York pubs visited: 130 Mainland York pubs to go: 0 Other York pubs to go: 2
MOST RECENT UPDATE / VISITS:
Having ticked off mainland Britain, Andy Naylor's noted 2 additional Duke Of York pubs in Chorley when City played there in September 2017. Come Easter 2018, Dot and Ray arranged a road trip. Easter Saturday in York for the return Chorley game and a trip to Lancashire for the FC United game. It didn’t start well, The Duke of York in Whittle Le Woods (Chorley) had been converted into a Co-op during the previous 6 months. However, it gave them time for a trip to the East Lancs Railway and a ride behind Tornado before a trip to Duke at 124, Bolton Street, Chorley. The pub was open, maybe a bit rough and ready, no real ale, only John Smiths, but quite busy. They just missed the Easter Egg hunt but were made to feel very welcome.
November 12, 2016. Ray writes, “Dot, Andy & I called in at the "Yorkshire Bar & Restaurant" at Warfield, near Bracknell, on their return home from the Eastleigh match, which completes (well nearly) the 151 (some were no longer pubs at the time of their visit) locations that Dot and I have sourced for pubs with the word 'York' in the title. Beer was excellent and a thriving pub, huge dining area, and very busy early evening when we arrived. It has been the best part of six years since we thought of doing this, combining our visits with fixtures and holidays. Been in some real gems, great beers, then at the opposite end, some not so good. Dread to think of the mileage, cost, time, and carbon footprint, but it has been great fun”. Just remaining are 2 pubs in Northern Ireland and the New York Exchange Bar, a student pub Ipswich which was shut when Dot and Ray visited, remain. October 4, 2016. Aldershot (h) and Guiseley (a) gave Ray & Dot the chance to crack the last remaining 4 Yorkshire pubs (and to take their minds off the football). The Yorkshire Bar and Grill (St Maurice's Road, York) is a recent alteration to the hotel, where they have made a pleasant bar and restaurant area with access for the public along with guests. York Brewery ales on offer at reasonable prices. Then it was onwards to the York Brewery in Toft Green where the brewery tour was off due to staff shortage. However we were made very welcome, a good selection of their fare on tap and as it was 'film evening' sat in comfortable chairs (including free pint) and watched something not as horrific as Tuesday evening in Shaun of the Dead. (Simon Pegg) I thought it was a modern day send up of that horror classic, 'The Day of the Triffods. Their last "York" pub in York was the Brew York in Walmgate, a recently established micro brewery in a warehouse backing onto the arm of the Fosse that Rowntree's used as their wharf. You can see the working brewery, and they have installed a retail area with tables and chairs to buy and enjoy their excellent fare. That leaves only the "Yorkshire Rose Restaurant, a bar and restaurant in Warfield, Berks, a trendy Ipswich pub (PS not sure if trendy and Ipswich is an oxymoron) that was closed the last time we were there (so trendy, it only opens on weekends) and the two locations in Northern Ireland, of which we have no immediate desire to go to, still remaining. So we have now drunk in 127 “York” pubs in England, Scotland and Wales. August 29, 2016. After a quiet summer, the new season saw renewed optimism and an August bank holiday double header. Straight after the 4-1 win over Woking, Ray and Dot jumped into their car and headed for Stockport's Duke of York, a rough and ready pub, arriving just in time to see manure fans celebrating their 93rd minute winner at Hull. They spent a leisurely Sunday in Liverpool's York Hotel, more a pub than a hotel, it was full of locals and they enjoyed the good selection of ales on offer. Monday evening was spent in Barlaston (just outside Stoke) where they drowned their sorrows in The Duke Of York , but being unable to get any locals to join YCS. Their trip also saw2 new York pubs added to the list, Walmgate’s Brew York and The Yorkshire Bar & Grill in the Monkbar Hotel. That leaves just 5 mainland York pubs to visit. October 3, 2015. With high brow home games against Oxford & Cambridge, Ray and Dot spent the intervening days exploring Yorkshire. First pub stop was The Duke of York in Hull which they found in a large housing area. Despite being a lively place, much on offer and an excellent choice of ales, they headed to The Yorkshire Hussar Inn in Markington, near Harrogate. A lot of money is being spent on it, complete refurb, excellent choice of ales, fairly busy, and a blues/rock/country band rehearsing in a back room, made very welcome, and the music very good, really rocking. Along the way, 4 breweries were visited. The Yorkshire Heart Brewery in Nun Monkton heard they were coming, they even moved to a new address, but the intrepid Ray and his good lady still found it, were made very welcome, had a tour and have already downed all 12 sample bottles they bought on the day. The Yorkshire Dales Brewing Company in Askrigg has no public access (or tours) permitted under local planning laws, they couldn’t stop Ray taking photos or buying a supply of bottled beer in their shop. Next stop was The Great Yorkshire Brewing