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.

A newish pub, owned by the York Brewery, with a bright, open feel in the one large bar area, with a…read moresmall walled beer garden beyond. It's very popular - no, make that often packed. The draw is the choice of up to nine real ales alongside Belgian and Czech bottled beers, and the fact it is a stone's throw from the Minster. Other draws include a lack of piped music and no fruit machines; it's also over 18s only, so no children. The 'Three Legged Mare' of the name actually refers to a form of gallows, not that that stops them selling a brew unique to this pub called 'Wonkey Donkey', also a pet name for the pub itself. Other brews include Centurion's Ghost, Yorkshire Terrier and Guzzler. They also serve food, but I've not eaten here. Well worth a look during the quieter periods of the day.

A newer pub (considering the number of ancient pubs in York) but they had good Yorkshire beer on…read moretap and live music on, with a great crowd of local folks. I came back to this one the next day for more of the Black Sheep Ale!

Loved it - real pub to come and enjoy the pint feeling the history in every room at every table…read more The beer was great, the service was great, the staff were fun and super-friendly! Absolutely come for a good pint and an authentic local feel!!!

I dropped in for a pint or three while my wife wondered yonder, over to The Shambles…read more A narrow alley leads to Pivni, a name that doesn't sound Yorkshireish, but it was warm and dry with a decent selection of cask ales and bitters. The big turnoff were the two female beertenders who barely acknowledged me, not that I needed to feel wanted in the establishment particularly, just a paying customer and fellow human being, that's all. CombatCritic Gives Pivni 3 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

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.

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!

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.

Came at 9 pm when the live music started. They were a good due playing a good selection of classic…read moretunes They had a good selection of cask ales and beer on tap.

This place is very cute! They have a really small bar with only one or two bartenders who are…read moreextremely attentive and participating in the conversation. The front room had great live music when we went on Friday night. They also have lots of food & drink deals on certain days, like 'bangers & beer' It is definitely worth stopping in to visit if you're in the area or passing by.

What a cracking place. It had been recommended to us by our son and his real ale drinking…read morecompanion. They had a tale of going here, ordering two pints of a high octane brew and being asked if they were sure, so they confirmed that they were only to get what they wished for and billed £48. They still find it funny and how good the beer was. The beer choices are excellent. The barmaid made us laugh as she asked where we were from and when we told her of our Newry home she said 'Oi don't even know why I asked that Oive no idea where that is I come from' so in fairness we didn't recognise it either but I gathered it's near Newcastle on the Tyne. We four didn't hang around the ground floor instead opting for the upper floor. We opted for modest brews around 4.5 ABV - two pints and two glasses of wine around £22 but some of the high strength beers would have set you back near £30 a pint so with these they sell in measured portions for example a third of a pint. The atmosphere was crackling and we thought it was folks from the York races that had started that morning but were assured it's often crackling. We all had some food to with three main meals and me opting for a breakfast choice, at 8pm on a rainy York night. I had a bacon and a lightly fried egg in a roll served with butter and sauce. It was perfect and was £4.5. All the food was priced for what was on the plate. The place has lots of fascinating objets d'art on the walls and ceilings including a wonderful statute of the Virgin Mary in the gents rest room and bawdy art. No evidence of trembling madness but shrewd selfish business sense. It's a pity it's card only as it makes it harder for serving staff to make tips. Let's hope it's not a house of trembling poverty for them? Our evening was delightful and we left happy diners into the wet streets of York it at least the rain had stopped.

Nice choice of beers and great little setting .. would recommend .. even had Deya from my local…read morebrewery