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Detail Pages
Black Swan Hotel, York
Helmsley
Postal town: York
YO62 5BJ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Black Swan Hotel
An old and slightly rambling hotel overlooking the market place with a cosy, wood-panelled bar at the far right. Black Sheep and Doom Bar were present on handpump. Nowhere near as homely as the other pubs nearby - perhaps ok if passing but I wouldn't want to spend any time here.
On 3rd April 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3352 recommendations about 3289 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Black Swan Hotel
One of two hotels in the Market Place, a multi room affair with a small public bar, “the East Bar” at the right hand end of the building, it has its own door but is connected to the rest of the building. Very nicely decorated in an older style with bent wood chairs and stools and a corner banquette all at round wooden tables, one with tall stools is posing height. There are other sitting rooms about the place in similar style. The counter is part panelled and part pallet wood, this is home to a couple of four way T-Bars and tucked in the corner are two hand pulls. Doombar on one and Black Sheep Bitter, which was in good nick, on the other. Normal Molson Coors kegs. There’s another bar at the other end with a similar or maybe smaller range of kegs and a couple of pulls, WhatPub says it has a large range of whiskies but the bar was shut so I couldn’t check, it may be a residents only bar. The hotel is owned by the Inn Collection Group who own 20 or so hotels across Northern England and one on Anglesey.
On 5th January 2023
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3276 recommendations about 2982 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rob Hunter left this review about Black Swan Hotel
Definitely a hotel with a public bar, rather than a pub. Two cask ales available at the time of my visit - Black Sheep Bitter and Baa Baa Pale Ale. I had the Baa Baa which was fine, £1.90 for a half, and in good nick. The bar was initially unattended so there was a delay in being served.
In addition to the two cask ales are keg Guinness and a keg font with five taps offering Peroni, Asahi, Aspall Cider, Kezel and My Generation (the last two being ones I have not heard of before).
There was a real fire going and at the time of my visit (a Wednesday afternoon in December, around 1:20pm) it was catering to predominantly older clientele. A chap was tidying up and clearing tables etc.
I can't really pick fault with the place but it wasn't somewhere I felt particularly comfortable and I was happy to sup my drink and leave.
On 24th January 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 761 recommendations about 606 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Black Swan Hotel
Posh hotel but with a nice bar for non residents, with two beers from Black Sheep on.
Comfortable setting.
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2Jb9inN
On 20th April 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1346 recommendations about 1332 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Lester Ford left this review about Black Swan Hotel
This review is from late May bank holiday 2016 when the wife & I stayed in the village for a few nights. The Black Swan is a large hotel in a prominent position in the market square that has the small but perfectly decent Cygnet Bar on the ground floor.
A lovely interior that's a mix of hotel bar chic and comfy lounge with the added plus of waiter / waitress service if you need it or cannot be bothered to walk the few steps to the bar yourself!
Peroni, Bitburger, Aspalls Cider and a craft lager from Adnams on keg plus 2 ales on cask, which were both from Black Sheep Brewery, Best Bitter and Pathmaker @ 4.0% which was a decent pint.
Busy during our short stay with a mix of ladies who lunch and couples, most didn't seem to be locals. Afternoon tea was popular.
We stayed for one drink before heading off.
On 23rd February 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 80 recommendations about 78 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
. Wittenden left this review about Black Swan Hotel
A historic, rambling country hotel set in a commanding position on the square in this prosperous town on the southern edge of the North York Moors. Comprised of at least three old properties, this hotel has all the steps, posts, panelling and quirkiness required.
I cannot speak for the tearoom or dining facilities, but the bar where we had lunch was a light and airy room, with occasional furniture, a fire and a rather incongruous flat screen television wordlessly broadcasting one of those aspirational property programmes. Much more amusing was the equally aspirational couple sitting behind us.
We were relieved to see three handpumps on the stylish bartop: the ubiquitous Black Sheep, together with a couple of beers from the North Yorkshire Brewery: a house beer badged as Black Swan Golden Ale, and Archbishop Lee’s Ruby Ale.Both tasty, but the Golden was a tad hazy, though as North Yorks is an Organic brewery, it could well have been unfiltered.
Our meals were generous: as a family we detest small London helpings, and served with charm. Out side the door to the tearoom someone had put food and water under an A frame signboard for the local cat:while we regrouped, a hen blackbird availed herself of some choice morsels. If funds allowed, we would quite like to spend a night here.
On 27th February 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 283 recommendations about 282 pubs]