Company, Pickering. Joining an organised tour, Ray and Dot found it very informative and interesting. Recent expansion includes exporting across the world and supplying supermarkets. Formerly called the Cropton Brewery but changed in 2010 to broaden marketing appeal. Finally, The Yorkshire Brewing Company in Hull, just off the refurbished water front. They knocked on the door, were invited in and made very welcome. A quick tour around the brewery, they were very busy, having just run out of all ales, as the beer festival season is in full swing. Big expansion planned with a drinking area within, actually gave us four bottles of their recent brew! September 20. Oh dear, Ray and his good lady, Dot, were walking the streets of York before Saturday's game with Carlisle and spotted this one. In Ray's words, "How on earth did we all miss that one. Described on the website as York's quirkiest pub, Dot and I have been in there before, but not taken any photos etc, always thought of it as Thomas's". September 9. York Palace, Llanelli. A Weatherspoon pub that had been converted from an old cinema built in 1911, silent movies with organ accompaniment. In early 1914 Annie Oakley and Wild Bill Hickox put on a show there as part of their European tour. Excellent decor and interior, beer not very good, but food excellent, the usual for a Weatherspoons, but well worth the 400 mile trip, booked before the Swansea game was confirmed. September 9. East Anglia Tour. We started at the York Tavern (1, Leicester Street, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 2AS). Its on a street corner, in the middle of large housing complex, which has similar pubs on street corners throughout the whole estate. 3 beers on tap, good food, and pleasant staff. Moving on we scored double hit at the Grand Old Duke of York (212, Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, IP4 2QP), an Adnams pub, with 3 excellent ales on offer and pleasant staff. Indeed, the landlady informed us of another 'York' pub, not on our list, up the road. Apparently there is local folklore that the children’s nursery rhyme about the Duke marching his men up and down the hill referred to the road between Ipswich barracks and Woodbridge. Vintage Inns took over a pub called 'Sears' about 18 months ago, on the Ipswich road in Woodbridge village, and re-named it the Duke of York to jump on the band wagon, so off we went 'up the hill' to the Duke of York (Ipswich Road, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 4BY). Again, an eatery, but with real ales on offer, usual fare from pub chains, served well and good food. We finished our trip with an evening visit to the centre of Ipswich and the dubiously named, New York Exchange Bar (24-26 Falcon Street, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 1SL). Converted from two shops, it appears to be a bar with a disco dance floor covering the rest of the area. Three rubbish bins blocked our access, lights were on, but it was closed although 8pm. Locals said it usually opens Thursdays to Saturday evenings only, and would appear to be aimed at the younger element. So a half visit, will perhaps return, (when re-incarnated as a youth!!!). Next week, we’re off to The Palace, for a mix of curries, ghouls and death in the toilets. April 17. The Shrewsbury match, and a few days in Devon enabled us to make a few more visits, plus news of an extra pub we heard about whilst visiting a game farm in North Dartmoor. We managed to fit in 4 pubs, 2 in Shropshire and 2 in the deep south. All four were all delightful, all busy and doing well, excellent beers and probably the best four sequence we have done (just like 4 wins on the bounce). We also visited the Duke of York in Tavistock, despite a new landlord who is full of enthusiasm, the pub on edge of town is struggling, the site up for sale, we do hope it survives. However, the trip ended on a high spot. A new pub added to the list. It was large the Duke of York in Horfield on the outskirts of Bristol in a housing estate. Its a huge pub in the throes of a face lift and image change, beer good, should survive. For ale heads, it had a name (and image) change in November 2014, from the Gloucester Arms, apparently, a local boozer with a drug dealing reputation. That makes it 18 go to unless we find more YORK PUBS). At this point, Ray revealed even darker secrets. He’s spotting football club banners in the back of cars and coaches. To date, 65 spotted, 27 to go. When not pursuing that interest, he even finds time to attempt to spot all 61 species of British butterfly. Meanwhile, fellow cohort Andy is collecting Eddie Stobart lorry names. March 28. Without speeding (honest officer), Ray and Andy missed last orders at The York Tavern in Derby after City's home defeat against Bury. Not to be deterred, on the way home from Mansfield (4-1), Ray, Dot and Andy stayed calm, tried again and celebrated with halves of cider. In a terraced street, the pub looked to be struggling, sad and was very run down. It had no ales on (said they were all sold out). I hope it survives. Ditto Mansfield. March 20. In Ray's own words; After pub hibernation during the winter, Dot and I made an assault on South Yorkshire between the draw at home to Carlisle (March 14) and the