Volunteer Arms, York

Saved from almost certain death by the lovely people who run the Swan and the Slip on the other side of the city centre this is a solid old locals pub just over Holgate Bridge when going out of the city centre from Micklegate Bar, it's roughly a 10 minute walk from the Bar. It has more of a local feel than the Swan and even the Slip Internally an open plan with a central L shaped counter, although residual walls and some floor tiles mark the previous existence of another door and possibly a Bottle & Jug bar. One end has a raised floor level and a more public bar atmosphere with bench seats, traditional wooden furniture and tongue & groove below plain red walls. This may originally have been a separate bar although the edge of the raised floor doesn't match the edge of the window frame it does have an unused door to the street. The larger area to the right is in more of a lounge style although furnished in similar manner but with white walls and more prints and engravings of old York, there are also some modern stained glass panels to let in some light. The corridor to the toilets is lined with Beryl Cook prints. There is a marquee in the back garden although the smokers go outside the front door. The counter has 5 pulls for ales, one for perry and one for cider, the keg range is above average but Boddies and Guinness drinkers won't be disappointed. The beer range is well kept and equally well thought out ranging from a dark mild (Moorhouses Black Cat) through a standard and premium bitter/golden/pale, from Marston Moor and Leeds respectively, to something strong, dark or both, in this case a stronger IPA (Ilkley Lotus), two of the beers are usually guests. One end of the counter holds a selection of tasty pork pies plus an eclectic choice of reading matter ranging from National Geographic to Viz. Muzak was playing in the background but neither the volume nor the content alarmed this old fart.