Penny Black Pub in Stockton-on-Tees

Always a bit wary of trying a new pub but was very very pleasantly surprised. The food is lovely and homemade with something to suit every appetite. The friendly staff gave service with a smile and soon made us feel at home. We met Phil the chef and he shared his very obvious passion for creating amazing dishes. You really need to give this place a try. You will not be disappointed!

This was our 3rd visit for Sunday Lunch..was fair price and can honestly say we thoroughly enjoyed everything on offer. There was plenty of veg to choose from, choice of 3 gravy and 2 different stuffings…great homemade yorkshires and the choice of fresh meat (not formed meats) which were tender…were best I have had in this area.. I know it used to be a great Pub but times have changed ..a lot of our local pubs are struggling.. Definetly going to try their other meals on offer especially with their delivery service...we haven’t been in the pub to socialise on an evening recently so can’t comment…but will certainly pop in when the weather gets better… as I do know their lager is not too bad on a lunch time….see you again soon

Nice Sunday lunch plenty of choice al four of us had small plates but was enough good pint too meat tender great value

Amazing carvery 5* Every vegetable you can think of with a choice of 4 meats. We all absolutely loved it. Will definitely be going back next week.

Went to visit the pub last weekend and decided not to when going in as through the window you could see it was packed with no social distancing in place. Within the outside area there were lots of youths who were potentially on drugs (canisters around area and streets). Visit at your own risk!! The management seriously need to get a grip of this pub and hope the council, police take a visit.

Visited a week ago the place is horrific and like a night club/youth club. Absolutely full and couldn’t move, no social distance measures in place or track and trace. Empty silver canisters all over car park also empty drug packets and drug deals going on in the car park clearly in front on the management who just turned a blind eye. Such a shame as it used to be such a nice local pub and it’s being run to the ground, due to the current landlord. Total agree with another comment if you want drugs, covid or a fight this is the place to visit. As when we visited, we had heard the night before there was fights and the place was smashed up.

This used to be a great pub until the new landlord took over now its turned into place to go if you want coke, covid or a fight.

Went here with friends for a drink glasses were dirty,larger was flat and horrible, staff did change drinks but they were no better had to wait to be served while staff outside smoking or too busy talking was an effort to be served off staff. Staff all look like they want a good hair wash to busy gossiping or smoking to serve customers first and last time coming here.

Don’t know what is happening at this place they always went out of way to oblige you if you wanted a different veg such as peas but got told no couldn’t be switched. So asked for meal without peas. You guessed it came with peas. Whilst I know it’s not a big thing I don’t know why they will no longer swap them. Or listen to you.

Visited on Sunday. Worried when car park and restaurant were full. Lovely staff managed to find us a table. Went for the large option. Plenty of meat. Beef and turkey really tasty. Amazing choice of vegetables all freshly made. Giant Yorkshire puddings with a large array of sauces. A very well organised Sunday lunch service. We both left full and very happy. Will visit again

Well,went here today for 3 take out sunday lunchs veg was ok but the beef was really bad u couldn't cut it i got two large one small on the small i got half a slice off turkey which i said to the lady, that is treble that hardy no meat given the girl looked and said thats all u get on a small well for 5.99 u need to up the meat,landlady was nt bothered either as my husband mentioned it to her as well at the bar, went here a few weeks ago and got dinner and it was ok but its going down hill now so wont return no customer service as there dont care payed nearly £25 for 3 lunch s for veg really and its not on .....

Went here with a friend as it was close by. Ate here a while ago and it was ok but this time could well be my last. Ordered the Parmesan and frankly it was a disaster. There wasn’t really any sauce to speak of, it was more melted cheese. The chicken, though cooked, was oozing water so that it implies it was just cooked through. The coleslaw was not the right ratio of carrot/onion/cabbage and was mainly cabbage covered in a peculiar tasting mayo. Even the side salad tasted out of date. To top it off my friend was served the wrong dish so I had finished mine by the time hers arrived. Mistakes happen, it wasn’t an issue and there was plenty of apologies from a very pleasant young man who was serving. Unfortunately my dish was completely forgettable.

Went here for a change as we had heard so much about the place The carvery is wonderful such an array of meats lots of vegetables variety to choose from Worth booking 1st as you may not get a table otherwise. Staff very welcoming and desserts for £2.50 an absolute bargain quite large car park though we still found it hard to find a space Will be returning great food

This has been our 2nd visit and can honestly say not the last we had to leave as soon as we had had our meal as the horses needed feeding however that was no reflection on food and staff whe were really lovely see you soon thank you.

