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Pubs are something the small city of York certainly has an abundance of - from the dodgy local round the corner and the student studded habitues offering cheap deals on a night out, to the historic and characterful gems smattering the city. Michael Mulry and Thom Matthews take you inside five of the best and worst that York has to offer.
Five of the Best:
The Golden Ball: Located on the residential Cromwell Street, the Golden Ball is the perfect place to enjoy a pint off the beaten track. As you enter, an intimate room of locals greet you; they are as welcoming as the range of beers and ales on tap. During my visit, I had a wonderful pint of Everards Tiger, but all tastes are catered for, with favourites such as Guinness also on tap, plus a range of spirits. If you are looking to enjoy a quiet pint with a pal you would be hard pressed to find a better place. A genuine locals’ pub which, nonetheless, always welcomes new faces with a smile and a perfectly poured pint.
The Blue Bell: Bono, Tom Cruise and Noel Edmunds - not all good things come in small packages.... or do they? Step forward, the Blue Bell, a pocket-sized pub - the city's smallest in fact - that effortlessly oozes character, with the Edwardian interior retained to such a level that the Pub is one of only a handful Grade listed. But this one still remains off the beaten track. The Blue Bell is still a drinker's pub, where the beverages take precedence. A genuinely friendly aura seems ever-present amongst a mixed patronage, and whilst finding a seat may be difficult, sticking about for an extra drink or three seems all the more worthwhile when you realise just how ordinary this little gem makes any other pub appear.
The Snickleway Inn: One of the oldest pubs in York, The Snickleway Inn provides a traditional atmosphere in which to enjoy a drink. Its rich history is evident from the impressive building interior and the countless articles on the wall, which profess stories of a number of ghosts which supposedly haunt the pub. It's easy for a drinking establishment to become a tourist trap when talk of the paranormal arises, but drinking here is far from an episode of 'Most Haunted'. A pub bursting with character and prestige, I felt privileged to be able to enjoy a pint of reasonably priced Black Sheep in a place which is as steeped in tradition and history as The Snickleway Inn.
The Maltings: The area around Rougier Street is certainly not York's most culturally endowed neighbourhood. Certainly, not an area you'd expect to find a pub that has been lauded with local and national awards, but the Maltings manages it with ease. The quirky interior, plastered with vintage relics and signs from bygone eras give it an inimitable atmosphere that is cosy without being pastiche. Abundance is the order of the day at the bar, with seven ales on tap and four ciders all vying for your sterling, and the general experience is one of a refreshing antithesis to the surrounding area. Drinkers come from many miles around, yet the atmosphere is neither disjointed nor cliquey. A truly deserved York institution.
Pivo Cafe Bar: If you've come over all continental look no further than Pivo. Arguably one of the coolest places in York, it boasts a huge selection of some of the finest beverages from the United Kingdom and beyond. The impressive timber framed building, located just off the Shambles, may look a bit cosy from the outside but there is ample seating upstairs in which to enjoy whatever tickles your fancy; cask beers from the UK, bottled beer from Europe, a range of wines and ciders... heck, even a cup of coffee! Whether you want to relive that great holiday you had in Europe, or simply try something other than Carling (shock horror! Britain makes other beers?) then try Pivo.
Five of the Worst:
Yate's: Make no mistake, of course these places exist for a reason, but until recently I was led to believe that this now ubiquitous chain that blights British city centres had one saving grace. That of the cheap drink - the holy grail of the 'pre-lasher.' Shocked then I was, to learn that Yate's is actually not only a culturally void realm of the idiot, but a relatively pricey one at that. Pints average well over the £2.50 mark, and cocktails can be purchased for at least £1 cheaper elsewhere in town. It seems Yate's are, somewhat ironically, 'an expensive poor man's' Wetherspoon. A criminal waste of a great location.
The Lowther Hotel: Whenever the river floods, it forces the closure of The Lowther for a brief time and reignites my hope that it will stay shut. While its late opening hours may be a rare plus point, The Lowther is ultimately a melting pot for lurid clubbers, who only serve to generate a disconcerting and unfriendly atmosphere. On one occasion I was greeted by three portly skinheads who mistook me for a “princess”. Suffice to say I headed swiftly to the bar for a John Smiths Magnet, the only decent pint on tap. If you want late night drinking go to The Habit on Goodramgate because the only reason I can find for this hell hole existing is to make the Stone Roses Bar seem half decent.
The Nags Head: I accept, you may need a stiff drink before entering Tru/Ziggys/any other nightclub in York, but with ridiculous drinks deals such as trebles for singles, this place really isn't helping remedy the binge drinking culture in Britain. You either have to be lying and/or a York St. John's student to say you enjoy an evening in here. Rammed with idiots most nights, completely devoid of any atmosphere and to think, the bouncer had a go at me for not wearing shoes! If you like a place packed with infuriatingly annoying drunk students preparing for a night of debauchery in Ziggys, then knock yourself out. The only thing that could make this place worse is bumping into Gary Neville while ordering your drinks.
The Three Cranes Inn: The Three Cranes sits slap bang in the middle of York, a city famed for many things including its (mostly) superior drinking establishments. Does this mean it’s any good? No. An underwhelming averageness combined with the complete waste of a prime location puts it down there with our worst pubs of the city. When you enter, there will inevitably be a group of middle aged drunkards desperately trying to relive their student days, who are only there because they are too old to get into Gallery. The drinks list is nothing to write home about either, with the usual servings of Carling, Fosters and more Carling. With zero history, less character than Piers Morgan and the atmosphere of an Arsenal game, The Three Cranes is a deeply unsatisfying experience.
The Slug and Lettuce, High Ousegate: Another chain, another waste of location. When inside I feel like I'm playing the lead role in a marketing man's wet dream. It seems every square inch of the surroundings, from the plush leather sofas to the moody lighting and frightfully hip italic typeface are designed to eke cash from your pockets. There's nothing intimidating about these places, nor overwhelmingly offensive. They are just sterile, pricey and unnervingly calculated. The King's Arms next door sells drinks at half the price without the pretension and with a lot more atmosphere. Plus it'll probably be around for many years longer than these flash in the pan pub chains. Cheers.
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