September 2, 2007
Easily one of the best cask selection in York with a dozen of casks and they seem to have a good turnover as everything I tried was fresh. A large variety of brewers are represented as well. A couple of dozens of bottles complete the board. It’s also very small this pub and not totally in the very heart of the city - just outside the walls, so the feel is a bit more local than some. A must visit and amongst York’s top outlets.

October 23, 2006 [ Updated November 25, 2006 ]
A formerly run down community boozer, just ouside the city walls, given a bit of a facelift as a joint venture by the Tynemill pub group and York Brewery in 2002. But not too much of a facelift - that wouldn’t be the Tynemill way - so it still retains a boho/shabby chic/studenty feel. I guess the deal with York Brewery must have turned sour as its now wholly owned by Tynemill. Competes with The Maltings for the title of the premier beer outlet in York with a dozen or so handpulls (although I think the Maltings has a rather cosier feel). Beers from Vale, Oldershaw, Catle Rock, Acorn, Orkney, Mordue, Crouch Vale, Atlas and Nelson when I visited. Harvest Pale, Elsie Mo and the monthly special from Castle Rock (same ownership as Tynemill) take up three of the pumps, the rest change on a daily basis. Very quiet when we visited mid afternoon on Sunday.

September 22, 2006 [ Updated November 16, 2006 ]
I loved this place. 12 cask ales always and they have some beauties. The service was very nice... looked to be a uni student, but gave samples of ales you were interested in trying. Selection was great for a small pub. Go there if you in York

August 2, 2006 [ Updated August 10, 2006 ]
With the sign out front from CAMRA stating this as a real ale pub of the year I couldn’t exactly keep on walking by. Upon entering the tiny pub you are greeted by a single rectangular bar adorned with handpumps each offering a different tipple from hundreds of different real ale brewers throughout the UK. In the fridge is atleast 50 different imported ales and lagers from Belgium, Germany and the U.S., etc. Food was simple sausages, chips and the like, but who’s here for the food. Managed 14 ratings in two days and sat chatting wildly with the uni-students who seem to have found work behind the bar. A pleasantly quiet pub, often deserted during the day and usually free of the tourist horde that migrate passed inside the cities walls just across the way. Another plus for this pub is its extraordinarily clean toilets as opposed to many other pubs throughout the UK (just thought I’d bring that one up!).