Review: The Lion at Malpas, Cheshire, UK

Nestled in the South Cheshire countryside, the ancient village of Malpas was recently crowned #1 in the Sunday Times list of “best kept secret places to live”, praised for its strong sense of community and ideal location. In the center of the village is the Lion in Malpas, a 16th century inn that has undergone a multi-million pound refurbishment. As a fan of pubs with rooms, we decided to stay for a few nights to see why this Cheshire gem has become such a sought-after destination.

Acceptance

We arrived at 4pm and easily found a parking space next to the bar (additional spaces are available in the back if you arrive later). Upon entering the main entrance, we were greeted by the soothing glow of a roaring fire accompanied by an equally warm welcome, before we were quickly handed our key cards and shown to our room in the adjacent building.

The room

The rooms are named after the villages near Malpas. We lived in the ‘Clutton’, a modest room covering 28 square meters. Upon entry, there’s a cozy deck area with a muddy boot box — a thoughtful touch, given the abundance of hiking opportunities in the region, including the Sandstone Trail that runs just 2.5 miles east of Malpas.

The bedroom itself features an attractive blend of traditional and modern design. The bed is framed in a glossy black, rustic wood lattice with exposed beams, adding warmth and character. This contrasts well with the home’s atmosphere provided by the light tones of the walls and floor-effect flooring.

Well-lit and well-organized, the room includes a dressing table, a built-in wardrobe, and a small sitting area with a table and two comfortable chairs by the window, perfect for relaxing after a day of exploring. The en suite bathroom is more than just that.

The bathroom

The en suite bathroom is very inviting, not least because it has underfloor heating and always feels cozy whenever we enter. A modern room with modern green wall tiles (even if they look too gray in my photo!), compared to Moroccan patterned floor tiles. A glass-enclosed walk-in shower, sleek undermount sink and heated towel rail give the bathroom a modern, classic aesthetic.

Blush towels, soft lighting and an array of Molton Brown toiletries provided an air of luxury.

Resources

Breakfast was included in our stay, and it was a lovely way to start each morning. Served in the bar until 10am, it’s perfect if you prefer to lie in or, like us, fancy a morning run beforehand. As well as a selection of cereals and juices to help yourself to, there is also an à la carte menu. You can choose from classics such as Eggs Benedict or Eggs Florentine, or indulge in a heartier option with The Malpas Breakfast or Cheshire Breakfast—both delicious variations on the full English.

In the evening, the menu offers pub favorites such as fish and chips, burgers and proper pies, alongside classic dishes that go beyond the usual pub fayre. Think duck leg with potato dauphinoise and squash purée, or butterflied seabass whole with lemon, dill and caper butter. Among the starters, you’ll find everything from brûléed figs with goat cheese mousse and walnuts, to king prawns with kaffir lime butter, chilli and fried sour dough topping.

The Lion at Malpas is also dog friendly, with our 10-year-old Springer, George, able to join us in many of the pubs, and stay in our room.

Although we spent most of our time exploring the local area, there is plenty to keep you entertained if you choose to stay at the bar. Along with a well-stocked bar, books, and magazines, there is also a wide selection of board games to enjoy. In fact, on our first night, we discovered the pub was having a fun backgammon night—a fun reminder of how pubs can bring people together. It was great to see the space being used in a community-driven way, adding to the welcoming atmosphere.

Also make sure you don’t miss the historic chair, near the main entrance of the pub and kept in Malpas for local residents, said to have been used by King James I when he stopped at The Lion.

The various rooms in the pub can be assigned different functions – useful if you are hosting a small gathering or event, or perfect if you are thinking of planning something special.

Location

Malpas is a beautiful, historic village – even mentioned in the Day Book – in the south-west of Cheshire, near the borders of Shropshire and Wales. It’s an easy 35 minute drive from Chester, and not too far to Manchester or Liverpool, but still far enough for them all to be really homely.

We visited Cholmondeley Castle Gardens which is only 10 minutes away and we were very lucky to arrive in time for the Autumn Tints Guided Tour with Head Gardener Barry Grain – a 90 minute walk through the gardens. they were drenched in the amazing palette of seasonal colors. The sky was slightly overcast but this only served to make the fiery reds, deep oranges and golden yellows stand out even more.

Barry’s extensive knowledge was shared in such a relaxed manner that the visit was an enjoyable experience.

The highlight for me was the beautiful red maple near the ornamental pond and the yellow, caramel-scented lemon tree that closed our tour before we enjoyed a treat at the store.

On the day of our departure, we enjoyed clear skies so we explored part of the Sandstone Trail at Bickerton Hill on the way home. We have walked other parts of the route before, but we have to come back and do it all in one day as it is absolutely beautiful.

Another nice touch

Although it was lovely to sit in the pub with a drink, we were provided with all sorts of thoughtful extras in our room which we could have easily left behind! A mini bottle of gin and Fevertree tonics with a welcome note, a Nespresso machine and a supply of coffee pods, and a mini happer full of crisps, biscuits, Teapigs tea bags and premium hot chocolate. There were even dog biscuits for our canine friend and reading material in the form of a copy of Cheshire Life.

Costs

With a level of comfort, attention to detail, and complete experience, The Lion offers exceptional value for money with room only accommodation starting from £99 per night for 2 people.

Dinner, bed and breakfast stays in a Country Double room similar to the ‘Clutton’, which we stayed in, start at £199 per night for two people.

The best beat

The highlight of our stay was the warm and inviting atmosphere The Lion in Malpas seems to create effortlessly – something traditional pubs are known for. A roaring fire, comfortable seating and pub quality food all contributed to the perfect combination of coziness, informality and rustic charm that made our stay very homely and welcoming.

Final decision

There’s something comforting about relaxing with friends or family over a pint by a roaring fire in a British pub. It’s hard to beat. But by offering cheap elegance with the luxury of a comfortable overnight stay in a classy setting, The Lion at Malpas takes the experience to the next level, without the formality of a luxury hotel.

Disclosure: Our stay was courtesy of The Lion at Malpas.

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson is the Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for over 30 years. He is the winner of the Innovation in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog was also voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best in luxury” by The Telegraph.