdomEnglandYorkshireNorth YorkshireEast Witton
NUMBER OF ROOMS
15
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Claim Your ListingTHE BLUE LION - Updated 2023 Reviews (East Witton)
Frequently Asked Questions about The Blue Lion
Which popular attractions are close to The Blue Lion?
Nearby attractions include Leyburn Shawl (3.5 miles), The Forbidden Corner (3.2 miles), and Jervaulx Abbey (1.5 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at The Blue Lion?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, an on-site restaurant, and free parking.
What food & drink options are available at The Blue Lion?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant and breakfast during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to The Blue Lion?
Conveniently located restaurants include The Saddle Room Restaurant, Sandpiper Inn, and The Wyvill Arms.
Is The Blue Lion located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.03 miles away from the centre of East Witton.
Are pets allowed at The Blue Lion?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Are there any historical sites close to The Blue Lion?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Easby Abbey (9.2 miles), St Gregory's Church (7.6 miles), and Marmion Tower (8.9 miles).