The Black Boy Inn

The Black Boy Inn descritpion

The Black Boy is a 16th-century inn within Caernarfon's historic town walls. It has good Real Ales, hearty meals, and is an easy walk from the center of town and 13th-century castle.
The Black Boy Inn dates back to 1522 and is one of the oldest inns in North Wales.
Some of its walls are 4 feet to 5 feet thick. The wood paneling, creaking floorboards, low ceilings, narrow staircases and thick wood beams create a cozy atmosphere.
Black Jack's is a separate part of the inn and is in a courtyard to the rear. It provides modern accommodations including junior suites with kitchenettes.
Caernarfon is a market town with an open-air market every Saturday (Mondays also in summer).

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The staff speaks English——The Black Boy Inn's staff speaks:Thai,Polish,French,English,Welsh
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Facilities of The Black Boy Inn

Outdoors ：Grounds

Pets ：Pets are not allowed.

Internet ：Free!WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

Parking ：Public parking is available at a location nearby (reservation is not needed) and costs GBP 5 per day.

Languages Spoken ：Thai | Polish | French | English | Welsh

Reviews for The Black Boy Inn

Review 1：There wasn't much, just the extractor vent needed hoovering in the bathroom. But that was it.

Review 2：Great value for money! A whole apartment for the price u'd pay for a small room in most chain hotels! Lovely location, friendly staff and gorgeous rooms!

Review 3：On site it was great. Leading up to the stay we received probably too much information via several emails about the stay which I struggled to take in - however, this is all done to make you stay flow smoothly, and as noted earlier - our stay was TERRIFIC.

Review 4：Great welcome by the reception, where they actually reflected back to us our request when booking to be in a room with exposed beams. The facilities are good, and very clean. The location to the old town an Caernarfon Castle was excellent - 1 minute walk. Would stay here again in a flash.

Review 5：Friendly and helpful staff, food excellent, great real ales and warm inviting bar area. Room was superb, bed massive and comfortable. Traditional hotel / bar / restaurant that excels in all areas.

Review 6：Only slight downside for myself was the vegetarian food wasn't filling, but the rest of my group were very impressed with the meat dishes.

Review 7：Great location very close to the castle. The pub is old and has lots of character and the staff were all very good. Rooms were clean and cosy with very comfortable beds. Our second visit, and we will return in the future.

Review 8：Superb place. Historic building in good location near castle. Very warm, friendly and clean. Room 22 on top floor was very charming with the peaked ceiling and low beams, (for single person). Breakfast was great!

Review 9：Interesting building in a good location with secure but limited parking. Great selection of malt whisky and beer. Wide choice of good lunch and dinner meals and nice breakfast. Popular drinking hole for the locals.

Review 10：If busy the carpark can fill up quite quickly. There are one or two alternatives nearby so not a major issue.

Review 11：Second visit to Blackboy Inn. Really like the atmosphere and old world charm. Staff are friendly, food is excellent . Overall great experience on both occasions.

Review 12：Pillows too hard , one little minor problem , easily solved

Review 13：Location great , staff excellent , food amazing , room really good value , only downfall pillows very hard

Review 14：The bedroom was to hot with out heating on and breakfast room was to hot could do with heating turning down in breakfast room everything else was perfect

Review 15：My room felt like a cupboard and it was difficult to get a mobile phone signal

Review 16：Staff were very accommodating and saved a table for me and 5 other family members. The beers we had afterwards were well kept and interesting.

Review 17：Lovely touches, retention of original features, excellent welcome and advice, great Welsh breakfast and lovely evening meal with a good variety of choice

Review 18：Great place to stay, has character, room was excellent, ate in the restaurant and the choice was extensive & the food was great, very good breakfast in the coach house, atmosphere of the whole hotel was warm and the real fire a nice touch

Review 19：Nothing, it was perfect.

Review 20：Reception staff were helpful, friendly and efficient. Location was fantastic and breakfast was great too. Would highly recommend this hotel to anyone visiting the area. Excellent value for money.

Review 21：Nothing.

