Restaurant reviews
Burton Mail 10 January 2011A village pub has been rated one of the "best value for money" restaurants in the UK by a major online food organisation.
Europe's largest dining community and online restaurant reservation service, Top-Table, has rated the Black Horse, in Appleby Magna, in its 2010 Top Restaurant Awards.
The 10 categories in the awards included top diner, value,under £25, over £45, parties, celebrity chefs, romance, hidden gems, international restaurant and cuisine. The eaterie, in Top Street, was also rated one of the best establishments in the under £25 category. The Black Horse was ranked seventh place in both categories within the UK.
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Featured in the Sunday Mercury
Pub review: Black Horse, Appleby Magna
May 15 2012 by Zoe Chamberlain, Sunday Mercury
A PUB doesn't necessarily have to have garish climbing frames or ballpools to be deemed child-friendly.
Indeed, the Black Horse didn't even have a children's menu.
But it was actually one of the most family-friendly pubs I've visited in ages.
The staff made us really welcome, seating us in an area which gave us plenty of room for the pushchair and bags.
And, they encouraged us to choose from the adults' menu and adapt the meals to suit the children.
So, for starters, the boys shared a vegetable soup (£3.95) but in coffee cups to make it easier for them to eat.
And, for main courses, they shared salmon (£7.95) but without any chilli marinade or dressing.
It's funny how children rise to the challenge of being asked to be grown-up and well-behaved.
Once they'd polished off their soup, they happily tucked into my whitebait (£3.95), not at all put off by the fact they could see the fish eyes or taste the Cajun spice they were cooked in.
Instead they devoured the lot in great devilment, with squeals of 'Look I'm eating his head!'
For main course, I had pan-fried salmon with confit red onion and tomato (£7.95). The salmon was cooked to perfection and it was in a nice sauce.
My mum had roast loin of local pork (also £7.95) which was served with proper gravy and a dear little pot of apple sauce. She was very impressed.
We had mountains of crisp roast potatoes, new potatoes and a nice selection of vegetables.
The bill, including a couple of soft drinks, came to around £35.
This black and white pub has a lovely old-fashioned feel but it was the staff who made our visit very special, making us feel very much at home, and taking a real interest in whether we'd enjoyed our meals.
ZOE CHAMBERLAIN
Feature in the Morning Advertiser
http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news.ma/article/89950
PUBS VOTED INTO THE TOPTABLE 100
BY MICHELLE PERRETT
08/03/2011 09:40
Three pubs and bars have been voted into the top 100 restaurants on bookings websiteToptable.
The Black Horse Restaurant & Bar in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, was rated number 11 in a survey of half a million diners.
This was followed by the Living Room, Glasgow, at number 27 and the Canny Man Restaurant and Bar in Lugton, North Ayrshire, Scotland at 69.
Topping the list as best in the UK was Edinburgh-based restaurant Martin Wishart. This was followed bby Glasow restaurant Piccolo Mondo at number two and Londons Le Gavroche at three.
Toptable head of restaurant chain Lucy Taylor said "its particularly refreshing to see some less well known restaurants such as the Case Restaurant with rooms in Sudbury, the Black Horse Restaurant and Bar in Swadlingcote, and local heros such as Piccolo Mondo making it into the top 100.
The survey was conducted over a 12 month period until February 2011.
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Read Our reviews:
http://www.toptable.com/venue/reviews/?id=8536&page=2
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Reviewer : E R - foodie Feb 2011
Oursecond visit to the Black Horse in Appleby Magna, and one we didn'tregret. The bar was busy on a Friday evening, and the waitress took usstraight to our table. Although there was a 2-for-£14.95 offer on, wewere shown the full menu and decided to order from that. The menu iseasy to read and full of gems - we ordered the Ham Hock Terrine andBlue Cheese Terrine to start, and 21-day Aged Sirloin with ThriceCooked Chips and Blade of Beef with Creamed Savoy to follow. The winelist is also good, and there are a number of bitters on draft. Feelingfull but seeing dessert treats being taken to other tables, we chose aCheese Board and Rhubarb Biscuit Trifle to finish. The total, withdrinks, came to £69 for the two of us. Great value and attentive,subtle service. Highly recommended and we will return.
Reviewer : PG - gastronaut Jan 2012
Themeal my friends and I had at the Black Horse Restaurant and Bar wasexcellent, it was "steak night" but the full menu is also available, Ihad a rib-eye steak which was excellent my friends both chose differentdishes which they said were outstanding and beautifully presented. Wealso adored our deserts and had some very nice wine to accompany themeal, the service and ambiance was also great. We will be back verysoon :)
Reviewer : BA - grazer
TheBlack Horse Restaurant and Bar Appleby Magna is a very friendly andwelcoming place. Quality and presentation of the food was excellent.Service excellent too. Complementary bottle of wine was a nice touchwith the meal.Will definately be visiting again soon.
Reviewer : MC - diner 23rd September 2012
TheBlack Horse Restaurant & Bar2 Top Street, Appleby Magna, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE12 7AHTraditional pub ambience with very friendly and helpful staff. Goodbeers and reasonable house wines accomapnied a relatively simple lunchtime menu that managed to provide choices for most tastes including aspecial that day of mussels and chips . Home made desserts wereexcellent.Average price per head for three course lunch less than £20 - very goodvalue
Reviewer : KW - 23rd decmber 2011
Had another great meal at the Black Horse - Appleby Magna. We weren't very adventurous - ordered same mains as last time - they were so good we didn't think they could be bettered. Ordered the assiette of mini desserts again and was pleasantly surprised to receive a different selection this time - all equally delicious though. Atmosphere and service of very high standard. Will definitely be planning a return visit.
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Reviewer : Steve Beebee - 22rd December 2009
An absolutely superb meal at The Black Horse - it continues to meet and often exceed our expectations. The stilton pate was a great starter,and both our main courses - steak and pork belly - were superb. We also appreciate the fresh cooked vegetables that are brought out free of charge, not to mention the complimentary bottle of wine. For dessert I had the four dish assiette which is a good way of avoiding having to make a choice. Perfect.
Reviewer : AR - 17 November 2009
The Black Horse, Appleby Magna I booked a table here for my boyfriend's birthday as we were staying locally for the weekend. I had no idea what is was going to be like. We were certainly not disapointed, the food was amazing! They even produced a special birthday dessert for my boyfriend - we felt totally spoilt! A truly lovely place, we hope to return. Would definitely recommend. Thank you!
Please see many more reviews on the top table booking site for a true reflection of our successful business
