The Sun Hotel & Bar
Location: 63-65 Church Street, Lancaster, gb
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Property Type: Inns
About this Property
Historic Charm and Luxury Accommodations
Experience a piece of history at our 17th-century boutique hotel, the oldest bar/hotel in Lancaster. Indulge in luxury with our well-appointed rooms and elegant furnishings, offering a truly upscale stay in the heart of the city.
Prime Central Location
Located in the bustling city center, our hotel is just steps away from Lancaster's iconic castle and numerous attractions. Whether you're here for leisure or business, enjoy easy access to St Martin’s College and Lancaster University, catering to academics and visitors alike.
Exceptional Hospitality and Convenience
Our hotel prides itself on providing top-notch service and convenience for all guests. Book your stay now and immerse yourself in the rich history and modern comfort that our unique property has to offer.
Important Information
Due to the architectural nature of the building, there is no elevator access to rooms. Staff are happy to help carry luggage.Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Policies
Check-in: 03:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Amenities & Facilities
- Non-smoking rooms
- Restaurant
- Luggage storage
- Express check-in/check-out
- Soundproof rooms
- Non-smoking throughout
- Kid meals
- Staff adhere to local safety protocols
- Guest rooms disinfected between stays
- Cleaning standards that are effective against Coronavirus
- Hand sanitizer in guest room and key areas
- Cashless payment available
- Fire extinguishers
- First aid kit available
- Contactless check-in/check-out
- Invoice provided
- Smoke alarms
- Key access
- Television in common areas
- Express check-in
- Free wired internet
- Internet access
- Wine release events
- Japanese garden
Rooms Available
-
Premium Double Room, 1 King Bed
1 King Bed
390 sq feet
Internet - Free WiFi
Entertainment - 40-inch flat-screen TV, cable channels, and DVD player
Food & Drink - Espresso maker and electric kettle
Sleep - Bed sheets
Bathroom - Private bathroom, separate bathtub and shower, free toiletries, and a hair dryer
Practical - Iron/ironing board; rollaway beds (surcharge) and cribs (free) available on request
Comfort - Fresh bed sheets (on request), fresh towels (on request), and daily housekeeping
Non-Smoking
Max Occupancy: 3 (2 Adults)
- Hair dryer
- DVD player
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Electric kettle
- Daily housekeeping
- Espresso maker
- Separate bathtub and shower
- Free WiFi
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Bedsheets provided
- Change of towels (on request)
- Change of bed sheets (on request)
-
Basic Double Room, 1 Double Bed
1 Double Bed
190 sq feet
Internet - Free WiFi
Sleep - Bed sheets
Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, free toiletries, and a hair dryer
Practical - Iron/ironing board
Comfort - Fresh bed sheets (on request), fresh towels (on request), and daily housekeeping
Need to Know - No cribs (infant beds) or rollaway/extra beds available
Non-Smoking
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Shower
- Hair dryer
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Daily housekeeping
- Free WiFi
- No rollaway/extra beds
- No cribs (infant beds)
- Bedsheets provided
- Change of towels (on request)
- Change of bed sheets (on request)
-
Classic Double Room
Superior Room including an en suite bath or shower room, flat-screen TV, work desk, ironing and tea and coffee making facilities. A super king-size bed and free WiFi are also provided.
These rooms are large enough for a young child’s travel cot, which can be provided free of charge, please request these in advance of arrival using the Special Requests box.
Please request bathroom or shower room when booking.
Max Occupancy: 3 (2 Adults)
- Shower
- TV
- Telephone
- Hair dryer
- Desk
- Fan
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Satellite channels
- Wardrobe or closet
- Upper floors accessible by stairs only
- Toilet paper
- Cots
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
- Shower cap
- Socket near the bed
- Smoke alarm
- Key access
-
Luxury Twin Room
This twin bedded room comes with 2 extra large single beds, a flat-screen TV and free WiFi. An private bathroom and a desk are also provided.
Max Occupancy: 3 (2 Adults)
- Shower
- TV
- Telephone
- Hair dryer
- Desk
- DVD player
- Fan
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Satellite channels
- Wardrobe or closet
- Upper floors accessible by stairs only
- Toilet paper
- Cots
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
- Shower cap
- Socket near the bed
- Smoke alarm
- Key access
-
Suite
Large Georgian drawing room converted into a stylish suite. Includes cast iron stand-alone bath, private bathroom and a super king-size bed. A sitting area with 2 flat-screen TVs, free WiFi and a Nespresso machine are also provided.
