October 23, 2006 [ Updated February 17, 2008 ]
I’m pretty much with Jehoey on this one. Popped in because it had an advert in Ouse Boozer, the local CAMRA newsletter, and is right in front of you as you emerge from the Shambles, which any self respecting tourist is bound to do at some point during a visit to York. 5 casks and 7 macro kegs on my visit. Nothing to get too excited about - Landlord, Black Sheep Bitter, Ruddles County, Old Speckled Hen & York Yorkshire Terrier. Not too busy when we visited late afternoon although we got the last seats in the front bar - the large back room had a reserved for diners sign. Obviously an old building and makes a lot of its most haunted status - one of the dozens of York ghost walks starts from here - but the interior comes over as a bit nondescript. We got served immediately but the barmaid then disappeared for about ten minutes, leaving the bar unattended. The Blue Bell, just round the corner in Fossgate is a much more interesting place.

September 23, 2006
Nothing special here. Only 3 hand pumps and then macro shitte on tap. However I did have a tim taylor landlord and an old speckled hen which was just retired. Cask beers were served way too cold. There were nice places to sit though and it was quite enough wherever some intoxicated people left that you could have a nice conversation. The pub is visually pleasing inside but doesn’t have much to offer. I’ve heard that the ghost memoriblia on the walls is fun to take a look at though. There are much better pubs in York