The Forresters Arms, York

In common with many “pubs” in the area east of the A19 towards the foot of the North Yorks Moors escarpment this is very food led, however it identifies as a ‘Traditional pub & dining with rooms’. I believe it’s run by one of those owner / chefs whose passion is food not beer and it shows. The centre room is fairly pub like although the set up is still a little more for dining, a separate room to the left is purely a dining room and there’s a room beyond the main bar with a counter, a horseshoe and a single Theakstons Best Bitter clipped pump, again furnished for dining it also houses the ladies. The main bar has three pulls, Theakstons Best Bitter, a reversed Black Sheep Bitter clip and a hazy, flat Black Sheep Blonde unlikely to see the session out. The service is pretty good and I was asked if I needed drink when I’d finished the Black Sheep Blonde, obviously I tried the Theakstons Best and it was better but sadly not by much, the pie I was eating definitely helped improve the taste. Basically the food is good but the beer isn’t. Country decor and furnishings although I didn’t spot any Mouseman furniture even though his workshop still operates in the village. The menu is quite Italian and reasonably priced for the area, especially in comparison with the nearby Black Swan at Oldstead where a pint is £8 and lunch is £137! Guess why that one’s not listed here?

Facebook page of The Forresters Arms - www.facebook.com

Official site of The Forresters Arms - www.forresterskilburn.co.uk

Facebook page of The Forresters Arms - www.facebook.com

Official site of The Forresters Arms - www.forresterskilburn.co.uk

A nice village pub made out of two or three buildings added together. There are still separate rooms of different character in the various parts of the pub. The main room, where the bar is, has an open fire place. There are three hand pumps on the bar. I had the local Helmsley Striding the Riding which was in much better condition than when I had the same beer at the Helmsley brewery tap! As the notice says in the doorway, this is a pub that does food, not a restaurant that serves beer.