Max Occupancy: 3 (2 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Shower
- TV
- Telephone
- Hair dryer
- Desk
- Seating Area
- DVD player
- Fan
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Satellite channels
- Sofa
- Wardrobe or closet
- Coffee machine
- Upper floors accessible by stairs only
- Toilet paper
- Cots
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
- Shower cap
- Socket near the bed
- Smoke alarm
- Key access
-
Small Double Room
A compact double room with large double bed, free WiFi and an private bathroom.
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Shower
- TV
- Telephone
- Hair dryer
- Desk
- Fan
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Satellite channels
- Wardrobe or closet
- Upper floors accessible by stairs only
- Toilet paper
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
- Shower cap
- Socket near the bed
- Smoke alarm
- Key access
-
Luxury Double Room
Spacious and luxurious Executive Room with extras such as a super king-size bed, seating area, large flat-screen TV with DVD player and a selection of DVDs . Also includes an en-suite shower room, work desk, ironing and tea and coffee making facilities.
Max Occupancy: 3 (2 Adults)
- Shower
- TV
- Telephone
- Hair dryer
- Desk
- DVD player
- Fan
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Satellite channels
- Wardrobe or closet
- Upper floors accessible by stairs only
- Toilet paper
- Cots
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
- Shower cap
- Socket near the bed
- Smoke alarm
- Key access
Guest Reviews
- Cathy (10/5): - Our room was beautiful. Thanks for the upgrade. We loved the place. Tom and Evie and all staff were so kind and friendly.
- Hams (10/5): Extremely friendly staff. Very clean - Charm Nothing
- Sharp (8/5): -
- David (9/5): -
- Andrea (10/5): -
- Alison (8/5): -
- Stephen (8/5): Interesting old Inn in a good position for exploring. - We were upgraded to a lovely room with stand alone bath and also a walk-in shower.
Good evening meal and a good choice of breakfast.
Very near Lancaster Castle which is why we booked hre. Nothing.
- Clive (10/5): -
- John (7/5): Good location and pleasant stay - Good location for the grand theatre, pleasant area for breakfast and dinner. Breakfast was excellent and good value and on till 11am which was a bonus! Room was a bit small with lots of stairs up but appreciate it’s an old building also not cheap considering breakfast wasn’t included
- Michael (8/5): - The food and the room. We had the very top floor room where the hot water only ran at a dribble. They appologised and gave us breakfast for free. 😁
- Antony (10/5): If you like comfort, good beer, good food and a bit of history then stay here - Historic pub with great local beers and crackin breakfast, reception staff excellent and online checking Parking was an issue but no fault of the venue
- Latham (10/5): -
- Nigel (7/5): - Friendly staff and great location
- Adri (9/5): - Great location, professional and friendly staff, comfortable room.
- Judith (8/5): Would stay again - Comfortable Bed
Very central
Price Person / people in next bedroom watching loud TV / film late at night
- Michael (10/5): - Great location
Good quality rooms
Great breakfast Nothing
- Lorna (8/5): Great central location, quiet rooms even though above a bar, price reflects the standard - Central location, value for money, convenience, history of the building, Was mostly clean but areas of the room not touched.
- Amanda (10/5): Our stay was amazing would definitely book again - Property was lovely. The bar and restaurant was exceptional. Our room was amazing room 15!!! We didn’t realise how lovely it was going to be. Staff were super friendly and helpful. Parking but you can’t have everything
- Jade (9/5): Great stay - Location staff atmosphere N/a
- Raffaella (6/5): It was an OK stay - Large room The welcome
- Brandon (9/5): -
- michael (9/5): -
- Karen (10/5): Enjoyed the hotel but not the food - The room we had was lovely and staff were also very attentive couldn’t have asked for more We had a meal of Lancashire hotpot in the bar, pays nearly £20 each very disappointing. Bland , very small portion, full of liquid no substance, no taste, watery gravy just like a pie and red cabbage . Would have served with say chunk of bread or vegetables definitely not value for money
- Diane (10/5): - Excellent stay, very clean and modern rooms, with everything you need. Central location Nothing
- Chris (9/5): Our favourite place to stay in Lancaster - Friendly staff, lovely room, excellent breakfast, central location and good value for money - next time in Lancaster we will stay again.
