The Vale of York, Thirsk

As you may expect it has had a few changes since my last review in 2011. The rooms have had a bit of a rearrangement, with the main bar to the left on entering, a “Garden Room” ie a sitting room leading to the back garden to the right. The pool table is in the rear left room and a private dining room is rear right by the corridor to the toilets. Only one hand pump now, serving a cold, slightly hazy, but quite well kept Old Speckled Hen, the other beers being a range of UK standard kegs. Most notable is probably the addition of swings for seating in part of the main bar, the lights above reminded me of large sperms inside bubbles.

Had pool/darts room to the right, a decent sized room for drinkers to the left and a further room to the left rear for diners. Three weak real ales on sale. Does B&B.

Pub,restaurant & b&b serving 4 real ales. The pub has a pool table. Handy for the train station and not to far from the racecourse.

Very convenient for Thirsk railway station but not alas for the town of Thirsk which is a couple of miles off, an infrequent bus stops outside. Good Beer Guide 2012 listed this is a multi room pub with a large bar at the front, a pool room with counter to the side and a dining/function room at the back; a small snug is also tucked away at the rear. Décor is in a modern non-descript style with the front bar in green upholstered benches and traditional chairs around square wooden tables. A few tasteful pictures and some potted plants compliment the telly. The counter has a modern stained glass freeze and an odd tiled roof. The counter has four handpumps with a variety of local beers, John Smiths cask plus some much more interesting guests, Copper Dragon, Captain Cook and newer brewery Rough Draft among them on this occasion. The snug has two pumps, this time serving beers from Walls brewery of Northallerton, two more pumps are in the pool room, one was off and just Golden Pippin on the other, there is a bell for service. The usual national brands are also available