Cock & Bottle, York

Off the main drag and seemingly built for a local development 40/50 years ago. Feels like a 90s refit from a 70s pub with bits left over from then – a part brick part modern timber construction including the servery. Three cask, my Rudgate Jorvik was taking on apple notes (NBSS 1.5). Depressing atmosphere with a barmaid who looked like Linda from Prolapse only without the magnetism. The whole vibe was of somewhere that’s given up and is awaiting its fate.

The Cock & Bottle is far enough from the main drag to avoid the tourists and is boring enough to deter the young’uns, so I liked it, but the wife and kids didn’t. The small single room interior has flagstones on which wooden furniture sits and in the right rear is a wooden seating / stage area. The walls are exposed brick, including the L-shaped bar counter in the left rear corner. On the right wall is a stone fireplace and wooden beams are found up the walls and across the ceiling. It sounds like a historic inn, but the interior is fairly modern. During my recent midweek afternoon visit the televisions throughout were airing muted Sky Sports, and Challenge TV which was showing an old episode of Jim Bowen’s Bullseye. There was some background music playing. The doors don’t open until 15:00 during the week and there is a quiz every Sunday from 20:00. The bar is stocked with standard and premium keg alongside three hand pumps that were drawing Rudgate Brewery’s Jorvik, Theakston’s Best and, Purity’s Mad Goose, the letter being well served. I found the service to be friendly and there was a welcoming atmosphere even though there were only three locals at the bar. I’d pop back in if passing.

Might not fully satisfy the beer snobs but this is a very pleasant local backstreet pub near the river, of the kind that is really valuable to our communities. I found the seating fine and this was a friendly chatty pub to spend some time on an afternoon. A couple of real ales on including the always pleasant Saltaire Blonde. Mostly bare brick decor, with live sports on TV, game machines etc - it’s just fine

Tucked away on the side streets interior as described below with 2 real ale taps 1 on during my visit.