Been here on a few occasions for a drink and had food before which was ok not the best.

Just had our first and LAST meal in the Penny Black, Service was poor, I had the scampi and it was like a mess on a plate. Soggy chips, coleslaw and salad covered with peas and scampi overcooked. Stroganoff OK but rice was solid and well overcooked. Waited at least 35 mins for the meal, told the staff when they cleared the plates our views but nobody came to see us or apologised. A sorry would have been acceptable. Need to take stock of the other good pub grub in the area and step up the mark. Never again!!!

Visited for a Sunday lunch. They serve a Carvery wish is wonderful. The meat cooked lovely beef lamb turkey pork and gammon. There is lots of veg including mash, roasties and boiled potatoes. Homemade Yorkshire puddings. £8.99 and this includes a soup for starter. Great value for money and very tasty.

Friend recommended we have tea here. Drank here many times but not eaten and the reviews weren’t overly great. However I was very pleasantly surprised - I had Cajun chicken burger which came with chips and a large dollop of coleslaw. This chicken burger was a chicken breast - not a frozen moulded piece from birds eye - with a lovely strong taste of Cajun which I love. Very much enjoyed this - I know it’s only a burger but I have had a dodgy version in the Derry recently. This was sooo much better

Been in today for a carvery today which cost £25 for two of us, including a drink. How they can charge that much I really don’t know. The lamb was actually really nice, but the beef was horrific and so was the rest. The veg was soggy, gravy was pretty much water with onion in it, stuffing was rock solid and the Yorkshire’s where rock solid and uncooked in the middle. It was completely tasteless, hence the thank god for the salt on the table. Please step it up, such a shame! Really disappointed.

My brother Gary runs this pub and invited all his family for Christmas lunch. The food was delicious and plenty of fresh food, turkey and beef on offer with 3 types of stuffing with lots of veggies. Choice of starters and desserts. Eaten here now a few times when visiting family and the food has always been of a high standard. Highly recommend this place.

First time visit for us, went out to celebrate a birthday.

Beautiful meal again today. Penny Parmo and dirty chips. All the meals were great. Lovely pub with outstanding friendly staff

Sunday lunch excellent choice of four meats also chicken breast wrapped in bacon never seen so much choice in veg three choice of gravy went back for more veg excellent

Amazing on every visit. Freindly staff. Great menu. Delicious home cooked food .Sunday lunch is also the best place to eat in stockton. , . Cant wait to visit again 😁

Beautiful food always had a few meals in here and all have been lovely staff are friendly would recommend defiantly all home cooked food

We booked for sunday lunch there was 9 of us and when we arrived there was no table booked the waitress's looked sheepish but in no time we were seated , just as well as people travelled from all over the north east and even New Zealand , What a feast we had there was a choice of 5 meats all delicious , 3 stuffings and 3 gravys to choose from with an absolute wealth or vegetables including battered cauli which i didn't try .The chefs were friendly and an absolute find for the Penny we will most certainly be back an absolute gem

Having heard they had started doing food again, myself and husband popped. I ordered fish goujons which were huge and crispy with chips, both were gorgeous, Hubby opted for parmo which he said was very tasty. The portions were massive so we took what we had left home. It’s a quiet pub during the day but hopefully pick up a bit once people realise how nice the food is Worth a visit.

We called in last Saturday for a quick drink. Wish we’d never bothered.

Best pub in town can't beat it really can ya after the boro match oiiiiiii love it kidda gerinnnn ma lad

It's a pub.....NO FOOD.....sorry but you need to know. Waiting for the sign to go up that food is available but none as yet

Tenía un Año Nuevo aquí con la familia de mi esposo y nunca decían los nuevos propietarios tan sólo tenía dos semanas. Pensamos que la fiesta poppers y Fizz a medianoche fue un buen toque y no puedo agradecer lo suficiente por hacer una Sarah señora embarazada té cuando el zumos de fruta un poco mucho!

3 of us went earlier this week but were told closing end of august. Such a shame as really enjoyed the food.

Los niños comen por £1?? Quizás no como cuando fuimos ayer el lugar estaba vacío. Todo encerrado y parece cosas ha ido desde el interior. Puede ser abierta pronto supongo que si inquilinos nuevos vienen antes de salir de casa para asegurarse de que está abierto!!!

