The Hop, York

Well described by OB below and I have nothing else to add to it. The 9 ale pumps were all on, although only one was a guest, all the others were from Ossett or their subsidiary Rat brewery. We tried a couple of the beers and they were in good condition. We were here on a Saturday early afternoon and the whole place was very quiet, apart from a family in the pizza bit whose kids were having a bit of a shoutfest. It's OK for one but the bar and the barstaff are definitely lacking in character.

Called in here after enjoying a Brass Castle Bad Kitty at the Blue Bell, and was pleased to see a couple of beers from the same brewery on here, so enjoyed Brass Castle Cliffhanger and Snow Eater. They had the Ossett beers and a Rat brewery beer among the guests. Brilliant description below so saves me the trouble. Certainly a good pub to call in when in York, and the pizzas being served looked good.

Almost directly opposite the Blue Bell you couldn't find two more different pubs. The bright blue shop front exterior opens into a rather baroque bar with incongruous but original looking butchers shop style tiles at one side and wallpaper with Ossett group pump clips as a design at the other. The L shaped counter has 9 beer pumps plus two for cider, the front has an ecclesiastical design seen in other Ossett pubs, while the floor is a mix of wooden boards and geometric tiles. The beers are from the Ossett stable and guests. Across the front of the building is a shelf held up on cast iron columns, on which are placed a number of hogsheads the whole thing being lit by ever-changing coloured lights. The front windows allow some posing perched on box stools at low tables while along the side wall is a high bench and tables. Moving further back in the pub there are 9 keg fonts on the long face of the counter and opposite a wall decorated with a collection of domestic mirrors and painted quotes from the likes of Frank Zappa, there is a drinking shelf fitted below. Behind the counter is a magnificent barback and the wall behind that has more butchers shop tiles. Beyond the counter the place broadens out into what looks like a covered yard with a pizza kitchen at the far end. Decor here is in the grand baroque manner with big mirrors in carved frames and portraits of Dukes of York from the 17th to 19th centuries. This area is mainly for eating pizzas with a line of tables down the centre with long stools while the sides have bench seating at high tables and more conventional tables and chairs. There is also a small stage to one side in here, live music and comedy are promised on the front signage. The toilets are upstairs and the staff young and reasonably on the ball, beer quality is pretty good. Definitely a different approach to pubs with its baroque slightly continental style I'm sure it will be worth the, obviously, large amount of cash spent on its creation.