The Blue Lion
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The Blue Lion

Nice touches
Traveller (209)
Restaurant
Dining (25)
the offending bed complete with springs
Room & Suite (12)

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About

4.0
#1 of 1 hotels in East Witton
4.6 of 5 bubbles
Location
3.9 of 5 bubbles
Rooms
3.8 of 5 bubbles
Value
4.3 of 5 bubbles
Cleanliness
4.3 of 5 bubbles
Service
4.1 of 5 bubbles
Sleep Quality
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
Room features
Telephone
Flatscreen TV
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
3.0 of 5 stars
HOTEL STYLE
Quiet
Business
Languages Spoken
English
685Reviews5Q+A100Room tips

Reviews
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Detailed Reviews
SDM1972 wrote a review Feb 2020
Barnsley, England, United Kingdom
3.0 of 5 bubbles
After reading some reviews my expectations of this stay were higher than what I received. Staying for the 1st time for a 2 night stay for my Husbands birthday with my daughter and our 2 dogs. We ate here for the 1st evening and although the food was very good there wasn't a great choice for children who don't really eat fancy dishes and also for myself who is not a red meat or seafood eater.We didn't eat here on the 2nd evening due to this. Desserts were very good.
The room we had was room 7 right next to the main entrance which was absolutely fine but the bedroom is a little tired compared to the bathroom. However the biggest disappointment, is this accommodation is pet friendly but we felt like this was not accommodated well . We were left with 1 small dog bowl that had been left outside and had slugs in it and 1 small blue towel to keep 2 big dogs clean before they went inside (Good job we brought our own), no pet treats left or anything, Unfortunately we paid £30 per night for that privilege too. Breakfast was very good for adults but not much choice for kids who tastes are very different. The levels of service changed dramatically at Breakfast, the 2nd morning we were offered juice and cereal before our main breakfast which was not offered on the 1st morning, this was a real Godsend due to the fact there were no croissants on offer on the 2nd day for our daughter who then only had toast for her breakfast. The staff were more tentative to guests staying in the main part of the hotel without pets. Unfortunately this is not what I would call a 'Pet Friendly' hotel and on that basis would not stay again.
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Date of stay: February 2020
2.0 of 5 bubblesValue
3.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
2.0 of 5 bubblesService
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.
E73 wrote a review Aug 2020
Grimsby, United Kingdom
4.0 of 5 bubbles
So first impressions were not the best. Whilst I appreciate that this pub is trying to keep it’s old world charm, we did not really expect to walk into the entrance reception area to see plenty of dust on much of the dark wood surroundings... we hadn’t booked a haunted house themed weekend! The reception area was odd.. if you can imagine a really old dental practice reception, well that is what it reminded me of. The bar and eating areas are all in keeping with the rest of the main building, dark wood, old fashioned. Bar was limited with not a great choice.
We checked in and were placed in rm 14 which was in the second courtyard area and was lovely and spacious with bath and shower over. No tea and coffee facilities were left for us however, despite being in the room description, so if this was intentional in light of Covid it should really have been mentioned to us when we checked in.
Evening meal for us was mixed. I ordered the pork tenderloin which was absolutely gorgeous, but my fiancé ordered a steak which was seriously over priced for the quality of it, plus they cooked it medium rare instead of his requested medium well. Quite pricey food for sure. Also the waiting staff seems particularly focused on one table for some reason, which they attended to perfectly, but we had to request a table clear at one point. Breakfast service the next morning was quite slow but the breakfast itself was lovely.
Wouldn’t likely stay again as we were a little put off by the dusty dark pub areas.
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Date of stay: August 2020
4.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
4.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
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.
GSimps0n wrote a review Oct 2020
Torquay, United Kingdom
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Two of us had to spray our hands then have the temperature of our foreheads taken before we could enter the restaurant. We passed the tests then were taken to a room with a log fire. Several tables were already occupied indicating a good eating place. Staff wore face masks. The barman came to us and took our drink orders which he quickly supplied. A waiter provided the menus and soon took our orders. The meals were delivered to our table. The meals were a little expensive but excellent. Before leaving I paid the bill. I was pleased to see there was no stipulated service charge and there was an option to leave a tip. I object strongly to having to pay at some restaurants a stipulated 20% tip with no proof it is received by the staff. I should decide on the tip.
