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Hours
Sun
11:30 - 18:30
Wed
0:00 - 23:59
Thu
10:30 - 15:0017:00 - 22:00
Fri
10:30 - 15:0017:00 - 23:00
Sat
10:30 - 23:00
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
4.5
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
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PRICE RANGE
£9.00 – £25.00
CUISINES
British, Gastropub
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
meals, features
Is this restaurant a hidden gem or off-the-beaten path?
Details
About
Welcome to The Blacksmiths Arms, a British gastro restaurant in Barrow upon Soar with a rich history dating back to 1753. Our unique dining experience combines traditional British cuisine with a modern twist. Enjoy carefully crafted daily menus showcasing seasonal flavors, from classic pub favorites to innovative creations. Our inviting ambiance blends rustic charm and contemporary elegance. Dine indoors or al fresco in our brand new outdoor area with a car park. Choose from a wide selection of alcoholic beverages at our bar. Private dining and event spaces are available for special occasions. Visit blacksmiths1753.co.uk for info and reservations. We can't wait to make your dining experience unforgettable.
PRICE RANGE
£9.00 – £25.00
CUISINES
British, Gastropub
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, After-hours, Drinks
FEATURES
Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Parking Available, Street Parking, Validated Parking, Free off-street parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Mastercard, Visa, Digital Payments, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Family style, Gift Cards Available
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4.5
703 reviews
Excellent
507
Very good
127
Average
45
Poor
12
Terrible
12
Joanne
London2357 contributions
Jan 2025 • family
It's always tricky finding a venue for a 'surprise' birthday that will cater for everyone's tastes, but Sunday lunch at the Blacksmiths Arms was perfect!
To celebrate my partner's significant birthday, I booked and prepaid for a 3 course lunch for 10 people. Everyone arrived shortly before us to enjoy a drink in the cosy seating area and await the arrival of my suitably surprised partner.
Between us, we ordered almost everything on the menu, and there were no empty plates. My favourites were the duck starter and roast pork for my main course, delicious! Roast dinners were served with lots of lovely vegetables, and the burgers looked amazing, too.
Service was excellent, friendly and helpful.
10 customers, aged 17 - 93, all very happy! Thank you. I look forward to returning again soon.
Written 9 February 2025
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.
Jill Townend
We’re delighted to hear that your partner’s surprise birthday celebration was such a success and that everyone, from 17 to 93, enjoyed their meal. It’s always a pleasure to host special occasions, and we’re so pleased that our Sunday lunch ticked all the boxes for you.
The duck starter and roast pork are firm favourites, and it’s great to hear that you enjoyed them! We’ll also be sure to pass your kind words on to our team – they’ll be thrilled to know their service helped make the day even more special.
We look forward to welcoming you back again soon!
Written 16 February 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Joanne
London2357 contributions
Jun 2024 • solo
Left home alone on a Sunday, I thought I'd treat myself to Sunday lunch out. I booked online on the same day and enjoyed a short stroll to the Blacksmiths Arms.
Having eaten here several times, I know the food is good, but I'd never ventured there alone before.
Sunday lunch offered 2 courses for £25, or 3 for £32, and I opted for the roast pork, which came with mashed and roast potatoes, a roasted carrot and a Yorkshire pudding, plus individual servings of green veg, cauliflower cheese and gravy. The food was good, but the plate was actually hotter than the food on it. I was surprised, especially as this was a single order and wouldn't have been waiting for additional meals to be finished. That said, the food tasted delicious and I wasn't in rush, so no need to complain.
For dessert, I ordered the sticky toffee pudding. It was very pleasant, quite a light sponge rather than a thick and heavy pudding.
Service is always very good and the young team worked continuously. I was seated at a small table for 2 at the foot of the stairs and I spent a nice couple of hours reading and people watching. Highly recommended.
Written 26 June 2024
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.
Jill Townend
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a detailed and thoughtful review of your recent visit to the Blacksmiths Arms. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Sunday lunch with us.
We’re glad that you found the roast pork and the sticky toffee pudding delicious, and it’s wonderful to hear that our service met your expectations. Your kind words about our young team and the atmosphere mean a lot to us.
However, we are sorry to hear that the temperature of your meal was not as hot as it should have been. We appreciate your understanding and patience, but please know that we take such feedback seriously to ensure that all aspects of our dining experience meet our high standards. We will address this with our kitchen team to prevent any future occurrences.
Thank you once again for your feedback and for recommending us. We look forward to welcoming you back soon, whether you’re dining solo or with company.
Written 27 June 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Alimc
Loughborough101 contributions
Dec 2023 • family
Early celebration for my Christmas Day birthday . Food was excellent for all 7 of us starters and mains . Service was efficient and friendly . Kindly they allowed my family to bring a homemade cake which they bought out with plates and forks many other places don’t allow this and for me this made my birthday celebrations special ! Thanks again will return on the new year !