No he estado aquí por un tiempo, ya que realmente ha perdido su camino sin embargo le dio otra oportunidad la semana pasada y estoy encantado de informar que ahora es volver en forma. Teníamos pollo en salsa de crema y pasteles de pescado - platos eran encantadoras y venía con muy bueno y patatas fritas ensalada. La ventaja es que si tienes un tastecard como puede llegar de 2 por 1 en días laborables. Estaremos encantados de volver.

He estado yendo por el Penny asados durante años y me decepcionó hoy tuve el estándar que sirve y me dieron 1 pequeña rebanada delgada de carne, y no mucho más Turquía. No estoy seguro de si están tratando de cortar las esquinas para ahorrar dinero, pero es una pena si esto sucede. También no es aceptable para 50 p para utilizar su tarjeta.

Amplia variedad de platos. Magnífica comida caliente y muy sabroso a muy buen precio. Buenas porciones. Limpio y ordenado dentro. Lo recomiendo.

New member of staff I read this review and feel the same. Tried to get a under member of staff to serve us drinks. Love visiting the penny often go but may consider other local pubs.I visit the penny black often but haven't been in for a couple of weeks and today I visited with a friend and noticed the new bar maid is extremely abrupt, cold and rude. We were made to feel very unwelcome and the atmosphere could have been cut by a knife due to her unfriendly demeanour.

Visited for the first time on a Saturday afternoon. We were the only ones in the lounge area to order food so there wasn't any atmosphere. Staff were fine but could have been more helpful considering we hadn't been before and didn't even know where to get the menus from. Very laid back! We got a burger and parmo, food was edible buy not the best. 50p charge to pay on your card too. I wouldn't go back in a hurry.

Where do i start? The whole meal was apauling! We decided to go here as it was my parents wedding anniversary. First we waited 15 minutes to be seated even when there was only a few people in. Then when we ordered we were told half the stuff we wanted we couldnt have as they had ran out. We quickly decided on other things and then the wait began. With 3 children we hoped it would be quick service as there was only one other family ordering food. How wrong was i? We waited just over an hour for our starter then after that had been cleared away we waited for a further hour for our main meal which when it finally came most of it was cold. When the time came to pay the bill we waited a further 20 minutes even though we were the only people in. We politely asked for a small discount as we had waited so long for our meal to be told no because it was not there fault. Im sorry but it was hardly ours as we ordered at 7 and didnt get our main til 9! Iv never had such a bad experience as this! If i could have given 0 stars i would have.

Hi everyone, we were hear Saturday night as a group of 12, 8 of us had meals which the superb. Unfortunately, while the meal was great the attitude of the manager s was awful, even told one of your group to hurry us as she did not have all day. Very dissatisfied with the landlady, although the other members of staff were fantastic.

Mexican meat board amazing Lamb shank to die for as usualWas quite busy but the waitress was really helpful and nothing seemed to much trouble . Also a good choice of beers n lagers to choose from . Moretti on draught always a plus with me . Good choice of kids meals too and there's a specials board . I have never been disappointed here and will keep coming back . Keep up the good work

Come for a last minute tea with my boyfriend and the food was gorgeous! Homemade coleslaw, homemade chips and a parmo to die for. Great value for money and the lady who served us was friendly too. I would highly recommend

Use to like this place and ate here regularly. However, lately the standards have dropped. Booked Sunday dinner for 8, including child in a high chair. Given a table for 6 in a tight corner of the pub. Staff less than helpful and had to sort out arrangements ourselves.This took some time and then had to get drinks, meal tickets and go to the carvery. Later a member of staff came over and told us that bookings where for 1 hour and people where waiting for our table, good thing we didn't get dessert.Left the place quickly ando it will be a while before we return.

Can't say anything negative. Never had a bad meal yet either off the main menu or the Sunday carvery. Food is always top notch quality and the staff are friendly and approachable which makes you want to keep going back. The chef himself is friendly and happy to help. I'd highly recommend.

What a disappointment! It was so good the last time we'd been that we were really looking forward to it. Our prawn cocktails were mainly salad leaves with hardly any rose marie sauce. We had ordered mince and dumplings but the dumplings were rock hard and inedible. We sent them back and these were replaced but with no gravy. We couldn't eat them dry but by the time the gravy arrived, the dumplings were stone cold so we had to send them back. In fairness, we were given a free desert but found the custard very powdery. My sister fared worse with her cod in batter. The oil had obviously been too hot because the batter looked inedible. That was returned, but when another cod in batter came, that was the same. To compound the problem, when she removed the batter to just eat the fish, half of it was raw.

