The Black Lion is set in the historic village of Appledore, which can trace its history back to the Viking times when it was a busy port.
Now Appledore is a quiet village in the heart of Kent with a traditional English pub and restaurant with owners Ray and Sandra Cottingham offering you the warmest of welcomes every day of the year.
The Black Lion is a free house (we are not owned or run by a brewery) which means we can offer a varied seasonal selection of Real Ales, an impressive wine list and also allows us to take advantage of the fantastic local produce in our dishes.
Our extensive menu is available every day with locally reared lamb and freshly caught fish a speciality.
We serve freshly cooked food from:
Mon-Thurs: 11.30am - 3pm, 6pm - 9.30pm
Fri-Sat: 11.30am - 9.30pm
Sun: 12am-9pm
We hope to see you soon!
A selection of home-made sweet or savory puddings on our one or two course pudding menu.
Our famous bank holiday hog roast and paella returns! Hand carved, locally sourced pig served in a freshly baked roll or with a selection of a home-made salads. Or why not try our own deluxe paella, also served with a hot freshly baked roll.
Hand carved locally sourced pig served in a freshly baked roll or with a selection of a home-made salads, including our usual giant paella.
The classic car show returns for its 33rd year in Appledore, including a traditional barbecue outside the Black Lion.
During the August bank holiday the Appledore Flower Festival will be held in the church next to the pub, as well as our hog roast and paella on the Monday.
Prawn Cocktail. £6.45
Smoked Salmon with Citrus dressing. £5.95
Garlic Mushrooms with melted cheese. £5.95
Filo Prawns with garlic mayonnaise. £5.95
Tempura Prawns with sweet chilli dip. £5.95
Whitebait with tartare sauce. £5.95
Tomata & Mozzarella Salad £5.95
Feta & Walnut Salad £5.95
Greenlip Mussles with garlic sauce £5.95
Baked Brie with almonds £5.95
Soft Roes on Toast (subject to availability) £6.45
Pate on Toast with cranberry £5.95
Deep fried, grilled or poached, served with peas, tomato & your choice of potatoes. £10.95
Deep fried or grilled, served with peas, tomato & your choice of potatoes. £9.95
Poached & served with peas, tomato & your choice of potatoes, with parsley or hollandaise sauce. £10.95
Poached, served with peas, tomato & your choice of potatoes, topped with an egg. £11.95
Grilled in garlic butter & topped with toasted flaked almonds. Served with peas, tomato & your choice of potatoes. £10.95
Sautéed with garlic, ginger & spring onion, served with stir fry vegetables & rice. £14.95
Cooked in wine, garlic, onion, parsley & cream. Served with a hot roll. £11.95
Smoked haddock & smoked mackerel in a creamy cheese sauce & laced with smoked salmon. Served with a hot roll. £11.95
Served with chips, peas & tomato. £10.95
Cod, haddock, salmon & prawns in a creamy sauce, topped with creamed potato & cheese. Served with a selection of fresh vegetables. £14.95
Served with chips, peas, tomato, & onion rings. £19.95
Served with chips, peas, tomato, & onion rings. £16.95
Served with chips, peas, tomato & a choice of egg or pineapple. £13.95
Tender pieces of lamb, marinated in red wine & rosemary, with a puff pastry lid. Served with a selection of fresh vegetables & your choice of potatoes. £12.95
Tender pieces of beef, marinated with wine & herbs with a puff pastry lid. Served with a selection of fresh vegetables & your choice of potatoes. £12.95
With a short crust pastry, served with a selection of fresh vegetables & your choice of potatoes. £13.95
Chicken breast & ham with mushrooms, onion, herbs, white wine & cream with a puff pastry lid. Served with a selection of fresh vegetables & your choice of potatoes. £12.95
Chicken breast with onion, peppers, coconut milk, cream, herbs & spices. Served on a bed of rice with puppodums. £10.95
Served with a brandy, cream & mushroom sauce, a selection of fresh vegetables & potatoes of your choice. £12.95
Tender pieces of fillet steak, sautéed with onion, mushrooms, garlic, herbs, brandy & cream, on a bed of rice. £15.95
Served with a hoi-sin sauce, stir fry vegetables & noodles. £14.95
Served with a side salad & a hot French roll. £9.95
Served with a hot French roll. £8.95
Served with a side salad & a hot French roll. £9.95
Penne pasta in a tomato, herb, pepper & mushroom sauce topped with cheese. Served with a side salad & garlic bread. £9.95
Served with rice or tagliatelle. £9.95
Chicken Nuggets. £5.50
Beefburger. £5.50
Sausages. £5.50
Homemade Fish Fingers. £5.50
Scampi. £7.00
All served with chips or mash and peas or baked beans.
Macaroni Cheese. £5.50
Spaghetti Bolognese. £5.50
Chicken Breast served with mash and veg of your choice. £5.50
Roast Dinner (available on Sundays). £5.50
All children’s meals include a free ice cream (choice of Vanilla, Strawberry or Chocolate)
Sautéed with spices, tomato and garlic, served with rocket and tomato. £6.95
Large flat mushroom stuffed with bacon and melted Brie on a bed of ratatouille. £6.95
Whole baked baby Camembert with caramelised onion chutney and warm bread. £6.95
Home made chunky fish fingers in an artisan baguette with salad garnish and lemon Mayo. £6.95
1/2 kilo moules mariniere served with warm bread. £6.95
Brie and bacon flatbread with caramelised onion chutney and cherry vine tomatoes. £6.95
Please note:
We don’t accept table reservations for Sunday lunch.
For all other times it is advisable to book your table in advance.
By Road
From the M20, junction 10, take the exit titled “A2070 / Brenzett”. Follow this road until you have reached Brenzett.
At the roundabout take the 3rd exit (right), continue straight over the next roundabout and follow the road until you reach Appledore.
The Black Lion is just on the right.
By Rail
Appledore has it’s own railway station nearby (about a 20 minute walk) with regular services. To the north, Ashford International is just 2 stops away and to the south, trains runs directly to Hastings and Eastbourne.