27/01/24 – York

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A trip out to York today. York is one of England’s finest and most beautiful historic cities. With Roman roots and a Viking past, York offers an eclectic mix of culture and history – with hidden gems and unique experiences around every corner. There are lots of great pubs to visit in York, too many for one day so this first trip features 16 of them and they all vary widely and offer completely different choices and experiences.

York Tap

My first call of the day in York is located on York Railway Station so a very short walk from getting off the train. This opened in November 2011 in what was originally the stations tea rooms opening in 1907. Spectacular inside with a beautiful ornate ceiling, art deco stained glass windows and terrazzo floors. It had more recently being home to the York Model Railway.

A huge lineup of beers to choose from in here. 12 keg lines and an impressive 20 cask lines featuring a wide range of large and small breweries both local and nationwide. Aswell as a number of fridges behind the bar full of cans and bottles. I started with a sour beer from Edinburgh based Vault City Brewing, “Pineapple Session Sour”, fruity and refreshing. I went onto “Vanishing Act”, a traditional English Bitter from Melton Mowbray based Round Corner Brewing.

The Maltings

A short walk from the Railway Station to my next calling point “The Maltings”, another favourite of mine located next to the river. A great space inside with a lovely small beer garden outside to the side of the pub. The pub is a self-described ‘pub for grown-ups’ that offers visitors character and atmosphere in generous measures. The food offering from Dragon’s Pantry is also amazing and worth dropping in for.

A great line up of 8 cask beers alongside a range of keg beers and a choice of ciders, promoting a selection of local drinks alongside others from further afield. I went with “Golden Slumbers”, a Mango and Coconut sour beer from Nottingham based Liquid Light Brew Co.

House of the Trembling Madness – Lendal

A short walk over the river to my next calling point “House of the Trembling Madness – Lendal”. Until opening this was a former saddlery and harness maker. The restoration and conversion won a joint award as winner in the York Restoration Design Awards in 2018. Set over 5 floors with a bar on the ground floor alongside food and fridges with bottles and cans to drink in or takeaway, with another bar upstairs and ample seating areas.

A great selection of beers, with 11 keg beers ranging in styles, along with 3 cask beers. I went with “Small Time” from Manchester based Cloudwater Brewery. A tasty Tiny IPA at 2.8%.

House of the Trembling Madness – Stonegate

Another short walk brings me to “House of Trembling Madness – Stonegate”. Another small pub, this one housing a bottle shop on the ground floor packed full of cans, bottles and spirits. Then a bar on the upper level, beautifully done out with a beamed timber roof, and lots of stuff animals all over the walls.

Another great line up of beers and ciders to choose from. 8 Keg lines, 3 cask lines aswell as a handpull cider. I went with another sour from Edinburgh based Vault City Brewing. “Iron Brew Float”, a delicious Iron Brew and Vanilla Ice Cream flavoured beer.

Market Cat

A short walk down the road to the Shambles Market where the “Market Cat” is located. A pub run by Thornbridge Brewery and Pivovar UK. Set over 3 levels with great views over the Shambles Market, and views of York Minster from the upper 2 floors. A great pizza menu is served here and smells lovely as you walk in.

A line up of 8 cask ales on the front of the bar, alongside a number of keg choices to choose from. I went with a beer from Thornbridge Brewery which ive only had on keg before, “Green Mountain”. A delicious hazy Vermont session IPA. Really enjoyed this beer on cask.

Ye Old Shambles Tavern

Over the other side of the Shambles Market is “Ye Old Shambles Tavern”, the front of the pub is located on The Shambles and the rear backing onto the Shambles Market with a covered beer garden outside. A really cosy seating area inside aswell as a number of seats around the bar.

Lots of choice here with the focus being on Yorkshire Breweries and Distilleries. 5 Cask beers, 3 of which are brewed by Rudgate Brewery for the pub, these being Shambles Dark, Shambles Best Bitter and Shambles Stumbler, alongside another IPA and a Stout. 6 keg beers also on the bar aswell as a number of cans and bottles to choose from. I went with “Strawberry Sencha”, a tasty fruity beer brewed by Brew York and Shiny Brewery. A delicious Strawberry and Lychee Green Tea Pale Ale.

Pivni

A short walk to “Pivni” next, this was the founding bar of Pivovar UK and is set in a Grade II listed, three storey timber frame building which dates back to 1190. A fantastic place that has a really great intimate warm feeling inside with different seating areas over all 3 levels.

3 rotating cask ales alongside a range of keg beers aswell as a large number of cans and bottles to choose from. I went with Yonder Brewings Mystery Beer #02. They release 3 beers (Lager, Sour and Stout) with mystery flavours, and you can enter to win vouchers by guessing the correct flavours. A really tart refreshing beer.

Valhalla

Directly opposite is “Valhalla” which opened in September 2017. This is a Viking themed bar in what was a former hairdressers. As with Pivni this is set over 3 floors with a bar on the ground and first floor. A lovely smell of food when walking in as they serve a great range of tapas dishes and sharing platters.

2 cask beers on the bar, brewed for the pub by local Half Moon Brewery named Valhalla Pale and Odins Judgement, alongside a number of keg beer options. I went with “Valhalla Pale”, a sessionable tasty Pale Ale.

The Last Drop Inn

A short walk again brings me to “The Last Drop Inn”. This was formerly a Black Sheep Brewery pub which had closed but reopened in December 2023 with new owners. This was always a great pub to drop into in York and im so glad that someone has taken it on and brought it back to life, as shown today as was near full when I went in.