I went with groupon voucher previously after having what I would say was 'the best steak ever' on another groupon deal. Very disappointed to find I couldn't choose anything else off menu despite only a 50p difference (and willing to pay the difference & more if necessary!!). I did recommend this pub after my first visit but find it hard to say the same after the very regimental way we were treated on the second visit.

I BOOKED FOR FOUR PEOPLE ON 16TH JANUARY 2016 AT 7.30PM.We arrived on time only to be told we had no reservation. There were lots of vacant tables and we were told we could sit at one of these.There was a large gathering of about 20 people including babies and some kids about 4 to 7 years.They appeared to be enjoying themselves and their main meals were being served.There was no waitress service for drinks and I had to ask how we ordered ,which was at the bar.I ordered drinks and was asked how I would like to pay.I said on my card but was told the machine was broke and it would have to be cash.This wasn't a problem, so I got our drinks and took them to our table.Looking at the Groupon voucher it allowed starters on or below a certain price of £3,45 ,I believe. This was fine as 90% of the choice came to this amount.I collected and wrote down the meals we decided upon which had to be under £8.46p.This eliminated a great deal of the menu so I decided to purchase something more expensive and pay the difference. I was told this was not allowed and we could only choose from the lower priced items ,which were highlighted at 2 for £10.The starters we ordered were 4 x garlic mushrooms.It was 30 minutes before we were served them,and they were sloppy and quite tasteless.Then our MAIN meals came 45 minutes later, They comprised of 2 x chicken Balti and two burger meals, one chicken and one beef.The Balti was hardly touched and the burgers were only football match standard.An elderly couple sat next to us and they also had groupon and the same problems.The gentleman had a chest disorder and went to ask if they could turn on the extractor fan.He was told they didn't have one .He took photos of the dining area and it was foggy. Our clothing was in need of cleaning afterwards.there was no management available .WONT BE RETURNING

Went for a meal today but was a bit disappointed with the food as it was a bit bland and could hear the kitchen staff swearing and shouting at the bar staff witch i thought was un professional. As the bar staff were so helpful and polite

Left 2 previous good reviews in the past but today was terrible.One young girl trying to serve 2 bars, serve food, answer phone and clean tables. Management should be ashamed of themselves. She did her very best in the circumstances but inevitably service for drinks and food was slow. In addition prawn cocktail tasteless, soup tasty but only just warm. 8 oz burger not 8 oz and tasteless. Coleslaw awful. Panackulty not hot enough, too small and tasteless.Shan't be visiting again unless they get more staff and a different chef.

Heard the food was good in here so went for tea as a family ended up going home hungry as was no food available and waited for drinks for a very long time as understaffed when busy

Went here with a Groupon voucher for 2 courses. These were for a starter and main course. Some of the desserts were cheaper, but we were informed that we had to have a starter. I had parsnip soup with curry powder which was very good. My friend had prawn cocktail, which was enormous. When it came to ordering a main course I asked for lamb shank, but it cost more than the limit on the voucher and once more we were not allowed to pay the extra 50 pence.We ordered mince and dumplings, which arrived with an enormous baked dumpling on a bed of mince. It was very good, but far too large for normal appetites.A good meal somewhat spoilt by the use of petty rules.

This is one of those places you are never going to get to without seeking it out - and actually you should because its good food at a very low price. It's on an estate and is easy to get to if you can follow a map. There is a good sized carpark but it was not well lit. The pubs outside is nothing worth looking at and gives a poor first impression but inside is well presented on the whole, tidy and clean. We found the table placements to be over provided and quite cramped together on our Friday visit. This gives it more of a working mans club 1980 look and the tables should be better arranged.On a Sunday It probably gets busy but the rest of the week it gives an impression of being empty. We ordered a meal and starter there is a good offer on for some of the menu choices of 2 meals for £10. We chose a curry + rice with the Panackelty and chips for an extra £2.00. Both were tasty and made a good sized meal. Cutlery clean, service with a smile, clean toilets no invasive TV / gamble machines. Music was audible but not loud and quite varied. The menu was fairly standard pub fare and very cheaply priced compared to others in the locality. it was very quiet when we went early Friday evening.

My wife went to this pub with her friends for a meal,and she said it was really good value and the food was excellant

First time we've visited the Penny Black, was a bit worried after reading some reviews but would definitely go back! Lovely, freshly cooked pub food which we could'nt fault and great service off Caroline the friendly lady working there!

Lovely pub. The food is lovely & also the staff. Would definitely go back there again. Worth getting the parmos.

