The Red Lion, York

Official site of the Red Lion - redlionyork.com

A detached pub/eatery with the lower half is in undressed brick and the upper being in white and timber frame. Another pub that claims to be the oldest in York. There is a large patio area. The interior has an irregular shape, with a central serving bar. We entered a long room, with the bar to the left, part way down. The room continues past the bar, but then also follows the serving bar around and has another area behind it, where there was another area, a TV that had Sky Sports News on, at my visit. The pub serves food, but you feel that is still more orientated to being a pub. The décor is a mix of white and wood panel, undressed brick, wood floor and support and ceiling beams. We didn’t eat here, so can’t comment on that. There is a fireplace or two, as well as lots of old photos, pictures and ephemera. The service was fine and the clientele small and mixed. There was general background music, which was very quiet. Beer; usual tap stuff with a rather unoriginal choice of John Smith’s Cask, Deuchars IPA and Black Sheep Bitter. The Sheep was OK, as Sheep is. The place is fine, too be honest, i just found the choice uninspiring for my personal taste. A place for a swifty for me, many more will be quite happy here.

Found this place a rather disappointing experience. There were a couple of ales on (my Deuchars was OK), but were quite expensive compared to nearby outlets. The inside was kitted out in a very Olde Worlde style, a bit cramped but par for the course in York. So for, so OK. However the real beef was the service level; which left a lot to be desired. After asking for a black coffee for Mrs Quinno and being served a white one (important for her as she can't have milk) I asked for it to be changed - quite politely - to which the barman (who had cocked up the order in the first place) audibly sighed and rolled his eyes at his barfly friend who sniggered loudly. So I won't be back in a hurry on that showing. Given the prices and service levels, this place feels less like an honest boozer and more like a tourist trap.

The Red Lion is on a small street just off fossgate it looks quite nice and old from the outside once inside the pub has been opened up but still has plenty of character to it there are three pumps on the bar which were Black Sheep Bitter,John Smiths cask and Deuchars IPA the John Smiths was a decent drink. There is a beer garden to the right of the pub and there was a group playing here on sunday afternoon 15/8/10.