Black Horse Inn

02/11/2026

A confession from a table at The Black Horse. 🍺

Dear Bilton,

I've had a rather busy weekend.

I've supported several elbows, witnessed some questionable dancing, overheard three arguments about football and survived a suspiciously sticky glass of something.

And now it's Monday.

The first Monday in November, to be precise.

Frankly, I was expecting a quiet evening.

Then somebody mentioned the quiz.

Then somebody mentioned Newcastle.

Then somebody mentioned discounted pints.

And suddenly, I realised I wouldn't be getting much rest at all.

Here's what's happening around me tonight…

From 12PM until 8PM, the kitchen will be sending out proper pub food. Burgers, hearty favourites, chips and all the things people order when they've decided Monday doesn't deserve another home-cooked meal.

At 7PM, the Game Day Pass springs into action, giving holders 10% off selected drinks.

Then, at 8PM, things get interesting.

Newcastle United take on Everton in the Premier League, live on our screens. ⚽

Meanwhile, the Monday Night Quiz begins at exactly the same time, with free entry and the usual assortment of confident guesses, outrageous team names and people who suddenly know absolutely everything about ancient Greece.

Somebody will shout, “THAT WAS OFFSIDE!”

Somebody else will shout, “I SAID THE ROMANS!”

Neither will be speaking to the same person.

And me?

I'll be underneath someone's pint, quietly enjoying the chaos.

So come and give an old table something to do.

Bring your friends. Have some dinner. Enjoy a drink. Watch the match or test your knowledge.

November's only just started.

There's no need to spend the first Monday of it staring at the television on your own.

Yours sincerely,

A slightly battered but very welcoming table at The Black Horse, Bilton. 🐴🍻

P.S. If you're coming for food, the kitchen closes at 8PM. If you're coming for football, kick-off is 8PM. And if you're coming for the quiz, please bring someone who knows more than just the capital of France.

01/11/2026

Dear ghosts, ghouls and assorted creatures of Bilton,

We hope you've recovered from yesterday.

The pumpkins are still grinning, there's probably glitter hiding somewhere in the pub, and at least one parent is wondering how a two-hour Halloween workshop required a three-hour recovery period.

We have a solution.

It involves a large Yorkshire pudding, a generous helping of gravy and somebody else doing the cooking. 🍽️

Today, The Black Horse returns to its favourite kind of Sunday magic.

Proper roast dinners, cold pints, warm seats and absolutely no obligation to do anything productive.

Our Sunday roasts are served from 12PM until 5PM, with a roast from £13.99.

And just when you thought Sunday couldn't get any better, there's a rather tasty football fixture to finish the afternoon.

Liverpool v Arsenal kicks off at 4:30PM, live on our screens. ⚽

So here's our suggestion.

Arrive hungry. Order the roast. Take your time. Enjoy a pint. Find a comfortable seat for the football.

If anyone asks what you've achieved today, tell them you've supported your local economy, maintained important social relationships and witnessed some top-flight sporting competition.

Sounds remarkably productive to us.

The Black Horse, Bilton. 🍺

P.S. If anyone spots a ghost hanging around the pub today, don't panic.

It's probably just waiting for its Yorkshire pudding.

31/10/2026

🎃❤️ Well, Bilton… you really are a lovely bunch.

Today, The Black Horse was taken over by little monsters, witches, skeletons, some rather suspicious-looking characters and an awful lot of happy faces.

And we wouldn't have had it any other way. 🥰

Our Halloween Workshop was everything we love about being a village pub.

Children getting stuck into arts and crafts, families spending time together, brilliant costumes, plenty of laughter and our wonderful community making the pub feel like so much more than just somewhere to have a drink.

But the loveliest part?

Thanks to your generosity, our Halloween raffle raised £91.50 for The Myton Hospices through Olivia's London Marathon Fund. ❤️

Every raffle ticket bought, every contribution made and every bit of support genuinely means so much.

A huge thank you to everyone who came along, brought the little ones, bought raffle tickets, donated prizes, helped organise the afternoon or simply joined in the fun.

