Crown Hotel, York

Posh hotel bar, you may or may not get served depending on the time of day and staff availability, the bar isn’t staffed at quiet times and you may have to hunt someone down in the coffee bar. It was a Best Western affiliated hotel but has new owners who have made some changes and redecorated. Two pulls with average Black Sheep Bitter and Rudgate Jorvik, a horseshoe has a keg cider, pale ale and four lagers, a sign of the times no doubt. Seating in the L shaped bar is at a mix of styles, round the corner is more of a dining area. Card only.

A surprisingly-smart small-town hotel which seems to have had a facelift and feels quite modern within the old building. The right hand bar is now a coffee shop, while the "bar and eatery" to the left is bright and clean. Both sides extend back off into the building. Ales are still Black Sheep and Rudgate Jorvik.

Much the same as nearly a decade ago, the wood is now dark and there was a reasonably good Rudgate Jorvik on the bar to go with the Black Sheep.

An elegant bar in a large hotel, formerly a coaching inn on the Great North Road. The bar is decorated with tasteful 18th century coaching prints while the furnishing is discreet and descrete honey coloured wood booths in a 17th century style. Bareboards, fishing rods and mirrors along with carefully chosen light fittings complete the co-ordinated look. Ajoining the bar is a dining room. A small bar counter sits in one corner by the door, housing three handpumps with Black Sheep Bitter and Ale alongside an unused pull, a small t-bar is sunk into the counter top with the usual Guinness, Fosters, 1664 and JS smooth, more unusually the cider is Thatchers not Strongbow. Liveried staff peform with the smoothness expected in a better quality hotel. It is very pleasant and tasteful but naturally the most expensive bar in the town.

Official site of the Crown Hotel - www.crownboroughbridge.co.uk

Official site of the Crown Hotel - www.crownboroughbridge.co.uk