Club Background
York City is quite a young club compared to most – in fact is celebrating its Centenary Season this campaign. Although there was football in the city earlier the York City we have today was formed on March 31st 1922, initially joining the Midland League and playing at Fulford Gate. They tore up no trees, never finishing higher than sixth, but the mysteries of election saw them replace Ashington AFC in Division Three North in 1929, 24 votes to 14.
In 1932 York moved to Bootham Crescent, where they remained until 2021 – though on that more later. They remained In Division Three North, rarely troubling either end of the table – though they would have required re-election in 1950 if they hadn’t conveniently chosen to finish bottom the same year the Division was being expanded – until the end of regionalisation, when they went into Division Four. Their greatest moment to that point had come in 1955 when they became the first ever Third Division club to reach a F.A. Cup semi-final, taking eventual Cup winners Newcastle United to a replay. That debut season in Division Four saw York finish third and gain the club its first ever promotion. Unfortunately they were relegated back at the end of the following campaign. Another single season in Division Three was achieved in 1995-66 but they finished bottom and then for the next three seasons had to apply for re-election after each campaign. (Please don’t let him start on the iniquities of the election system or we’ll be here all day, ed.)
The Seventies began more brightly with a promotion to Division Three for the 1971-72 season and then on into Division Two after coming third in 1973-74. They spent two seasons there, but two consecutive relegations saw them back in Division Four in 1977-78 seeking re-election again. 1981 saw yet another call on the old-boy network to keep them away from Non-league status.
The mid-Eighties was another good time for the Minstermen. A Championship won by a massive 16 point margin in 1983-84 was followed by a run to the F.A. Cup 5th Round, defeating Arsenal on the way and taking Newcastle United to a replay, in 1984-85; and again to the same stage the next season when Liverpool needed two attempts to remove the Third Division side. However 1987-88 saw them relegated back to Division 4 once again, and there they stayed until 1992, mainly in the lower reaches.
The finale of the 1992-93 season saw York at Wembley facing Crewe Alexandra in the play-offs. In a dramatic penalty shoot-out it was City who went up. Manager Alan Little kept them there for six years, including the odd last day escape. When they did go down it was one of those ‘never in the relegation zone until the last few minutes of the season scenarios.
At the turn of the Millennium, York were facing big problems off the field of play as well. In December 2001 chairman Douglas Craig announced the club was for sale, stating that if a purchaser was not found by the end of January the club would resign from the Football League at the end of the season. The eventual buyer was the Cheshire based owner of the B&Q Racing Team, John Batchelor. Batchelor was yet another of those delusional fantasists who soil football, with their promises of new stadiums and Premiership football tripping so easily off forked tongues. Of greater importance for the survival of York City wasn’t the ridiculous delusions being peddled by Batchelor, but the formation of a Supporters’ Trust by fans foreseeing a rapidly approaching crisis. As the 2002-03 season unfolded players wages and bills weren’t being paid, and the club collapsed into administration in December.
On March 27th 2003 the Supporters’ Trust took over the running of the football club. That stabilised things a touch, but not enough to stop them losing their Football League status at the end of the 2003-04 season. It took York eight seasons to get back out again, with several failed play-off campaigns, before 2011-12 saw them back to the EFL (play-offs again) with victories over Mansfield Town and Luton Town.
Meanwhile, in the summer of 2006, Jason McGill, who had served as a Supporters’ Trust director but also had some private money, bought the club from the Trust, eventually becoming Chairman in 2006. He also helped the club retrieve control of Bootham Crescent, seemingly ending the concerning situation where York’s supporters had lost control of their ground in the wake of the club’s financial problems, with previous owners having separated the football stadium and site from the club itself (OHH!!).
Returning to the EFL, York supporters might have thought their problems were over. Turned out there were years of heartache and desperate times to come! Seventeenth (2012-13), 7th (2013-14) – knocked out at first stage of the play-offs by Fleetwood Town – and 18th (2014-15), the following season was a disaster, relegated back into Non-League in 24th. And it could not have come at a worse time, as the club had just committed itself to moving from Bootham Crescent.
The Bootham Crescent situation was a millstone going back more than a decade, with York having lost direct control of its ground to a holding company back in 1999. They had one piece of fortune: at least McGill was a long-term and genuine supporter of the club who wanted the best for it… but financially he simply didn’t have the clout. Supposed to be completed in 2016, there were construction delays, judicial review interruptions, changes of contractor, spiralling costs. Deadlines came and went, and came and went, eventually all adding up to four years of delay. Their first fixture at their new home, the LNER Community Stadium, which is shared with rugby league team York Knights, would finally be played on 16th February 2020.
On the field, with finances stretched close to breaking point, York plunged straight through the National League Premier in 2016-17 and was relegated to National League North. And there the Minstermen spent the next five seasons, before eventually being welcomed back to the NLP by defeating Boston (forever tarnished as The Cheats) United in the 2021-22 play-off final – so certainly not going to begrudge York that.
So, a happy end to their story, with McGill having, after lengthy travails, finally returned his beloved club to an upward trajectory, and heroically passing his holdings to the York Supporters’ Trust? Well maybe not. As, for reasons best known to itself, the Trust committee immediately sold 51% of the club to a Glen Henderson. One only has to give a cursory glance at Henderson’s business CV to get an immediate indication of exactly what one’s likely to be dealing with – but hey, that’s football, populated by the naïve, easily gulled by appearances of a free lunch. Within months, in November 2022, for reasons best known to himself, Henderson (and in a, according to Askey’s account, totally unacceptable way) sacked the very popular John Askey, the manager who’d got them up from NLN and made a decent start to this first season back in the NLP. The Trust was appalled and, in a 180 degree volte-face, declared it now had “no confidence” in Henderson. The row escalated, as Henderson issued a formal public statement that if supporters didn’t want him he’d sell his holding back… but then a short while later issued another statement saying he’d not really meant it, and had only said he would because he hadn’t been feeling well at the time.
