Black Boy Inn

Black Boy Inn

The Black Boy Inn is a historic Caernarfon pub with accommodation spread across a small collection of nearby buildings. The old inn’s beams and character belong to a town of castle walls, narrow streets and working Welsh life. It makes an engaging alternative to staying outside town: dinner, a drink and a wander around Caernarfon can all form part of the evening. The key is to understand which building and room you are booking, because the collection offers more than one version of the stay.

At a glance

• Accommodation award: 4 Gold Star Inn
• Main restaurant: Black Boy Restaurant & Bar

Why we like it

It places you inside Caernarfon’s historic centre rather than on the edge of it. The combination of a traditional pub, Welsh dishes and several accommodation styles is useful for guests who want character but also want to choose how much of the old building’s quirks come with the bedroom.

Eat

Black Boy Restaurant & Bar

Dining takes place at the inn’s own restaurant and bar. The cooking is rooted in Welsh and British pub food, making it an appropriate place to keep the sense of location through dinner. The published main menu includes Caernarfon-style lobscows, a hearty local stew, alongside familiar choices such as fish with chips and peas. Those examples describe a kitchen aimed at appetite and comfort rather than a tasting-menu evening.

The historic pub surroundings are a large part of the attraction. A meal here can follow an afternoon around the castle and waterfront without a change of setting or a drive back from an isolated hotel. It also works for a shorter meal when sightseeing has taken longer than expected, although a table should be planned rather than relying on space being available.

There are separate main and Sunday menus. Read the menu for the meal you intend to take: a Sunday lunch is a different occasion from an à la carte dinner. The inn has its own restaurant booking arrangements and has historically attracted strong demand, so secure the restaurant reservation alongside the room.

The Welsh identity is more useful to the food traveller than a vague description of award-winning dining. We would come for the pub’s character and regional dishes, while leaving room to choose from the daily menu. A dining reservation also establishes whether the kitchen can meet any particular dietary requirements before the rest of the itinerary is fixed.

Sleep

The accommodation includes rooms in the original Black Boy Inn and nearby properties such as Black Jack’s and Tŷ Dre. The older inn offers the strongest period character, including beams and four-poster options; other buildings provide different layouts, with some Black Jack’s rooms offering small kitchen facilities. Tŷ Dre is a short walk from the inn, so its rooms should not be understood as directly above the restaurant. Compare the exact room descriptions rather than choosing on category name alone. Choosing a named room and building makes the stay easier to plan, especially if you prefer a room within the old inn to a short walk back after supper.

Retreat

Caernarfon Castle and the old town provide an obvious first day, with the waterfront a good way to slow the pace between sightseeing and supper. Staying in town means there is little pressure to cover the wider region immediately. If you extend the trip, the mountains of Eryri provide a contrasting landscape, but allow a separate day for a proper outing rather than trying to compress it into the hours before dinner. The inn itself offers the simpler pleasure of returning to a historic pub after exploring on foot.

What guests say

The inn’s atmosphere, breakfast and town-centre setting receive substantial positive feedback. Food and service are widely discussed and predominantly praised, although the larger volume of comments also contains less satisfied experiences. Bedroom and parking feedback is more mixed; choosing the particular building and asking how arrival works will give a clearer picture than the property-wide score alone.

The Gourmet Getaway

The indicative Gourmet Getaway price combines one night’s accommodation and breakfast for two with dinner for two at the selected restaurant. Use the current price panel to compare options, then check the room and restaurant for your dates. Any official hotel package is shown separately, with its own inclusions and terms.

Worth knowing

• There are no lifts. A small number of ground-floor rooms are available in other buildings; confirm both the bedroom and route if stairs are a concern.
• Parking cannot be reserved, and town or castle parking may be needed. Plan luggage drop-off and parking before arrival.
• Only assistance dogs are accepted under the published policy.

The Gourmet Getaways view

A strong choice for travellers who want to stay in Caernarfon’s historic fabric and eat in a Welsh pub. We would choose the building first, then the room, and book dinner early. That approach preserves the charm while avoiding surprises about stairs, parking or the walk back from the inn.