And an extra special thank you to Tia for making today happen, a wonderful event ❤️

Looking through these photos, it's not the decorations or the costumes that make us smile the most.

It's seeing families, friends and neighbours making memories together.

That's what a proper local pub should be about. ❤️

From all of us at The Black Horse, thank you for making Halloween such a lovely day.

And to Olivia — we're extremely proud to play a little part in your fundraising journey. 🏃‍♀️❤️

Bilton, you're a special little community. Never change.

📍 The Black Horse, Bilton 🐴

*all photos were taken with parental/guidance authority given.

31/10/2026

An entirely believable conversation at The Black Horse this Saturday. 🍔🍺⚽

12:15PM
“We'll just pop in for the Chelsea game. One pint, then home.”

12:30PM
Chelsea v Manchester United kicks off.

1:45PM
“Actually, those burgers look decent. Shall we get some food?”

2:30PM
The plates are empty. The pints aren't. Someone's explaining why they'd make a better Premier League manager.

4:00PM
“We should probably head off soon.”

Nobody moves.

5:30PM
Tottenham v Crystal Palace kicks off.

6:45PM
Someone orders another round. Someone else starts talking about the weekend they were meant to have.

7:30PM
“Hang on, there's another match at eight?”

8:00PM
Aston Villa v Fulham kicks off.

And somewhere along the way, an ordinary Saturday became one of those afternoons you'll be talking about next week.

This is what your local is for.

Proper pub food, cold drinks, familiar faces, ridiculous football opinions and absolutely no pressure to be anywhere else.

🍽️ Our kitchen is serving from 12PM until 8PM, so get your food orders in before the final match.

🍺 The bar's open until 11PM.

📍 The Black Horse, Bilton.

No complicated plans. No expensive day out. Just a good old-fashioned Saturday down the pub.

Now be honest…

Who's the mate who says “just one” and is still there six hours later? 😂

30/10/2026

🍻 History, quality and community spirit all under one roof.

A huge congratulations to The Sportsman Inn in Carlisle on being crowned City Pub of the Year by Solway CAMRA.

For centuries, The Sportsman has been at the heart of Carlisle's pub scene, and today it continues to set the standard. From perfectly kept cask ales and delicious home-cooked food to the warm welcome that greets every customer, the team consistently delivers the kind of experience that keeps people coming back.

Its reputation speaks for itself. Alongside previous honours such as Winter Pub of the Season, The Sportsman has earned regular recognition in the CAMRA Good B**r Guide and remains one of the city's most loved traditional pubs.

This latest award celebrates the passion, hard work and dedication of the entire team, who continue to preserve the pub's rich heritage while making it a thriving destination for b**r lovers and the local community alike.

👏 Congratulations to our Publican, Amanda Picken, and everyone at The Sportsman Inn on another fantastic achievement.

30/10/2026

A FRIDAY NIGHT HORROR STORY. 👻

It was a cold October evening in Bilton.

The clock struck six.

The fridge hummed ominously.

A lonely onion rolled across the kitchen counter.

And then, from somewhere in the darkness, came five terrifying words…

“Shall we cook something tonight?”

Silence.

Nobody moved.

Somebody suggested the frozen pizza.

Somebody else mentioned the washing up.

Things were getting desperate.

Then, just as all hope seemed lost, someone remembered there was a perfectly good pub down the road.

A pub with proper food, cold pints, warm seats and people who actually seem pleased to see you.

The Black Horse, Bilton.

The family grabbed their coats.

The oven was switched off.

The onion lived to see another day.

And everyone enjoyed a considerably better Friday evening.

The End. 🍔🍟🍺

Our kitchen is serving until 8PM tonight, and the bar's open until 11PM.

So if you're reading this while staring into your fridge, consider it a sign.

Come hungry. Bring someone you like. Let us deal with dinner.

And whatever you do…

Don't let anyone suggest cooking. 😱

29/10/2026

An entirely unofficial amendment to the laws of Thursday.

Clause 1.