As things stand at time of writing: 1) York City have been in free-fall down the table under the manager, David Webb (no, not that one!), appointed in December; 2) Henderson has announced (1st February) that he will no longer be attending any York City matches; 3) David Webb (no, not that one!) has been sacked (8th February); 4) Chairman and Trust are in an open state of civil war with the latter moving to oust the former from the club completely by launching a forced buy back attempt. So, it’s all going very well then…
We’ve Met Before
Previous Results for Yeovil Town First Team vs York City
| 13/09/2003 | Home | EFL3 | W | 3-0 | 5653 | Jackson 21, Miles 34, Stansfield 90 | |
| 20/04/2004 | Away | EFL3 | W | 2-1 | 2802 | Terry 46, Lindegaard 70 | |
| 18/08/2015 | Away | EFL2 | L | 0-1 | 2849 | ||
| 02/01/2016 | Home | EFL2 | W | 1-0 | 3866 | Dolan 40 | |
| 03/09/2022 | Home | NLP | L | 0-1 | 2294 | ||
| 25/02/2023 | Away | NLP | L | 1-2 | 3978 | (Crookes o.g.) | |
Results Summary For Yeovil Town First Team vs York City
| Home | Away | Overall | ||||||||||||
| W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A |
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 5 |
Club Statistics
RECENT RESULTS
| 26/12/2022 | Gateshead | Home | NLP | L | 0-3 | 5384 | ||
| 02/01/2023 | Gateshead | Away | NLP | D | 2-2 | 2023 | Hancox 37, Forde 90 | |
| 07/01/2023 | Maidstone United | Home | NLP | W | 4-1 | 3832 | Forde 3, 39, 82, o.g. 9 (Zouma) | |
| 14/01/2023 | Chelmsford City | Home | FAT4R | W | 1-1 | 2345 | Dyson 28 (won 5-4 on penalties) | |
| 24/01/2023 | Oldham Athletic | Away | NLP | L | 0-2 | 5930 | ||
| 28/01/2023 | Maidenhead United | Home | NLP | L | 1-2 | 4155 | John-Lewis 76 | |
| 04/02/2023 | Southend United | Away | NLP | L | 0-2 | 5737 | ||
| 07/02/2023 | Solihull Moors | Home | NLP | L | 2-3 | 3605 | Forde 25, Dyson 68 | |
| 11/02/2023 | Southend United | Away | FAT5R | W | 2-0 | 2780 | Kerr 51, John-Lewis 88 | |
| 18/02/2023 | Wealdstone | Away | NLP | L | 1-3 | 1703 | Crookes 90+3 | |
| 21/02/2023 | Boreham Wood | Home | NLP | D | 1-1 | 3990 | Crookes 39 | |
| 25/02/2023 | Yeovil Town | Home | NLP |
LEAGUE ATTENDANCE STATISTICS
Highest League Attendance: 7,145 v Wrexham, 03/12/2022
Lowest League Attendance: 3,492 v Bromley, 13/09/2022
Average League Attendance: 4,820
CURRENT LEAGUE SEQUENCE STATISTICS
| Games Without A Win: | 6 | Games Without A Home Win: | 1 | |
| Games Without An Away Win: | 4 | Games Without Defeat: | 0 | |
| Games Without A Home Defeat: | 1 | Games Without An Away Defeat: | 3 | |
| Games Without A Draw: | 0 | Games Without A Score Draw: | 0 | |
| Games Without A No-Score Draw: | 32 | Games Without Scoring: | 0 | |
| Games Without Conceding: | 0 | Home Results Sequence: | LWLLD | |
| Away Results Sequence: | WDLLL | Overall Results Sequence: | WLDWLLLLLD |
Club Information
Address :
LNER Community Stadium, Kathryn Avenue, Monks Cross Drive, Huntington, York, YO32 9AF. (Click for map)
Telephone Number : 01904 624447
Email : enquiries@yorkcityfootballclub.co.uk
Chairman : Glen Henderson
Ground Safety Officer :
Club Secretary : Lisa Carlton
Team Manager : Michael Morton (caretaker)
Capacity : 8,500
Seated : 8,500
Covered Terrace : none
Record Attendance : 7,488 v Boston United, National League North Play-Off Final, 21/05/2022
Colours : red shirt (with York Minster graphic) and gold trim, navy blue shorts, white socks.
Nickname : The Minstermen
Programme : £3.00
Ticketing
Visiting fans get either the whole of the North Stand (but needs to be a considerable away following for that to be opened) or two overflow blocks (WI and WH) in the north corner of the West Stand. No prizes for guessing where we are. If buying on the day the ticket office/club shop is in The Community Hub at the main entrance to the Leisure Centre. Somewhat irritatingly, given there appear to be two Leisure Centres, can find no definite information anywhere as to which holds the ticket office. However, given where the home end and car parking are, logic should suggest it will be found on the south side of the stadium. (If go there and it isn’t you’ll have to walk all the way round to the north side – apologies!)
Seen no indication of any matchday surcharge.
To buy in advance go to the York City ticket portal:
Have to register an account, which is a right rigmarole with LOTS more information to input than in my opinion they have any need for in a likely one-off purchase.
Open the relevant York City v Yeovil Town on 25th February section.
Completely ignore (it’s greyed out anyway) the area that says North Away!
Though can’t see anything bothering to say so on the portal itself, turns out we are in the West Stand, BLOCKS WI and WH.
Clicking on those areas in the plan will show what seats are available.
Avoid all the seats marked with a little red dot – RESTRICTED VIEW.
Clicking on each seat wanted will also bring up a menu box to input different price categories.
Prices:
Adult: £21.00
Concession (60+): £16.00
Student: £9.00
18 & Under: £9.00
11 & Under: £7.00
Options are for the ticket(s) to be sent to your phone or an e-mail attached .pdf file to be printed out.
Official Away Travel
The Green & White Supporters’ Club is running away travel to York City on Saturday 25th February, 3.00 p.m. kick-off.
Details are as follows:
Members: Adult £36; Concession £34
Non-Members: Adult £39; Concession £37
Coach departs Huish Park: 6.45 a.m.
To book, call Paul Hadlow on 07736 044570 (after 6.00 p.m. only please) or email him on paulhadlow@outlook.com.
