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Detail Pages
Punch Bowl, York
York
YO1 8AN
Pub Type
Nicholsons (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Graham Coombs left this review about Punch Bowl
A highly touristy Nicholson's pub, all beams and panelling but actually not unpleasant at quieter times. If you cleared the fairy lights and other rubbish out you could make a decent pub. On handpump in the front bar were Black Sheep Best, Adnams Deya and Anarchy Blonde Star (didn't venture in the back to see if anything else on).
On 18th September 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Punch Bowl
Blackthorn and Soupy have most accurately described the pub so I’ll just add the current beer range, service appreciation and my jaundiced view of my fellow punters. Five pulls in the front bar, three in the back one, Abbeydale, Titanic Plum Porter, Black Sheep Bitter, Nicholsons Pale, and a Christmas seasonal from Black Sheep. I went for the Abbeydale Moonshine and as usual I wasn’t impressed, not even well kept so definitely confirming my predjudice about Abbeydale Beers in general. Service was good but it was quiet and the other punters? well, some young some old, mostly a bit dead looking.
On 24th December 2022
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3269 recommendations about 2978 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about Punch Bowl
this is a bang average corporate city pub which comes as a bit of a disappointment given the exterior and the history of the street. four expensive (£4+) real ales on and a poor selection. Interior cosy and nice enough but nothing of real interest and seemed like an antisocial tourists kind of place. Not bad but not really worth bothering.
On 20th April 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1058 recommendations about 1023 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alex Conway left this review about Punch Bowl Inn
One of four Nicholson's pubs in the center of York and probably my least favorite of the bunch. Six real ales were on the bar and I had a pint of one of my favorites, Hop Back Summer Lightning at £3.50 which was quite a nice drink in here.
The pub looks very old and rustic from the outside but i found the interior rather more bland once inside. there are plenty of tabels in the back mainly for diners but i stayed in the bar which can become very cramped.
Nothing wrong with this place but nothing to write home about either, the Nicholson's chains usually have an ok selection of beer that they keep to an averagely good standard but their pricing policy is frankly now becoming a bit silly and so tourist orientated locals are being driven away, a sad state of affairs in my opinion even for touristy York.
On 1st October 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 457 recommendations about 457 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Punch Bowl Inn
A Nicholson's pub with quite a dark interior as described below. 7 real ales and food served.
On 30th May 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Punch Bowl Inn
The Punch Bowl is a Nicholson’s establishment with a front bar to the left and a seating area to the right that are connected to a small rear bar and toilets at the rear. The front bar supports five hand pumps and the rear three, but there is no service in the rear bar and I was told to move. There is also a standard draught selection. During my recent Saturday afternoon visit there was some background music playing, but I didn’t spot any televisions.
I’m a big fan of the Nicholson’s chain, but I wasn’t over excited by this effort.
On 28th April 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5254 recommendations about 5222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about Punch Bowl Inn
A good sized Nicholson’s pub that doesn’t quite have the rustic charm that one might expect from looking at the outside but it is nonetheless a pleasant enough pub.
It’s divided in to a number of different rooms that consist of a wood panelled drawing room at the front with a tiled fire-place housing a wood burning stove, although this was not in use on our visit. A second room to the right had a wood strip floor, black beams on the ceiling and khaki green paintwork with inlaid black timber. A brick fire-place was at the front, although this was not in use either. There were also a number of twigs and fairly lights. Finally a bar at the rear was quite cosy with a flagstone floor, low beamed ceiling and a varnished brick fire-place. This looked as though it may be more geared up for dining though and was deserted on our late evening visit.
There was a good choice of beers on tap with Black Sheep, Cameron’s Strongarm 150, Everard’s Sunchaser, Nicholson’s Pale Ale, Thwaites Wainwright, My Generation, John Smith’s Cask and Daleside Old Legover. The only cider visible on the bar was Aspall’s Suffolk, although a chalkboard also listed Thistly Cross.
On 8th April 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1949 recommendations about 1862 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Peter Rydings left this review about Punch Bowl Inn
Well sorry Real Ale Ray its busy in the winter as well we dont like pubs to be too busy as well but most of the Nicholson chain are had a good meal and 2 nice pints of Greenmantle
On 11th December 2013
- rating: 10
[User has posted 948 recommendations about 917 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Punch Bowl Inn
Defo one to be avoided at lunchtime especially in August. Managed to grab a quick half of Lord Maples before staff disappeared carrying plates. Would like to visit here again, out of season, preferably in the middle of winter.
On 12th August 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about Punch Bowl Inn
Enjoyed our visit to this pub today. The beer choice was good and we ended up having 3 of them. Great Heck Treasure IPA, Broughton Greenmantle and Itchen Valley Sticklebract. Not very busy in the bar and there were one or two diners in the back rooms. This was the best of the 4 Nicholsons pubs in York.
On 5th March 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]