After four days of being a responsible adult, you are entitled to have somebody else cook your lunch and dinner.

Clause 2.

A proper plate of pub food, a comfortable seat and a pint with good company constitute a perfectly acceptable Thursday.

Clause 3.

At precisely 6:30PM tonight, your Game Day Pass comes back into action, giving you 10% off selected drinks with a valid pass.

Yes, 6:30PM. Not all day. We know some of you were getting rather used to that. 🍺

Clause 4.

At 7:45PM, Everton and Newcastle United will settle their differences in Carabao Cup Round Four.

We'll have it on the screens. You can provide the expert commentary, questionable refereeing decisions and unsolicited tactical advice.

Clause 5.

Our kitchen serves proper pub food until 8PM, so arriving early and having dinner before the football is strongly encouraged.

Clause 6.

Anyone announcing they're “only popping in for one” must accept that the evening may develop differently.

These amendments take effect immediately.

No signatures required. Just turn up.

The Black Horse, Bilton 🍔🍺⚽

Food served 12PM–8PM.
Game Day Pass active from 6:30PM.
Everton v Newcastle United, 7:45PM.

Now, who are you bringing along to help you interpret Clause 6? 👇

28/10/2026

You have reached a crossroads.

It is Wednesday. Outside is cold. The evenings are dark. Somewhere in your kitchen, a packet of pasta is preparing to disappoint you.

You have two options.

Turn to page 14 if you fancy cooking dinner, washing three pans and watching football while arguing with the heating.

Turn to page 27 if you'd rather have someone bring you a proper plate of pub food while you sit somewhere warm with a decent pint.

You turn to page 27.

Excellent choice.

You've arrived at The Black Horse, Bilton.

The kitchen is serving until 8PM, the pints are pouring, and nobody expects you to know where the colander lives.

But tonight, the story takes an unexpected turn…

Three Carabao Cup fixtures are waiting on our screens.

⚽ 7:30PM — Man City v Brighton
⚽ 7:45PM — Bournemouth v Aston Villa
⚽ 8PM — Liverpool v Chelsea

And there's another plot twist.

Your Game Day Pass is still fully active from 6.30PM today and tomorrow, (Thursday 29th October.)

That's 10% off selected drinks with your valid pass...

So the evening's possibilities have suddenly become rather interesting.

You could have dinner, a pint, a bit of football and a catch-up with your mates.

Or you could go home, open the fridge and spend twenty minutes staring at a yoghurt and some questionable leftovers.

Choose your own adventure.

Just remember, some endings are considerably better than others. 🍔🍺⚽

📍 The Black Horse, Bilton
Kitchen open until 8PM Wednesday & Thursday.

P.S. The fridge will still be there tomorrow. Unfortunately.

27/10/2026

WOW 🔥

This has been such an honour to be a part of!

Huge thanks to Coca-Cola for championing community leaders around the UK and for picking our very own Simon Dafforn-jones as Local Royalty!

It was a privilege to have portrait artist to royalty, Jamie Coreth, capture Simon in his natural habitat, the FBI.

Read more here 👇🏼

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/pub-landlord-given-royal-treatment-37812329

27/10/2026

Dear contents of the fridge,

We need to talk.

We know we bought you with good intentions. We genuinely believed we'd cook proper meals every evening this week.

But something has come up.

There's a pub in Bilton serving burgers, proper pub classics and cold drinks. It has warm seats, familiar faces, and absolutely no interest in making us peel potatoes.

To complicate matters, The Black Horse has announced that the Game Day Pass is staying fully active all day Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

That's three more days of 10% off selected drinks with a valid pass.

Frankly, fridge, you're going to struggle to compete.

And before you mention the washing up, we've already considered that. There isn't any.

Tuesday's kitchen closes at 6PM, while Wednesday and Thursday's stays open until 8PM.

So we're off for something decent to eat, a pint and a bit of company.

Please keep the milk cold. We'll be back eventually.

Yours apologetically,
The people of Bilton. 🍔🍺

📍 The Black Horse, Bilton

P.S. If your fridge is also full of good intentions, you know where we are.