If you are getting in touch by email, please make it clear which match you are booking for and that you give your full name, the names of people that are travelling and a contact telephone number.
You may be asked to pay a £5 deposit to reserve your seat.
Directions To The Ground
General
York is geographically in but not administratively part of North Yorkshire since becoming a separate unitary authority in 1996. The area, which comprises the City of York and surrounding suburbs itself, the town of Haxby and a scattering of villages, has a population of a little over 200,000. Unlike very central Bootham Crescent the LNER Community Stadium is stuck out on the northern fringes of the city in a district called Huntington.
By Road
Depending on exact route chosen it’s a round trip of 560 to 600 miles between Huish Park and the LNER Community Stadium. Heading up the M5, at Junction 4A there’s the choice of sticking on the M5 and taking the M6/M62 route or dropping off onto the M42 across to the M1 and then the M18 and A1(M). The latter is the shorter option in terms of mileage but be aware there are some significant roadworks happening on a section of the A1(M) north of Doncaster that appear to going on through February and into March, so check nearer the time whether serious disruption is anticipated on whatever day or days you might be traveling up and back before committing to that route.
Whichever route is chosen almost everyone coming from the south will inevitably end up entering York via the A64. This swings one all the way round the south and east sides of the city. On reaching the Hopgrove Roundabout system take the first slip road exit onto the A1237; and then at the next roundabout the first exit onto the A1036 (Maton Road). Follow the A1036 south to the next roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Martello Way, which should take you into the stadium carparking (off to the left at the next roundabout).
Parking
For many new stadiums, especially those partly funded by local councils, ecological awareness has been a planning prerequisite, with car travel to be actively discouraged and reduced as much as possible. The LNER Community Stadium is part of a much larger site, including the Monks Cross and Vangarde Shopping Parks, which has its own Park & Ride facility. To be honest, never having been to this ground before, rather than guesstimate how all this might work – not for locals but for folks driving from three hundred miles away – am just going to quote the information provided by the host club:
“A dedicated area within the Monks Cross P&R site has 400 spaces for match day users. Tickets need to be purchased in advance from the club’s ticketing website (parking page). A steward then scans the ticket in the car park. Parking is not permitted in any other car parks. Stewards will be present in the area on match days to advise. There is a maximum 2-hour parking restriction across the entire site, including Vangarde Shopping Park, controlled through ANPR cameras on match days.
Should you require a disabled parking spot, please contact the Ticket Office directly on 01904 942232.
The North car park (from Jockey Lane entrance) is for general users of the leisure centre, Explore Library, NHS and York Against Cancer and will be managed by stewards on match days.
The East car park (next to the 3G pitches) is closed to the public on match days and is for match day staff and visiting club directors only.
The cinema is serviced by South car park. Owned by a private company, no match day parking is permitted. Stewards will be present in the area on match days.
There is a maximum 4-hour parking restriction across the entire site (2-hours on match days), including Vangarde Shopping Park, controlled through ANPR cameras.
City of York Council have implemented parking restrictions on the local road network, as well as some residential streets.“
There are two (BP Pulse and Chargemaster) Charging Stations on site should that be relevant.
By Rail
Perhaps surprisingly York, despite historically being one of the foremost railway industry centres in the UK, never had a proper local network. The Foss Islands branch line up through the north of the city did carry passengers as well as freight, but wasn’t publicly timetabled and almost exclusively used by workers at the Rowntree factory. Anyway it finally closed in 1989 and is now a cycle routeway. So there’s no options other than to alight at the station, on the East Coast Main Line, to the West of the city centre.
The Bootham Crescent ground was about a 15 minute stroll from York Railway Station. Unfortunately the LNER Community Stadium is not nearly so convenient at just over 3 miles distance to the North.
It would have been (just maybe!) about possible to do Yeovil – York return (and see the whole game) on the day… but various route diversions and/or bus replacement services scheduled for 25th February have scuppered that.
For London and South-East based Glovers things stay pretty straightforward, though engineering works on a part of the line between Kings Cross and Stevenage has occasioned some reductions in services and an expected addition of around 15 minutes on journey times. Two direct LNER trains an hour remain scheduled for the 25th.
By Bus
As a University city and tourist hotspot York has quite an extensive and regular bus network that’s reasonably cheap (though the pricing structure is perhaps a bit more geared to all those tourists and students wanting week or term long passes than football fans looking to make one single or return journey). York First Bus dominates though there are services from other companies: route maps.
Obviously depends where you are arriving/parking up/staying over (delete as applicable) in York but the No. 9 (First Bus York) Park & Ride Silver Line is one that may be particularly useful as its route passes near the Railway Station and has various stops around the city centre before heading out to Monks Cross (but do check the map link above as the locations of the boarding stops out are not necessarily the same as the alighting ones back, so don’t end up waiting at the wrong one and going nowhere). Services are around every twelve minutes during the bulk of the day. Depending where you pick it up on the circular route around the city centre expect a journey time of between 11 and 19 minutes. See fares here. (Note: as this is a Park & Ride those with a National Concessionary Pass are not entitled to travel free – though do get a reduced charge – even if only using the Ride and not the Park aspect.) Contactless card, Apple Pay, Google Pay and cash are all accepted on these buses.
An alternative option from and back to the centre is the Y22 shuttle, established December 2022, and in place for the rest of of this season at least, after negotiations between York City Supporters’ Trust and First Bus. Reading between the lines, demand for the No. 9 (above) was getting so high that service was struggling in the immediate pre- and post-match periods. The Y22 service runs (“frequently” is all it says as a timetable) between The Stonebow (Interchange) (Y01 8NW) and Monks Cross from around two hours prior to kick-off and for up to 90 minutes after the end of the match. However, only tickets specific for this service are accepted and these can only be purchased via the First Bus app, so one would need to download that. Prices: Adult return £3.50; Child/Concessionary return £2.00; Adult single £2.00; Child/Concessionary single £1.00.
