Great pub, upstairs from bottle shop. Friendly staff, maybe best atmosphere in all of York! Don't…read moremiss this gem!

This place was a little hard to find. Look for the liquor store on the ground floor that says…read more"trembling madness" on the window. Pub is upstairs. Pub was fairly cool. Saw some reviews saying something about a Harry Potter vibe, but I didn't get that at all. It has some cool elements, but definitely did not live up to those expectations. Had a nice beer selection on tap. And prices were quite reasonable. Ended up picking up a few interesting beers on my way out.

I loved it instantly. The staff are charmless, blunt, they can be terse and downright rude - a…read moreliving working Fawlty Towers of the pub world. They make it no stars. We should get to call all their male bar staff Basil, the female, Sybil and Terry for those workers who don't identify with these genders. I noted that all the male staff wore thin, cheap shirts and trousers so worn out they were shiny. They had a darn good range of beers and darn decent porter mind. At just £15.80 for three pints and a large glass of wine they offered great value for money. That brings 5 stars and allows us to tolerate the staff. The place was packed so the recipe is working for the owner. They are along the riverside with outside cheap seating, right beside the Ouse river and geese strolled around as we sat and chatted in warm sunshine. If they did actual food I didn't notice. As we walked inside to the bar to order our first drinks we encountered staff challenging a chap of much advanced years, dressed like a drab Quentin Crisp, who attempted to use his mobile phone in the pub. I later spotted him outside, drink in one hand and mobile phone against his ear, he was chatting, leaning against the wall trying unsuccessfully to look nonchalant. They describe themselves as a 'digital detox pub'. The chief rule is no mobile phones as they want customers to talk to each other. How novel, quirky and eccentric in the 21st century. No swearing and no music either. Them rules are strictly enforced and you will be evicted if them rules ain't followed promptly. If I'm ever in York again I'll be sure to return for the stout and the insults.

Down by the riverside..... This is a Sam Smiths pub in a…read moregreat location. Great selection of Smiths on tap including ciders and organics. Prices are great and the vibe is cool and relaxed. Don't miss the flood gauge with the heights of many past deluges marked.

This is one of two Wetherspoons in York. The Punch Bowl is just near the station so we normally go…read morethere for a few before a night out if we're getting the train somewhere else, such as Leeds. Also located convenietly for Micklegate which is a street full of pubs. So basically this Wetherspoons is a great starting/meeting point for a night out! Has the usual brilliantly cheap Wetherspoons food & drink prices and stocks a wide range of drinks with a fairly extensive food menu also. It's great because you can go any time of day and have breakfast/lunch/dinner/drinks/coffee and also there's free wi-fi. This branch is clean and the staff are polite and friendly. Good pub.

Wetherspoons boozer. Not bad. Extremely popular. Good service. Good location…read more Beer was spot on Brains Milkwood.

This place was a really nice time. I'm very late posting this, but better late than never…read more.. because this spot deserves a shoutout. A group of us stopped here around Halloween while making a drive from London to Scotland. One of my friends loves anything spooky, so I sought out what's rumored to be one of the most haunted pubs in the area (I think we were in York... forgive me if I'm off, travel brain ). From the moment you walk in, the place is dark, moody, and mysterious with a very cool vibe. You seat yourself, and we had a table reserved. The atmosphere was lively and social, almost speakeasy-like. There's no traditional table service, you scan a QR code, order food on your phone, and it magically appears at your table. Drinks are ordered directly at the bar, which we learned is pretty common here. Fun surprise: the bartender was actually from California, so it was great chatting with someone from the States while abroad. The crowd overall was lovely, mostly locals, and everyone was super friendly and chatty with us Americans, which really added to the experience. Halfway through our meal, a live band set up right in front of us and absolutely killed it. Think Rolling Stones meets a gritty Seattle grunge band. They were phenomenal. They even invited me up to sing... but sadly, I hadn't had enough shots yet, so I declined. Maybe next time Food-wise, we ordered butternut squash, a few burgers, chicken wings, and a few appetizers. The food was just okay, not bad by any means, but not the highlight. For a pub in the middle of York, it was perfectly acceptable and hit the spot. Did we feel a spooky, haunted vibe? Honestly... not really, which was a bit of a letdown. But hanging out next to the little skeleton sitting at the bar (which I think someone has already posted photos of) was still fun. The memorabilia and décor throughout the pub are great and give you plenty to look at. Overall, The Golden Fleece is a very cool stop for a quick bite, drinks, and fantastic live music. The atmosphere and camaraderie made the night, and I'd absolutely recommend popping in if you're nearby, especially if there's a band playing.

The Golden Fleece is such a fun spot to check out in York! It's got that perfect blend of…read moreold-school English pub charm and a slightly spooky vibe (it's supposed to be haunted, after all!). Even if you're not into ghost stories, the place just oozes character with its low beams, creaky floors, and dark cozy corners. The drinks were exactly what were we're looking for and expected...classic pints and spirits to choose from. Honestly, it's the kind of pub you want to spend a couple of hours in, just soaking up the atmosphere and imagining all the stories those old walls could tell. If you're in York and want a pint somewhere with a bit of history (and maybe a ghost sighting or two), The Golden Fleece is definitely worth popping into.

