The Black Bull Inn

You have to give at least one star to post a review, so bear that in mind. We ordered food at 8.15 after being told at 8pm that they served until 8.30. The woman taking care of us rolled her eyes and slammed the cutlery down, then brought the plates over with such force that I was surprised dinner stayed on the table. She barely engaged with us and seemed miserable. Later, we started a game of pool, which seemed to annoy the staff because the table was right outside the kitchen door. At 9.30 we went to the bar for more drinks and only then were told children had to leave by 9. They hadn't mentioned that when we ordered or when we started playing. I understand some pubs have licensing rules like that, but we should have been told sooner. There was only one table of locals in the whole pub. Given the dreadful hospitality, that's hardly surprising. It felt like the place was for locals and that visitors from the south weren't welcome. Don't waste your time or money here. The food and drinks were cheap, but crap, and the staff were dreadful. The photos must be of somewhere else because this certainly isn't the Black Bull in Wooler. If you want good food and a welcoming atmosphere, The Anchor, Milan or The No1 hotel are fantastic places in Wooler.

Our dog-friendly room was on the second floor, and it was quieter than I imagine a first-floor room above the noisy bar would be. The carpet was filthy. Our dog licked the stains and found some old biscuits under the desk, which she ate. I hope she doesn't get ill. The bathroom was tiny, with my chest against the sink when I sat on the toilet and my bum touching the sliding wooden door when I stood at the sink. My husband tried the shower and said not to wash my hair in it. The water pressure was very low and the shower head sprayed everywhere. Otherwise the room was fine, though the WiFi didn't reach up the stairs. Breakfast doesn't start before 8:30, much later than we usually eat. We ordered our menu choices ahead of time, so we didn't have to wait around for long.

We were confused at first by the breakfast pre-order, as you have to choose for your whole stay at once. We accidentally submitted two sets of orders, but they were happy to let us change our choices. Breakfast itself was sublime. The rooms were very clean, and getting a bottle of water with the tea and coffee was a nice extra. The one thing I wasn't keen on was the bathroom: you can't attach the shower to the wall and stand in the bath, and I prefer a shower. My mum and I stayed for three nights in August 2024. I'm writing this now because I couldn't find a place to review The Black Bull last year. It's a fantastic place in the heart of the beautiful Northumberland countryside, with the Cheviot Hills not far away. You can hear the odd straggler from the bar downstairs, though it quietens down before midnight. The room rates are so reasonable that I'm coming back to Wooler with my mum in 2026. The car park is on a street behind the Milan restaurant. The bus station is next door, with buses to Berwick and other connections. It's also such a convenient place to stay. Come and stay here, you won't regret it. They'll have me as a regular booker, that's for sure.

The beer was decent, and on such a filthy, wet night, it was lovely to come in, see the wood-burning stove, and feel the warmth.