20/10/2026

At Punch, we're proud to see young talent thrive across our pubs and support teams. From first jobs to leadership roles, remains one of the UK's greatest industries for developing skills, building confidence and creating rewarding careers.

That's why we're backing a hospitality-wide call to Government ahead of the Budget, championing the sector's ability to create jobs and opportunities for young people.

Hear Harry Bourne's story and why he's proud to support this message.

07/10/2026

Britain’s pubs are worth up to £30 billion in wellbeing value to communities across the UK. But rising costs and high taxes are putting pressure on pubs that bring people together.

This Week of Action, join the campaign today and tell your MP to keep pubs open and pints affordable.

https://www.longlivethelocal.pub/letter 🍍

25/09/2026

Actress Daisy Edgar-Jones filmed 🎥 a promo for her new film, Sense and Sensibility in our Canonbury pub, The Marquess Tavern for Vogue 🥰

The team at Vogue were searching for a shooting location that oozes class, was timeless and in-keeping with the theme of the movie... so where else were they going to film?! 😏

Take a look at the promo - Daisy is in character as Elinor Dashwood throughout!

Sense and Sensibility hits cinemas TODAY! 🎬Why not pop into The Marquess Tavern to wash down your popcorn! 🍿🍷

!

22/09/2026

We're on board, are you?

Join thousands backing Britain's pubs and breweries.

www.longlivethelocal.pub ❤️🍺

21/09/2026

This pub is a gem! 💎

The Wig & Mitre in Lincoln's Cathedral Quarter has reopened following a £100k investment. ⛪

Anne-Marie and Paul Balcomb have taken on the 14th century pub... "We’re thrilled to take control of such an iconic pub and can’t wait to meet all of our wonderful guests" ❤️

📷 Courtesy of Tory McTernan

17/09/2026

Welcome to The Buck Inn 🦌

New Management Partner Adrian McShane-Chapman has taken over the Thornton-le-Dale pub following a whopping £490k investment 🤑

🗨️ “I arrived in the UK 22 years ago from Australia, armed with just a backpack and no real plan... I’ve dipped in and out of hospitality over that time but the fire inside me to run my own pub burned bright.” - Adrian

If you're in Yorkshire, pay Adrian and his team a visit and check out this stunning pub for yourselves. 🤩

15/09/2026

Rory takes the keys to the refurbished Cross Keys pub in Nottingham! 🗝️

Our new Management Partner Rory Calladine has taken the reins at the popular city centre pub following a £100,000 investment.

🗨️"I was instantly drawn to the pub and as soon I discovered it was available in a partnership with Punch, I jumped at the chance." 🍍

Regular guests at The Cross Keys will instantly notice the pub’s traditional feel and special characteristics have been retained throughout but that a complete refresh has taken place. 💫

11/09/2026

We have reopened the Keyworth Tavern following a quarter-of-a-million refurbishment 🔥

The Keyworth pub in Nottingham, run by our Management Partner John Francis, had been closed for 5 weeks while we tore out the bar, stripped the pub back and replaced everything with new, modern furnishings. 🤩

Great work by everyone involved in the transformation 🥂

03/09/2026

We're quite fond of it too, Prime Minister! The Dog House

28/08/2026

Our Publican Beth at The Beeswing Inn 2013 has raised circa £250K for charity 😍 so if you're in the area this weekend, pop in and enjoy the music, food and drink!

Well done Beth!! 🥳

The Beeswing in East Cowton is hosting its 13th ‘Glastonbury’ festival to raise money for end of life care at a nearby hospital.

27/08/2026

Newly married couple Gareth and Jamie Furness have take the over The Bay Horse Inn in Pickering. 🔔

The pub has received a £400,000 investment and Gareth says it has been very well received by locals. 😃

“We are seeing more locals returning to the pub, faces that haven't been seen here for many years and we are seeing them on a regular basis... The refurb has really put The Bay Horse Inn back on the map and firmly at the heart of the Pickering community.” ❤️

Well done to everyone involved in this brilliant transformation 👏