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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Old Grey Mare, York
Clifton
Postal town: York
YO30 6LH
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Graham Coombs left this review about The Old Grey Mare
Update Feb 2025
Reopened by Brew York and a vast improvement. The former various rooms have been knocked through but keeping separate areas and lots of them. The yard to the side has been roofed over and enclosed, while the former wine bar has been set up as a function room with its own bar. It has all been refurbished in a modern style, with a mixture of low and high tables and a few leather sofas. All very smart, although it obviously needs to weather in a bit to develop some character. As with their taproom, food now comes from a Yuzu street food kitchen, while outdoor space is provided by a terrace at the front and a fake grass bit behind. Beers are mostly their own with a couple of guests, from half a dozen hand pumps and a dozen keg taps. Several screens display the beers on offer, with prices starting at £3.90. A worthy return to the York drinking scene. Note there is confusion over whether it is Grey or Gray in the name - the pub sign is the latter.
(13 Dec 2022 review)
A big old pub that has been refurbished at considerable expense from the look of it, but not entirely successfully. The interior features a strange collection of modern light wood furnishings and very plain walls, with a few random bits of stonework. There is no real character or flow to the place, although a bit of weathering in would help. The deli converted from the pool room has already died, while the attached microbrewery is not used and lord knows what the "wine cave" is supposed to be. Some good beers from the Black Sheep range though, with BS Best, their football special and York Snowdrop, in good nick and well priced.
On 21st February 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alex Conway left this review about The Old Grey Mare
The Old Grey mare is a road side pub a ten minute stroll from the city walls to the north of the center. Inside is one large room that has been knocked through a bit with another room to the right that has a designated dining room that follows out into a small beer garden with umbrellas. Beer wise there were three hand pulls on the bar facing with another on a small side bar but this was unused and looked out of commission. There were two from Rudgate (Viking bitter, £3.10 and IPA) as well as a beer called Yorkshire bitter with a white stallion logo but no brewery or other info which leads me to believe this may be a house beer or a special also made by Rudgate. The Viking bitter was cloudy and way passed its best that would usually have been returned if having more than a swift half.
The tiredness of this place really shows and is reflected in the quality of the beer. Unless something is sorted out this is really not worth the hassle, although three hand pulls all on suggests someone is drinking it so maybe it was an off day.
On 24th May 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 459 recommendations about 459 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Anonymous Person left this review about The Old Grey Mare
This pub is very welcoming, the staff are excellent. We feel this is the best pub in York. Definately try it next time your in Clifton you won't regret it. The landlord and landlady are very friendly and approachable, they're helpful with queries.
On 23rd September 2010
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2 recommendations about 2 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Old Grey Mare
This is a nice looking pub in a nice location near the green in clifton.
The pub was quite smart inside and there were three real ales on the bar i had a drink of Taylor Landlord and this went down very well the other beers were John Smiths cask and Theakstons XB,this was the best pub iwent in in clifton.
On 29th August 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]