Review 22：Stayed here on a wet and cold December but hotel was very warm and cosy. Location is right in the centre of town so couldn't be better. We booked an executive double and was a lovely, large spacious suite with not 1 but 2 large flat screen TVs. It is an historic building so the stairs were steep, narrow with low beams everywhere. We loved it but anyone with restricted mobility might struggle. Lovely to have a bath too instead of just a shower with copious amounts of hot water and a good strong water flow in the shower. We chose to eat there too which was delicious. Plenty of choice even on a winters week day. Would stay there again if ever in the area.

Review 23：We were disappointed that a rowdy few people, customers in the bar, were not asked to either quieten down, stop arguing or leave. Management of the situation was lacking. We went to bed instead.

Review 24：We were very happy with the food, both in restaurant and breakfasts. Juke-box in the Bar.

Review 25：How friendly all the staff were.They were extremely efficient.&nothing was too much trouble. The room was extremely comfortable with everything you needed ie free wifi, full ironing board & iron. To top it all a full Welsh breakfast

Review 26：cover on top of bed smelt funny,thats only gripe about this place,everything else top notch.

Review 27：very nice location access to everywere.food was excellent not to dear well worth it.ales was of a good selection,staff friendly,our stay was enjoyed even if the weather was rather wet.told our friends to go there.

Review 28：Some doors were slamming shut in the kitchen below our room and this disturbed the missus.

Review 29：Great food and beer. Brilliant feeling of history about the place.

Review 30：no view, but we knew that before we booked so it doesn't count

Review 31：everything; food was excellent, room was extremely comfortable, choice of beer brilliant, staff knowledgeable and friendly, the pub building is wonderful. we've had this pub on our tick list for years, and it definitely did not disappoint

Review 32：Bed was too hard and uncomfortable, plus the kitchen ventilator was outside my room and woke me at 6.30 Breakfast was average

Review 33：Location is good. Very clean Breakfast very pleasant

Review 34：Girls on reception at checkin seemed annoyed to be interrupted by customers.

Review 35：Atmospheric old pub inside the walled town..close to the castle. Room was spacious, bed comfortable and shower, etc good. Bar and wait staff very very friendly and food good too. Breakfast was good as well. Good value for money.

Review 36：The location and ambience of this establishment was a wonderful experience. The meals were outstanding and the staff were down to earth and always ready to go the extra mile. It was novel to step back in time while enjoying 5 star facilities. I thoroughly recommend this Inn and would love to return one day.

Review 37：The only issues we had (and we consider them to be minor) was that the vertical blinds in the bathroom were warped and didn't fully cover the window which wasn't frosted. This meant we had to hang a towel over the window to fully cover it. Also despite arriving relatively early in the afternoon (4.30pm) we were unable to reserve a table in the restaurant as all reservations had already been taken. This was a shame because the food smelt wonderful. Rather than take pot luck and wait for an opening in the restaurant we elected to eat elsewhere.

Review 38：Loved the whole atmosphere of the place. The whole hotel was lovely, very homely, full of character and spotlessly clean. The staff were very warm and friendly in all areas and particularly in reception. The breakfast was superb. We sat in both bars over the course of the evening and they were cosy with a nice welcoming atmosphere. Would certainly recommend this place to anybody and wouldn't hesitate to stop there again.

Review 39：Shower was nice and hot; but slightly tricky to get in and out of the cubicle because of the position of the shower head. (Room 61).

Review 40：Friendly, helpful, welcoming staff. Big comfortable bed. Freshly prepared, tasty breakfast. Historic, independent hotel with lots of character.

Review 41：Made to wait with two members of staff at the bottom of the stairs when checking in, because the young man in a blue t.shirt took a private call, surely he should have taken the call somewhere else, just thought this was not very professional, the young lady we waited with was very apologetic.

Review 42：Staff very friendly, lovely food breakfast and evening and lovely room

Review 43：reception friendly and helpful we booked a suite it was spotlessly clean, comfortable bed, everything perfect breakfast was excellent with plenty of choice parking adjacent to the hotel menu looked very good very popular with the locals so we did not get to eat dinner at the restaurant maybe next time, we would recommend this hotel

Review 44：The room was absolutely lovely and the bed was absolutely gorgeous, definitely a nice thing to get back to after running the Snowdonia marathon. The little kitchenette in our suite was a nice surprise (had completely missed this when booking) and meant we could have a pretty simple pasta meal in the room on the Friday night. Caernarfon itself is absolutely stunning too. Always nice to say you stayed in a 4 poster bed in a castle!

