The Snickleway Inn, York

The Snickleway Inn is an interesting little pub with a front bar area with an L-shaped bar counter that faces tables in the front window and sunken seating along the left-hand wall. On the right wall some instruments were set up ready for a live duet. A small room at the rear houses four tables and a fireplace on the rear wall with a burner under its copper hood. During a recent midweek evening visit premium and craft keg were available alongside the six hand pumps that were drawing Rooster’s Yankee, Rudgate’s Golden Ace, Acorn Brewery’s Freebird, Great Newsome’s Best, Ainsty Ales’ Cool Citra and Theakston’s Best. The service was friendly and the pub was comfortably busy so there was a decent atmosphere. I’d pop back in if passing.

The Snickelway is located on Goodrumgate and is advertised as being one of York’s most haunted pubs. It has a very nice dark red painted outside. As you enter there is bar on the back hand right wall with congregating area with some tables and chairs as well as a room to the left on a lower level partly partitioned by a wall that acts as a type of snug. There is also a back seating area with roaring fire that was in full flair on my late November evening visit. This is a very old pub that has a great warn charm to it with very dark wood panelling making it very gloomy and adding to the haunted gimmick it portrays. There is also a good following of locals who give it a nice character and ambience and mean it has some character about it and not just tourists. There is a good selection of mostly Yorkshire beers on the bar and they are always in a very good condition but are very expensive on a tourist street that is becoming pricier by the day. On my visit there was Jennings Snecklifter, Roosters Yankee, Elland Porter, Copper dragon best biter, Kellham Island Easy Ryder and one from Revolutions Brewery, a rather good selection in my book. The Sneck lifter was a very enjoyable pint but as mentioned expensive at £3.60. A lovely old pub full of character and a real draw in colder months as it is a very snug, comfortable and warm place to be. You need deep pockets to drink here regularly but is worth a visit if in York for its great beer.