Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 14th June 2026) with Mobyduck
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Keystones, York
York
YO31 7PE
Pub Type
Craft Union (Stonegate)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Old Boots left this review about The Keystones
Georgian style building just outside Monkgate bar, the inside is a bit modernised into an open place space of three areas. The usual L shape as the pub has been knocked through from its double fronted, central corridor, original into the back rooms. The ghost of an old pub can still be seen in places. Front right is a seating area of lower tables and chairs, to the left is higher seating at separate tall tables with high chairs. Beyond is the L shaped counter with a single horseshoe in the middle with just the usual suspects and a solo of Heinekin, the short arm has five solos of slightly more crafty beers , ok Camden and Beavertown. The rearmost area has a pool table. All very Stonegate but surprisingly not as downmarket as the Craft Union branded pubs usually are, even the punters looked less knuckle dragger, York is different I guess. Still got screens, machines and piped music, only half a dozen idiot students on my afternoon visit - too early for most of them?
On 13th May 2026
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 4107 recommendations about 3768 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Keystones
A fairly busy pub on a busy junction slightly to the east of York city centre, outside the walls. For a Monday evening, there were a few in, including a large dog in the centre blocking access to much of the pub.
It felt a fairly bright and plain pub, but service was friendly and there were a couple of Bradfield beers on - Farmer's Blonde & Belgian Blue. The latter was passable.
On 23rd January 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3511 recommendations about 3509 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Keystones
Very much a student pub, located just outside the city walls - slightly scruffy, lots of TV screens, pool table etc.- but it does have a reasonable selection of cask ales on: Ossett Silver King, Ainsty Angel and Sharp's Solar Wave.
On 15th November 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3959 recommendations about 3891 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Keystones
I visited Keystones on a recent Thursday evening just after the weekly quiz had finished, so it was busy, mainly with students. The clement evening had drawn lots more students to the long concrete beer garden out back that is overlooked by the old city walls at Monk Bar. Inside, wooden floors are found throughout, apart from the two carpeted seating areas either side of the entrance. The bar counter runs up the left-hand wall and in the right rear corner is a pool table. Televisions throughout were airing cricket on Sky Sports. Standard, premium and craft keg were available, and the three hand pumps were drawing Sharp’s Doom Bar, TT Landlord and Ainsty Ales’ Angel. The service was polite, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to revisit.
On 11th June 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 6674 recommendations about 6636 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alex Conway left this review about Keystones / Scream
The Keystones is a Scream branded pub that caters mainly for students but does also get an older local following because of its reasonably priced food and drink. Inside is one square shaped room that has been knocked through over the years with numerous tables and sofas for diners and a pool table at the rear. There is also a large concrete outside area to the back with many large tables and umbrellas.
Beer wise there are three hand pulls that are usually all in operation that on my visit were dispensing Sonnet 43 Aurora Pale ale (£3) Elland brewerys Elland Blonde and Hobgoblin. the sonnet 43 pale ale was ok but a bit cold and not on top form but adaquate, this is usually the case with the beers in here. They also sell permium craft beers at very reasonable prices compared with most establishments such as Brew dog Punk IPA at £3.55.
I am not the biggest fan of this pub as it always seems a bit drab and dirty to me and looks like a clean up/investment could do it a world of good. passing by the beer choice is reasonable and they do tend to have a good rotation of smaller micro brews on at least one pump at all times so credit there. I would pop in for one again but just the one.
On 25th May 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 460 recommendations about 460 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about Keystones / Scream
I called into this pub as it was on the current Real Ale Trail in York, and I found it to be a quiet friendly pub. There was a reasonable food menu and we had Jacket Potatoes along with the beer and both were very good. There are TV's for sport, and a pool table, plus quite a big garden at the back.
On 4th August 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about Keystones / Scream
This pub used to be called the Bay Horse and it was a decent Stones tied house that was just outside the city walls.
This pub has now been ruined and it is now a Bass its a scream joint catering for students and other people who dont like proper pubs or decent beer its probably best avoided if you like either of these.
On 10th April 2011
- rating: 4
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]