The Royal Oak Hotel, York

Most down to earth of the three pubs in Helmsley. Beer choice was pedestrian - with Wainwright and Bombardier on offer. Lovely B&B. Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2Jb9inN

Again this review is from end of May 2016 when the wife & I were staying in the village for a few nights The Royal Oak is a Marston's pub and hotel that's a real locals pub. The lounge and public bar that each have their own entrance, the pub is open plan inside so you can walk all the way around while the lounge is more for diners with the tables set out for food, while the public bar has a pool table and 3 TVs. 3 ales on with the Pedigree on good form during all my visits over the weekend, other choices were EPA and Hobgoblin. During our 3 night stay in the village we visited here 3 times, once a day. I watched 2 games of football here on Saturday evening and spent over 6 hours, drinking the Pedigree and also had the scampi and chips, which was excellent. Friendly bar staff, well kept ale and a good juke box, even though it doesn't look as good as the other 2 pubs internally its the most welcoming and honest pub.

A Marstons tied house in the middle of Hemlsey. There is a standard carpeted interior with many tables for dining in the lounge area and more standing space in the bar. There are three real ale available from the standard Marstons range but only two were on when i visited leaving me with either Banks's bitter or whycwood piledriver. I opted for the Banks at £3.40 and this was a very average pint that left me very underwhelmed compared to the superb beers I had just had at the Helmsley brewery. This is an outrageously expensive tourist trap pub in helmsley with frankly ridiculous prices for north Yorkshire. Ales are usually priced at £3.60 with Carlsberg £3.70, Carling £3.90, Coors £4.20, Peroni £4.80, and Guinness £3.90 as well as a few others. I really did not take to this pub and would be in no hurry to rush back.