The Black Bull Balsham

Welcome to The Black Bull Inn, a privately owned free house pub restaurant with bed & breakfast accommodation that has resided at the heart of the tranquil historic village of Balsham, Cambridgeshire since the 16th Century. More recently it has been the focus of a stunning transformation, whilst remaining sensitive to many of its charming Grade II Listed features.

Relax outside under the thatched eaves

Cambridge garden designer, Ian Shooter (with numerous Chelsea Flower Show medals to his name), has been integral in transforming the outside setting. We now have a tree-lined sandstone dining patio out front under parasols and the eaves of the thatched facade and a cosy south-facing beer garden at the back.

There is plenty of PARKING for our guests.

Well stoked fires await you

Our pub restaurant has won numerous AA rosettes over the years and is a mix of contemporary and traditional dishes. All our dishes are cooked to order using primarily fresh local produce.

We have forty wines, with twelve by the glass, and four beers on the pumps (our own label Red & Black, and three rotating guest ales)

Breakfast, lunch and dinner await!

Our pub restaurant has won numerous AA rosettes over the years and is a mix of contemporary and traditional dishes. All our dishes are cooked to order using primarily fresh local produce.

We have forty wines, with twelve by the glass, and four beers on the pumps (our own label Red & Black, and three rotating guest ales)

Five comfortable guest rooms

The five guest rooms have been given a makeover by our interior designer, Annie Lambert (Norfolk), quickly achieving four AA stars and are in a separate new building just off the main pub.

we look forward to welcoming you

We do not have a dogs’ menu, but they are welcome in the bar, restaurant and garden, and we are fortunate to have a great local water supplier!

FAQs

Welcome to The Black Bull, Balsham

A beautiful new dining area has been lovingly restored from the listed barn, created with an oak-panelled, high-vaulted ceiling that is awash with natural light, making it the perfect setting to enjoy The Black Bull’s locally sourced and freshly prepared menu.

The bar area has also been lightened and given a new lease of life under the guidance of our Norfolk interior designer, Annie Lambert.

We have a tree-lined sandstone dining patio out front under parasols and the eaves of the thatched facade and a cosy south-facing beer garden at the back.

We are passionate about our food here. Head Chef, Rob Burling, with his Trinity College, Michelin Star and Mustique Island experience, has understandably built a very loyal following for his 2AA Rosette food since joining us in 2020.

Five bedrooms (4 AA Star) provide guests with superior comfort before exploring Cambridge, Newmarket and the many delightful villages nearby. The Black Bull Inn attracts people from far and wide to this beautiful area on the Cambridge/Suffolk border and has naturally become a popular choice for those wishing to savour a treat of a weekend break or mid-week stay, and there is plenty of PARKING for our guests.

The Bar

The Balsham bar is a very relaxed space “in the round” with a number of different tucked-away areas surrounding the central bar. Think open fires, leather sofas, beams galore, wooden floorboards and lattice stained-glass windows. There is a more informal dining area in the bar as an alternative to the barn restaurant.

We strive to offer you a true taste of the region, with both our food and our drinks. There are always four local real ales on the hand pumps.

Opening Times

The Restaurant

As with its sister pub, the multi award-winning Red Lion Inn at Hinxton, food at the Black Bull is all about making the most of the great choice of local suppliers and reflecting the changing seasons. The result is rustic gastropub dining at its very best.
Both pubs have clocked up numerous AA rosettes for their food over the years under our watch.

Menus

The Rooms

The five guest rooms have been given a makeover by our interior designer, Annie Lambert (Norfolk), quickly achieving four AA stars and are in a separate new building just off the main pub. All are double en suite on the ground floor with internet access and can be split to twin occupancy as required. There is also space for Z beds or cots for extra guests. Dogs are welcome upon specific request in the rooms (and in the bar restaurant) for a small supplement and subject to certain house rules that any dog owner would expect

Book a room

Private Hire - Weddings / Meetings

We have the perfect location and facilities to host your wedding, celebration or business meetings and off-site functions. Accommodation, meeting rooms, catering, projectors and other AV kit are all available.