Dawnay Arms, York

As said before a large building in the village centre close to Benningborough Hall, no huge changes since Wittenden and the boaters last visited. Smaller inside than the outside suggests, the bar is to the left as you enter, the restaurant is straight ahead with various discrete rooms hanging off. The bar has a stone floor, plain cream walls and a beamed ceiling, the fireplace is in brick. Decor is fairly standard for the better class of country pub, mostly black and white photographs of the village, fishing bits, hop bines, old bottles and some unpolished brassware. Four hand pulls with Black Sheep Bitter, Taylor's Landlord, Wold Top and Ilkley Mary Jane for the drivers, an Erdinger ceramic font and a small T-Bar bringing up the rear from round thee corner. A small collection of pump clips was just visible above the inside of the counter, mostly Brass Castle and Roosters. Beer was average to good, the food excellent. Most customers in the bar appeared to be locals rather than posh diners in spite of badly parked Mercedes etc in the car park. The piped music was a bit mournful.

Facebook page of Dawnay Arms - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Dawnay Arms - www.facebook.com

An imposing pale brick building in what looks like the model village belonging to a landed estate.Beyond the carpark, grass leads down to the river Ouse, where I believe boaters can moor their craft. Tastefully renovated in recent years, the interior features much exposed timber, and the eye is drawn to a rather splendid chequer work tiled floor, delineating the course of a former corridor. A good, prosperous comfortable atmosphere-newpapers, a fire in the hearth.More dining pub than boozer-the chips were architectural rather than demotic. Befitting a seriously agricultural area, the management prides itself in its use of local produce: we enjoyed our lightish bite on a quiet October Saturday lunchtime. Turning to the beer,I was glad to see Timothy Taylor’s Golden Best, a worthy counterpart to the over exposed Landlord. This was joined by beers from two breweries new to me:Tether Blond from WharfeBank, an excellent aromatic ultra pale beer, and Traditional Mild, from Yorkshire Heart. Unfortunately, the latter was probably past its best: my notes said it was “astringent”. We enjoyed our visit: service was prompt and friendly, and it would be a good destination for a special meal.

A quality eating establishment that has benefitted from a relatively recent refurb without losing the original feel. Although we didn't eat, the food looked very good, the menu was varied and interesting and I'm sure that the various awards displayed on the walls are well deserved. Three beers are offered, TT Landlord and Golden Best are, I think, regulars and Wolds Way Pale Ale was on as a guest. Ours were good and went down well.

A gastro pub which has three handpumps dispensing local micro brewery ales of reasonable quality and GBG listed.On entering the bar is to the left with a drinking area furnished with old settles and slightly oversized tables making manoevering a little tricky.Lot of rustic ephemera dotted about and free newspapers add to the charm but this pub is food orientated and displays several awards and broadsheet write ups by the entrance.Although we were only in to slake our thirst,some of the special dishes looked very interesting (Roe deer,sea bass)if fully priced around £15,cheaper lunchtime dishes are available.The main dining area is to the rear and overlooks the sloping garden which runs down to the River Ouse.There is a mooring pontoon for boaters.Probably not the place for a session,fine for a pint but a good place to impress the wife or other female acquaintances.

Official site of the Dawney Arms, includes menus - www.thedawnayatnewton.co.uk

Official site of the Dawney Arms, includes menus - www.thedawnayatnewton.co.uk