Review 45：We couldn't book for the Saturday night meal even though we asked on the Friday night and Saturday afternoon. We did get in but we were put in the coach house with some big birthday parties.

Review 46：The staff were welcoming and friendly

Review 47：Great staff, very professional, friendly and happy to help. Accommodation lovely and clean. Very homely. Good selection of beers and food is excellent.

Review 48：5* stay in a quirky old inn, our ensuite room was lovely and spotlessly clean. Both the evening meal and breakfast were faultless. Staff very welcoming and friendly. The owners should be very proud.

Review 49：Pillows. I brought my own, always do, but husband said they were rather hard. Would have liked either a bath or shower big enough for two, in a room with a four poster bed.

Review 50：The four poster bed. The lovely décor. The nice staff. The lovely atmosphere in the pub below. Handy parking.

Review 51：The functioning of the reception desk didn't give the impression of a well run business and making contact by phone proved to be very difficult.

Review 52：The dinner and breakfast food was good and the hotel is well located although Caernafon offered very little to an Autumn visito.

Review 53：It's not a bad experience but as mentioned above I managed to book the smallest room in the Hotel.

Review 54：Very good atmosphere throughout this hotel. Staff excellent always ready / willing to assist. Food excellent, Scottish money accepted with no hassle's. Room cosy, comfortable only down side to the room was that we managed some how to book the smallest room in the hotel. So if you ever book this hotel don't get room 14. Wifi is available in this hotel.

Review 55：The saucers and spoons in room were dirty everyday even tho they were replaced.

Review 56：The food and staff are amazing we were told we would be in the smallest room in the building at check in but was bigger than imagined.

Review 57：We did not stay long enough. N

Review 58：We were impressed with the way the historical presence was maintained along with the best of modern ammenities. The staff was wonderful and the food was excellent.

Review 59：We had an upstairs room, top floor, on right side of bed you literally had a metre clearance from ceiling, if you sat up in bed and forgot where you were you would hit your head. Lots of signs in hallways saying be careful but husband still forgot on one occassion.

Review 60：Amazing traditional Welsh pub, great atmosphere, great food.

Review 61：The Black Boy was in a prime location, fabulous building with lots of character. The staff were extremely friendly and very accommodating as we were there to celebrate my brothers 40th. The food was outstanding! Highly recommend the Black Boy

Review 62：The mattress was very hard. Don't be cheap like me and get the 'small double room' because it is much too small!

Review 63：The staff were very friendly and I loved having a hot cooked breakfast every morning.

Review 64：This is a great place to stay. It's a wonderful, quirky old building with comfortable rooms, really good breakfast, and friendly, helpful staff--especially Vickie.

Review 65：Had the four poster bedroom that faced the front. Had the widows open as it was hot, but there was an aircon compressor running all night which will keep some people awake.

Review 66：It was in a great location, the food was great and the staff were very helpful.

Review 67：Most parking is at "common" lot about 300 yds away on far side of castle.

Review 68：Almost next door to the castle with charming, award winning pub. Well furnished rooms in updated adjacent annex. Free parking and excellent access to Internet.

Review 69：Nothing

Review 70：The general standards were fantastic, staff really helpful, bedrooms great, food great, to be honest I couldn't fault anything, its a credit to the management and employees.

Review 71：Nothing to dislike.

Review 72：Staff excellent,food excellent,spotlessly clean, Could not fault anything. Have stayed in hotels all over Europe & this is one of the best.

Review 73：Even though parking wasnt far it was when you are walking with cases in the rain. On a plus point it is free. Still gets 10/10.

Review 74：The character and ambience. Staff friendly and location.

Review 75：I did feel that the children's menu was a bit limiting where lunch was concerned. My granddaughter is only 7 and not a big eater so just a slice of pizza or a small sandwich would have been better than everything with chips. That said the menu for adults left me trying to choose between several options that I would have loved to try all of them. The restaurant was always packed which is testament the brilliant food, so I advise people to book to guarantee a table.

Review 76：It was a wonderful hotel, very quaint and full of history. I loved the feeling of its past and the food was superb.

Review 77：Arrangements for eating an evening meal a bit chaotic: they won't accept table bookings, so you compete with the general public for a place in the restaurant. Not great after a long journey.

Review 78：Pleasant old building, good atmosphere.