By Taxi
If taking a taxi to the stadium the designated marked drop-off point is entered via Kathryn Avenue on the north side of the stadium – convenient for the away blocks at that northern end of the West Stand if already have a ticket, but not convenient if do need to visit the ticket office which (am reckoning) is on the south side. The numbers of various local taxi firms can be found here.
Web Resources
Web Sites
York City Football Club – official site of The Minstermen.
York City Supporters Trust – having issued an Acceptance Notice on 05/01/2023 under the club’s Articles of Association the Trust has 90 days (deadline 4th April 2023) to construct the finances to buy back Glen Henderson’s shares and rid the club of him (see Club Background, above), naturally this rather dominates the site at present.
Red & Blue – forum. Appears one has to register even to read it.
Local Press
The York Press – as, suspect, about the only club above Sunday Pub League in its catchment area, carries quite extensive coverage of York City.
Food & Drink
General
With the majority of the city centre preserved (well compared to most other places), with house prices continuing to soar – the biggest percentage price increase of anywhere in the UK at 23.1% in 2022 – York has gentrified. Add to that its status as a tourist honeypot site, and as might be expected the place is therefore stuffed to the gills with photogenic historic pubs, cutting edge ‘craft’ beer bars and more bijou trendy eating places than one could shake a stick at.
In 1996 the first brewery for forty years opened in York: the York Brewery Company and its pubs sadly collapsed in 2018 and was eventually bought out of administration by Black Sheep. The brewery itself has closed, with the beers now brewed at the Black Sheep Brewery in Masham, but The Three Legged Mare (below) and Last Drop Inn pubs in York have survived though the original York Brewery beers no longer get much bar space. However, Brew York (2016), Ice Cream Factory (2017) and 3 Non Beards (2019) do maintain nano/micro brewing within the city.
The original guides back in 2004 and 2015 carried a single lengthy list and full details of over twenty (and it could have been lots more) pubs with quality beers around the city centre that were within a sensible stroll of the ground. But there doesn’t seem much point in that now. With the move out to the LNER Community Stadium visiting fans will be all over the shop: some going straight to the district of the ground and not looking to venture further; some looking for options around the railway station on arrival and before departure; and others staying over for a (possibly long) weekend and thus open to options across the whole city. Thus the pub guide will be divided into three: A) what’s near the new ground (not a lot!); B) reasonably close railway station access; C) brief details of what in this author’s opinion are some of the best hostelries on offer city wide for those that have the time to explore. (If you’ve used the Hop O’Clock craft beer outlet on Colliergate previously this closed down on 14/01/2023, seemingly permanently.)
Club Bar
The LNER Community Stadium wasn’t designed with any intrinsic ‘club house’ type feature. Possibly, because it sits in a retail/leisure park, there were objections from other businesses in the immediate vicinity; but it still seems a surprising decision. Instead fans, home and away, are limited to concourse facilities. The club states that away supporters have the following provision: “Food and drink concessions are available in the concourse with a selection of hot and cold drinks, snacks and food including burgers, pies and hot dogs.”
Local Pubs
A)
As a new build stadium out on the fringes of the city in a modern retail and leisure park one doesn’t expect much in the way of interesting places to drink (or eat) in the area around the ground – and one would be right not to. Pear Tree Farm (below) is the nearest pub to the stadium at half a mile away in the northern section of Monks Cross shopping/leisure park. After that there’s: HogsHead (1980’s Estate Pub, 1.2 miles to the West), Blacksmith Arms (traditional Village Pub style, 1.5 miles to the North) and Hopgrove (a Toby Carvery, 1.5 miles to the East). Heading South there’s nothing in the way of pubs for 1.7 miles, so having gone that far one might as well go on into the city centre for better options. The eating establishments in the park are national/international chains: McDonalds, Greggs, Taco Bell, Nando’s, Prezzo Italian, Pizza Hut, Estabulo were the ones saw on the map, there may be others of similar ilk.
Pear Tree Farm: a new build around 10 years ago by Greene King in its ‘Farmhouse Inns’ format (any resemblance to either farmhouses or inns are purely in the imaginations of marketing executives) this is all one expects of a chain family dining pub. Opening is from 9.00 a.m. weekdays and 8.00 a.m. weekends, closing 10.00 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, 11.00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Various food menus are available from opening time up to an hour before closing. Two handpumps: GK IPA and Old Speckled Hen. Keg is a mix of multinational brands and stuff still sold under Greene King & associated brand names (though the brewery arm is now owned and run by Asahi). Disabled access, indoor children’s play area, beer garden, parking. Half a mile, so 10 minutes walk, from the stadium.
Pear Tree Farm, Monks Cross Drive, North Business Park, Monks Cross, Huntington, York, YO32 9GZ. Tel: 01904 620124. Map: Pear Tree Farm.
B)
If entering/leaving York by rail the station has some close (to a greater or lesser degree) options. Most have been selected from the city centre quarter between the station and the River Ouse, though there’s a couple of outliers, the Fox Inn and Volunteer Arms (both below), to the West of the railway tracks. However the first you’ll see are part of the station building itself: York Tap (below) and The Duke of York (Greene King).
The Maltings is inside the city walls just before Station Road bridges the Ouse. The Punchbowl (one of two Spoons in York, the other being The Postern Gate), Micklegate Social (ICFB), BrewDog, Falcon and Tank & Paddle (a Crafted Social, which is an arm of the Stonegate Pubco empire) are some of a multitude of drinking and eating places running from Blossom Street just outside the walls all along Micklegate until it bridges the river. Harder to find, are The Ackhorne (50 yards along a lane off Micklegate) and buried deeper in the back lanes and alleys, The Golden Ball (all below).
Ackhorne: Wet led (though may do Sunday lunches) small friendly bare-boarded pub tucked away in a narrow cobbled side alley. Six real ale hand pumps and also does real cider. Opening is noon – 11.00 p.m. except Saturday when it opens an hour earlier and Sunday when closes an hour earlier.
The Ackhorne, 9 St Martin’s Lane, York, YO1 6LN. Tel: 01904 671421. Map: Ackhorne.