Came out on a Friday night for a lovely three course meal which was filling :-). We will definately be back. The pub is spacious with friendly staff and the menu has a wide selection to choose from which everything was available on then night. Definately coming back

Arrived for lunch...dismayed at being in such a dismal environment. The bar was empty...alarm bells rang but friend had booked with a Groupon voucher so no escape!!!First course of soup...leek and Stilton I think...was very strong flavoured and lumpy looking. I had tempura vegetables..which I can only describe as the most awful food I've eaten. The vegetables were red onion and green pepper...and the batter was awful. Even worse was the sweet awful sauce that smothered it. I was initially trying to pretend it was OK but then had to admit it was awful. She agreed that she wasnt enjoying hers either and we left.

Had the barmaid have not been so nice people probably would have walked out. she was serving on the Bar, waiting tables and running food. don't get me wrong this isn't a criticism towards the Penny Black I just think the food and service is that nice you need 2 people working. it was so hot and she was running around at one point we cleared a few tables. I work in a restaurant and do appreciate quieter periods mean less staff. We had 4 meals and they were all lovely and hot. always enjoy our meals there 2 for £10 Bargain xxx

This pub used to be great but sadly my last 2 visits the food was very poor. fish was soggy and the parmo was burned black underneath. I was promised a call from the manager on 2 occasions and a refund but never got either.My recommendation if the food had not improved, go elsewhere!!

Went to the Penny Black in Hartburn, for something to eat . My Sister, Daughter and Myself went for the Sunday Carvery. The choice was very good and very good value. I will definitely call again.

Apparently 5 different roast meats are served here... gammon, beef and pork. Thats 3.Thats all that was on offer when we attended.

Came here for a family meal. Ordered food which turned up an HOUR late. Half way through the meal realised the chicken in the parmo was raw, for two of the meals. Lady behind the bar very apologetic and we were refunded. We will not be revisiting

I moved nearby recently and a few of us went for tea. Pub doesn't look inviting from the outside but we were hungry so we went in. Barmaid was friendly and meals ordered from a 2 for £10 menu. I know what you thinking as I wasn't expecting to be impressed. I had chicken and chorizo skewers on a bed of Mexican rice with 3 dipping sauces. Was gorgeous. Others had mince and dumplings, fish and chips and panacilty. Clean plates all round. Been back 3 times in last few weeks. Food and staff good. Outside impression needs cheering up.

Recently came here with my family for sunday lunch and its safe to say I wasnt overly impressed! Went up to get carvery, the meat that was on offer did not look appetising so i settled for mince and dumplings. The mince has been there that long and untouched there was a 'skin' on top, it wasnt very warm either! Choice of veg was poor, I mean who doesnt serve brocolli?!

Quick service at the bar, no queue at the Carvery when we went up, decent price and lovely food! Good range of meats and extras too

Four of us attended here last Wednesday we had 2 mixed grills a pulled pork burger and a parmo and they were all very good , although the waiting time for the food was hardly quick it was well worth waiting for ,

I've visited this pub a couple of times for lunch and had a few nights out here as well, the live bands are high standard but a little too much rock music for my taste. I had the first visit for food a tuna and cheese melt baguette which came with chips and it was delicious, the next visit we had steak, chips, mushrooms, onion rings and salad, the portion size was on the large size and the food was amazing, the young barmaid was so friendly and helpful so was the landlady who asked if we enjoyed our meal and cleared our table quickly and efficiently, great atmosphere and would definitely go back.

Really enjoyed our meals this evening lasagna served with garlic bread and salad and a mixed grill. Both meals cost £15.40 and the mixed grill included a free drink. My only complaint is that every time we visit the salad never seems fresh and is a bit dried up, also we had a really long wait 45 minutes.

Went for the first time today to try the Sunday carvery. Excellent portions of meat and variety of tasty vegetables. Food was hot too which was a big plus for me as have sampled other carverys and have always had to ask for my meal to be heated up! Would definitely go back and also recommend to friends!

We went to The Penny Black using a Groupon voucher and were very disappointed. The steaks were overcooked and the chips were black. The very pleasant girl behind the bar brought us some fresh chips even though we told her not to bother, but really they should never have been served to anyone in the first place.

Although new menu sounded good me and my friend both got a parmo as they are usually to die for. Disgusting tonight, all bechamel sauce which looked like omelette, thick n lumpy. The waitress could see all was not well and asked if everything was ok. We told her it was weird and not nearly as good as usual. She was apologetic and told the chef but that was it.

