Reviews & Awards

Don't Just Listen To Us

Customer Testimonials

Stephen T
Stephen T
19 February 2023
Verified
Just fantastic I think I've perhaps had the best roast beef Sunday lunch of my life today. Thank you Black Swan. Horseradish cream. Super crunchy roast potatoes. Cauliflower cheese. Amazing beef. Oh, and beautifully kept Black Sheep beer, and lovely staff - thanks guys!
Tracy L
Tracy L
14 February 2023
Verified
Devine Excellent food and brilliant service .Absolutely devine and the area is quaint , loved the scenery .Would love to come back again and stay over for the weekend and explore the area. The pub was rustic , loved it.
Kath H
Kath H
10 December 2022
Verified
Brilliant destination. Our party of six from various parts of Northern England, spent a wonderful 24 hours at The Black Swan.Amazing food, both at lunchtime and evening and staff were attentive, smiling and very professional. We did have a couple of problems which were attended to, to our satisfaction, immediately. In the words of Michael Winner, breakfast "was historic".We will be back.The Harrisons, Gilligans and Andersons.
Janette W
Janette W
14 November 2022
Verified
Brilliant stay Great hotel in a lovely position with excellent walking from the door.Fantastic food, great beer, comfy beds with lovely linen and most helpful and friendly staff.Overall not a single complaint other than too much food!!
Sheila W
Sheila W
21 September 2022
Verified
Disappointment to appreciation My friend and I were looking forward to our stay at the Black Swan. We were very disappointed with the steak, unfortunately my friend became unwell and we had to check out next day instead of staying the two nights. Another friend and I took up the unused night on Sunday and we had a replacement meal which was superb and a much more comfortable room. This experience restored my faith in this hotel and will recommend it.
shirley n
shirley n
21 September 2022
Verified
Highly Recommend We was meant to have stayed at another place, but when we got there it was closed. Went to The Black Swan hoping to find a room for that night. They had a Yurk that we had. The staff was very friendly and helpful. What turned out to be a bad experience in the beginning turned out to be a very good one in the end, thanks to the staff. This all took place on the last bank holiday in August. Would highly recommend this place.
Peter I
Peter I
22 August 2022
Verified
Great Stop off Spot Didn't actually stay here but used it as a stop off on the way to the Lakes. Situated in a tiny hamlet just off the main road (A685) there is a lovely bar area full of all sorts of odds and ends with very friendly service. one small niggle - the prices of the drinks.
Emlanc728272
Emlanc728272
8 August 2022
Verified
Amazing food couldn’t recommend enough Visited the Black Swan on a Sunday evening from the beginning was extremely impressed with the setting and the friendly welcome from the staff. The food was exceptional if not better than some Michelin stared restaurants I have also visited in Cumbria. Couldn’t have been more impressed, will definitely be back
Nicholas H
Nicholas H
26 June 2022
Verified
Worth paying the extra price for excellent food. As good as the Savoy grill lunch Sunday lunch and great roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. Excellent vegetables and cream horseradish was out of this world. Starter had very good oysters. Chocolate mouse was best ever. Previous evening had excellent sirloin steak onion rings cress salad and fries 🤪

The Black Swan

Awards

We are proud to have been recognised consistently over 16 years for our achievements from local and national, well-respected publications/organisations.

1
Awards

From both local and national bodies.

1 *
On Trip Advisor

From over 750 Reviews.

1
Years

Of hard work by Louise and all the Team.

2023

The UK’s 20th best gastropub!

We are absolutely overwhelmed to announce that we have been named the UK’s 20th best gastropub in the 2023 Estrella Damn UK Top 50 gastropubs! 

Estrella Dam Top 50 Gastropubs Award

2022

Cumbria Tourism Awards Pub of the Year

In 2022 the Black Swan won the Cumbria Tourism Awards Pub of the Year again! 

Pub Of The Year - Cumbria Tourism Award 2022

2019

Cumbria Tourism Awards Pub of the Year

In 2019 the Black Swan won the Cumbria Tourism Awards Pub of the Year.

2018

The Black Swan named ‘Best INN Class’

The Black Swan hotel in Cumbria was named Britain’s ‘Best Inn 2018’ at the Great British Pub Awards. The national industry Oscars were hosted by The Morning Advertiser, with John Smith’s acting as the leading sponsor, at a glittering award ceremony in London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel on Thursday 7th of September, to which a shortlist of the UK’s elite pubs & industry experts attended.

Louise Dinnes, who has privately owned The Black Swan for the past 12 years, was overwhelmed to receive the award, alongside her daughter Eleanor, on behalf of her loyal & dedicated team of staff. The former ‘AA pub of the year’ beat off five other finalists ranging from North Yorkshire to Cornwall, after completing the rigorous judging process which included management questionnaires, mystery visits & telephone interviews.

