The George, York

Paid a visit on Friday afternoon, when I was the only customer in. In saying that, there was a lady at the bar chatting to the lady who was serving, but I am not sure if she was a customer or a friend in for a natter. At the bar there were three hand pumps for cask ale, dispensing York Guzzler, Black Sheep Best Bitter and Tim Taylor Boltmaker at the time of my visit. The York Guzzler was £1.90 for a half. Been a couple of years since I had York Guzzler and it was nicer than I remembered, so presumably well looked after at the George. Service was pleasant and my drink was topped up without me having to ask. The pub itself has a traditional interior with dark beams, brasses, pale walls and an exposed brick fireplace. It's basically a hotel with a public bar. The dining room opposite (not being used at the time of my visit) looked a little more contemporary. There are a few picnic bench type tables to the front. Not a massively exciting beer selection, but the same can be said of all the pubs in Easingwold, and certainly better than you get in the hotel bar at many chain pubs.

A multi bay windowed old building it is the poshest and incidentally the most expensive pub in Easingwold. It's a long established hotel, since the 18th Century according to it's web site. Inside is low ceilinged and has a profusion of nooks and crannies with beams and bits of half timber style walls forming large and small areas. The L shaped counter is home to two banks of three pulls, each set with the same well kept beers, Black Sheep Bitter, York Terrier and a Moorhouses beer badged as George Bitter, presumably especially for the hotel. Next door to the bar is a dining room, although not overtly a gastro pub it is obviously food led in a traditional hotel style. As expected service is also of the hotel style although verging on the “allright there” modern version. One corner of the bar is labelled “Curries Corner” and has pictures of Lancaster bombers and their crews, I don't know the full story of this but would be fascinated to find out more. The gents has a small model of the Burton Union System on display. There is also a sign asking customers to “disperse quietly” which is a clue to the type of clientèle expected here, I know more than a few pubs where the punters wouldn't know what disperse means.

Official site of the George Hotel in Easingwold - www.the-george-hotel.co.uk

Official site of the George Hotel in Easingwold - www.the-george-hotel.co.uk