The Blue Ball Inn, Malton

Nothing to argue with in previous reviews, nothing much has changed here in the decade or so I’ve been visiting. As said it’s an outstanding multi room charmer, a slight maze inside needing some navigation to find the tiny serving counter in the small front snug; my favourite room of the several there are. The snug has a curved banquette in front of the counter, a short bench under the front window and a straight banquette either side of the fireplace with a table between them. Next to the snug is another sitting room with a tiny serving space and in the corridor is a serving hatch for the split level back room which looks like a later extension. Just three pulls with Wainwright Gold (cask version), Tetleys and a superb Taylor’s Landlord. A low T-Bar has San Mig’, Carling and John Smiths Smooth. Lots of wood, either on the walls or on the ceiling, the colour scheme is a very traditional brown and cream.

It doesn't look much from the outside but within is a gorgeous multi-roomer, with a maze of rooms round the tiniest bar. The customers seemed to be mostly aged locals and all clustered in the small areas round the counter, with larger rooms running off behind. There is also a small patio area at the back. A very friendly welcome, with ales on being TT Landlord, Tetley's Cask and Wainwright Gold. (Side comment - pensioners eating the food is always a sign of good value!) A marvellous bit of pub history.

This pub features in the Camra list of Yorkshire's Real Heritage Pubs and worth a visit on that score alone. It has a fairly well preserved layout of small rooms with a tiny central bar, featuring three beers on hand pump (see photo). Although it was fairly quite on a Bank Holiday Monday afternoon, there was a friendly and welcoming atmosphere and the beer I had was in good condition. It has to be said though that the furnishings and carpet looked old, worn and dirty. I would expect someone running a pub like this to take a little pride in its appearance, but the woman behind the bar didn't seem to know what I was talking about when I mentioned the Heritage Pubs book (even though copies were available for £4.99 on the shelf opposite the bar).