The Swan, York

Despite not looking overly alluring externally this is a lovely traditional boozer (Grade II listed), two rooms off a large drinking lobby. A 1930’s refit - there’s a tap bar feel to the front room with the rear ‘smoke room’ being the lounge, replete with bell-pushes in the seat backs and serving hatches in both. The stained glass pub name above the door looked lovely, as did the terrazzo flooring. Darts and daily papers spotted. Six ales and two ciders on at the bar, a good selection. My choice of Sonnets was in good nick. The two grumpy old locals who didn’t like their pub being busy somewhat took the edge of it a bit, still the self-appointed guardians of small-minded Britain have to be encountered occasionally. It must also be said that the rest of the pub patrons were more friendly! Bags of character and well-worth the walk out of town. Note: pub doesn’t open until 4pm on weekdays.

The Swan consists of a right hand corridor that connects front and rear rooms. The front room contains seating and a dartboard with an oche that protrudes diagonally into the centre of the room. This means that when darts is being played this room is effectively out of action. This room is served by a small section of bar, as is the larger rear room where more seating can be found. The main part of the bar is found centrally in the corridor where there is a table. For busy periods a beer shelf runs the length of the corridor. Out the back is a beer garden with some covered seating to the left and some picnic tables to the right. I counted eight hand pumps plus some standard draught fonts. This pub does not open until 16:00 during the week and midday at the weekend. There is an extension until 23:30 on Thursdays and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Our group was twenty strong so we phoned the pub before our visit to make sure that it would be OK. “No problem” we were told. Unfortunately some of the locals had different ideas and I felt as welcome as a pig at a bar mitzvah. Some of the behaviour was outrageous and I was surprised that nobody was decked. This is a nice pub; it’s just a shame about some of the carnts that drink in it.

Doesn't look very remarkable from the street, but the compact historic interior features in Camra's national inventory because it retains a traditional 'West Riding' layout with a Public Bar at the front, Smoke Room at the rear and central servery in the side corridor (with a few stools and seats). Six hand pumps, offering a decent choice of real ale including Northumberland Fifty Shades of Ale and Sonnet 43 #23 Moments to Remember (£1.75, half). Well worth seeking out.

This pub is both a Grade II listed building, and on the CAMRA National Inventory of pubs with unspoilt interiors, mainly because everything from a 1930s refit (multi rooms; corridor with serving hatch; attractive glazing; bell pushes, etc,) still remains in situ. An attractive feature is the stained glass depiction of the pub's name above the front door. I liked this pub a lot. It pretty much had everything going for it - comfortably furnished, attractive features, decent beer, friendly staff. I would be delighted to have the opportunity to visit this one again.

The main servery is in a long corridor which connects with two carpeted rooms, front and back. Service also is available from the rooms via hatches. Leaded windows link the main drinking corridor with the rooms and there are tilt-opening windows, also leaded, over the doorways. The back "Smoke Room" has an attractive tiled fireplace which may see some use on colder days as there was a fireguard in front of it. A mirror is above the mantelpiece and nearby was a framed montage to the Salamander Brewing Company. The corridor has a nice Tetley mirror and other décor included nice pictures and a drawing of the pub. We sat in the back room which had the old bell pushes built into the seat backs. Another cracking York pub, I liked the old style layout a lot. Service was quick and efficient.

A street corner pub just outside the city walls, it has what I believe is a traditional East Riding layout with a central bar counter serving all rooms via a small hatch. Apparently it was the Yorkshire Camra Pub of the Year in 2009. Unfortunately a couple of the locals were rather unfriendly and seemed to take exception to a large group arriving in “their” pub, but other than that it seemed a decent enough establishment. To the right of the pub is a vertical drinking area which gives main access to the bar counter with the other two rooms located in front and behind. The rear room is known as the “smoke room” and has maroon paintwork, dark wood panelling on the lower part of the walls and an old service bell, although unfortunately this is no longer in use! There was a small tiled fire-place although this was not in use on our visit and leaded windows out to the corridor. Beers on tap were Timothy Taylor Landlord, Fifty Shades of Ale, Abbeydale Moonshine, Swan Special Blond, Tetley Cask and Moments to Remember. Ciders were Gwynt Y Ddraig Happy Daze and Broadoak Perry.