The Black Lion Chestnut

UK England East Anglia Suffolk Long Melford

01787 312 356   The Green, Long Melford, Suffolk CO10 9DN

  • 10 Guest Rooms
  • Boutique Country Pub
A picture-perfect village pub in a picture-perfect Suffolk village – with comfortable rooms and excellent food

Picture for a moment a picturesque pub in a beautiful Suffolk village. Chances are you are imagining somewhere quite like the Black Lion in Long Melford, which occupies an extremely picturesque location overlooking the village green, next to this historic village's medieval church. There can't be too many better places to wake up if you're after a weekend in the country, so it's good to know that the Black Lion not only serves good food but also has a comfy set of rooms upstairs to flop into after dinner.

One of the newer properties in the excellent and expanding East Anglia-based Chestnut Inns group (The Northgate in Bury St Edmunds is another), the Black Lion is a small Georgian coaching inn that's been updated beautifully: wooden floors throughout, artfully mismatched furniture and a comfy lounge armchairs and newspapers, all combine to suggest a comfortable house  in the country at which you are one of the most important guests.  There are 10 rooms in all, most of which overlook the village green; apart from a couple of cheaper 'Snug' rooms, all the guest rooms are spacious, and they all come with king-size beds, good Wi-Fi, flatscreen televisions with Freeview, tea- and coffee-making facilities (with Nespresso machines), homemade biscuits and two kinds of mineral water. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms with tubs and Noble Isle toiletries (one room also has a standalone shower), and there's a suite with an additional room with bunk beds if you're looking for somewhere big enough for a family. In all, there are 5 Luxury rooms, 3 Snug rooms, a family room and a suite.

Downstairs, the pub remains a nice place for an early evening pint and has seating which spills out onto the green during summer, while the next door dining room serves a menu that is deliberately British and seasonal, with a focus on East Anglian produce; it's moderately priced and hearty rather than posh, divided between pub classics and slightly more refined options, with local ales and English wines to wash it all down.They also serve lunchtime sandwiches, while rates include a made-to-order breakfast that includes a choice of a full English, fruit and yogurt, eggs various ways or just a breakfast sandwich. All nicely done and delivered.

Finally there are the joys of staying not only in this part of Suffolk but also in Long Melford, which has quite a lot of attractions of its own, ranging from the National Trust property of Melford Hall right across the street to more family-orientated Kentwell Hall around the corner. You could also spend some time wandering up and down the village's long main street peeking into antique shops, but perhaps the nicest thing to do is the walk to nearby Lavenham, where there is plenty more to see and do and which is an easyish 8-mile round-trip partly along along a disused railway line. Lazy weekenders ahoy!

Details

Facilities

Time well spent is often accompanied by great food. Our Head Chef thoughtfully crafts menus with a passion for regional produce while consciously creating dishes to meet our guests varying tastes. From the plant-based, to the gluten free to the meat-loving - the attention to detail is unparalleled.

Suitable For

When it is time to hit the hay enjoy a restful night’s sleep in one of our ten individually styled bedrooms. Our bedrooms consist of cosy snugs, luxury rooms, a luxury suite and a family room with modern interior styling that is sympathetic to our Georgian building. Amenities in our bedrooms include flat screen TVs, tea and coffee facilities, superfast WIFI and Bramley products. Pet friendly rooms available.

Nearby

The Black Lion takes pride of place at the top of the Melford Mile, our striking Georgian coaching inn looks over the village green and is a stone’s throw from the medieval Holy Trinity Church. Long Melford is a treasure trove for visitors, from independent and antique shops, to our monthly farmers market, to beautiful countryside; grassland, meadows, lakes, woodland and river. It is no surprise that Long Melford was chosen for the filming of ‘Lovejoy’ in the 1980’s and 90’s.

A visit to Long Melford Country park is a must when visiting us, whether for a staycation or as a place to stretch your legs before joining us for a mouth-watering Sunday lunch! The park sits on 8.13 hectares of land perfect for exploring on foot or by bicycle, for picnics, dog walks and spotting local wildlife. Take a look at the link below for amazing walking routes.

Food & Drink

Time well spent is often accompanied by great food. Our Head Chef thoughtfully crafts menus with a passion for regional produce while consciously creating dishes to meet our guests varying tastes. From the plant-based, to the gluten free to the meat-loving - the attention to detail is unparalleled.

As with our food, we want to ensure we are considerate of our guests varying tastes when it comes to drinks. We hope you agree that our diverse wine list, range of beer – including non-alcoholic – seasonal mocktails and cocktails do just that.

Open

Open all year.

Pricing

Double rooms £155, breakfast included. 

The Owner Says

Welcome to our 15th Century inn where our modern twist on the traditional creates a wonderful setting to enjoy our food, sample our local ales, explore our wine list and rest a weary head. Set in the picturesque village of Long Melford in the heart of Suffolk, we celebrate all that is great about our fantastic region – its people, provenance and personality.

Location

Contact Website  01787 312 356  The Black Lion, The Green, Long Melford, Suffolk CO10 9DN

Show Map

Getting There

The Black Lion

The Green

Long Melford

Suffolk

CO10 9DN

Please note that there is no parking on the green opposite our pub. Please park at the front of our building or towards the church. Many thanks in advance.

Facilities

  • Adults only
  • Bar
  • Restaurant
  • Wifi
  • Walking

Related Guides

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Reviews

Add Your Review

Rated ★★★★★ over 4 reviews

★★★★★

Truly fabulous

We stayed on a Saturday evening, 6 of us for my big 70 birthday and it was truly fabulous. My room was very large and spacious. Great furnishings and a fab bathroom. Loved the lime green walls so uplifting. Loved the Bramley bath products too and lots of hot water is always a bonus. Fabulous breakfast in the morning and a great bar for drinks. Can really recommend if you're in the area. And of course, Long Melford is a delight as is Kentwell Hall which is close by.
Sep 12, 2023 by Carole
★★★★★

Everything about this place is great!

This restaurant has become a favourite. The food is always delicious, staff are wonderful, location is picture-perfect and a beautiful building.
Aug 14, 2023 by Christine J
★★★★★

Good food with a friendly welcome for you & your fur babies

Being a lover of cooking I find it hard to find places that can cook simple but wholesome food with equally good service with a friendly smile and welcome. They also allow your fur babies to sit with you in either one of their cosy areas to enjoy a glass of wine or to dine. I found it all to be perfect here at The Black Lion.
Jun 23, 2023 by Bubbs
★★★★★

Fabulous dinner

Cannot fault this place! The food and service were both excellent and the decor was amazing. We had a table in the bar next to the fire which was nice and cosy and we were even allowed to bring our dog as they are dog-friendly throughout. We will definitely be returning!
Mar 9, 2023 by Sarah

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