Written 23 December 2023
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.
Jill Townend
We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your early Christmas Day birthday celebration with us! It fantastic to know that the food and service met your expectations and that you and your family had a memorable experience. We're delighted that we could accommodate your homemade cake and make your birthday celebration special. Thank you for your kind words, and we look forward to welcoming you back in the new year!
Written 9 January 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jonny G
34 contributions
Nov 2024 • couples
Living in barrow been here a couple of times in the past but not for a while. Went for Sunday roast as usual place we go to in the village was fully booked, price not reflective of food unfortunately, tagliatelle starter lacked any flavour and lacked seasoning. Again with both mains portions were a good size but just not much flavour at all. cauliflower cheese had no cheese flavour just tasted like a white sauce, potatoes not crispy and thought it was a bit strange not to serve any green veg at all which I haven’t come across before when ordering a Sunday roast. Staff friendly and attentive but wanted more from the food as it is a local place and have had good food here before. Sadly won’t be returning in a rush
Written 26 November 2024
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.
Jill Townend
Thank you for your feedback; we're sorry to hear your recent visit didn't meet your expectations. We always aim for high standards, so it's disappointing to learn the food fell short, especially as you've enjoyed dining with us before. Your comments about seasoning, the cauliflower cheese, and the lack of green veg on the roast are noted, and we'll pass these on to the kitchen team for review. We're pleased you found the staff friendly and attentive, and we do hope you’ll consider giving us another try in the future.
Written 11 December 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Neil J
Leicester1 contribution
Sept 2024 • couples
My wife's Lamb was raw in the centre, she could eat it and we told the waitress that ot was raw and we weren't happy. Surprisingly, the chef and staff were happy and so my opinion is that is their standard.....poor. the risotto had sunflower seeds in it, again chef knows 😕. I had fish with a mouse inside, the outer was not nice opaque flakes, over cooked I assume due to the mouse and it's was bland. Wine was nice.
Written 14 September 2024
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.
Jill Townend
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're genuinely sorry to hear that your experience didn’t meet expectations. If you’d like to discuss your visit further, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Written 23 September 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mina M
1 contribution
Jun 2024 • family
Booked table for 12 at 6pm for a 40th birthday. 5 got their meals within half hr. The rest (7) waited over an hr only to be told that the tills did not feed through to the kitchen so we had to order again. Landlord no where to be seen. Bar staff were just left to deal with it. All in all it took about 1 hour & 45 mins, by then none of us felt like eating especially the birthday boy, food wasn’t hot. No free drinks were offered to compensate eventually landlord when we got hold of the landlord he just turned round and said “well all the food came out, didn’t it” so damn right rude. We won’t be going there again. Bar staff were amazing, shame about the landlord, he is no manager.
Written 14 June 2024
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.
Jill Townend
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We are concerned about the experience you described involving a party of twelve at 6 o'clock.
After checking our booking system, we can confirm that we have had no reservations for a table of twelve at that time. Additionally, our restaurant manager does not recall any such group dining with us. Furthermore, the language used in your review—such as "landlord" and "bar staff"—suggests that your experience might be related to one of the other Blacksmiths Arms establishments in the area, such as those in Quorn or Loughborough, which are pubs. We are solely a restaurant and do not have a landlord, as I am a female.
Could you please get in touch with us directly to confirm the details of your visit? This will help us address any concerns and ensure your feedback reaches the correct establishment.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Best Regards
Jill
Written 27 June 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
the honest tourist
Melton Mowbray134 contributions
Oct 2022 • business
Ok if you want to feed the chickens.
Went for a work do and was very disappointed on this trip
Steak was very chewy and a few of us did not finish our meal.
One of the group took the cold chips home to feed the chickens
Service was great and ambience was good but they need to step up quality of food for the prices they charge
Written 28 October 2022
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.
Jenlou91
7 contributions
Dec 2023 • couples
Lovely, friendly staff who would benefit from a little more training. Very from disappointed with our visit. Long wait for the menu and then drinks. Finally ordered and then waited a long time for them to bring out our main course which should have been the starter. Starters came out quickly to rectify this but our main was obviously not cooked from fresh again- this is disappointing service from what is advertised as a high class restaurant.
Written 17 December 2023
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.
Jill Townend
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We're sorry to hear that your visit didn't meet your expectations. Your feedback is important to us, and we take it seriously. We appreciate your kind words about our staff but understand there's room for improvement in terms of service and efficiency. If you'd like to discuss your experience further or provide more details, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're committed to making improvements and ensuring a better dining experience for our customers.
