YORK.

This pub has been very popular and has been the York Local CAMRA pub of the year for a couple of years. There are a number of areas to drink - panelled throughout, though the bar is small at the front, this is more than made up for by the lounge and corridor where you can drink. They serve a strong selection of real ales as regulars, plus they also have rotating guest ales from around the country. Food is served here but is only from a range of tapas served all day seven days a week. Sandwiches are also served until 6pm. No music here nor accommodation.

Hotel style pub with etched windows set back off the road. A sweeping staircase leads to the double front doors, sorry no disabled access. Inside is better than out, if that's possible, palatial ceiling and columns of marble in the eating area. There are three distinct areas, the entrance area, the eating area and another more secluded drinking area. Some of these are on different levels. The guest beers on at the time were York Terrier and Ruddles County, trying to reinvent itself. Other beers were Theakstons. Food is served lunchtimes and evenings. Apart from the traditional fayre @ around £4.95 there were more exotic dishes such as Shark in tarragon and lemon for £7.50. Part of the Tom Cobleigh chain, also available were 'meal deals' whereby you get two meals for half the combined price, only between 4pm - 7pm. This being Yorkshire, we got strange looks for asking for the sparkler to be taken off. No accommodation at this pub, but there were five B&B's across the road.

A one roomed pub with separate pool room (on CCTV), darts in the bar which restricts the room. Also TV for sporting occasions. Bar stools and bench seating predominate in this late Victorian pub. Excellent ceiling, light shade and bar fitting. It is very much a locals pub, you daren't ask for the sparkler off here. It does food at lunchtimes only and is inexpensive £3.95 - £5. Can get smokey as well, so watch out. The only beers on were Thwaites; Bitter and Craftsman, plus 'smooth' versions (yuk!). accommodation is available, but wasn't seen on this occasion, prices from around £35 - £50, though call first to check. There is plenty of B&B however along the street as this is York's golden mile of it. Try the tourist info on (01904) 611690.

This pub is situated close to York Rail Station at the foot of Lendal Bridge, this former Yorkshire Pub of the Year has a reputation for excellent beer quality and fine food, selling 7 Real Ales and 4 Traditional Ciders at any one time. The distinguished Black Sheep Bitter is the only resident beer with 6 ever changing "guest beers" alongside. On at the time were; Abbeydale Devotion, Anglo Dutch Organic IPA, Dark Tribe Red Rock, Facers Tono Bungay. The beers are complemented by the value for money food from "The Dragons Pantry". The Maltings was established as a pub in 1842 and started life as the Railway Tavern. The pub has now evolved, via being called The Lendal Bridge Inn, to The Maltings. Since Anita Adams brought the pub from Bass in 1992, they haven't looked back. Anita's daughter Maxine and her son-in-law Shaun have run the pub from day one (in its present format) and have achieved remarkable success, winning numerous CAMRA and non-CAMRA awards. Opening Times are: Mon/Sat - 11 to 11.00pm; Sun - 12 to 10.30pm. No accommodation here. It also does events and music on the odd occasion. As seen in the Sunday Times and Independent.

This John Smiths pub has two rooms chock-a-block with memorabilia on the walls from about every source and period you can name. None of it real of course as this is an example of what a brewer thought a Tudor pub must have looked like. However, the fireplace (not for use) came from York castle as did the wood panelling. There are comfortable bench seats around the walls which gives it the feeling of a small friendly boozer, which it is (apart from the loud shirts worn on this occasion by the bar staff - twins?). open all day it is not far from the Rose and Crown. The extensive food menu is a good attraction here, it is placed on a blackboard in front of the lounge entrance. Fayre, served lunch and evenings, is traditional pub grub from about £4 upwards and vegetarians are catered for apart from the ubiquitous lasagne! Three real ales are on at one time - mid week too! They were Duechars IPA, Old Speckled Hen and John Smiths Cask. Not sure about the last one, please try for yourself. It also has a beer garden of sorts for the summer and benches out front. A step in required for access though not the smaller room. Car parking can be found behind, follow the one way system back onto yourself. Darts team and quiz night on Wednesday. No accommodation here, try the tourist info on (01904) 611690.

