please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Sad to hear that Dave and Sal have given up. There was always a warm welcome from Sal and Dave and the regulars.
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Pleasant backstreet Marstons pub the other side of York Minster from the centre. You'll get a friendly welcome and the small front bar has plenty of character. There appeared to be other rooms to the side and rear. But we didn't explore these. Only one other customer during our visit. The ale selection was Marstons Burton Bitter & Roll of Honour, Banks's Sunbeam & Jennings Sneck Lifter.
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Best pub in York in my opinion
mwb50 - 11 May 2014 09:25 |
Came in after the match as the pub is a short walk from Bootham Crescent on the way back into town.
6 ales on the pumps, which were 2 each from Marston's, Banks's and Jennings.
I went for Jennings Red Rascal @ 3.8% and £3.20.
This is a Marston's tied pub, it's friendly, with the landlord, landlady and locals all chatty & welcoming.
Busy after the match but it slowed down within 10 minutes of me arriving.
Real log fire burning which took the chill off.
Attractive pub and worthy of a tick
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Typical Marstons pub, serving Jennings and Marston ales. I'm sorry to say nothing very exciting.
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Popped in here early evening for a couple whilst I was staying in York. Being outside the city walls and a little of the beaten track it was far less touristy than the other pubs I visited. Much of more a local.
The 2 women behind the bar were friendly and obviously knew the other patrons very well. The pub is quite big with various areas to sit and drink in. A good selection of real ales:- Sneklifter, Navigation, Hydes Finest and a Marston ale were all on. I had the Hydes which was very good.
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How on God's Earth can this be deemed as being number one rated pub?
The mind certainly boggles!
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Lovely old-fashioned pub off the beaten track. Contains several snug bars. Excellent choice of ale.
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After dumping my bag next door in the Coach House guest house this was my first port of call.
Bar staff seemed pleasant enough. Sadly the beer offerings wasn't really to my cup of tea. There seemed to be a big emphasis on light blonde ales.
This place is ok for a quick half.
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All the positivity that has been coming this pub's way in dribs and drabs over the years seems to be well-deserving. This is a corking little traditional drinker's boozer (and don't assume a sub-text of drunkardness from this - I simply mean an honest, solid, manly man's sort of hostelry for the reasonably articulate and controlled quaffer!). It is tucked away off Bootham opposite one of York's innumerate bits of wall and once inside you really feel an instant sense of being comfortably-installed.
Despite being with a chum of mine who is a genuine and openly-outspoken Cockney geezer at the time of visiting, not helped by TWG's cut-glass southern tones, neither the landlord nor the customers ostensibly objected to us being there, and whilst the welcome was not marked by easy banter or toothy smiles, there was no sense of enmity either. We simply ordered up, paid, and got cracking on the beer - which was comprised of I think 4 cask offerings; mostly local. Inevitably we were in sparkler territory but when in Rome and all that; at least these ales were brewed with sparkler usage in mind. They all went down very nicely on a hot (yes, hot!) Saturday afternoon anyway.
The pub is an atmopsheric affair with two seating areas and access to the bar from the central corridor and the front parlour. There wa' quite a bit o' trouble at t'mill amongst the chatty local chaps who were in fine spirits, clearly with a few pints' head start on us but jovial, not in any way threatening.
This was the first pub in York I'd been into since the '90s and I was pleased it was a good 'un. If I were there now I'd definitely make the effort to slip away from the tourist-traps of the centre and get myself back here; the 10-15 minute walk will do you good and be well rewarded.
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Excellent atmosphere, good but not overly exuberant welcome (ie perfect!) and always a good pint.
mwb50 - 12 Jan 2012 20:58 |
This is an Edwardian pub where, in a similar fashion to The Blue Bell and The Swan, the rooms lead off to one side of a corridor, and between the front and rear roms, there is a serving area in the corridor. The pub has interior glazed brickwork, and being outside the city walls, it�s not what you would term a �Tourist Trap�.