BrewDog: Opened in 2016 the York branch is very much in the style and format associated with BrewDog nationally and increasingly internationally. Children allowed until 8.00 p.m. Food hours: 4.00 p.m. – 10.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday; noon – 10.00 p.m. Friday to Sunday. Opens at noon everyday, closing 11.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday, midnight Friday and Saturday, 10.00 p.m. Sunday.
BrewDog (York), 130-134 Micklegate, York, YO1 6JX. Tel: 01904 620773. Map: BrewDog.
Falcon: Previously the Falcon Tap, one of York’s earliest and top notch ‘craft’ beer establishments, this closed in 2018 and for four and a half years there was nothing as the rest of the building was turned into a Boutique Apart-Hotel. However, panic ye not, the Falcon has risen from the grave, re-opening in a small part of the main building at the end of November 2022. There’s a connection with Turning Point Brew Co. of Knaresborough so expect to see some of their beers on the three handpumps and eight keg fonts, with the rest taken up with changing offerings from other independent producers. Looking at the beer selections there’s been no padding so far, nearly all choices coming from the craft brewing premier league. Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday 4.00 p.m. – 11.00 p.m.; Friday 3.00 p.m. – 11.30 p.m.; Saturday 12.00 noon – 11.30 p.m.; Sunday 3.00 p.m. – 11.00.
The Falcon, 94 Micklegate, York, YO1 6JX. Tel: (none found). Map: Falcon*.
(* Note: on Google Maps is listed as “The Falcon Boutique Inn on Micklegate”.)
Fox: Bought by Ossett Brewery in 2014 it’s one of only two pubs in York owned by them (the other being The Hop, below) if wanting their beers. However, although only half a mile from the station as the crow flies it’s a somewhat longer walk as one has to get across the railway line to the Holgate district on its West side. Opening hours are from noon everyday, closing 11.00 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, 11.30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The Fox, 168 Holgate Road, York, YO24 4DQ. Tel: 01904 787722. Map: Fox.
Golden Ball: Buried in the back lanes and alleys of Bishopgate area. Became York’s first community owned pub around a decade ago, at that time only the 12th in the country. Large four room pub. Seven hand pumps serve three regular – Barnsley Bitter by Acorn, Assassin by Ainsty and Golden Best by Timothy Taylor – and three changing beers and a cider. Food is (substantial) bar snacks including pies, scotch eggs etc. Bar billiards, beer garden. Opening hours are: 5.00 p.m. – 11.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 4.00 p.m. – 11.30 p.m. Friday; noon – 11.30 p.m. Saturday; noon – 11.00 p.m. Sunday.
The Golden Ball, 2 Cromwell Road, York, YO1 6DU. Tel: 01904 849040. Map: Golden Ball.
Maltings: Freehouse about five minutes walk from the railway station. Some pubs have that certain ‘feel right’ factor which is hard to pin down but one knows it when one finds it. Been in a lot of different pubs in York across many years and this has always remained among the favourites. Same landlord for decades, who knows what he’s doing, attracting a wide clientele across the drinking age range. Still primarily a cask pub – seven real ales (two regulars), and up to four real ciders – it’s not ignored the ‘craft’ revolution in recent years with interesting keg options. The Dragon’s Pantry area does generously portioned pub grub style food from noon till 2.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday and until 4.00 p.m. Friday to Sunday. Beer garden, smoking area, frequent live music. Opens 11.00 a.m. – 11.00 p.m. Monday to Saturday, noon – 10.30 p.m. Sunday.
The Maltings, Tanners Moat, York, YO1 6HU. Tel: 01904 355387. Map: The Maltings.
Micklegate Social: Food orientated craft beer bar that opened in 2019. Couple of handpumps and ten keg taps. One of only two places where one’s likely to find beers by York nano-brewery The Icecream Factory (see Fossgate Social further below for the other). Music (and other) events in the basement. Sources (including their own!) vary as to opening hours. Best guess is: Wednesday 4.00 p.m. to midnight, Thursday to Saturday 11.00 a.m. to midnight, Sunday 11.00 a.m. – 11.00 p.m.
Micklegate Social, 148-150 Micklegate, York, YO1 6JX. Tel: 01904 348798 (Google has a different number so try that if this one doesn’t work). Map: Micklegate Social.
Punchbowl: The more convenient of York’s two Spoons. Has disabled access and a beer garden. Opens 8.00 a.m. everyday, closing midnight Sunday to Thursday and 1.00 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
The Punch Bowl, 5-9 Blossom Street, York, YO24 1AU. Tel: 01904 666740. Map: Punch Bowl.
Tank & Paddle: First of these to appear oop North, the others being in that London. Has a whole range of different food menus from opening to closing (note: some have to be pre-booked). Beers are wide range of cask and keg plus some of its specialism, tank beers, mostly from independents but some more macro. Has Sky and BT Sports, a beer garden, smoking area. Children allowed (couldn’t find a time specified but likely up until food stops being served which is 9.00 p.m. on a Saturday). Opens 10.00 a.m. everyday, closing midnight Sunday to Thursday and 1.00 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Tank & Paddle, Merchant Exchange, 1 Bridge Street, York, YO1 6DD. Tel: 01904 461000. Map: Tank & Paddle.
Volunteer Arms: When a suburban Freehouse updates its list on Untappd one knows it’s making an effort with its beer. Only around 400 yards from the station as the crow flies but, like The Fox (above), one has to get across the railway line to the Holgate district so a somewhat longer walk than that. Wet led, no food. Opens from 5.00 p.m. weekdays, noon at weekends, closing 10.30 p.m. Sunday to Tuesday, 11.00 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday.
The Volunteer Arms, 5 Watson Street, York, YO24 4BH. Tel: 01904 541945. Map: Volunteer Arms.
York Tap: One of the still growing number of pubs taking over unused building space in railway stations this one, which opened 2010, is from the Pivovar group (see also both Pivni and Pavement Vaults, below). Expect around twenty cask and a further dozen or so on keg beers, ciders and ales, plus a range of bottled beers. Food limited to pies. Disabled access, outside area and direct access through rear onto the station platforms. Opening hours are 10.00 a.m. until 11.00 p.m. everyday except Sunday when it opens an hour later.