A Tetley Festival Ale House right by the lights at Walmgate by the city walls, outer ring road. Done out in traditional Firkin/O'Neill's style with wooden floors and tiled walls, this is a multi-roomed pub with partitions and nooks and crannies. Seating can be basic though. There is a small bar to the right of the entrance, larger straight ahead where you'll also find another seating area. Very much a students pub and is popular with them during term time. According to the friendly staff they have regular beer festivals. However, they only have Marstons Pedigree and Old Speckled Hen on in the week, the three to four guests are kept until the weekend, so be warned. Traditional food only available at lunchtimes from £4.50 upwards. It has a pool table and darts as well. No accommodation, but it is close to the sights and there are plenty of B&B in York. Try the tourist info on (01904) 611690.

The Saddle Inn is at least 150 years old and there has been a Saddle Inn in this street for over 300 years. There is a single bar here which has comfortable seating set out in an 'L' shape around the bar and real fire. It somehow manages to fit in darts and a TV as well. The beers on at the time were all well kept, though they tended to come from large regionals. They do have a guest beer on and its well worth a taste. Food is served here both lunch and evenings. It is served in a room down a few steps and so is not good for the disabled. You will also find the pool table here. For the summer there is a beer garden. For the winter the real fires make a big difference. Children are welcome in the dining area.

The Swan is just 10 minutes walk from the station, though in York that means hills. This is a Victorian Corner pub that last saw renovation in the mid 1930s and so retains its charm and a place in the national inventory of CAMRA for its interior. It has a traditional drinking lobby with a hard wearing floor. There is a public bar, that looks a little more upmarket than most, done out in a nice pastel green, it has a mixture of tables plus padded bench wall seating and stools. The walls have few adornments and this adds to its sense of size, though it is not a big room. The other bar is known as the smoke room and this has a more darker feel to it with the 'pink' decor and seat covering to match. There is a fireplace here that is used in winter to warm the heart along with the beer. Seating is as the public bar and the walls are similarly adorned. Beers served at the pub from the dark wooden bar, are pretty standard in the main - Abbott, Landlord, Tetley's - but there are two guest ales available at most times. The Swan does not do food, but has a beer garden. Access for the disabled is difficult due to steps into the pub and no disabled toilet. There is no accommodation here. By the way, the toilets are worth a visit as they retain their original 1930s appearance.

Close to the castle mound/t, a 300 year old pub in the Mansfield fold. It's had a license since 1782 when Thomas Spink was there - read the inside of the sandwich menu for more history. It serves all the Mansfield beers, but not at one time, they change with seasons. It is a very dark pub with low wood and beamed ceiling. Easy to find it is opposite principles (Coppergate shopping centre) near the York dungeons attraction. Food is served lunch and evening until 9pm and nothing is over £4.50, sandwiches at £1.90. music could be a problem and loud at weekends. Occasional live music. There is bench seating round the edge and badly plastered/painted walls, but that's the history! For a change there are pictures on the wall and not that awful tat! Be careful after a couple as the floor slopes down to the door - it's not you.

Also for an attraction try the only brewery tour in York, and the only brewer - York Brewery (01904) 621162. Situated inside the wall near the station at 12 Toft Green. Get to the wall at Micklegate, stand outside facing it and Toft Green is the first on the left as you go through. Tours are 11.30/12.30/2.30/4.00 Monday - Saturday and 4.00/5.00/6.00/7.00 Sunday. At present they only brew two ales, Stonewall (3.7ABV and Terrier at 4.3ABV). the tours include tasting sessions (a must) and cost £3.50 each, £2.50 for 14-17 yr. olds and senior citizens. Though no idea if the young get to taste as well - probably not. Try their web pages here.

Other accommodation can be found at: york-united-kingdom