On the contrary, it is a very friendly welcoming locals� pub with good beer and good banter in abundance, although when the average price inside the city walls was �3.00 a pint, it stuck in the craw somewhat paying �3.10 without the city walls for a pint of Jennings� �Crag Rat�. Their �Snecklifter was also available, as was Marston�s �Burton Bitter� and �E.P.A.�. The fifth ale on was Ringwood �Old Scrumper�.
Still worth 7/10, however.
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I liked this pub, which I visited on a Wednesday evening. Firstly, the beer was very good and a good range was on offer. I also really liked the atmosphere in the (small) bar. The pub has a lot of character and although I was just a visitor from out of town, was made to feel very welcome by both those behind and in front of the bar. This would be a great local if you lived in the area.
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I have drunk here on many occasions.
The landlord and his staff definitely know their beer - only once was I EVER served a pint that was less than perfect - and that was quite literally snatched back from me and replaced before I could complain!
The range of guest ales changes constantly, so there's always something new ... if you ever get tired of the regular draughts, that is.
If I was forced to criticise this pub the only real drawbacks I could mention would be the outside 'facilities' (not too nice for us blokes in winter) and the very 'dog friendly' attitude (not always easy to avoid treading on a tail!) but the friendly atmosphere and real fire in the front lounge bar more than make up for this.
This should be a 'must visit' if you are on this side of the river in York.
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Never had a bad pint or night in this pleasingly discreet boozer. I heartily endorse the positive comments, which in my experience are accurate and fair. I can only scratch my head in bemusement at the recent criticisms, but of course just about anywhere can have an off night.. Marygate's a great road for a crawl by the way.
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Some original Edwardian features remain in this pub, tucked away in Marygate. And the (outside) gents loo must be unique, along the lines of Cardiff's Vulcan. The rest of the decor is a mish mash that doesn't really compliment the fireplaces and tiled walls:-it is crying out for a sympathetic re-vamp that could make it really special. Undoubtedly a real ale pub with plenty of hand pulls on , mostly Ringwoods and the formidable Jennings Sneck Lifter. Felt like a cosy locals pub, not a tourist trap. So worth a visit if, like me, the likes of the Bluebell,the Swan and the Goldenball float your boat.
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One of my favourite York pubs. Great atmosphere when i've been in and a little of the toruist route.
Beers excellent.
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Yup...As a local I hear more of these sorts of tales...if visiting York turn right from the station and left at the lights...take it from there, but check opening hours.
There's Brigantes of course, Ackhorne, Golden ball (after 5 through the week), even the Swan and the marvelloues Slip (both late afternoon jobs)...but worth the wait. Oh and even a decent Wetherspoons in the old Punchbowl in Blossom Street. Sorry, just don't turn left from the station.
However if you fancy a grand cheep beer (Sam Smiths) I recommend the Wellington in Alma Terrace...a brisk 12 minutes walk at a good clip...Google the location!
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Not really! The place certainly left a bad taste my mouth.
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As someone who lives and travels around the waterways on a narrowboat, I get to visit a fair number of pubs. How lucky I was to have recently visited The Minster Inn, I have to rate it as one of the most friendly pubs I have had the good fortune to drink in. It was not just Dave and Sal, the landlord and his wife but also the regulars who were so welcoming and friendly.
I generally visit a pub in the afternoons to do my 3 P's - Pint, Paper and Pipe, so on the three occasions that I visited the Minster, I spent my time in the small, mainly covered, area in the back set aside for smokers. Well, I never got to read my paper or do the crossword, instead I was drawn into conversation with the regulars. Now that is what I consider the sign of a good pub, it is all about, a good pint and friendly company.
So, if you are not too bothered about the absence of piped music, if you don't fret about being in surroundings that haven't changed much over the years, if you prefer beer that comes from a brewery rather than a factory, if you prefer good conversation to soap operas then, I humbly suggest that you place The Minster Inn on your 'Must visit list'. I give it top rating.
Oh, I nearly forgot to mention, the Minster is a "Dog friendly pub', my pooch will have to go on a diet after all the nibbles he was given. Cheers.