- Sheri (10/5): Historic hotel in Lancaster - The room was spacious and staff were friendly and helpful N/A
- Andrea (9/5): -
- steven (8/5): -
- Deborah (8/5): Overall a pleasant stay. - Great location, friendly staff. Quaint building with plenty of character. A little dated in the rooms, facilities were ok. A bit creaky from the floorboards above but, it is a very old building! Shower wasn’t great pressure but adequate. Tv no live channels. Service in the bar a little slow but only 2 staff covering hotel check in, bar and restaurant service. It was very busy for a Monday evening which was good but could have done with maybe an extra staff member.
- Amy (10/5): Lovely place - Beautiful clean room in a gorgeous pub. One particular staff member (didn't catch his name) who checked me in was very lovely.
- Alexander (8/5): Lovely place to stay in central Lancaster. Beware of having to pay for breakfast unless biking directly with the hotel. - Well appointed rooms Didn’t like having to pay for breakfast just because I booked through Booking.com. Felt like I was being punished!
- Nigel (9/5): Very friendly and welcoming in an ideal location - Lovely breakfast
- Jenna (9/5): -
- Pastur (10/5): -
- Helen (9/5): -
- Guest (10/5): -
- Steven (10/5): Nice and clean pleasant staff. - Good selection of beers / wines, good food. Nothing
- Mandy (10/5): Highly enjoyable and we will certainly return - Unfortunately, couldn’t stay for breakfast, due to an early hospital appointment.
Located within easy reach of the hospital and other businesses in the centre of Lancaster. Nothing. Everything exceeded our expectations.
- Martine (8/5): -
- roisin (10/5): Fantastic stay - Gorgeous hotel and great location Nothing
- Joanne (10/5): We had a lovely stay. Good breakfast - Excellent location near Lancaster Castle. Lovely room Nothing!!
- russw435 (10/5): Great Food and Drink - Brilliant food, fantastic atmosphere and great beer - this is the best all round pub in Lancaster.
Had exceptional Steak Frites here and a great couple of pints. Great staff and the atmosphere was brilliant - will be back.
- 710allyb (10/5): Above and beyond - We stayed for 2 nights for my daughters wedding. From the moment we arrived to the minute we left the staff could not do enough. They looked after us and helped make the wedding day prep as easy as possible. The bar has a lovely feel and breakfast is great too.
Special shout out to Tom who assisted us throughout.
- David (10/5): -
- Rebekah (9/5): - The room was really lovely with a great view out ober city rooftops. The breakfast was really delicious. The shower didn't work so well.
- Neil (8/5): - The hotel was really well located and we loved how period it was,the decour suited the age of the building brilliantly,the food was fantastic and you could not go wrong with the variety of drinks. The only fault we found was that the shower seemed to be under pressured but was not a major issue as it did what it needed to do
- Michaela (7/5): - Lovely room, great pub atmosphere. Great food. Great location- been before, will stay again. Couldn't change the thermostat would have liked it a bit warmer.
- Nia (7/5): A cosy, friendly place to stay in a great location. - The location, the staff who were very friendly the comfortable beds The water pressure in the shower was poor meaning that it would’ve been difficult to wash hair. The hot water pressure in the sink was poor too. We were in a room right at the top of the building, perhaps this is just how it is? There were parts of the room that were very dusty (chairs).
- KAREN (8/5): Very clean ana comfortable room - Location, cleanliness and comfort Outside noise very late at night
- nikki (9/5): Overall the stay was fantastic - Location was excellent. The shower isn’t powerful enough which was a real shame.
- 103janetteh (10/5): Excellent Food & Customer Service - Very homely felt comfortable being solo have to say Kai and Tim helped me settle and my food excellent from chef Jim lovely hotel relaxing close to amenities
- Sharon (10/5): A good experience - The breakfast was great. Rooms were comfy
- Darrell (10/5): -
- David (10/5): Beautiful hotel - Wonderful older hotel.
- Stuart (10/5): - Amazing room staff were fantastic and friendly Nothing everything was exceptional
- Sue (10/5): Just what we needed for a reasonably priced break - Handy too station and shops
Loved William Morris / modern decor
Had a great upgrade to a very large bed and good en suite
Food there was excellent in taste snd health content Nothing
- Richard (10/5): -
- Carole (8/5): -
- Laraine (9/5): A lovely weekend - The room was very nice and the food was excellent It was very busy on the Saturday evening and I struggled to find somewhere to sit in the bar/ restaurant. The food was great and service good.
