The Black Lion Hay On Wye

Let’s talk about a pub that roars. I mean that literally.

Welcome to The Black Lion in Hay-on-Wye. It’s not just a pub; it’s a time warp.

First, the Lion himself.

A massive, slightly terrifying, black lion statue guards the front door. He looks like he just ate a badger and regrets it.

Locals call him “Leo.” He’s been there for decades, watching bookworms stumble by. He never blinks. It’s creepy and magnificent.

Inside? Chaos with charm.

The walls are covered in old circus posters. Seriously, it’s like a clown threw up nostalgia.

There’s a stuffed fox playing a tiny trumpet. I am not making that up. No one knows where it came from. It just … exists.

Hay-on-Wye is the “Town of Books.”

This place has over twenty bookshops. It’s a bibliophile’s fever dream.

The Black Lion is the perfect antidote. You’ve been sniffing old paper all day. You need a pint. You need pie.

Speaking of pie: the Steak and Ale.

It’s legendary. The pastry is flaky. The gravy is dark and mysterious. It tastes like a hug from a Welsh grandmother who really likes beef.

Pair it with a local ale called “Brain’s SA.” Yes, that’s the name. It works.

35 brilliant Welsh food pubs where you can enjoy a decent pint and a

But here’s the weirdest part.

The Black Lion has a secret upstairs room. It used to be a courtroom. Really. You can drink where criminals once begged for mercy.

Today, you just beg for another round. It’s much more fun.

And the ghosts? Oh, they’re there.

Staff swear they’ve seen a woman in a grey dress. She rearranges the glasses. Very passive-aggressive for a spirit.

One bartender said a pint glass moved three inches by itself. He quit a week later. Probably wise.

What about the beer garden?

It’s tiny. It’s cobbled. You share it with pigeons that have zero fear. They will steal your chips. Consider it a local tax.

Sit near the lavender bush. It keeps the airborne thieves at bay. Slightly.

Why does this matter?

Because The Black Lion is alive. It’s not a sterile chain pub. It has a soul, warts and all.

You walk in as a stranger. You leave with a story about a taxidermy fox and a phantom barmaid.

The Old Black Lion | Hay-on-Wye 2023 UPDATED DEALS £98, HD Photos & Reviews

A bonus fun fact.

The pub’s landlord once challenged a customer to an arm-wrestling match for a free round. The customer lost. He also lost his dignity.

This is traditional Welsh hospitality, apparently. I love it.

So, plan your visit.

Go during the Hay Festival in May. The town explodes with writers and weirdos.

The Black Lion becomes a haven for exhausted authors. You might drink next to Margaret Atwood. Or at least someone who looks like her.

One last thing: the toilet sign.

It’s a hand-painted cartoon lion. One says “Lions” and one says “Lionesses.” It’s the most charming bathroom signage in the UK.

Don’t take a selfie there. You’ll look weird. But do take a photo of Leo the statue. He deserves fame.

So there it is. A pub with a growl. A town full of paper. And a fox that plays trumpet.

Curious yet? You should be. Go see the Lion. He’s waiting.