The Blacksmiths Arms, York

Graham Coombs left this review about The Blacksmiths Arms

Another of those rare Sam Smith's re-openings after a lengthy closure. They have done a good job on this one, stripping off the external render back to brickwork and restoring the interior to a resplendent condition concurrent to somewhen in the last 50 years. It retains two very traditional rooms, with a carpet in the lounge and a dartboard in the public bar. Bravely for a roadside pub it is entirely wet with no food at all and, of course, no electronic distractions, an excess of warning notices but happily a fine Old Brewery Bitter on handpump. Outside there are a couple of seats and across the car park a large grassed area but with just a couple of old benches, perhaps to be improved in due course. Provided you can put up with the usual Humphrey vagaries it is very pleasant for a couple of pints and is a splendid example of what pubs were like before breweries and pubcos started knocking them about.

On 2^nd September 2025 - rating: 7
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