Myself and my wife dropped by for the first time. The food was excellent and so was the service. Would recommend this place to friends and family.

Very Good sunday lunch when visiting on occasions while atdaughters in Hartburn.Good value for money!

Nice atmosphere friendly staff.the food was lovely .Huge portions it was a Saturday they served food 12 till 7 pm.Nice clean pub good beers n wines and cocktails .Live music as well in Hartburn

Went tonight for the Groupon deal of 2 steaks, chips and 2 glasses of wine for just under £14. This deal had been recommended to us, so we gave it a try. My husband was a bit dissapointed when i told him what were having, but that dissapointment soon faded when the meal arrived. It was absolutly lovely. The steak was cooked perfectly and full of flavour. We finished with the apple pie desert and were Stuffed to the seams. This is one of the best steaks we've had. Not like the basic pub meals you can get anywhere, this was exceptional. Highly recommended and we will be back shortly.

My daughter booked a party at this pub for my grand child's 1st birthday! We were told we could decorate half an hour before opening but unfortunately we weren't allowed in till opening time so we're trying to decorate as guests were turning up! The pub boasts free room hire and disco but they tried to charge my daughter £120 for this as the dj's daughter donned a mini mouse costume for 15 minutes! !! We all sat outside as it was sunny so couldn't even hear the music...would have thought the hapless dj would have moved his gear outside rather than playing to an empty pub! No party games nothing, pub still took £70 for the event which I think should be paid back immediately! Staff were fantastic...The only positive thing I can say about this venue!!!

Visited today with the hubby, Sunday cavery, everything on offer was beautiful, reasonably priced with a decent sized plate unlike some places where a smaller plate is used on a cavery service..we arrived around 2.00pm as our table was booked for half past and it was really busy therefore I'd advise to book a table, it started to quieten down around 3.00pm..lovely dinner, I'd recommend it.

Myself and my partner visited here about 5pm on a Monday evening for tea. We have been on several occasions and as usual the food was lovely. There is a good balance of good old English food or something a bit different. On this occasion i chose parmo and chips and my partner chose pan fried chicken breast in a stilton sauce.The chips are to die for, chunky and crispy with a decent sized portion , parmo was thick with plenty is bechamel and golden brown cheese topping. The chicken breast was a decent size with a lovely Stilton sauce topped with crispy bacon. The prices here are very reasonable but we used a taste card so basically it was half menu price. The starters we have had in the past have been of equally good quality however the reason I only gave a 4 star rating was (picky I know!?) On a couple of occasions we have ordered desserts which haven't been too good and now we just go for starters and mains. Service is usually good with friendly helpful staff however on a couple of occasions there have been staffing issues so we have had a slightly longer wait however its worth the wait .

We had a beautiful,steak just to our liking, we even changed one of the courses from chips to jacket potato nothing was to much trouble.

First timers aand although we had a half price Gourmet Club deal, the resteraunt had its own speccial deals equally good value. The pub is a littlee tired looking but not bad enough to discourage. The staff were very friendly and maybe because we were new seemed to make an effort . Pleased to find that being saturday night there was a band on , having been with a band myself it was a nice surprise. The Monsters of Rock proved to be excellent musically but a little too loud for the venue, coud have ttoned it down a bit, think I must be getting old. The food was very good with an excellent starter of King Pawnsand main a Westcot? steak wich had a nice sauce much better than a plain steak. We were too full for desert. All in all we had an excellent meal economical at half price but worth the full price. Rounded off by the good entertainment on a saturday night. The lady who served us who felt like Manager took the time to explain fothcoming events and made us feel like going back again. The drive from Eston to Hartburn only took around twenty minutes and is worth the trip.

A lovely place to eat and very reasonable,food is lovely and plenty of it,we opted for the teen meals having been before because they are just about the right size portion,food is great and did not have long to wait.

i visited the penny black on the 16th on a Thursday on a steak group on we arrived at the penny black we received a nice welcome at the bar we got our drinks and we walked over to our table and sat down.. we ordered our 2 sirloin which where both med to rare.. well the steaks when to die for we really enjoy our meal our compliments to the chef.. we will be back specially if that chef who cooked our lovely steaks is there.

Went for Sunday lunch... I certainly will not be coming back.. lumpy sloppy mash.. strange tasting roast potatoes... The meat was terrible.. worst dinner I've had in a while..