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Date of stay: September 2020
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
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.
Paul D wrote a review Jun 2021
+1
3.0 of 5 bubbles
We`ve been regular visitors to the Blue Lion over the years but feel it`s now run it`s course for us. Having booked requesting the restaurant we were shown to a table in the bar which was "all legs" meaning it was uncomfortable to sit there next to another group without infringing on their space. We requested a move to the restaurant as initially booked to be told in a surly way by the seeming head guy that the table was fine and we could move closer to the other group. he then conceded and moved us to a better table in the half empty restaurant requested. Starters ordered the souffle was lovely and popular. My wife`s " queen scallops" were appalling. A few tiny scallops resembling the ones you buy in a cheap supermarket almost welded to the plate with gruyere cheese and over-baked making them difficult to scrape off the shells and tasteless bar the cheese scrapings. Shocking as the dearest starter on offer. The halibut and pork tenderloin mains redeemed the chefs somewhat and were delicious with beautifully cooked vegetables. We shared a pudding of Italian meringue with black cherries and ice cream which again was quite nice. Why would we not go back? Service seemed a struggle and complaints about the poor starter were reported back to the kitchen with no real reply. In hindsight I should have refused to pay for the starter - it was that poor. In addition the pub restaurant is well overdue a makeover. We noticed additional external bedroom from when last here but I doubt the restaurant has seen even a splash of paint in the 20 years or so we have been visiting the place. Chipped woodwork, ancient mats to set plates on that needed replacing years ago, old fashioned lighting / carpets and colours now work against the generally high standard of food to make it a venue that is not worth the extra price paid. Visiting when the longest day made it lighter in the restaurant showed up the faults. No we doubt we will be back when next in the Dales as we found other places this time that were clean, modern and had high food standards at a lower price with less than surly service .
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Date of stay: June 2021
3.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
2.0 of 5 bubblesService
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.
Reffoodie wrote a review Mar 2020
Ellesmere, United Kingdom
4.0 of 5 bubbles
We stayed for 2 nights Dinner, Bed and Breakfast. Our room was lovely and comfortable. Not grand but didn’t need to be. The staff were delightful. The food was amazing. I thought perhaps a little over-priced (like braised beef for £29) but the scallops in scallop foam were the best I’ve ever had and the apple and cheese soufflés both stunning. We had a super Côtes du Rhône grenache which we had both nights. A small glass of champagne for £11 was maybe a bit steep again. The main downside of the DB&B deal was an allowance of only £35 for dinner. This is certainly not enough with prices as high as theirs. I would urge the hôtel to reconsider this. I looked at staying at the Assheton Arms at Downham in the Ribble Valley where the DB&B allowance was £50 and the food cheaper. Breakfast was excellent, super quality meats and well cooked, loved the fresh orange juice and good decaf coffee. Ordered a birthday cake for my partner’s 50th and it was a bit stale or dry and cost £15 which again I thought a bit pricey. Overall, it was a lovely place to stay in a gorgeous setting with excellent staff. But I really would review the dinner allowance if I were running the place.
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip 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.