Review 79：A quaint place in a great location inside the old town walls, with parking! A joy to eat in the Black Boy, with a comprehensive menu of superb food and a great atmosphere. Wonderful staff.

Review 80：Dining experience was disappointing in what is a lovely hotel. To eat in this hotel as a resident would have been ideal but booking was not possible. We managed to eat in the bar but the menu was too big and the food was average, the staff were friendly but cleared our table whilst one of us was still eating ( pet hate) Breakfast was ok, but the service spoilt the experience, there were plenty of staff & they were friendly but there appeared to be a lack of management to coordinate things better, our order was taken but menu not removed then waiting staff brought cooked breakfast out before we'd finished cereals, no check back during meal and then our plates weren't cleared. These things could be easily improved and would make this hotel one I'd return to.

Review 81：Location of property within the old part of the town is excellent, bedroom was beautifully finished to a high standard and cleanliness was impeccable

Review 82：The pillows were too hard and the room too hot, but this was rectified by turning off the radiators and opening the windows.

Review 83：Staff were happy, polite and helpful. Everything was spotlessly clean, bed was huge and comfortable. The food was outstanding, both evening meal and breakfast and they also catered for gluten free, even down to providing gluten free bread for morning breakfast. It does get busy though so booking is advisable.

Review 84：Room was next to the kitchen extractors - quite noisy as they were turned on from half six in the morning until gone nine at night. They also made the room very warm.

Review 85：The food was excellent. The room was a good size and tastefully furnished in keeping with the character and age of the inn.

Review 86：staff knowledge poor when they said they didn't stock a certain wine and did? also the breakfast was poor and again staff said we couldn't book the cost to the room when we could. Also there were no facilities for booking a table for dinner

Review 87：Room comfort and location

Review 88：Staff where great and communication from the Black Boy via email and txt before our stay was great - we didn't book a meal on the Saturday night and whilst turned away from most restaurants, the black boy give out a vibrating box that lets you know when a table becomes available - great

Review 89：Great location easy to find, the staff very friendly and helpful , nothing to much trouble. Great food and good choice of beers. I would definitely stay again.

Review 90：Restaurant was too busy!! ;)

Review 91：Honestly I couldn't fault the Black Boy!! Great hotel with friendly staff, great service, excellent food & nice room. Amazing value for money. Couldn't ask for anything else!! I can not wait to stay again...

Review 92：The bar staff were a bit standoffish. I was forgotten at breakfast with my order despite there only being about 6 people in the restaurant. The shower water went everywhere - bad design.

Review 93：I loved the location of the Inn. Lovely setting, tables and chairs outside. The reception staff were helpful and gave me a toothbrush as I had left mine at home. The room that I stayed in with the 4 poster bed was quaint.

Review 94：Excellent position, friendly helpful staff, all meals excellent. Hotel retained its character whilst being renovated to the highest standard. Would recommend.

Review 95：Parking, had to walk some distance. Also no lift to room so had to carry heavy suitcase up several flights of stairs. Not able to book a table foe evening meal

Review 96：friendly staff, nice room and good food

Review 97：Car parking at castle even though there was lots of space in park on site was not very customer focused service and inconvenient. Map to car park not good. Room was stuffy and hot.

Review 98：Food was fantastic and friendly staff

Review 99：Not having the car parked at the hotel and being left isolated in a public car park overnight. At least the parking was free though.

Review 100：General friendliness of all the staff especially Karen at breakfast. Made us feel really at home and nothing was too much trouble.

Review 101：Early morning wake up from doors/staff around 6am both days.... They did say would look into it tho... No longer bar serving times for residents...

Review 102：Staff were really helpfull an friendly

Review 103：Only problem was the creaky floorboards in our bedroom...number 11!

Review 104：The food for breakfast and lunch was excellent...perhaps a little too much bread with the meal we had. Good beer and the bar staff were very willing to tell us all about the brewery.....excellent.

Review 105：Really have no complaints, really was a pleasant stay.

Review 106：The whole room was excellent, could easily stay there for a week. The location as well is excellent.

Review 107：Very small shower, I had to go in sideways.

Review 108：The gorgeous interior and exterior of the hotel, my single room with slanted ceiling was just so charming. The location, right in the city centre and close to the buses. The breakfast was fantastic, with lots of choice and really well cooked food.