York Tap, York Train Station, York, YO25 1AB. Tel: 01904-659009. Map: York Tap.
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More widely (but still mostly central) across other parts of the city are a host of excellent establishments of differing styles and types (and could have added more). So, especially if staying over, fill your boots!
Angel on the Green: Independent bar/cafe/pizzeria opened 2016. House beer is Angel (presumably badged for them) by Ainsty Brewery. Three further changing cask beers and a variety of ‘craft’ type keg offerings. Latest pizza service times (updated on its Facebook page 02/02/23): Thursday and Friday 5.00 p.m. – 9.00 p.m., Saturday 12.00 noon – 9.00 p.m., Sunday 12.00 noon -7.00 p.m. It’s another of those places whose general opening times are all over the shop, with a least three different versions. Card payment only, no cash.
Angel on the Green, 2 Bishopthorpe Road, York, YO23 1JJ. Tel: 01904 866073. Map: Angel on the Green.
Blue Bell: Tiny pub in the heart of York. A Grade II* listed pub, almost completely unchanged since its last refurbishment in 1903 since when it has had only six landlords. The CAMRA brigade drool over this establishment, and it has won bucket loads of awards. If you’re not into museum pieces it’s not the place for you – but the beer is more than reasonable. Cask dominates – 70% of turnover states the current landlord – with a mixture of regular beers and changing guests on seven handpumps. When the building ended up under the less than tender ownership of Punch Taverns a few years back there were virtual riots at suggestions of “modernisation”. Punch Taverns backed off. (Note: its size means if arriving as a group of more than four or five you could get turned away.) Opening a simple 11.00 a.m. – 11.00 p.m. everyday.
Blue Bell, 53 Fossgate, York, YO1 9TF. Tel: 01904 654904. Map: Blue Bell.
Brew York Beer Hall & Taproom: Outlet for Brew York which began brewing in 2016. Brewery tours are available Friday and Saturday afternoons – must be pre-booked. In the city centre on the East bank of the river Foss, the Taproom is on the ground floor, with six hand pulls and ten keg taps pouring their own beers, and is open Wednesday to Friday 5.00 p.m. – 11.00 p.m., Saturday noon – 11.00 p.m. and Sunday noon – 9.00 p.m. The Beer Hall, described as “Bavarian-style”, is upstairs, with 40 taps serving a range of beers, lagers and ciders from a wide and changing selection of producers and has longer hours: noon – 11.00 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, noon – 9.00 p.m. Sunday. Both venues serve food provided by Asian street food pop-up kitchen Yuzu up to 8.45 p.m. except Sunday when it’s 8.30 p.m. Children allowed until 8.00 p.m. Large beer garden called Brewer’s Yard to the front of the Taproom and a smaller one to the rear (only accessible through the Taproom) overlooking the river. Card payments only, no cash.
Brew York Beer Hall & Taproom, Unit 6, Enterprise Complex, Walmgate, York, YO1 9TT. Tel: 01904 848448. Map: Brew York.
Duke of York: Opened in 2013 as Leeds Brewery’s outlet in York this is, unsurprisingly, not the only Duke of York pub in York, so check you have the right one. In 2016 Cameron’s Brewery of Hartlepool acquired Leeds’ brewery and pubs but so far seems to have continued brewing their beers. Usually has four Leeds beers and four guests on handpump. Food served all day with a lunch menu up to 5.00 p.m. after which the main menu kicks in. Spread over two levels only part has disabled access. There’s disagreement as whether opening hours begin at 11.00 a.m. or 12 noon; but agreement that it closes 11.00 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and midnight Friday and Saturday.
Duke of York, 3-4 King’s Square, York, YO1 8BH. Tel: 01904 676065. Map: Duke of York.
Fat Badger: From same stable as the Fat Badger in Harrogate. Up-market dining inn. Food served from noon to 8.30 p.m. except Sunday when it’s 6.00 p.m. Five real ales from mostly northern (and likely to be mostly Yorkshire) breweries. Keg appears to be mostly international: Erdinger, Brooklyn, that sort of thing. Family friendly, disabled access, beer garden. Opening from 11.00 a.m. everyday (except Sunday when it’s noon) to 11.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday, midnight Friday and Saturday, 10.30 p.m. Sunday.
The Fat Badger, 2-4 High Petergate, York, YO1 7EH. Tel: 01904 654112. Map: Fat Badger.
Fossgate Social: Bar and coffee shop that opened 2014. Range of craft keg, including being one of only two outlets where likely to find beers from York nano-brewery The Icecream Factory (see Micklegate Social above for the other). Interesting selection of bottled and canned beers too. Does food – what and when unclear. Opening hours 6.00 p.m. – midnight Monday and Tuesday, 11.00 a.m. to midnight the rest of the week.
The Fossgate Social, 25 Fossgate, York, YO1 9TA. Tel: 01904 466643 (Google has a different number so try that if this one doesn’t work). Map: Fossgate Social.
Fossgate Tap: If been to York before may have come across it under the previous name of Sutlers. A Bar & Kitchen style format it has a partnership with Turning Point Brew Co. of Knaresborough so obviously stocks some of their beers among others. There’s up to five beers on cask and a range of mostly ‘craft’ type keg offerings. Food – burger/pizza/gyros style – served all day up to around mid-evening. Its website says it’s open 10.00 a.m. – midnight everyday; the local CAMRA branch suggests it doesn’t open until noon. Maybe it does open at 10 and noon is when it starts serving alcohol? Who knows…
Fossgate Tap, 54-56 Fossgate, York, YO1 9TF. Tel: 01904 625226. Map: Fossgate Tap.
Guy Fawkes Inn: Regular readers will know how cynical I am about the historical claims made by pubs – mostly fantasy. However it does seem possible Guy Fawkes has some connection with this particular building; though whether he was actually born there as the plaque claims seems rather more dubious. Up-market dining pub/inn (York has loads of them). House beer is Guy Fawkes Bitter, which suspect is something by Black Sheep Brewery rebadged. Up to five other real ales, plus a keg range that’s mostly macro-international. Food served lunchtimes and evenings Monday to Thursday and across the day Friday to Sunday. Beer garden to rear. Opening hours are from 11.00 a.m. (12.00 noon Sunday) to 11.00 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and midnight Friday and Saturday.