- Peter (10/5): -
- Lee (9/5): - Great place, great food. Nice atmosphere and good beer
- Walshaw (10/5): -
- Neil (10/5): - Fabulous place to stay, great hospitality & delicious food 😁 we stay here often ♥️
- Anthony (9/5): Would come back. - Upon arrival the staff (Kai and colleague) were friendly, welcoming and helpful. A very comfortable room with all you'd need for an overnight stay. A great location in the middle of the city. Breakfast was sufficient and a warm welcome extended by Tim. I would recommend a stay here. In a modern hotel such as this, a higher quality TV would've been nicer (I know it's a bit picky, but an observation).
- Michaela (8/5): Gorgeous historic hotel in the heart of the city - The Sun is a beautiful property with a historic charm that flows through the pub to the hotel rooms. I have stayed several times and find the staff to be lovely and helpful. The rooms are nice and very comfy! Nothing!
- Ian (8/5): -
- Karen (9/5): Nice generous and comfortable room above a pleasant pub. - There was a mixup with our booking but the staff upgraded our room. The bar was conviennent for a late supper when we arrived late.
- caitlin (10/5): -
- Karen (9/5): Lovely relaxing stay, comfortable room, central location. Would definitely stay again. - Central, lovely rooms, lovely staff Nothing excellent value for money
- Darren (9/5): -
- PAOLA (9/5): - Perfect location, delicious food, cosy room. I like everything
- Catherine (10/5): -
- Kevin (10/5): Nice clean, great location close to all amenities in the town centre. - Nice and clean, great location 👍
- Junzhu (5/5): -
- Janet (10/5): Excellent - Very clean comfy beds
Staff lovley good food
- Angela (8/5): Enjoyable experience would stay again - Good location, comfortable bed, friendly staff Noisy outside in early hours, but appreciate not the hotel’s fault
- stacey (10/5): Fantastic weekend and great place - Room ,Bar ,Food, Location brilliant and staff couldn't do enough for you. Nothing
- Andrew (10/5): -
- alexine (10/5): -
- David (10/5): -
- Adrian (9/5): Comfy and relaxing. - Location was perfect for exploring the city.
- Nadine (9/5): A lovely hotel with character and clean rooms - Location was excellent and staff were great. N/A
- Lesley (7/5): Great staff, good food and service, comfortable room. Would definitely stay again! - The staff were exceptionally helpful and the food was excellent We were overdosed with room freshener- too intense
- Anna (8/5): - Bar/restaurant - good food and drinks
Lovely grand room The smell up the stairs to the rooms - damp smell
- Terry (10/5): -
- ESP2006 (10/5): Friendly & Welcoming - Good Range of Ales - Review of the bar only - for drinks
We dropped in twice to the Sun for drinks only. Being a Lancaster Brewery tap this is a draw for me and I enjoyed a small cross-section of their ales plus a guest from further afield. I like that they have the range of their own ales plus a selection of guests: I think this works well. My wife can vouch for the Sauvignon Blanc wine too.
We found the staff very friendly, welcoming and helpful. In Dec 2025 we were able to have a laugh and joke with the bar staff and exchange Christmas experiences because, as with previous visits, we waited for 11am to pass. Since the establishment is a hotel, the bar area is open for breakfasts, which is why we could walk in, settle ourselves, check out the drink selection and then wait for the sun to rise over that yardarm.
The place itself is atmospheric and cosy, particularly during cold and wet winter days. Early in the day it is pleasantly chilled and quiet. Nice to meet a few furry friends in the dog-friendly bar. It's very convenient for the centre of town: just a short walk.