Written 17 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kathy W
33 contributions
Feb 2023 • family
Just come back from a lovely Sunday lunch. We booked a table and arrived a little early, but this was no problem, although we were tempted to have a drink in front of the roaring log fire in the bar area. The lunch menu had a 2 course or 3 course price with both traditional and seasonal options. The pigeon breast with fig, parma ham, and blackberry was perfectly cooked and very tasty. The roast beef main course was also very tasty with a good compliment of vegetables, gravy, and an excellent yorkshire pudding. We shared a sticky toffee pudding between us for pudding, and this was also finished quickly - the sponge was very light, and the sauce was decadent! The service throughout was quick and friendly. This is how a sunday lunch should be, and we will definitely be back.
Written 12 February 2023
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.
Ronald E
Leicester61 contributions
Dec 2023 • business
We came for our partners Christmas meal. It was a great evening. Mark is an excellent host and really looked after us well. We had a glass of champagne to kick the evening off and he was careful to make sure he had enough bottles of our chosen drink so that we didn’t have to change if we wanted to have a second. The food choice was excellent and everyone really enjoyed every course which was beautifully cooked and presented. We finished off with complimentary Christmas cake liqueurs. Cannot recommend this place too highly. We have already booked for a return trip.
Written 1 January 2024
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.
Jill Townend
We truly appreciate your kind words and are delighted to hear that you had a fantastic dinner with us for your partner's Christmas meal! We're pleased to know Mark provided you with exceptional service throughout the evening. It's wonderful to hear that you enjoyed our food and found every course to be beautifully cooked and presented.
We're also glad you enjoyed the complimentary Christmas cake liqueurs as a festive touch. Thank you for your high recommendation, and we're thrilled that you've already booked a return trip with us. We look forward to welcoming you back for another memorable dining experience.
Written 9 January 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Meldrew69
104 contributions
Feb 2022 • none
We were impressed for the first couple of minutes in the entrance, sat on a comfortable settee drinking our apéritif, but it all went downhill afterwards.
The food was poorly cooked and we found it hard to have a conversation because of the shoutiing coming from customers nearby. The accustics magnified the noise from the (mainly younger) diners who treat this place like a party venue.
High prices did not match the food or service, and they need to change or retrain their chef.
Written 20 February 2022
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.
diane1112015
Province of Rome5 contributions
Mar 2023 • none
We celebrated my son’s 21st and nephew’s 18th with our large family here. The staff went out of their way to ensure we had a wonderful and memorable meal. The food was superb, excellent cocktails and great service. We couldn’t have asked for more. All members of the family commented on what a super restaurant this is and also how reasonably priced considering the quality of the food. The menu was also great for catering to the tasted of older family members as well as teens. In my opinion, one of the best Sunday lunches in Leicestershire.
Written 29 March 2023
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.
Jane V
Glasgow46 contributions
Nov 2022 • friends
Really enjoyed an evening at The Blacksmiths Arms, from drinks by the wood burning stove, to perfectly cooked and presented scallops.
Francis made us totally comfortable, the menu was creative, with a good selection of meat, fish and vegan/vegetarian choices for every course.
The wine and cocktail range is good.
Written 30 November 2022
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.
Ronald E
Leicester61 contributions
Jul 2024 • couples
We had a great Sunday lunch. We received a warm and friendly welcome from Daisy on arrival. A good selection of pre-lunch drinks. The menu gave a varied selection for starters and mains. The meals came out quickly, were beautifully cooked and presented. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and will definitely be back.
Written 7 July 2024
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.
Jill Townend
Thank you so much for your review! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great Sunday lunch with us. Daisy will be especially pleased to know that her warm and friendly welcome made a positive impact on your visit.
Your kind words mean a lot to our team, and we’re delighted that you thoroughly enjoyed your meal. We look forward to welcoming you back soon.
Written 8 July 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Joanne
London2357 contributions
Jul 2021 • friends
With friends visiting, we wanted to go to a nice restaurant that was local to home, and having read the reviews, The Blacksmith’s Arms seemed to fit the bill. We struggled to get a reservation, initially booking a late sitting, but eventually managing to book a much earlier slot. This seemed promising, and I am delighted to say that we were not disappointed.
Prices are higher than average pub grub prices, but this is because this is not your average pub grub! The menu runs from scallops to venison! Starters between 6 - 10, mains 18 - 20; good value for the quality and presentation, in my opinion.
As a table of 4, we ordered chicken liver parfait and the antipasti to start. All beautifully presented (though, my age old complaint of there never being a suitable ratio for pate & bread was sadly still true). For mains we ordered the tuna, venison and fillet steak. Again, all beautifully cooked and presented.
Only room for 2 desserts but they weren’t huge and plates were cleared, so they were certainly enjoyed.
The wine list had a good selection of wine both by the glass and bottle, and a very crisp Spanish white came recommended at £26. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable, though very keen to take drink orders before we’d decided on our food, which I’m chalking up to ‘start of Saturday night service’ enthusiasm.
Based on our first visit, I’d happily rate our experience as 5*, and I hope this was the first of many such visits.
Written 1 August 2021
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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