Let’s start out for another of York’s claims to fame, its pubs. Allegedly a pub for every day in the year in York (I’d argue more). The city, especially the centre, is jammed full of what the guidebooks call ‘proper English pubs’. It’s almost impossible to go more than a minute without seeing a pub or bar adorning a winding street.
You’ll see a range of sizes, quality and price range so don’t be put off if one is a little rowdier/quieter than you had hoped.
York is a little pricier than other cities in the north, but still cheaper than London, so for more frugal drinking follow the students out of the walls protection and drink on Hull road or near the Barbican theatre. Beer is about £3.60-£4 per pint in the centre and the Local York Brewery is aplenty as well as West Yorkshire Based Ossett and Leeds Brewery.
Most of the central pubs will serve food 12-8pm with many rustling up traditional Yorkshire fayre. I’ll quickly list the good central pubs below, but for a more comprehensive guide check out York CAMRA
Food and Beer – The Black Swan, The Black Sheep, The Three Tuns, The Last Drop Inn.
Weird and quirky spaces- The House of Trembling Madness, Yorkshire Terrier, Pivni, Lendall Cellars.
Beer Garden Bonanza – Lamb and Lion, Fulford Arms, Golden Ball.
Beer, Beer, Beer- The Maltings, York Tap, York Brewery
Cost effective: Kings Arms, Rook & Gaskill, Blue Bell.