loss to Bury (March 17). A special word of thanks to Phil Skilbeck who on Monday ably guided us around the night life of Sheffield and Rotherham. Better football, but can't score, and the worst ever combination of two full backs in the 52 years of watching City (since 1963). Thanks Ray. Whatever, the northern air, beer or football, something certainly got to Ray as in tonight’s TOOAB, he’s quoted as saying, “Don't panic, we will win next two away matches”, that is not like the Ray we all know and love! With 9 pubs ticked off, the highlights were probably The Duke of York, Stainland (Halifax) and The York in Broomhill (Sheffield) where they had a choice of 8 real ales before being thrashed by a bunch of students in the pub quiz. For Ray, the lowlight was The Duke of York in Agbrigg (Wakefield) where Ray found the loudest ever disco (or maybe its just his age). Along the way, they found 4 pubs closed (one now a Londis) and one renamed. On the flip side, 2 new pubs were added in one street in Huddersfield. January 21. Visited the site for the former "Duke Of York" near Lords cricket ground. The pub closed in 2005 and the site is now home to a Pakistani restaurant but with the Duke Of York motif evident. Had lunch there, a very pleasant, well presented meal. That completes our visits to all known 'York' pubs in within Greater London. January 16. Ray is still discovering more pubs than he can sup at. A recent discovery was the York Beer & Wine Shop 28, Sandringham Street, Fishergate, York YO10 4BA. As it says a shop, selling good selection of ales and masses of wines, purchased a couple of bottles, not really in the brief of 'York named pubs' but there anyway so we’ll add it onto the list. With yet another 3 “discoveries” in West and South Yorkshire, Ray and Dot have a 13 unvisited pubs to sample on their next weekend trip up to York to see City. January 1st, 2015 - 3 more West Yorkshire pubs added. October 2014 - With home games against Shrewsbury and Mansfield and an away game at Morecambe in mid week, what better way did Ray have to woo Dot than to suggest a week in The Dales. To cap it all, Ray was on the trail of a pub he didn't know existed. Skipton's "Rose And Crown" had had a re-furb and re-launched as "The Yorkshire Rose" in February 2014. Another pub to add to his York list and just as quickly, another to tick off. They usually stock 2 regular beers, including Sharps Doom Bar and 3 guest beers. Ray noted it as being one of the better ones they've visited, good ale and food. September 2014 - With no football, its been quiet on the pub front. Just one ticked off, “The York Arms”, 310, Oakleigh Road North, Whetstone, London N20 0DH. From info on the internet, it looked a poor prospect, but the pub was thriving, full of local Friday (29/August/2014) night drinkers, maybe a little rough, but a good old fashioned local, badly needs a spruce up, otherwise OK. One down, but still the same number to go as a fellow YCS member texted to advise of “the Duke of York”, 40 Church Street, Sutton, Kingston upon Hull, HU7 4TD, so an addition to those to be paid a visit. How can Dull Hull be culture City of Europe in 2017? John Betjeman, 'Oh come ye bombs and drop on Slough', should have been Hull!!!!!! Meanwhile, we also paid a call to “The Yorkshire Rose” at Newall Green Warfield, Berks, our second visit, but this time it was closed for re-furbishment, when previously it was not open on a Sunday evening. Hopefully third time lucky sometime soon. PS Missed last week’s dire draw (Wycombe), and will miss tonight's match at Barnsley and Saturday's match at Stevenage all due to bowls commitments. First games missed this calendar year. (Ed – Ray didn’t specify which of the 3 versions of bowls he was playing). April 2014: Following Portsmouth match, we stayed overnight and on the Sunday, we got the foot ferry from Southampton to West Cowes, and paid a visit to the Duke of York in Mill Hill Road, Cowes PO317BT. A very nice pint, very busy and quaint interior. After Rochdale match, we called at the Duke of York in Stockport Road, Romiley, Stockport, SK16 3AN, again busy, good selection of ales, but major argument going on inside between City and Manure fans (or was it 3 City fans and no Manure fans – Ed), so beat a hasty retreat after downing a half. We spent the next week in Tideswell in the Derbyshire Peaks, and made the following visits. New York, New York, 94, Bloom Street, Manchester, M1 3LY. It was listed as a 'gay bar', however we sought it out at about 4pm when it had just opened, no one about, only Dot and I, a quick half, and got out. Weird interior (not sure which interior Ray is talking about – Ed, geddit?), totally alien to me! The next two proved more difficult, as they only opened when they felt like it really. Duke of York, Main Street Elton, Derbyshire DE4 2BW, The old lady behind the bar had been there since 1968, doubt she’s moved more than 10yds from the bar in that time! Served a decent pint, made us welcome, in a tiny hamlet, hadn't had a coat of paint since 68 I would have thought, looked very run down from the exterior, I hope it survives. 