When it comes to possessing pubs, few cities can rival York, both is number, quality and pure beauty. Therefore the magnificent city if York is the perfect place to go for an unwind, on a pub crawl. You don’t have to be a heavy drinker; you don’t even have to drink at all. This is a great way to spend a fantastic and memorable evening with your friends, sample more of York, and live University life to the full.
So where to start? I must say that was a hard one for me to pick, since I’m spoilt for choice. Finally I settled on a public house called The White Horse. If you want to walk to this pub, then it’s at the northern end of town, past the Minster and east of the Museum gardens on Bootham road. If you get lost, then you’re sure to bump into another pub sooner or later. Alternatively until you know the lie of the land a taxi could be another option.
The White Horse
So why pick the White Horse to start your evening. Well firstly around this area there are numerous pubs, so it’s a perfect place to set off from. Add to that a pleasant and spacious interior, and you have a pub which is welcoming and has a relaxed atmosphere to kick off your night. The pub, which also acts as a bed and breakfast opened way back in 1770, and has been thriving since. A range of lagers and ales are on tap, as well as a selection of wines and other beverages. To add to the fun, go and have a game of pool, or enjoy the best of sky sports when you’re favourite team are in action.
So that’s one down, and next up I have an excellent pub, which also serves food just down the road, called the Hole in the Wall. Turn right out of the White Horse, and cross the road, heading under the bridge down High Petergate. A few yards through the bridge, you’ll find the pub on your left.
The Hole in the Wall
This is the perfect place to continue your journey, as this public house, which conceals a dark secret regarding its former history, offers a range of cask ales and an excellent food menu if you’re feeling peckish. The secret is that underneath the pub, through a ‘hole in the wall’ lay a dungeon containing manacles and more, or at least that is what excavations back in 1816 found. Regardless of any past secrets, the pub is now a flourishing establishment, which has live music on Tuesdays and a pub quiz on Thursdays to add to its repertoire.
Next up we have another historical public house, this time the Guy Fawkes Inn. Turn left out of your current destination, and continue down High Petergate across the crossroads until you find the Guy Fawkes Inn on your right.
Guy Fawkes Inn
You can’t go for a pub crawl through York without stopping off at the Guy Fawkes Inn, a pub steeped with history, and oozing character from its historic interior. The Guy Fawkes Inn was built on the very spot that the famous character Guy Fawkes was born in 1570. The interior is a piece of historic beauty, with comfortable and charismatic rooms perfectly preserved since the 16th century and equipped with gas lamps and timber floors. The Inn which serves a wide range of beverages and tasty food, is also a 4-star hotel, and is often busy due to its popular nature.
Three down and three more to go, and next up we have another pub set in a fantastic building, this time the grade-two listed Ye Old Starre Inne. Turn right out of Guy Fawkes’ former home, and then right again in a few yards at Stonegate. A short stroll down Stonegate and you’ve reached your fourth pub of the night.
Ye Olde Starre Inne
The oldest licensed pub in York, Ye Olde Starre Inne is another that is most certainly worth a visit. Serving food and drink at an affordable price, the public house provides you with a relaxed and comfortable setting to continue to enjoy your evening. Believe it or not back in the English Civil War the pub was used by Cromwell’s Roundheads both as a hospital and a mortuary. Don’t let that put you off though, the historical links only add to the character, and the beer garden is one of the finest around, with fabulous views of the nearby Minster.
So it’s time to continue again, and once more I’ve been kind only giving you a short walk, in which you surely can’t get lost, unless you’ve already had too much to drink. Turn right out of Ye Olde Starre Inne and continue down Stonegate and you’ll reach the penultimate pub on today’s trial, the Punch Bowl.
Punch Bowl
When it comes to character, then the Punch Bowl excels. Set on the cobbled streets of Stonegate it possesses a beautiful exterior, which is amazingly bettered by its rustic and homely interior. The beams, fireplaces and furniture help to create the atmosphere of an old and traditional English pub. All of the staff are friendly, and the selection of drinks is excellent as per usual. Another great option is to come for food one day as well, as the Punch Bowl serves some delightful traditional favourites, the pick of which is an eclectic Lamb shank pie, which is definitely worth a try.
So if you’ve made it this far, then you have one stop left on tonight’s pub crawl. So far you’ve been to a lot of historical buildings, and nothing is going to change as you make the short trip to the final public house. I’m afraid to say this time it’s slightly further to walk, but only a few minutes. Continue down Stonegate until you get to Betty’s, then turn left back towards the centre square. When you reach that, turn left and in the corner of the square is your final stop, The Roman Bath.
The Roman Bath
Well it might feel as if this trip is a bit of a history lesson, and this continues, as your final pub is actually built on top of the Roman baths of York. In 1930 the findings were discovered and now tours of the baths, which are accessed down steps from the tavern, are run for visitors. The Roman Bath is situated in a desirable location and has a wonderful interior, perfect for ending your night. Live music if on offer 2-3 nights a week, and of course you have the normal range of drinks on offer.
So there we have it, your pub crawl is complete. You’ve sampled some of the best pubs on offer in York, and hopefully had a memorable night. To make it even better, if you’re still up for more and the pub crawl isn’t enough, then the less historic and traditional pursuits of Vudu Lounge and Willow are not far away. Enjoy!