Sitting in the South Cheshire countryside, the medieval village of Malpas was recently crowned #1 in The Sunday Times list of the “best secret villages to live in”, praised for its strong sense of community and ideal location. At the heart of the village lies The Lion at Malpas, a 16th century inn which has undergone a multi-million pound renovation. As a fan of pubs with rooms, we decided to stay for a couple of nights to see why this delightful Cheshire gem has become such a sought-after destination.
The welcome
We arrived at around 4pm and easily found a parking spot at the side of the pub (additional spaces are available at the rear if you arrive later). Stepping through the main entrance, we were greeted by the cosy glow of a roaring fire which was complemented by an equally warm welcome, before we were promptly handed our keycards and shown to our room in a nearby building.
The room
The rooms are named after villages close to Malpas. We stayed in ‘Clutton’, a generously-proportioned room covering 28 square metres. Upon entering, there’s a cosy porch area with a box for muddy boots — a thoughtful touch, given the abundance of walking opportunities in the region, including the Sandstone Trail which passes just 2.5 miles to the east of Malpas.
The bedroom itself exudes a charming blend of traditional and modern design. The bed is framed by a striking dark, rustic wooden lattice that complements the exposed beams, adding warmth and character. This contrasts beautifully with the homely atmosphere offered by the lighter tones of the walls and the wood-effect flooring.
Well-lit and thoughtfully arranged, the room includes a dressing table, a fitted 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 lies just beyond.
The bathroom
The en suite bathroom is very inviting, not least because it has underfloor-heating and always felt so cosy whenever we entered. It’s a contemporary room with greenish modern subway tiles on the wall (even if they look more grey in my photograph!), contrasting with the patterned Moroccan-like floor tiles. A glass-screened walk-in shower, sleek under-mounted sink and a heated towel rail give the bathroom a modern, classic aesthetic.
Fluffy towels, soft lighting and a plentiful supply of Molton Brown toiletries provided a little added air of luxury.
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The facilities
Breakfast was included in our stay, and it was a lovely way to start each morning. It’s served in the pub until 10am, perfect if you prefer a lie-in or, like us, fancy a morning run beforehand. Along with a selection of cereals and juices to help yourself to, there’s 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 The Cheshire Breakfast—both delicious variations of a full English.
In the evenings, the menu offers pub favourites such as fish and chips, burgers and proper pies, alongside creative dishes that go beyond traditional pub fayre. Think confit duck leg with dauphinoise potatoes and squash purée, or whole butterflied seabass with a lemon, dill and caper butter. Among the starters, you’ll find everything from brûléed figs with a goats cheese mousse and walnuts, to king prawns with a kaffir lime butter, chilli and toasted sourdough for dipping.
The Lion at Malpas is also very dog friendly, with our 10 year old Springer, George, able to join us in most areas of the pub, as well as stay in our room.
While we spent much of our time exploring the local area, there’s plenty to keep you entertained if you choose to stay in the pub. Along with a well-stocked bar, books, and magazines, there’s also a wide selection of board games to enjoy. In fact, on our first night, we found the pub hosting a lively backgammon night—a charming reminder of how pubs can bring people together. It was lovely to see the space being used in such a community-driven way, adding to the welcoming atmosphere.
Be sure also not to miss the historic chair, close to the pub’s main entrance and kept in Malpas thanks to local residents, that King James I is said to have used when he stopped at The Lion.
The various rooms of the pub can be allocated for different functions – useful if you’re hosting a small gathering or event, or perfect if you’re thinking of planning something special.
The location
Malpas is a beautiful, historic village – even mentioned in the Domesday Book – in the south-western tip of Cheshire, close to the borders with Shropshire and Wales. It’s an easy 35-minute drive from Chester, and not much further to Manchester or Liverpool, but still sufficiently far from them all to be truly rural.
We visited Cholmondeley Castle Gardens which is only a 10-minute drive away and were very fortunate in that we happened to arrive just in time for an Autumn Tints Guided Tour with Head Gardener Barry Grain – a 90-minute stroll through the gardens in which we were immersed in a breathtaking palette of seasonal colors. The sky was a little 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 tour was a fun experience.
The highlights for me were the magnificent red maple near the ornamental lake and the bright yellow, caramel-scented lime tree that capped off our tour before we enjoyed a treat at the café.
On the day of our departure, we enjoyed clear blue skies so explored a section of the Sandstone Trail at Bickerton Hill on our way home. We have walked other sections of the route before, but really must return to do it all one day as it’s quite beautiful.
Other nice touches
Whilst it was lovely to sit in the pub with a drink, we were provided with all kinds of thoughtful extras in our room that it would have been easy not to leave! A small bottle of gin and some Fevertree tonics with a welcome note, a Nespresso machine and a supply of coffee pods, and mini happer crammed full of crisps, biscuits, Teapigs tea bags and luxury hot chocolate. There were even dog biscuits for our canine companion and reading material in the form of a copy of Cheshire Life.
The cost
For the level of comfort, attention to detail, and overall experience, The Lion offers exceptional value for money with room-only stays starting from £99 per night for 2 people.
A dinner, bed and breakfast stay in a Country Double room such as ‘Clutton’, that we stayed in, starts from £199 per night for two people.
The best bit
The highlight of our stay was the warm and inviting atmosphere that The Lion at Malpas seemed to create so effortlessly — something the best traditional pubs are renowned for. A roaring fire, comfortable accommodation and quality pub food all contributed to the perfect blend of cosiness, informality and rustic charm that made our stay a very homely and welcoming one.
The final verdict
There’s something comforting about unwinding with friends or family over a pint by a roaring fire in a cosy British pub. It’s hard to beat. But by offering the charm of a pub with the comfort of a restful night’s stay in quality accommodation, The Lion at Malpas takes the experience to a new level, without the formality of a luxury hotel.
Disclosure: Our stay was courtesy of The Lion at Malpas.
Paul Johnson
Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Telegraph.
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