Guy Fawkes Inn, 25 High Petergate, York, YO1 7HP. Tel: 01904 466674. Map: Guy Fawkes Inn.
Hop: Ossett Brewery’s other pub (see The Fox, above) in York, this one is right in the heart of the city and is also doubles as a wood oven Pizzeria (first come first served, no bookings). Has up to ten beers (Ossett and their associate brands plus guests) and a couple of ciders on hand pump. Additionally there’s around a dozen keg lines. Opens from noon everyday, closing 11.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday, midnight Friday and Saturday, 10.00 p.m. Sunday. (Note: in past has been bit picky on football colours – allowed pre-match provided don’t look too much like a large mob. After games, been more strict on this; whilst on non-match days they didn’t admit those in sportswear or club colours. Don’t know if this still holds.)
The Hop, 11-12 Fossgate, York, YO1 9TA. Tel: 01904 541466. Map: The Hop.
House of The Trembling Madness (Lendal): This is the poshed-up version of the Stonegate original (immediately below), which opened in 2018. Spread across five floors: the basement is a bottle shop; the ground floor has eleven keg and three cask taps and serves food; the first floor has another eleven keg and three cask taps (all different from those on the ground floor); the second floor has the kitchen and toilets; the third floor is rooms for private hire and events. The website has a live list of what’s on all the taps at any particular time. Food service is 10.00 a.m. – 9.30 p.m. everyday. Opening 10.00 a.m. – 11.30 everyday.
House of The Trembling Madness, 14 Lendal, York, YO1 8AA. Tel: 01904 848998. Map: House of The Trembling Madness (Lendal).
House of The Trembling Madness (Stonegate): Since it opened in around 2010 this has become a legendary venue amongst beer aficionados. How can you refuse visiting a place with a name like that? Located just south of York Minster in a medieval drinking hall. This is part-pub, part-shop, part restaurant and part-apartments giving you a place to drink, a place to eat, a place to sleep and then a place from which to carry home a whole load of drink-related goodies when that’s all over. The website has a live list of what’s on the eight keg beer, three cask beers and one cider lines at any particular time. The different bottles and cans run into hundreds. The kitchen and eating area are both famously tiny, it takes no bookings, and you may be asked to squeeze onto a table with people you’ve never met before to obtain a seat. The walls are covered with stuffed animal heads… it’s cramped, crowded, bizarre… and it all just works wonderfully. Card only, no cash. Open seven days a week 10.00 a.m. – midnight.
House of The Trembling Madness, 48 Stonegate, York, YO1 8AS. Tel: 01904 289848 (shop), 01904 640009 (bar). Map: House of The Trembling Madness (Stonegate).
Market Cat: Opened at the end of 2018, this pub is a joint venture between Thornbridge Brewery and Pivovar. Spread across three storeys obviously Thornbridge beers feature, plus guests from other small independent breweries. Eight real ales on handpump and 14 keg fonts of of mostly ‘craft’ beers and ciders (there’s a regularly updated menu of what’s on via the website). Food is pizzas, available everyday from noon – 9.00 p.m. (children welcome whilst food is being served). Opening hours are 10.00 a.m. (or maybe 11.00 a.m.) to 11.30 p.m. (or maybe 11.00 p.m.)… yet again different sources can’t make their minds up.
The Market Cat, 6 Jubbergate, York, YO1 8RT. Tel: 01904 637023. Map: Market Cat.
Pavement Vaults: Another offering from Pivovar, this one opening 2015. BBQ and other smoked foods dominate the menu here with service generally throughout the day from opening until around 9.45 p.m. Has 16 beer lines, a mixture of keg and cask and UK and Continental. Opens from 12.00 noon everyday except Saturday when it’s 11.00 a.m., closing at 11.30 p.m.
Pavement Vaults, 2 Piccadilly, York, YO1 9NU. Tel: 01904 670777. Map: Pavement Vaults.
Pivni: The original founding bar of the Pivovar (UK) Group. Opened in 2007 it was part of the early wave of the ‘beer revolution’. Has three regularly changing cask beers, usually including one from The Tapped Brew Co., its own micro-brewery founded in 2012. The seven keg fonts reflect Pivovar’s continental connections and tend to feature European beers, but quality examples from the independent end of the market rather than industrial swill from the international giants. Food is bar snacks including pork pies. Has a juke box. Children allowed (no indication seen up until what time). Opens 11.30 a.m. everyday except Sunday when it is noon, closing 11.00 p.m. Sunday to Thursday with an extra half hour on Friday and Saturday.
Pivni, 6 Patrick Pool, York, YO1 8BB. Tel: 01904 635464. Map: Pivni.
Rook & Gaskill: Just outside the walls on the eastern side of the city but worth the walk, especially as it tends to be cheaper than the more central ‘craft’ pubs offering the same sort of thing. Already an excellent specialist beer pub when I visited some years ago, it added an on-site brewery, 3 Non Beards, at the end of 2019. Stocks (with live updated listings on Untappd) five or six cask ales, up to twenty keg offerings, real ciders and has a well stocked fridge of cans and bottles. The food options are of the burgers/pizzas type available 5.30 p.m. – 9.00 p.m. everyday except Sunday. Outdoor area to rear. Opens 4.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 3.00 p.m. Friday to Saturday, closing 11.00 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, midnight Thursday to Saturday and 10.00 p.m. Sunday.
Rook and Gaskill, 12 Lawrence Street, York, YO10 3WP. Tel: 01904 655450. Map: Rook & Gaskill.
Slip Inn: No website but does have a Facebook page (that it doesn’t use much). Two bar wet led Freehouse that stocks three regular and five changing real ales all from small independent breweries; and a wide range of keg, with macro-brewery and micro-brewery lines. One or two real ciders usually available. Holds regular beer festivals. Sports TV, beer garden. Opening hours: 2.00 p.m. – 11.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday; noon – midnight Friday and Saturday; noon – 11.00 p.m. Sunday.