hayley p wrote a review Jul 2022
richmond
3.0 of 5 bubbles
I made the reservation as we were celebrating my husbands birthday. This is a venue that we hadn’t eaten at before (but had visited previously for a drink) despite living relatively close by so I though this a good opportunity to try it out. The venue is lovely, 3 or 4 rooms of tables rather than 1 large room, so it feels more intimate. The menu looks lovely with plenty of meaty options (and apparently a separate vegan menu). There was a very good selection of non alcoholic drinks (this venue is very much in the countryside so it’s likely someone will be driving!) and the service was very friendly. The starters were terrific. My husbands main (lamb) he says, was beautiful….. I ordered steak which unfortunately was tough and sinewy and reluctantly I sent it back. It was replaced with a fresh steak (although it seemed to take an age to arrive and my husband had long since finished eating) and this was much much better. The chips were fabulous, the best I’ve tasted in a long time. What I was more than disappointed with was the side of ‘house salad’. I asked for no dressing on it…. I don’t particularly like dressings so easier just to say none on it thank you. But what arrived was a bowl containing lettuce leaves. Not a single other thing. At a cost of £4.95 I was totally flabbergasted. In fact, even with a dressing on it I fail to see how a charge of just shy of £5 can be made for what is likely to have been 50p worth of baby gem lettuce leaves…..
I didn’t eat all of the steak and the remainder was wrapped for me to take home. On paying the bill, I asked about the ‘salad’ and whether they usually only served lettuce. And was told with absolutely no sense of irony, yes - it’s a green salad. After making the point that it was just lettuce, and being told ‘you didn’t want the dressing’ …. True - but it was only the dressing I didn’t want, not the other things that usually come with a salad - it was finally removed from the bill.
We did enjoy our visit, and would certainly like to return…. But it probably won’t be in a hurry. There are many very good restaurants in the area, so at this level they need to offer something outstanding…. And sadly, this kind of didn’t.
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Good parking available, probably worth booking in advance.
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.
lampers wrote a review Nov 2020
leeds
4.0 of 5 bubbles
I booked a table for me, my wife and daughter for lunch as a birthday treat.
We have visited several times over the years and have championed this jewel of Yorkshire many times. It's a classy beautiful establishment.
I had the scallop starter which altho was tasty was incredibly overpriced for the portion size. I second this theme with the carbonara, it was very tasty but borderline obscene at £18 for the portion.
I ordered a 2nd pint as the food came so I didnt run out and as quick as a flash my 1st pint with at least 2 large mouthfuls left was taken.
We certainly did not appreciate the waiter/landlord asking if we wanted to add a tip to the card machine payment in full ear shot of other diners. Tipping is our prerogative and felt extremely uncomfortable with this. Even if we pay on card we tend to always tip with cash if the food and service justified it.
I feel 3 stars would be a disservice as we do like this place on the whole. Just with all the above points we could not give it the full 5. We booked this as a birthday treat and with the prices this is what it shall always remain to us, a birthday treat, unfortunately
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Date of stay: November 2020Trip 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.
sunlunlad wrote a review Oct 2020
Hamsterley, United Kingdom
3.0 of 5 bubbles
A reasonable Sunday lunch was served to us at the hefty price of over £28,in a side room that was poorly policed during this pandemic. The volume of the entitled ranble that dominated the space was quite frankly unbearable. Non of the staff,which included the owner asked them to tone down or control their privileged brats that were roaming the restaurant unchecked. Luckily they left midway through our lunch and everyone breathed a sigh of relief,including the owner,who commented on the chaos,but did nothing about it.
As mentioned earlier the pricing structure suggests food of a higher standard,approaching the michelin star ratings,however having sampled the delights of the Star Inn at Harome and Forestside in Grasmere we were left wondering what justification they had for asking said price.
Its a lovely part of the world and a handsome building and I'm sure they know what to do to raise their game,its just a shame they didn't on this occasion.
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Date of stay: October 2020Trip 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.
nyorksfamily wrote a review Jan 2020
Malton, United Kingdom
2.0 of 5 bubbles
This hotel looks great on the surface but lacks attention to detail.
There are no where near enough staff employed and early evening no one could be found behind the bar and a 20 minute wait wasnt unusual.
We ate in the restaurant both nights we stayed. The first night the food was superb even though the wait was very long and the staff were running around like headless chickens. The second night the food was very poor and no choice of bread. The steaks we had were very fatty and full of gristle.
In the bathroom in our room we splashed the floor and wiped it with the bath mat which was very dirty and black after we had done so. We placed it in the bath to be replaced the following morning for it to be taken and not replaced so we were with out a bath mat and had to get out on to the dirty floor.