Review 109：The many corridors required to make it to our room with bags. The car parking is 400m from the Inn. Sharing the beaut historic streets with dozens of other tourists passing through. Seagulls waking all night.

Review 110：Friendly caring staff, historic building, GREAT atmosphere, comfy rooms and brilliant food. The wonder around this historic town within the walls, and the pleasant coastal walks.

Review 111：Drunken shouting and use of area below front of the hotel and its bedrooms by groups of young people at 1 and 2am therefore impossible to sleep even when double glazing closed in advance on second night.Constant use and movement of outside tables and chairs added to the problem.Hotel needs to take action.

Review 112：Chose this hotel for the four poster bed ..wanted a taste of history.Plaster needs attention in some spots..and silk roses need a dust!! Impression on first sight nice.

Review 113：The hotel is tucked away in a town with narrow streets. Better directions on finding the place would be helpful.

Review 114：very comfortable bed and room. Staff was welcoming, fun to talk to and gracious. They gave us lessons in Welch! Plus the food was delicious!

Review 115：This pub B&B was by the castle and in the town. The pub had character and atmosphere. Well presented, good decors,food,good size bathroom. We had a room with a four poster bed which was great. Would stay again.

Review 116：The Inn was very overcrowded on Saturday night. We could not get a seat either inside or outside for over an hour. There was no wardrobe in the room to hang clothes. Only a rail with coat hangers.

Review 117：The style of the hotel. Our room (2) had beams across the ceiling and leaded windows. The enormous bed - at least a super-kingsize. The choice on the menu at breakfast time.

Review 118：Nothing to dislike except for having to listen to another diner making a ridiculous complaint to the very patient waitress! The lovely waitress showed such composure that the Black Boy bosses should be very proud!

Review 119：Everything! The food was amazing (we ate there 3 out of 4 nights there, 1 lunch & 3 breakfasts), the bed was so huge & comfy, the staff were fantastic & the atmosphere was fabulous. My husband went to the bar to buy 2 coffee liqueurs & 2 of the female staff bought them upstairs to our room for him! Now that's service!

Review 120：Breakfast not so good, staff not so helpful But could've just been bad day

Review 121：Set inside castle walls in attractive, very old building with air con & comfy 4 poster bed Onsite carparking Tea/coffee & cooking facilities Great pub & restaurant with good variety of tasty food; Staff friendly & efficient, hard working & helpful Just short stroll to the castle & other pubs & restaurants Free fast wi-fi Good hot shower & big towels

Review 122：we had a marvellous time at the black boy inn,the staff could have not been more helpful. nothing was too much trouble.we will most definately be back.

Review 123：driving thru archway of the city to view the front of Black Boy Inn was delightful, esp. with the castle so nearby. we had arrived at 1am due to late ferry ride from Dublin and the night porter, Chris, was most accommodating in getting us settled in our room and parking the car. bed very comfortable, a large room and en suite.

Review 124：Not being able to eat at the Inn on our second night. Our fault not theirs, we failed to anticipate the popularity of this pub/restaurant. We should have booked in advance, we will next time.

Review 125：Character and charm of Inn. Friendliness of staff. Quality of food and large selection of beers. Close location of Inn to center of Caernarfon. Very comfortable bed in a lovely spacious room. Best WiFi signal of any hotel we've stayed in.

Review 126：Having to exit my building to enter the restaurant and the office. As with most older inns a difficult time for women when it comes to preparing hair and makeup.No convenience with access to outlets and mirrors.

Review 127：Location. Ideal for Caernarfon and northwest Wales.Comfortable and good food.

Review 128：Parking was poor - I understand this is in a prime, central location, what I was unhappy about was that this was not mentioned in the booking details. I did not like leaving my car 5 mins walk away in an open, public place. Also, you cannot book into the restaurant unless it's before 6:30 - I think this and the parking aspect is unacceptable for a £100+ a night room.

Review 129：Nearly everything. Staff very friendly and efficient. Hotel has loads of character and good facilities. Breakfast is just about the best I've had anywhere. Only a couple of minor gripes.

The Fine Print

Car parking is allocated by reception at check-in, if you are an early arrival you will be given a parking permit and directed to Slate Quay Car Park by the castle.Please note that for group bookings of over 4 rooms different policies apply.