York Arms, York

A Samuel Smiths pub spread across two undressed brick Georigan style buildings. The main lounge is accessed through the plain entrance and the the red and glass facade leads to the snug and rear lounge - i believe one of these buildings started off life as a coffee-house. The interior has three rooms, as reported by OB below. The main lounge has the bar to the right on entry and is in a French mustard colour and wood panel, with a small fireplace and general prints of York on the walls and a few jugs as ephemera. As OB says, the snug is in wood panel. I didn't see the back lounge on this visit. The service was fine and the clientele was a general mix and the pub is know for being gay friendly. Beer; all Sam Smiths keg stuff, except for the MILD and the OBB Bitter is on handpull. I had the stout, which was fine. One of several Sam Smiths pubs in York - they are all fine, except i don't understand why this. like the Kings, doesn't do MILD.

An old (1838) multi roomed pub near the Minster with two entrances off High Petergate, one leads directly into a lounge and the other into a corridor with a snug off to the left, the corridor continuing to the back and connecting to the lounge. There are some nice leaded windows in this corridor. The snug is panelled in original light wood while the lounge is in more modern dark wood, otherwise traditional pub furnishings and an air of the 1970s in the décor. The lounge is not part of the original pub, it was added about 1978, the snug and a small back room were the original and worth a look by students of pub interiors. The pub is reputed to be haunted by a grey lady, possibly a nun who was walled up as a punishment for having a baby, she has often thrown things about in the pub - alledgedly. A Sam Smiths pub so the drinks selection is limited to their products, albeit very cheap (£1.61 for OBB although the Hansom Cab has it at £1.57). As usual for Sam's the beer is on the chilly side but this did not disguise the vinegar smell or taste of a long dead pint.

Best price for Sam's in town and a great selection as well.