Visited here many times with good experiences. Sadly the service and food has slowly deteriorated and we will not be returning. During the last visit we waited 45 mins for two burgers and chips. Only one table of three people ordered before us and when they left we were the only customers in at 1800hrs. When the order eventually arrived the bacon as advertised on the menu was missing. This also happened on the last visit. Portion sizes have slowly reduced along with the establishments efficiency. The speed of service is inexcusable. Yes fresh food takes time but not 45 mins in an empty pubManagement need to address these comments and the other comments made on here, if not, they will be out of business by the year! Which would be a shame as it does have potential if ran correctly.

i love the penny black the meal was lovely and well cooked fabulous staff too will go back the steak was well cooked just how we liked it we had wine with the meal that was also lovely thank you for our lovely meal we will go back thanks

Pros* great chips,* better than average side salad with a scrummy dressing.Cons* both starters were only luke warm,* both steaks were asked to be medium rare, but they were very overcooked - dry and tasteless.When the waitress asked how the meals were, and I complained that the steaks weren't what we asked for, she simply said "but is everything else all right?". So the main part of the meal was rubbish, but that's supposed to be ok because the chips were good?We've eaten here before and had a reasonable meal, but never again.

visited on a Saturday afternoon, 2pm. not a single customer was in the lounge but there was a staff meeting going on. waited 10 minutes to get served then around another 30 minutes for our food, which came out one meal at a time! I ordered the hummus as it was beautiful on my last visit, I also got southern fried wedges (actually, they appeared to be home made chips with southern fried flavour dusted over them, ) he ordered gammon. The sf wedges were average, although the garlic dip was nice. I was so looking forward to the hummus as it was so good last time, unfortunately it was nothing like the same meal! no salad to dress it up, the hummus was bland and tasteless, even the pitta bread was tasteless and dry, but the olives were absolutely putrid! they were soft and mushy and god knows how old they were! I love olives but had this been my first taste of them I would never eat another one in my life! I think it had too much dressing on it (balsamic vinegar) to drown out the taste! I returned to dean at the bar and he offered to replace it for me, no thanks, surely if they had fresher olives in there it should have been served the first time? I left the majority of my wedges and went to pay the bill, very surprised that 1, nobody came to apologise for the meal and 2, they were still prepared to charge me for the returned starter! I did ask dean had he spoken to the chef and he replied yes, I then enquired of his response and was told 'that's what they are supposed to be like'. enough said. never again under this management and kitchen staff

My family and I decided to have a local pub tea, I chose the "Big mixed grill" I checked with the barmaid to ensure they had all of the items for this as had previous experience of not having all the ingredients, they had everything except sausages and eggs so I decided to go ahead but asked for mushrooms and black pudding to replace the missing sausage and egg. We waited about an hour and could here other customers laughing and counting how many chips they had. When the food arrived the portions were tiny and my daughter counted seven chips with her meal my meal came on a small plate without the mushrooms and black pudding swimming in grease and bloody when requesting it cooked, well done. It's a shame the chef didn't take pride in her work, I won't be returning just felt for the bar staff as picking up all complaints.

We went to the pub yesterday to meet some friends, no stock of almost everything! no coke/lemonade/soda, no strongbow, no dark fruits, no bulmers, very limited amount of smooth and fosters the list goes on..... whats going on?? how can a pub get into this state time and time again? It just looks like the owner can't afford it! won't be any footy on either this weekend, they've lost their internet too! feel sorry for the bar staff being left to deal with the unhappy customers.

Bought a groupon deal and booked ahead. On arrival we waited at the bar only to be ignored at the several women who were busy setting up for some kind of party. Eventually someone came over, it was at this point that we realised that we had not brought our groupon voucher with us. We explained this to the woman who said she would have to phone the manager as it was not up to her if we could have the deal. Several minutes later she returned to say that the manager had said no but if we had been people they knew then it wouldn't have been an issue! Strange as i've not only visited this pub many times but have lived in the local area all of my life while the manager has only recently taken over the pub! We said it didn't matter we would use our voucher another time only to then be told we would have to eat in the bar as there was a party on in the restaurant, despite the fact we had booked a table in the restaurant! On looking through to the bar it was extremely busy this being a Friday night, I asked where we should sit for the woman to say it's very busy in there. At this point i gave up, the lack of customer service was appalling, we were here to spend our money and no one was remotely interested in accomodating us. I will never return and i strongly advise others to find somewhere else to eat.

