Tank & Paddle, York

This bar adjacent to the River Ouse is much larger than it initially seems. You descend a short flight of steps into the main bar area where there is a large drinking space around an L-shaped bar, with one side overlooking the river. A fairly large group were present along with a few smaller groups. With late night opening even on a Monday (at least midnight and possibly 1am), this is clearly quite a popular place late at night and people were still arriving as I walked out. On the cask ale front, there were 3 - Sharp's Doom Bar & Wensleydale Rainbow Rising & Paved Paradise. Craft beers were Brewdog Hazy Jane, Thornbridge Jaipur, Northern Monk Eternal, Beavertown Gamma Ray, Vocation Heart and Soul & Atom Speed of Sound & Pink Noise. My Paved Paradise was enjoyable. This is certainly one I will note down for any future late night drinking in York. I believe it opens quite early too.

The Tank and Paddle is a large wooden floored U-shaped bar on the west side of Ouse Bridge. Steps from the entrance lead down to the bar area where booths run across the front wall to the right. High tables run up the left-hand side where floor to ceiling windows look onto a long decked balcony that overlooks the River Ouse. The L-shaped bar with tiled surround sits mid-way along the right-hand wall and at the rear is some open plan seating that feels more like a dining area. During a recent mid-week afternoon visit Sky Sports and Racing TV were muted on the televisions whilst some background music played. Live music is advertised for every Thursday evening and there is a phone quiz every Sunday evening. I found the service to be friendly and there was a good atmosphere even though it was quiet. However, I imagine it would get a bit hectic in here for me on a Friday and Saturday evening. The premium and craft keg is dominant at the bar, but there are four hand pumps that were drawing Sharp’s Doom Bar, Great Newsome Brewery’s Peacock, Kirkstall’s Pale and Ilkley’s Mary Jane. I had a pint of the latter three, all of which were served well. This isn’t really my sort of place, but the misses and girls likes it hence the extended stay.

I wasn't expecting much from this place but was nicely surprised to find a pleasant and large modern pub making the most of its riverside location with good views over the Ouse. The general feel is of a tarted-up warehouse but it has been reasonably furnished and has a fairly light and bright appearance. A couple of Greenwich Meantime tanks dominate the bar, but a clutch of handpumps and a small wall of craft keg offer a good beer range, and that sampled was in fine condition. About as far from the typical central York ancient wood-panelled tourist trap as you can get, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Draught ales on this visit were Elland Nettle Thrasher, Ilkley Mary Jane, and Great Newsome Frothington (plus the obligatory Doom Bar, of course).

Formerly Missoula and before that the Living Room this is a huge place. It's had a massive refurbishment and now sells real ales and tank lager. On two levels there are loads of different types of seating, from comfy sofas, to benches and high stools. It also has a couple of outside area overlooking the Ouse, but these were plagued by wasps on our visit. 4 handpumps in use on our visit serving a decent selection of Yorkshire beers. It's a decent enough place of an afternoon, but may wells be full of students later.

Official site of Tank & Paddle - www.tankandpaddle.co.uk

Official site of Tank & Paddle - www.tankandpaddle.co.uk