The tea and coffee were not replenished over our stay.
Generally very poor.
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Date of stay: December 2019Trip 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.
Graeme F wrote a review Aug 2020
Birtley, United Kingdom
2.0 of 5 bubbles
We booked a table for 4 people in the restaurant for Monday lunchtime. On arrival we were warmly greeted and were able to have a pre meal drink outside in the sunshine. When we were shown to our table we found ourselves in the snug as we were told that the restaurant wasn’t open which disappointing and seemed odd that we’d been allowed to book it in the first instance. Having said that the room itself was pleasant. Two starters arrived and were slammed down by an angry waiter called Aldo who eventually via a grunt ascertained who they were meant for. I had the Shortrib of Wagyu Beef Borderlaise which was superb. My wife had asked Sirloin Steak which was difficult to cut never mind eat. This had to be exchanged so meant she was eating the main alone. Again we were unfortunate enough to encounter Aldo who slammed the meal down in the manner of an angry schoolmaster and had to be requested to go back for the Portobello mushroom, a vital component of the meal. I had the Ice Cream for dessert which was superb. We made the staff aware that we were there for my Sister-in-Laws 70th birthday which was that very day and not one of them even managed to say Happy Birthday. We didn’t bother to mention it to Aldo for fear of a reprisal. We asked for two separate bills as each couple were dining off separate menus and were told this wasn’t possible. My wife eventually persuaded someone to be able to do so. This beautiful restaurant in a lovely location could be so much better if these issues I have mentioned were addressed.
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip 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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Claire E asked a question Jun 2024
Consett, United Kingdom
Hi, can you use the car park if staying in a local air bnb?
Answer from IDavidRowley
Driffield, United Kingdom227 contributions126 helpful votes
Suggest you ask the owners before. If you have a meal or two there, it would improve your chances.
Answer from JMS34987
York, United Kingdom222 contributions62 helpful votes
I think you'd be best off calling them to speak to someone. They are very helpful and accommodating so I'm sure it won't be a problem.
Lovefoodhaterude asked a question Jun 2017
Norwich, United Kingdom64 contributions41 helpful votes
Are dogs allowed in?
Answer from Helen S
Bedale, England, United Kingdom5 contributions4 helpful votes
There were dogs in there when we went!
Peter h asked a question Apr 2016
Northallerton, United Kingdom6 contributions
Is the dining areas wheelchair accessible and do you have an accessible toilet? Thank You
Answer from AABUK
Buxton, United Kingdom114 contributions86 helpful votes
The dining room looked wheelchair accessible but not sure if there is an accessible toilet.
benedicite asked a question Jul 2015
United Kingdom3 contributions5 helpful votes
Is there anywhere to park?
Answer from hk20
Yorkshire
Yes, we have a large car park at the back of the building.
Sandra D wrote a tip Aug 2024
Bedlington, England65 contributions41 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"There is a large car park to the rear of the property which is accessed from a side road."
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Richie T wrote a tip Jun 2024
Holmfirth, United Kingdom9 contributions6 helpful votes
2.0 of 5 bubbles
"Don’t go…"
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IDavidRowley wrote a tip May 2024
Driffield, United Kingdom227 contributions126 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Book to avoid disappointment."
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lord_lamyman wrote a tip Dec 2023
Lincoln, United Kingdom69 contributions61 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Plenty of parking towards the back of the property"
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Sharon E wrote a tip Apr 2023
1 contribution
2.0 of 5 bubbles
"Go elsewhere"
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Not the right property for you?
There are more places to choose from in the East Witton area.
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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THE BLUE LION - Updated 2024 Reviews & Photos

Frequently Asked Questions about The Blue Lion
Which popular attractions are close to The Blue Lion?
Nearby attractions include The Forbidden Corner (3.2 miles), Leyburn Shawl (3.5 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.
Is parking available at The Blue Lion?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
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).
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