Plonkers, York

Facebook page of Plonkers - www.facebook.com

Official site of Plonkers - www.plonkerswinebar.co.uk

Yes although labelled “Wine Bar” it has a reasonable range of better kegs as well as a little dross on two horseshoes. There’s a Veltins ceramic solo and a single handpull badged for Leeds Pale! but with a glass on top. Stepping down off the street through the stained glass doors past some older stained glass, there is a mezzanine bar up stairs to the left and down three or four steps is the atmospheric bar with (new) stone flags and a low (fake) beamed ceiling. The counter is on the right constructed of old bricks, the room is basically a brick basement anyway. There’s a wider seating area beyond the counter, seating throughout is mostly at old church pews. A few advert style pictures grace the walls, a mirror or two, a neon coke ad and a screen as well as some badgering signs complete the decor. Piped music available but low level, 1960s and 70s on my visit. Toilets are upstairs in the mezzanine bar.

Facebook page of Plonkers - www.facebook.com

Official site of Plonkers - www.plonkerswinebar.co.uk

As noted in earlier reviews, despite the wine bar and bistro tag this is not a bad pub. Well at least the main part; the upstairs overflow bit is a restaurant leftover and best avoided. So downstairs is an atmospheric stone and brick room, with beams and dangly lighting and a generally nice feel. The dozen or so keg taps actually have some craft brews on, while a brace of handpumps offer TT Boltmaker or Leeds Pale. Prices are at riverside level despite not being on the riverside but on the plus side you might avoid the worst of the tourists.

A very decent cellar pub that we've been in many times in the past, but for some reason I've never reviewed it. Always a friendly welcome and usually a well kept ale on the handpump. On this occasion it was Timmy Taylors Boltmaker in good condition. They do specialise in wine though and there's a wide selection available. Lots of bits and bobs around the place along with mirrors and pictures. They serve food throughout the day although no-one was eating whilst we were there. Still well worth a visit.

Do not be fooled regardless of the name I would actually consider this more of a pub that anything else. Upon entering the pub it is one long oblong shaped room with the bar on the right hand side with seating along the left all the way to the back and round the right hand side. there are also lots of quirky little nick knacks and pictures that give this a nice feel. Despite its name there is a pub style bar layout with numerous keg fronts dispensing standard and premium proucts with a good selection, not just a couple, i remember Peroni and Tiger sticking out. the only difference from a standard pub is they also have a largish wine selection and make some cocktails as well. The pub has Theakstons branding on the outside and on the pub sign which indicates a tie to them and there where two real ales on the bar with one being their Light foot. The other was a very nicely kept pint of Old Mill Brewerys Blonde Bombshell for £3.45 which was a very enjoyable pint. I only came across this place recently because i thought is was a wine bar but was pleasantly surprised with what i found, its trying hard to be something else but in reality it really is a pub and quite a nice one, why is it not content at that? why try and change when your doing nicely as you are? Anyway I would happily return here for a few as the beer changes and is in a good condition at an average price, somewhere your wife/girlfriend would like.

Just up from the river a 2 floor bar and bistro.1 real ale on during my visit.