- Kevin (10/5): Great pub/hotel - Staff are excellent, the pub and the accomodation is first class. Location is great and the food is superb. Nothing, second stay here and love it
- Maria (10/5): tremendous - we will be back - outstanding service
Location excellent
Breakfast was the best we have had in Lancaster
Rooms clean, large and felt luxurious nothing
- Barry (8/5): -
- Judy (8/5): -
- Alex (7/5): The stay was nice, the staff were super helpful - The location was in the middle of town
Convenient there is a pub downstairs
Friendly and helpful staff The bed was too soft so the was very uncomfortable when it formed a v shape sloping off the beds
Blocked shower, but this was fixed the day after
- David (10/5): -
- Shean Saunders (6/5): - I think cost of money we payed that was no breakfast has we booked .com we did have breakfast
- CeliaB (10/5): Superb food and excellent service - I came here with friends before Christmas and without much hesitation opted for the turkey ciabatta served with chips and a pot of gravy. The meal was absolutely delicious and the service was prompt and efficient - they even have a service bell on the table, so that they can come to you. I will definitely be back when I'm next in Lancaster.
- A1325VSjenniferh (4/5): Disappointing experience, which does not marry up with the quality of the food - We have eaten at the Sun Hotel on many occasions over the years and always been impressed with the food and atmosphere. It has been on our bucket list to to stay over for a while, so booked an impromptu night away. However, we have to say we were disappointed. The pictures online were lovely, and we thought this would be a superior experience, but it was not to be. Here is our experience:
The good
We booked direct via the Hotel website - free breakfast was included. The booking process was easy and simple.
Check in was quick and easy - the front of house staff were warm and welcoming and showed us to our room. There was no waiting around, even though the bar was busy on a Saturday evening.
The size and layout of the room was as described. We stayed in a cozy double. While it was compact, it was big enough for our needs and had everything we needed. Tea and coffee provided with some biscuits and there was additional tea and coffee on the landing outside if you needed a refill.
The bed was big enough and the mattress was comfortable. The pillows were satisfactory.
Staff on the bar attentive, polite, friendly and professional, especially the lady on breakfast service, who provided exemplary customer service.
The location of the Hotel is great and parking is close by. We managed to park right outside the hotel.
The not so good:
The room was generally pretty clean but there was some dust on the wardrobe and cobwebs up near the curtains. This didn't bother us us too much but attention to detail is something that could be improved here.
The duvet cover was thin and small - it appeared to be a double duvet in a king size cover, which was ridiculous. There was a small blanket as well but this didn't do much and as it was a cold night, it felt cold in the room.
The wooden window frames were rotten in places and there was a cold draught blowing through. We appreciate the building is old and perhaps listed but improvements could be made here to seal the room better
On returning to our room after visiting the cinema around 1030pm, there was an overpowering smell of sewage. We are not sure where this came from but it was possibly from the plumbing. This didn't seem to improve much the rest of the evening.
The sound proofing of the rooms leaves a lot to be desired. The walls appear thinner than expected and we were able to hear people in the rooms next door who were being overly loud. The guests in the floor above were very loud and the thumping noise they made was noticeable. We appreciate some people have no concept of an 'inside voice' but this wasn't great, especially when you are trying to sleep.
You could also hear the sound of the showers been used (that sound of water) from above our room and this again, wasn't great, especially at 1am and again around 2-3am.
On the shower in the room, this wasn't as powerful as one would think - again this may be due to the age of the building/plumbing. You also had to enter it on a step which may not be great for people who are less mobile. The shower tray was also level meaning water didn't drain as well during use. Not a major problem for us but for some it may be.
The breakfast was nowhere near as good as the food in the daytime. We were given a copy of the breakfast menu in advance and you can pre-order if you wish. We were both super excited by the thought of breakfast and decided to go with eggs Benedict, however, while it looked OK on the plate, the experience itself was not as we'd hoped. The hollandaise sauce was poor (too thin and not rich ad creamy as you would think) and the food over wasn't as hot as expected or on a par with the daytime food we have eaten in the past. The juice was nice and the coffee was great and plentiful.
Overall
The experience was OK but we didn't enjoy it was much as we wanted. The noise of other guests (absolutely NOT the fault of the Hotel) and the showers/water, the smell of sewerage and the draught from the windows meant we didn't sleep as well as we wanted and we didn't leave feeling relaxed and our experience felt somewhat marred. We expected a bit more, but may be that is just us.
The Bar itself is great but the Hotel arm could enjoy some improvements to enhance the experience. We will still visit for food (the Sunday roasts are excellent) but we would not stay overnight again.
- John (6/5): -
- John Paul (9/5): -
- Steve (9/5): -
- Daniel (10/5): -
- Susie (9/5): Overnight stay but would you back again - Mostly everything never ate at property On top floor with suitcases hard as no lift
Photos