A great line up of 8 cask beers and 9 keg beers to choose from on the bar so lots of choice of styles and strengths. I started with their house beer which is brewed by York based Ainsty Brewery, “The Last Blonde”. A really easy drinking and tasty blonde ale. I went onto “Ice Cream Lunch Box: Peach, Pear & Apricot” from Bishop Auckland based Caps Off Brewery. A delicious fruity sour.

The Blue Bell

A few minutes walk brings me onto Fossgate and my call down here is to “The Blue Bell”. A fantastic Grade II listed pub described as “The compact and intimate Blue Bell is a true national treasure and one of very few public houses to have the distinction of Grade II* listing status for the outstanding importance of its interior”. More surprisingly the pub has only had 4 landlords in 120 years. It is formed of a front bar, rear lounge and side corridor bar which still features the original fold down seats.

A great selection o 5 cask beers alongside 3 ciders and draught beer range to choose from. I went with their house beer brewed by Malton based Brass Castle Brewery. “Blue Bell IPA”. A very easy drinking light session IPA. Really enjoyed this beer.

Brew York – Tap Room

A short walk now brings me to “Brew York”, 2 different bars here so I started with the Tap Room. On entering the brewery is to the left with seating around it. (They do offer brewery tours and there was one going on when I walked in). A really great space in here and very busy. Brew York was founded in 2016 by friends Wayne Smith and Lee Grabham. The two met at a mutual friend’s stag do and began home-brewing together after sharing their love and passion for craft beer, and Brew York was born not long after.

At the rear of the taproom is an outside balcony seating area overlooking the River Foss. A really unique seating area with the views which will change at different points during the year and the raising and lowering of the water level.

A great choice of drinks on the bar with 7 cask ales including brews just done for the taproom, alongside 10 keg beer lines. I went with “Caracara”, a citrus pale ale from Brew York.

Brew York – Beer Hall

Upstairs from the taproom is the “Beer Hall”, a huge venue with lots of seating (there is also a huge seating area outside for use by both of the venues). This is housed in what was the old maltings. Yuzu Street Food here also serve up a mouth-watering range of Asian inspired street food.

A massive 40 taps on the bar here to choose from, with a huge selection of styles and strengths. A trio of sours for me in here as a few stood out. I started with “This Heist is Bananas” from Brew York and Sheffield based Heist Brew Co. Basically a Banana Gelato sour. I went onto “Punnet: Sour Cherry, Blackcurrant and Blood Orange”, a fruity sour number rom Reading based Double Barrelled Brewery. I finished with “Rainbow Sherbet Sour” from Hong Kong based Gweilo Brewery.

Spark – The Outpost

A walk around the corner brings me to “Spark”. Described as “Spark York C.I.C emerged as a community-driven initiative and idea, born out of a collective desire to revitalise an underutilised space in the city, back in 2016.”. A fantastic space packed full of independent bars, food vendors and lots more with communal seating. Two bars inside, I went to “Outpost”, the other being “Piccadilly Tap”. The Outpost is run by Knaresborough based Turning Point Brew Co. A selection of 5 keg beers on the bar here all from their own brewery. I went with “Astral Voyage”, a delicious and tasty Session New England IPA”.

Lots of great smelling and sounding food vendors surround the seating area in the middle. I decided to go with “Baby Boy’s Burgers” by chef prodigy Jack Jenner. Great tasting burgers with lots of flavour. Id definitely recommend.

Hop

Heading back towards the centre of York now, calling into “Hop”. Owned and run by West Yorkshire based Ossett Brewery. This was a former Italian restaurant so still has the original brickwork and tiling. On entering a large bar area, with a large open seating area at the rear. Wood fired pizzas are served here and looked tasty.

A great choice of cask and keg beers. A range of 9 cask beers with a number being from Ossett owned breweries (Ossett, Rat, Riverhead and Fernandes), alongside guests and a large range of keg beers and ciders. I went with “Black Grape Punch”, from Aberdeen based Fierce Beer. A juicy grape soda sour beer. Really fruity and tasty.

Tank & Paddle

A short walk in the direction of the Railway Station brings me to my next calling point “Tank & Paddle”. A riverside bar set over a couple of levels with a balcony overlooking the River Foss, with some great views.

2 cask beers available on the bar today from local Rudgate Brewery, alongside a range of keg beers varying in styles. I went with a sour beer from Hull based Atom Brewery. “Exotic Matter”, a refreshing session sour packed with mango and passionfruit.

The Golden Ball

My last call of the day is to a pub in the Bishophill residential area to a fine Victorian street corner local Grade II listed pub “The Golden Ball”. The outside of the pub is a impressive glazed brick exterior wall. The pub was renovated by John Smiths in 1929. It is thought to be the most complete surviving inter-war scheme by John Smith’s, the Tadcaster company who became one of the UK’s biggest regional brewers and pub builders. The pub itself is a “Community Co-Operative Pub”. An impressive large outdoor beer garden at the rear aswell.

A brilliant line up of cask beers featuring 6 cask ales all from Yorkshire breweries, this fits in with their aim to support local independent businesses. They sell locally sourced pies, scotch eggs, savoury nuts and snacks aswell as fresh and local free range eggs from Johnson’s in Terrington. I went with their house beer “Golden Ball Pale” brewed by local Ainsty Ales Brewery. A really easy drinking pale ale.