We just did a Groupon at the Penny Black. Having read the other reviews it seems that service is a problem, which is something I unfortunately have to agree with. That said, the food arrived fairly quickly, was hot and obviously freshly made. We both had parmo's and must say they were excellent. The chips were superb. Other clientele had various meals all of which seemed good portions and looked well made. The pub isn't the most appealing, it lacks atmosphere but it is an estate pub so maybe my expectations were too high. It could do with a bit of an upgrade, but all in all we'd go back. What we didn't finish, the staff were only too happy to package up and let us go away with it, which, sad I know, was quite a nice touch. Anyone thinking of going, don't expect 5 star treatment, its a pub, not a Michelin star restaurant! Its honest food which is plentiful and hot.

Went for my Dad's birthday with my wife and little boy, the staff were excellent especially the lady with the curly hair she made my little boy feel special, the food was gorgeous well worth waiting for, my mum and dad really enjoyed it will definitely be going back

We have to agree with most of the other comments.Took a long time to get a drink, staff stood in other bar talking.Food took a long time to come after our order, even though the place was not full, only10 other people in the lounge.Parmo small compared to the last time, belly pork in a sauce that had been done in a microwave and was burnt - horrid.No cream for the Eaton mess, apple crumble well what can one say, crumble mix not cooked, still in mix form, had burnt sugar bit in it due to microwave cooking.The 2 Kitchen staff stood at end of the bar in their dirty work clothes talking,The room was very cold but the toilets were over warm.We wont be back for a while until they do something about the food and room.

We called In the penny black after hearing good things about it , they were rite !!!! . We all ordered starters . King prawns were to die for . My friend said the hummus was as good as in Greese . I had the crispy belly pork , it was as good as I have ever had in any five star place . The lamb shank looked lovely and my friends swore by the chicken parmo . Place was clean . The bar staff were realy helpfull . All in all a realy good night

Visited with my mam and dad, as a vegetarian there was a good range of meals to choose from. The staff were super nice and the food was lovely.

We met friends here and frankly we were embarrassed by the whole evening. Its not exactly the most inviting of places, staff stood at the doors smoking but its an estate pub so wouldn't have expected it to be grand.We took ages to order drinks as there was no staff members around. Our starters took over 45 minutes to arrive and although large portions were only average. Our mains (parmos) were greasy and dry. One person had steak and they left half of it. We felt sorry for the staff as they were run ragged, obviously from looking at other reviews there just aren't enough staff to run the restaurant on an evening and so guests are left waiting and hungry. Come on, pull your socks up and employ some more staff. I definitely wont be back in a hurry.

If you want quantity then here is fine but the quality is terrible. Tonight we had been overlooked so waited an hour for food but when it came it was very disappointing and tasteless. We won't be going back, ever.Ps by the way, sort out your toilets they are substandard.

felt i had to review again after my last 2 visits to the pub, stuck for time but wanted to eat out so decided to give the Penny one last try. I ordered humus with pitta bread from the starter menu and a jacket potato. he ordered steak pie with chips and veg. very pleasantly surprised when it arrived. my humus was served on a rustic wooden board, with salad and olives, drizzled with soy sauce, I believe, very well presented and tasty. nice jacket potato and homemade coleslaw. his pie and chips were home made (yaaay!!) the bar was busy as the football was on and the lounge was very busy, only 2 bar staff on but, bless them, they were both cheerful and able to have a quick chat while working. I know the pub has recently had a new manager and I hope they carry on as they are, decent food will always put bums on seats, especially us locals who do want to support our local pub

The food was quite good but the service from the one member of staff on duty was not good She never smiled once and looked miserable

I've been here for drinks many times previously, but it's been some years since I last had some food. I came in this afternoon with my Son, Mum and Grandparents for a spot of lunch. There was only 4 other people in the lounge area when we arrived, they were also eating. We ordered our drinks and took a seat, the lounge was very smoky and smelt of burning from the kitchen, we ordered our meals and it took a good 25-30 minutes for them to arrive despite there only being one other table in the whole room.What we did find amusing was the large amount of spelling mistakes on the menu, does nobody proof read?Finally after a wait our meals arrived, I ordered a Chicken Parmo, living out of the area now I always try to have one when I return home or a visit. This one I found quite disappointing, the twice cooked chips tasted slightly burnt, almost as if the oil had not been cleaned and the Parmo was very greasy. I finished as much as I could.I ordered dessert to try fill myself up, while the banofee pie was tasty, the caramel sauce looked as if the plate had been stood in the kitchen for a while after it was served. It was quite tough.Overall, it was quite a disappointing visit. I wouldn't have bothered with a review had I not noticed that the pub itself encourages you to write a review on Trip Advisor. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.