That’s York. Rubbish, isn’t it ? No wonder BRAPA jumps on a train out of town every weekend.
I heard more folk moaning about the railways today. No idea why, there’s at least one direct train daily between Selby and York, and some of them get there the same day.
They probably moan about how few pubs there are in the city centre these days.
When you leave the train you’ve two choices. Surrender to the temptation to get absolutely mortal in the York Tap, or walk the streets looking for flat whites and pimped up mobility scooters.
Folk will look back on this blog in years to come, astonished at the unremitting blue skies from May to July. On another sweltering Friday mid-afternoon, loads of folk who should have been at work were getting in my way along the riverside while I admired the John Smiths livery.
Having made it over the Ouse, it was just a case of avoiding the Primark shoppers, and annoying the other tourists by standing in their way to take the shots you were expecting to see.
My sole new Beer Guide entry wasn’t open till 4pm, which tells you a lot, so I followed some tourists into Pivni, one of my York favourites.
Pivni gets overlooked against the Sheffield/York/Leeds etc Taps, but for me it’s as close as you get to an “all human life is here” craft bar. Folk chat to you in the cheap seats at the bar. Even if you don’t want them to.
“Don’t kill him Terry” is the only thing I noted. Perhaps it was “Don’t kill him for a Terry’s chocolate orange, made down the road.
Anyway, some breweries even you have heard of. I get a clear recommendation from the barman.
It’s a sherbert; cool, lush and tasty, an NBSS 4 that defies the heat,
and leaves lacings to travel from Selby for.
You won’t get better in York, except perhaps in the Tap, or here;
And Brew York ?. Well, sometimes only a picture will do.
Actually, the view from the riverside garden is the highlight, and it’s got that cheery warehouse feel some of you love, so I can’t knock it. But it’s no Pivni.
retiredmartin 
I can’t think of another tourist town anywhere in the world that has better pubs than York. Pretty amazing how many there are and how nice so many of them are especially when you consider how much tourism there is in the city. Thanks for pushing me into Pivni in two weeks. I’ve somehow missed that pub.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, and some of them are even owned by Humphrey who sells his OBB at £2 a pint.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The only other place that comes close in terms of the number of high-quality pubs is Edinburgh, but of course that’s a much bigger city.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d agree with that, though for me it lacks the volume of more basic boozers you get in Manchester (the city or the fictitious Gtr Manc). And I wouldn’t swap it for Stocky.
LikeLike
Sorprised the place the ex licencees of the Craven Arms took over isn’t in, or is that next GBG?
LikeLike
Well done getting the shambles caption in!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Page 39 in the caption book.
LikeLike
York’s Shambles looks like a posh version of Northampton’s Drum Lane.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Without the excitement of the bargains…
LikeLike
That is the best pint piccy I’ve seen for a while…York is great. Best pub destination in Yorkshire after Sheffield?
LikeLike
Halifax, Halifax, Halifax…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooooh not thought of that. I’ve got a pal who lives by me from there so a visit could be on the cards!
LikeLike
York is the finest city in the UK and should be the capital of England. Sadly it is spoiled by the number of tourists from home and abroad. We don’t even get any respite because along with London and Edinbro (sic) it is on the ‘all year round’ world tour map. Mind you, at least you can tell what the yanks are saying …
LikeLike
Pffft. Can you even buy a decent pint of John Smiths Cask in the overpriced centre now ?
LikeLike
I didn’t realise you can get a decent pint of John Smith’s cask anymore? Sold it since anyone can remember in the John Smith’s pub opposite me (and magnet), but not anymore, no one will drink it – Leeds Pale now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
While I remember, saw the Tetley beer in a basic pub at Heysham Ferry. Common view was very good, had that Leeds Brewery style. Not sure what they actually call it as it’s not the Bitter, is it ?
LikeLike
Number 3 Pale Ale – just wrote an article about it for NFM.
LikeLike
Could be, didn’t see much detail on the clip (which was nicely designed otherwise).
LikeLike
Read my article in NFM, out this week, explains the new (old) logo too.
LikeLike
The Three Cranes used to have it, but now listed on WhatPub as selling Tetley’s.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Richard,
But would we be “tourists” if we went to York for a Proper Day Out ?
LikeLike
No, because they’d let us in the Blue Bell.
LikeLike
As long as you weren’t all dressed as prophylactics.
LikeLike
If I went I wouldn’t be a tourist, it’s only ten miles away, but if you went you would be. Having said that it’s probably easier to get to for you than I, owing to the West/North Yorks divide. I have to go back into Leeds to set off to York again. There is the potential for a proper day out, mid week, out of school holidays – Blue Bell difficult if there’s more than a few of you and House of Trembling Madness can be tricky if you are in a group.
LikeLike
David Gamston of York was saying yesterday that the Blue Bell is threatened as a Proper Pub as there’s pressure on it to make money from doing meals. That’s probably with all the tourists passing as it’s in the wrong part of York.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess it depends how obtrusive food is, and if it’s kept to the back room. In keeping with my theme of killing the sacred cows, I will add my last pint there (Bradfield) wasn’t all that. The Batemans in the Waggon & Horses was nectar, twice.
LikeLike