11/02/14 - Northampton (away). Whilst at Northampton we popped around to Duke of York in St Andrews Road. It is now open (but only just). Called in on Saturday before the match, didn't open till 3pm, called back on Sunday didn't open till 2pm, we went inside at 2.10pm, deserted, no one behind the bar, took some photos and came out again. 25/01/14 - Hartlepool (away). If you want to romance the wife, take her to Hartlepool for the week-end, delightful place!!!!! Called at The Vale of York in Carlton Minott, near Thirsk, on the Friday afternoon, money spent on the pub recently, a good pint, and future looks good. In the evening, Dot and I went out for a meal to The Duke of York in Firtrees, near Crook, again money spent on the pub, it was very busy, local food and local ales. Should have gone on Saturday evening rather than Friday, as a Saturday night in Hartlepool is an eye opener. Scary! We stayed in the York House Hotel in Hartlepool, which is not on the listings. But after chatting to the owners it now a B & B (not an hotel open the public), a drinks licence was applied for in 1905 from the records they had about the place, but it has not been a pub for many years. On the way back we called in at the North Yorkshire Brewery in Pinchingthorpe, a 15 barrel a week producer, we purchased a case of a dozen bottles, after the manager had shown us around. 29/12/13 - Following the abject display at Bury, Ray and Dot drowned their sorrows with a pub crawl around Lancashire, a surprisingly high number of pubs on their list had closed their doors for good. 14/12/13 - Burton 1 CITY 1: A weekend in the Midlands provided ample opportunity to visit 3 more pubs. The "York" in York Road, Hall Green, served a couple of bulk standard ales and a mild, with very cheap food whilst The "Elizabeth of York" in Moseley, now part of the Weatherspoons Group, served 5 real ales and standard cheap fare. Unfortunately, "The Yorkshire Grey" in Smethwick has no trace of its name on the outside of the building and is now converted into an Indian restaurant which was closed at the time of our visit. Editor - Awaiting confirmation from Ray that he did find the actual site and wasn't drunk and lost after partaking at the first 2 pubs. 26/10/13: We took our American guests to Bootham Crescent, sat in main stand, oh dear, what an inept second rate performance they witnessed. Arriving at noon from Kings Cross, we had time to show off the city. A walk around gave the bonus of discovering the pub that Dave Woods had noted was in for planning permission about 6 months ago, it is the Duke Of York on Kings Square, YO1 8BE. It had opened only 7 days earlier. It is a Leeds (boo!) Brewery venture, and was fairly busy. After the match, we made our way back to the station, and rather than go to the York Tap, we headed for the renamed Coopers Bar on the station concourse which is now called the Duke Of York. PS The perils of a long distance supporter. 3 days later (October 29) Ray was back in his car for the Scunthorpe game. Roads closures, warnings to observe the speed limit, roadworks and roundabout delays meant Ray pulled up outside the ground as the game kicked off. His passengers saw the kick off, Ray spent 10 minutes finding a parking spot. Ray heard the first goal on the radio and when he heard muted cheers as he walked through the car park thought it was one each. At least he saw our last 2 goals in the "brilliant" first half. After the game, M1 closures meant he was safely home by 2 a.m. 28/09/13: Ray & Dot celebrated our 3-0 win at Torquay with a detour to the Duke Of York in Ilminster (Somerset). Prior to that were the Royal York Hotel and Duke Of York (Risegate, Lincs). To cap a busy and successful weekend, trainspotter Ray also climbed up to Cadbury Castle, the sixteenth castle he has climbed that had a GWR steam loco named after it, leaving Ray just 95 more to visit. Challenge Ray suggestions to the usual address.
The Idea
It started out as Dot & Ray's challenge, to go along with the football, holiday jaunts, and day trips out, to visit every pub in Britain with 'York' in the title from Scotland to the Isle of Wight.
What started with scraps of paper and a few addresses, has now become a countrywide search, with files, spreadsheets, reports, photos, and most important of all, sampling the ales on offer.
A six two thrashing of Salisbury was supplemented after the match in the Duke of York in York Road, Salisbury, open the door, five real ales and two ciders on tap, knowledgable barman, and very warmly welcomed. The Squire York in Wrexham was as disappointing as the one nil cup defeat.
An away win, can be deflated by a grotty pub on the way to the match, a loss at Bootham can be partly balanced by a good pint on the way back to London.
Check out Dot & Ray's full list (feel free to download) here.
If you know of another York pub, or news from any of them, then email Ray with your York pub news.
Recent visits has been to the Duke of York in Windsor, no portrait of a titled gentleman on the pub sign, just a 'yellow Trotter three wheeler van', and painted all over in a ghastly blue, and in posh Windsor to boot!!!.
Ray outside The Duke Of York in Lincolnshire, yes it really is a working pub.
Editor's Note: Already in researching for this page, Ray has unearthed at least 3 more pubs from his memory banks and probably supped considerably more pints than that.