The Blue Bell, York

As the horse racing was on they had signs at the entrance saying private party. It was late on and I was on my own so might've got served but the notices weren't a welcoming sight so I took my custom elsewhere.

This is a lovely traditional two room pub in a good central location. The exterior alone is well worth a look, with unusual pink glazed bricks around a beautifully etched window with a Blue Bell in the middle. Inside we find a two room layout with a central servery and connecting corridor. The front room had a sign up stating that there was a private party within, but having made our way round to the rear room we discovered that this wasn’t the case and, as a previous reviewer has noted, this is probably put up to deter large groups. The rear room is accessed via the corridor which runs down the left side of the pub and has a large serving hatch and an unusual folding seat. A doorway with an etched glass window ushers you into the ‘Smoke Room’ – a carpeted space with a low serving hatch to the bar on your right and a curved banquette (with bell pushes above) around a few copper topped tables to the left. There is some lovely old panelling within and the walls are decorated with various old photos, paintings and drawings including a few depicting the city’s football club. These may well be here as the result of a previous owner who became of the club’s first directors after holding several meetings in the pub which eventually led to the club’s formation in 1922. Blackboards around the serving hatch list the ale choice and detail a few bottled beer options as well. The ales available on my visit were Rooster’s Yankee, Taylor Landlord, Bradfield Farmers Blonde and Bitter, Salamander Gun Jumper, Rudgate Ruby Mild and the house beer, Goose Eye Blue Bell Ale. The Yankee was on absolute top form and the other half enjoyed a bottle of Lindemans Framboise. The blackboards also listed a simple sandwich menu and explained that mobile phone use was not permitted inside. This is a beautifully preserved turn of the century pub and a real haven of peace away from the touristy pubs and bars elsewhere in town. The pub would be worth a look for its beer selection alone, but when coupled with the wonderful interior, it becomes an essential destination for anyone visiting the city.

A legendary York pub with a perfectly preserved Edwardian interior unchanged since 1904. There are usually 6 handpulls dispensing beers from Yorkshire and beyond with Taylors Landlord and Farmers Blond as "always" beers. Leaving the massively over-rated Landlord aside which has been so over-produced to be a pale imitation it's former self, the other beers are very well kept and you are sure to leave as impressed as most by this tiny gem. The "Private Party" signs on the door at weekends are to discourage stag parties - you'll still be made welcome in this "must-visit" York pub.

A great pub not only for the very good selection of real ales but also the interior.A small bar at the front connected by a side passage to a very snug bar at the back.A must visit when in York