On the evening, Louise commented “I feel very honoured to collect this award, it’s a fantastic achievement for our pub, a complement to my dedicated staff and a real highlight for our local community of suppliers, whom we work so closely with.’’

When asked, what attributes make The Black Swan stand out, Louise stated ‘’We are constantly striving to deliver a consistent product, reinvest in the business and improve the service that we offer. We are lucky to have a fabulous building and location and we have managed to instill a very individual style into the pub.

​Meanwhile, the front of house staff are encouraged to showcase their personality in the service & our food offering is constantly evolving since Scott and his kitchen team were awarded 2AA rosettes in September last year.’’ 

The pub is open all year round, for breakfast, morning coffee, lunch & dinner, hosting 16 bedrooms with the recent addition of 3 glamping tents in the riverside garden. Over the past year, Louise has also established the “Ravenstonedale Retreat”, which is a charitable cause aimed at helping guests suffering from myeloma (bone cancer) and their families to enjoy a much-needed break, all in memory of her husband Alan Dinnes, who died of multiple-myeloma in 2016 after a long illness.

2017

2017. Good Hotel Guide
2017. Sawdays Special Places Guide to Pubs and Inns of England

2017. AA Dinner and Breakfast Award
2017. AA 4 Star Gold Award
2017. Good Pub Guide

Other Awards

In 2016 the Black Swan was one of three winners of the Sawdays Nicely Priced Award. More than 300 hotels were featured in the guide, so winning this award was a fantastic achievement. Tom Bell, editor of Sawdays, presented the award. In 2016 we were also included in the Independent Newspaper 10 Best Beer Gardens.

See what makes us special here: www.sawdays.co.uk/theblackswan

2016. Independent. 10 Best Beer Gardens
2016. Sawday’s Nicely Priced Award
2016. Good Hotel Guide Editor’s Value Choice
2016. Good Beer Guide
2016. Good Pub Guide
2016. Sawdays Special Places Guide to Pubs and Inns of England
2016. Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award

2016. AA Dinner and Breakfast Award
2016. AA 4 Star Gold Award
2016. Michelin Eating out in Pubs
2015. Good Hotel Guide
2015. Good Pub Guide
2015. Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award
2015. Sawdays Special Places Guide to Pubs and Inns of England

2015. Good Beer Guide
2015. Michelin Eating out in Pubs
2015. Good Hotel Guide
2014. Good Pub Guide
2014. Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award
2014. Sawdays Special Places Guide to Pubs and Inns of England
2014. Good Beer Guide

2014. Good Hotel Guide
2014. Michellin Eating out in Pubs
2013. Good Beer Guide
2013. Good Hotel Guide
2013. Good Pub Guide
2013. Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award
2013. Sawdays Special Places Guide to Pubs and Inns of England

2013. Michelin Eating out in Pubs
2012. Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award
2012. Good Beer Guide
2012. Good Pub Guide
2012. AA Pub of the Year 2012/2013
2012. Good Hotel Guide Cesar Award
2012. Sawdays Special Places Guide to Pubs and Inns of England

2012. Michelin Eating out in Pubs
2012. Westmorland CAMRA ‘Pub of the Year’
2011. Sawdays Special Places Guide to Pubs and Inns of England
2011. Good Beer Guide
2011. Michelin Eating out in Pubs
2011. Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award
2010. Good Hotel Guide

2011. Good Pub Guide
2011. Good Hotel Guide
2011. Sawdays Special Places Guide to Pubs and Inns of England
2010. Sawdays Special Places Guide to Pubs and Inns of England
2010. Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award
2010. Michelin Eating out in Pubs

2010. Good Beer Guide
2010. Good Pub Guide
2009. Michelin Eating out in Pubs
2009. Good Beer Guide
2009. Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award
2009. Sawdays Special Places Guide to Pubs and Inns of England

2009. Good Pub Guide
2009. AA 4* Inn with food commendation
2009. Best Community Pub. Sawday’s Special Places to Stay
2009. Cask Marque certificate
2009. AA 4 star Highly Commended Inn
2009. North West Hospitality Awards Pub of the Year Finalist

2008. Publican Pub of the Year Finalist
2008. Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award
2008. Sawdays Special Places Guide to Pubs and Inns of England

2008. Michelin Eating out in Pubs
2008. Good Beer Guide
2008. Publican Pub of the Year Finalist
2008. Good Pub Guide
2007. CAMRA Pub of the Season

2007. Sawdays Special Places Guide to Pubs and Inns of England
2007. Good Beer Guide
2007. Good Pub Guide
2007. Publican Newcomer of the Year Finalist

Book A Table

It is always best to call us to make a table reservation. Please call us on 015396 23204 or alternatively email us on enquiries@blackswanhotel.com and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Thank you Louise & Team

Complete Your Job Application

Need some further information?

Please do call us on 015396 23204 or email us on enquiries@blackswanhotel.com for an informal chat.