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One of the loveliest pubs I've ever had the pleasure to go in. Beatiful interior, friendly locals and staff (the young barman who served us, particularly, fantastic drinks and, best of all, Ali the piano man, who came in and elevated the evening to the next level.
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Looking at the posts below, we may have caught this place on a bad day, but I'll give my honest assessment of what we saw.
We walked in to find all the locals look round at us and stop their conversation. After a few seconds of an awkward silence, they continued talking and we ordered our drinks.
The selection was poor, they only had Marstons and Jennings, neither of which we're particular keen on. Especially given all the great beers on offer elsewhere in the city.
Whilst we chatted over our drinks, a drunk bloke who seemed to be a regular was prattling on about Greeks not paying income tax. This was tiresome.
I shan't ever be returning. If it was the only pub in my town I might visit occasionally, but considering there are literally a dozen better pubs in York I see no reason to bother.
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Another pub with an unusual layout. You enter the pub via a corridor, which has a serving hatch from the main bar to the right, there are two further rooms to the left and right. Small beer garden at the back.
Five pumps serving beers from Marstons portfolio - Burton, a couple of Jennings and Ringwood Boondoggle. I had a pint of the Boondoggle which was not to my taste.
We sat in the main bar, where there is an Interesting wall above the fireplace made out of wine corks.
The main bar was a bit too brightly lit, but this is an interesting, relatively unspoilt pub.
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Spent a week in York with wife and 2 dogs recently. As always made very welcome in the Minster.
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Late review from November, but this is another pub I like to visit when in York. Ever so friendly and has a true local feel. Beers from my area- Banks/Wolverhampton & Dudley/ now Marstons portfolio, but well served and always in tip top condition.
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I agree with Carl above. I popped in for a pint and found the Minster Inn very welcoming. I thought the cork covered wall near the fireplace was interesting, too. Of course, what was more interesting, to me, were the 5 real ales they had. Not sure what the standard pull would be, but there was a nice selection to choose from! Good location and friendly staff. I'll return!
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One of my favourite York pubs, and God knows there are many to choose from. This is slightly off the tourist route and is none the worse for it, never too busy but never dead either. Superbly unspoilt, there are three traditional rooms and a vault, all attached to a central corridor where the bar is. A good selection of ales and traditional pub games feature. The gents are outside-always a welcome touch, though come December I may change my mind! It is just behind the walls and handy for the park.
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Relaxed pub, quiet and friendly on my visit. Has the feel of an old house about it and a good place to go to relax.
Pint of Big Bertha (Batemans) was in good order too.
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This is a very friendly pub made to feel welcome even though on my own
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Just far enough out of town to avoid the heebie jeebies, but close enough to walk to. This is jem of a pub, welcoming, plenty of room and a good pint to boot. Search it out, you will not be disapointed.
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Lovely pint of Jennings Snecklifter �2.55 -nice pub having a bit of work done to it.
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Oh I do like this comfortable friendly pub. Called in on our last day in York when doing the rounds, and it was the only one I wanted to stay in. The locals as well as the staff were so friendly. It was a shame about the W & D tie, but there was a Bateman Rosey Nosey and Marstons Ugly Sisters, so there was a better choice than most W & D houses.
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I use the Minster when in York as it is very dog friendly, I have 2 springers.Dave and Sally, staff and regulars very welcoming.
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This pub should be part of the 'campaign for real toilets'. It's one of maybe 3 pubs in York where gents have to go outside to go to the gents.
Sadly tied to W&D these days, not as much variety as in oldentimes, but at least they have lost the John Smiths bitter.
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Small and cosy place by the St. Mary walls. Five hand pumps to choose from. Real pub for real ale!
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As below, a great pub, traditional format, 4 small rooms, small bar, loads of ales. Good bar snacks (you know its important). Also they have loads of puzzles around the place for customers to play with, and in one of the back rooms there is bar skittles & bagatelle. Brilliant
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This a lovely pub. A bit way of the road by St. Mary's Abbey. The beers were amazingly good. A great selection of 6 real ales. The locals are friendly and btw it is dog friendly.
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