The Slip Inn, 20 Clementhorpe, York, YO23 1AN. Tel: 01904 621793. Map: Slip Inn.
Spark*: Community outdoor space hosting a wide variety of independent eating joints, three different bars, and other businesses, housed in shipping containers. Closed Monday, open from midday the remainder of the week, shutting up shop 10.00 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 11.00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 8.00 p.m. Sunday. (Note: individual businesses may keep different hours within that timeframe.)
Spark*, 17-21 Piccadilly, York, YO1 9PB. Map: Spark*.
Swan: Two bar wet led traditional street-corner pub just outside the city walls. Has three regular and five changing beers on cask. Keg is seven lines of national/international stuff on permanently and five changing lines of ‘craft’ from independent micro-breweries. Also has one real cider or perry on. The beer list is kept up to date on Untappd as to what is currently available. Beer garden. Opening is 2.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 12.00 noon Friday to Sunday; closing times are 10.30 p.m. Sunday to Tuesday, 11.00 p.m. Wednesday, 11.30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday.
The Swan, 16 Bishopgate Street, York, YO23 1JH. Tel: 01904 634968. Map: The Swan.
Star Inn The City: That uncommon beast, a primarily dining pub that doesn’t assume its customers will all be wine snobs and takes its beer reasonably seriously. Couple of decent cask beers always on rotation, a variety of keg ranging across the spectrum from good to meh!, but what mostly makes it unusual in UK, and appealing, is Pilsner Urquell in Tank Beer format. Beer garden. Opens early in the morning for breakfasts (10.00 a.m. Monday to Thursday, 9.30 a.m. Friday to Sunday) and closes 11.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday, midnight Friday and Saturday, 10.00 p.m. Sunday.
The Star Inn The City, Lendal Engine House, Museum Street, York, YO1 7DR. Tel: 01904 619208. Map: Star Inn The City.
Three-Legged Mare: Have retained this as still seems to stock some of the defunct York Brewery’s beers even if they are now brewed by Black Sheep. (Its other former outlet, The Last Drop, doesn’t seem to bother with any.) Has ten handpumps and ten keg fonts, mostly supplying beers from independent breweries. There’s a wide range of ciders and perries served out the box. Appears no longer does food, and as children weren’t allowed when it did seems even less likely they are now. (Note: the toilets are down an extremely steep tightly winding spiral staircase – disabled friendly it is not.)
The Three-Legged Mare, 15 High Petergate, York, YO1 7EN. Tel: 01904 638246. Map: Three-Legged Mare.
Valhalla: Viking themed bar – who’d have guessed with that name – opened in 2017. Food is Tapas (possibly not very Viking) and Platter (sounds a bit more Viking plausible) style. Children welcome until 8.00 p.m. which is when the kitchen closes. Four handpumps, with two occupied by beers from Half Moon Brewery and the other two everchanging, and eight ‘craft’ keg taps. Also does Mead – well it would, wouldn’t it. The music choice is Hard Rock and Metal – nothing else allowed. Open from 11.30 a.m. – 11.30 p.m. throughout the week with extensions to 1.00 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Valhalla, 4 Patrick Pool, York, YO1 8BB. Tel: 01904 653999. Map: Valhalla.
Waggon & Horses: Pretty much opposite the Rook & Gaskill (above), a more traditional real ale focused pub. Although owned by Batemans Brewery the tie is loose. The house beers are Batemans’ XB and XXXB but thereafter the other handpumps are occupied by changing beers from other small independent breweries. Real cider. Keg tends to be macro-craft (an obvious contradiction in terms) from likes of Camden Town (AB InBev since 2015) and Meantime (Asahi since 2016). BT Sports, bar billiards, darts, award winning beer garden. Opens at 4.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 3.00 p.m. Friday to Sunday, closing 11.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11.30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10.30 p.m. Sunday.
The Waggon & Horses, 19 Lawrence Street, York, YO10 3BP. Tel: 01904 637478. Map: Waggon & Horses.
Walmgate Ale House: Double venue, the Ale House downstairs and a Bistro, Chopping Block, upstairs. Has six changing cask lines with a focus on small independent Yorkshire breweries. Bar Billiards, beer garden, disabled access. Opening times: 5.00 p.m. – 10.30 p.m. Wednesday; 12.00 noon – 11.00 p.m. Thursday to Sunday.
(Chopping Block at) Walmgate Ale House, 25 Walmgate, York, YO1 9TX. Tel: 01904 629222. Map: Walmgate Ale House.
Ye Olde Starre Inne: Last, and most definitely least: to be hoped no one is foolish enough to go in this desperately poor Greene King pub; but equally, no one walking by will be able to resist taking a photo as they wander round York. (Which is only reason why it’s in this guide.)
Ye Olde Starre Inne, 40 Stonegate, York, YO1 8AS. Tel: 01904 623063. Map: Ye Olde Starre Inne.
Likelihood the Natives Will Understand You: No problem. York almost passes for civilized, despite being oop North. The accent may be tyke, but the mocha latte and ciabatta is the same as any down South.
Top-Tip: Stay the night or even a long weekend. York is a great place – full of history and pub crawls till you do crawl. Seriously, think the above list is too long? That’s after severe pruning – there’s over a hundred pubs and bars just in the city centre. Could have easily added another 20 or 30 around York and sure there’ll be some aggrieved that particular favourites didn’t make the cut.
Local Amenities: York was historically the ‘capital’ of the North of England. Although many other towns and cities outgrew it in size during the Industrial Revolution it still retains some kudos as a cultural centre. Seat of an Archbishop, York Minster is one of the world’s most magnificent cathedrals. There are two Universities. And history. York has HISTORY every step taken and every corner turned.
Other Points Of Interest: One of the very few places in the UK where the City Walls have survived. Do the circuit if needing to walk off all that booze… and there’s plenty more pubs along the way for further refreshment.
[No responsibility is taken for any inaccuracies. This page is entirely the product of bias and prejudice.]