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Sea Horse Hotel, York
York
YO10 4AH
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about Sea Horse Hotel
Multi roomed Sams locals local, although it advertises accommodation (£60 for a double with breakfast). Effectively 4 rooms although two of the rooms have been broken through to form a bigger room. Real fires going in two of the rooms, but sadly not in the snug where Ms CAMRA decide to sit. Friendly welcome from the landlord and the other locals, but it was very quiet on a Sunday evening with only about 6 of us in. I had a decent pint of OBB and Ms CAMRA had a half of Sams cider. We were booked in at Toto's just around the corner for a meal, so we left after one. We'd certainly be happy to call in again.
On 29th March 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Sea Horse Hotel
Classic Sam's pub refurbished to a high standard with the trade mark Victorian style, dark painted lincrusta up to the dado rail with a dun colour above, lots of dark wood, leather upholstery and old prints and pictures. It has a public bar at the front, and a large “snug” at the rear although the main counter face is in here, there’s a third sitting room to the front left. You know the beer range (OBB) so I won’t bore you with it.
On 15th April 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 Sea Horse Hotel
Nice multi roomed layout and quiet community atmosphere in this edge of town Sam Smiths pub. Pretty basic beer now with both the OBB and stout now gone, tried the mild which was fine enough. It’s a decent friendly pub but I would be slightly less inclined to return here than some of their other York pubs.
On 29th August 2020
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1058 recommendations about 1023 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Sea Horse Hotel
Having driven past this inn on the gyratory system many times, I finally had the chance to visit and was pleasantly surprised. The substantial (Georgian?) exterior, and indeed name, is not easily visible except from across the road. Inside there is an immaculate and traditionally furnished 4 room layout, with a public bar to the front, a parlour across from a servery, and a lounge and larger room behind. There are some outdoor tables in the yard, with a smallish car park behind. From the menu, food seemed to be of traditional pub fare, although serving times limited, and accommodation is available. The general atmosphere was very pleasant with a well-run feel. Being a Sam Smith's pub, only OBB on draught of course, but it was in very good form. A very nice escape from the bustle of the city.
On 25th September 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alex Conway left this review about Sea Horse Hotel
Another quiet Classic Sam Smiths pub with the usual selection of beers including their only cask beer Old Brewery Bitter (£1.80). A bit further out of the town this pub has a very relaxed atmosphere compared to other Sams pubs. My Pint of OBB was in good condition and it seemed like the other half dozen men on my visit thought so as well
Several separate rooms make for a nice touch and the central bar/lounge has plenty of room and seats. On my last visit there was also a darts board which is rare in Sam Smiths pubs.
If you venture up this end of town it is well worth visiting as there are several other great pubs a stones throw away including the Woolpack virtually next door.
On 20th September 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 457 recommendations about 457 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Sea Horse Hotel
Situated just outside the city walls, this is a two bar Sam Smith's pub and hotel with an excellent multiple room, traditional layout. You enter into a corridor which runs through to the rear of the pub and is lined with numerous interesting old black and white photos. A door at the front right of the corridor leads into the compact public bar - a small bare boarded room with a short section of servery to the rear and a nice lit fireplace with a carriage clock and mirror above. More black and white photos line the walls, most of which were showing historic images of York and Sam Smith's employees. There is a small parlour to the left of the corridor, offering padded bench seating and another lit fireplace, although the room feels a bit isolated and remained empty throughout this visit. The corridor opens out a little towards the rear, forming a lobby-type space with a staircase to the left and a lounge bar (signposted as the 'snug'). This is a carpeted space with yet another lit fireplace, comfortable seating options and the main servery. This bar opens out into a rear dining area with a large skylight creating a bright space with a quarry stone floor, banquette and standard seating, a large fireplace with an attractive range inside, some nice panelled walls and a dartboard.
As usual with Sam Smith's pubs, the ale range was restricted to Old Brewery Bitter, drawn from a handpull in the rear bar. I paid 90p for my half pint and the beer was in excellent condition, so I don't really have anything to complain about on that front. The usual keg and bottled options were all present and correct.
I enjoyed exploring this old pub and certainly can't knock the beer quality, but I found the atmosphere a bit flat, despite quite a few people being in prior to our arrival. I think the place is worth a look for the interior and worked well as part of a crawl, but I can't imagine making this a regular port of call.
On 16th May 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Sea Horse Hotel
The Seahorse Hotel is a Sam Smiths pub with a front and back bar with seating at the rear. Both bars were heated with faux coal fireplaces, which was unnecessary during my recent Friday afternoon visit. The usual array of SS products were available from the bar including cask Old Brewery Bitter. I found the service to be polite and my pint of OBB was less than £2. Standard pub food is available at these varied times throughout the week: Monday, 12:00 until 14:00 and 17:00 until 20:00; Tuesday, 12:00 until 15:00 and 17:00 until 20:00; kitchen closed on Wednesdays; Thursday and Friday, 12:00 until 14:00 and 17:00 until 20:00; Saturday, 12:00 until 18:00; Sunday, 12:00 until 16:00. Accommodation is available.
As per SS policy there are no televisions or other forms of electrical distraction. Although I’m all for having a quiet pint I did find it mildly depressing in here. I do not plan to revisit any time soon.
On 26th April 2015
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5251 recommendations about 5219 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Seahorse Hotel
I sat in the front bar with the previous reviewer, where there were no handpumps on display, but I asked for OBB and the barmaid went to the other bar to fetch it. I didn't realise it was the handpump version, but as it was undoubtedly served through a sparkler the consistency wouldn't have been much different from the keg version. Anyway, the price was incredibly reasonable, with a half of OBB and a cola costing £1.88.
It has a multi-room format, but I don't think this is a CAMRA Inventory pub (but of course the list on the Heritage website might not be up to date) which got me wondering whether Sam Smith's had reinstated the internal panelling at some stage? They've done this in several London pubs. Anyway, this was quite a comfortable pub to have a swift one in, but it came bottom by a long chalk regarding ale choice and quality of the all the pubs I've visited in York.
On 5th April 2015
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Sea Horse Hotel
Multi-roomed (bar, parlour, snug and dining room) Sam Smith's pub with quite a bit of character, though of the muted variety rather than in-your-face high Victoriana. The curved wooden bar is probably the most compelling piece of interior furnishing - very nice I thought. Coal fires in rear and front room. Usual Sams range, with the cask OBB available - at 90p a half I couldn’t really complain even if the brew isn’t to my taste and served freezing cold. No music or TVs and in the late afternoon is has to be said that the atmosphere was moon-like. In the context of York, I’d reckon it’s worth looking-in to say you’ve done it.
On 5th April 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Seahorse Hotel
A smallish Sam Smith’s pub located just outside the city walls, it consists of a small front bar and slightly larger rear bar. The interior is apparently heritage listed, but although it may well be original, I found it rather plan and not especially remarkable.
Decor wise, they both appeared broadly similar with wood strip flooring, mustard colour paintwork and a real fire blazing away which was a welcome touch on a cold March afternoon. There were a few old black and white photo’s dotted around the walls. A curved wooden bar counter was in one corner.
As is usual in Sam Smith’s establishments, only their own keg options were available. The sole choice on this occasion appeared to be their Sovereign Bitter, although I only checked the front bar and I’m sure Old Brewery Bitter was lurking around somewhere. The solitary cider was also their own.
On 31st March 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1949 recommendations about 1862 pubs]