It's a very old pub, but it you already knew that…read more The Sunday roasts are fantastic! Solid beer and wine selection, too, though I was disappointed they were out of their BTG red Burgundy -- oh well, the Rioja did just fine. I recommend a table by the windows for some cool views. The guy taking our orders at the bar wasn't necessarily the friendliest, but that didn't sour our experience too much.

It claims to be the oldest boozer in York city…read more So what, I mean really, who cares. It's not a USP rather it's lazy. Stick up a cheap sign, put in Ye and an E at the end of old and get em tourists in. Maybe it's just me but it just struck me as stale and frumpy. The other pubs we visited were characterful and the welcome in each stood out (not always for good reasons) and their beer choices were pretty meh. It is dog and family-friendly with wheelchair accessibility, and free WiFi. We had one drink here for four folks - two pints and two glasses of wine £22.95 - and while the food menu looked darn good and reasonably priced there was no atmosphere nor character to persuade us to stay. The young barmaid behind the counter was functional but devoid of easy chat. I'm glad on reflection that we went to the trembling madness next - their booze selection was stunning in comparison and cheaper at £22.10 for a similar round of better quality drinks. I sure wouldn't return here.

Probably my new favorite place to eat when I'm in York. The Cheateaubriand dairy cow steak here may…read morebe the most tender steak I've ever had, and I've had a lot of steaks in a lot of countries. I am rarely this impressed by steak quality outside of the US. And the wine list! Orin Swift (the famous maker of Papillon), Stag's Leap, and lots of lesser known but still excellent brands from around the world. This is going to be my first stop next time I'm in York. My only comment -- but maybe this is just from an American used to farm-to-table food -- is that just like everywhere else in England, I wish there were fewer fried things and more vegetables on the menu (although the tomato side salad was amazing). Still the freshest, most farm-to-table type of meal I've had in York.

After two different people recommended this restaurant, we thought we would definitely try it. We…read morearrived at 5:30, the first customers of the evening. Waitstaff were very attentive and friendly. Hubby ordered onion rings which were hand battered and delicious. I ordered cod and vegetable risotto which were fine but not remarkable. Broccolini with blue cheese sauce barely had any blue cheese or sauce and was hard, not cooked really much at all. I left half of the serving. We had bread pudding for dessert which was also okay. I didn't find the seasoning of the food to be adequate and maybe salt and pepper on the table would have helped this. By the time our food came out, the waitstaff was busy so I didn't have a ready opportunity to ask for salt. And should I have to ask? This place has a charming interior but i'd suggest drinks here, not dinner.

Lovely historic pub with good brews and service My husband…read moreand I throughly enjoyed the experience of having a late lunch while looking at the old timbers and fireplace but be warned, the Yorkshire pudding is only a Sunday lunch menu item

American Review: fantastic place for a old old old pub. I felt like singing some pub tunes with the…read morelocals who were hanging out. Food was just ok but atmosphere made up for everything. Super glad I stopped by!

The polar opposite of Yates and Revolutions. Friendly locals, just far enough out of the city…read morecentre that you don't get tourists, no scallies and most of the Bishopthorpe Road maroon trousered twerps are busy looking after their Guardian reading progeny to come in and smash their prams against your ankles. Race days can be a bit hectic but then few pubs in York aren't affected by this. BUT they have friendly doggys, nice seats, pies on the bar and a decent beer garden. What else do you want?

Managed to get some time in the lovely public bar, before it was taken over for a darts match. This…read moreis yet another charming old style pubbe of Yorke! They had an interesting ale selection (and I would have loved to have tried the Ginger Cider if I had had more time). Enjoyed a Collingham Breadwinner. A good beer.

Stopped in on a wet and miserable Thursday lunchtime in January. First impressions were that it…read morewas empty but there were a few customers in an adjacent eating area. Ale selection was fantastic and reason we selected (thanks CAMRA). We had beef burger, fish and chips, madras turkey pie, and a dish my wife ordered that I can't recall but she said it was spicy and delicious. Everybody was delighted with their meals and eldest son proclaimed the fish and chips the best he has had in UK on this trip.

We had lunch at this restaurant (recommended by our concierge) and had a great experience. The…read morestaff was super friendly and helpful. They had a good tap selection and the bartender offered some really good suggestions and tastings. I settled on a strawberry (light) cream ale. We had a couple of small plates (crispy beef and fish cakes) which were more than enough for a meal. The pie that our daughter ordered was really savory. The prices were very reasonable and I would recommend going to this place while in York. There are a lot of restaurants in York, but this one is a place to visit.

I generally visit York once or twice a year…read more The Victoria Vaults is now an essential part of my visit - nicely kept pint at a fair price, great live music, decent bar staff. Highly recommended