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Rook & Gaskill, York
York
YO10 3BN
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Rook & Gaskill
This pub, just outside the city walls, is named after the last two people to be hung at the nearby St Leonard’s gallows. Previously known as the Queen’s Head until 2002, the pub has since built a reputation for its fine ale range, aided by its association with the Castle Rock Brewery of Nottingham. Prior to the opening of the York Tap, the Rook and Gaskill was famed for having the most hand pulls of any pub in York, but following a short period of closure and a re-opening as a joint venture between Castle Rock and the Wharfebank Brewery things seem to have been scaled back somewhat. On my visit there were five ales available in the shape of Castle Rock Harvest Pale, RCH Old Slug Porter, Wharfebank Ales of the Riverbank The Goit, Hop Studio XS and Blue Bee Bee’s Knees. A varied keg selection included Kozel, Bitburger, Sagres, Freedom Pilsner and Titanic Stout. I tried the intriguingly named ‘The Goit’ and thought it was a half decent attempt at a Black IPA.
The interior of the pub is split level, with the lower, front part of the pub having a terrazzo floor with the pub’s logo inlaid in the middle. There’s a fireplace on the front wall, which could’ve done with being lit on my chilly winter’s evening visit, and a mix of bench, chair and low stool seating to pick from. A step up takes you to the bar which runs down the left hand side of the room with space for a couple of tables opposite, alongside a piano draped with various bits of CAMRA literature. Beyond the bar, the room opens out again in a bare boarded space with more bench and low stool seating, plus a TV screen showing rolling news. A corridor at the back of the pub leads to the toilets and is decorated with a variety of rugby related items. You can also access the small outdoor area from here, where two of the pub’s old pub signs now stand.
I entered this pub not long after opening time and was therefore the only customer. I also visited not long after their re-opening and had the feeling that I was visiting during a time of transition and that the pub wasn’t quite as it should be. A case of bad timing on my part perhaps, but I saw enough to suggest that the pub is still well worth a visit, especially in conjunction with the Waggon and Horses, which is just over the road.
On 20th February 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
OogyWawa . left this review about The Rook & Gaskill
Castle Rock Brewery's most northern outpost. Good friendly basic boozer with a split level stone floored bar that serves well kept real ale on 8 handpumps. You're spoilt if you're in Lawrence Street with this place and the Waggon & Horses opposite. Deserves its place in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.
On 13th May 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 15 recommendations about 15 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Rook & Gaskill
Well worth the visit, has such a good range of ales and you will always find a few milds on which am quite partial to. On handpump two regs Yorkshire Terrier and Castle Rock Harvest pale plus up to ten guest.I indulged in the Trentside Hickman Gold, Castle Rock Black Gold, Leeds Brewery Midland Bell, Titantic White Star and the Castle Rock. Parts of the place just need a cloth run over, but as long as a get a clean glass and good beer am ok. A good few students frequent here, friendly place will call again
On 30th July 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The Rook & Gaskill
A 2010 Good Beer Guide entry, and well deserved. Excellent ale choice with beers from micros make it a must when visiting Yotk. Tend to walk round the city wall and come down by the gate close to it. Chose Idle Idle Eyes and Ironbridge Foundry Gold this visit.
March 11 update.
This pub is still in the Good Beer Guide (2011) and deserves its place for beer quality and choice. Quiet when we visit shortly after opening, but no problem with beers at all. Enjoyed Marston Moor Brewers Droop and Salamander Night Owl. Another pub with choice of foreign beers too.
On 18th March 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Rook & Gaskill
The exterior is looking a little scruffy and there are signs of letting things slide on the inside too - the use of an extractor fan from time to time wouldn't go amiss. The beer was in good form, with 11 out of 12 hand pumps on, mostly serving Castle Rock and Marston Moor beers, with one each from Leeds and Batemans. There were also ciders and a perry available, but not on hand pumps. Clientèle as you'd expect: middle aged beer drinkers (like me). The deep, narrow room has three levels: watch your step!
On 13th March 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3752 recommendations about 3487 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about The Rook & Gaskill
A narrow terraced pub ran by Nottingham’s Castle Rock Brewery, part in terracotta rustication and part in grey and white painted brick, with etched windows. It is also a music venue.
The interior is in an L-shape around the serving bar and on a couple of levels – so watch the step! The décor is red, cream and wood panel, with a yellowy ceiling and patterned floor. There is a brick fireplace with an old stove in it. Interest was supplied by both a collection of beer mats and mirrors on the walls, as well as some sporting pictures. The service was fine and the clientele consisted of a few locals. There was no background music, or a TV that I saw.
Beer; usual tap stuff, with around 10 real ales on handpull. I had both the Titanic Chocolate Stout and the Burton Bridge Porter, both of which were in fine form. Castle Rock obviously features significantly
I would more than happily re-visit here again. It is a really good real ale pub, which is in the GBG 2010 and deservedly so.
On 10th September 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Rook & Gaskill
I think this pub was called The Queen in the early 80s and was a Stones house things have improved a lot since those days and this pub has a new name and is now a Castle Rock house with their excellent beers on the bar plus plenty oy other micro beers i had Harvest Pale which tasted just as good here as it does in the Vat and Fiddle in Nottingham.
On 23rd August 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Rook & Gaskill
As it says below Castle Rock's York house with 14 handpumps, one or two with cider the rest Castle Rock and guests, eurobottles and some kegs including Brewdog 77 Lager. Earthier drab colour scheme at the front and cream walls further back in the raised area where the counter is, there is also an outside area for smoking and drinking. Beery pictures and pump clips for decoration. The attraction of course is in the excellently kept beers, the pub is a regular GBG entry and winner of local CAMRA awards the latest being Town Pub of the Season (Spring 2010).
On 1st August 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3276 recommendations about 2982 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Rook & Gaskill
This pub is now the most northerly outpost of the Castle Rock (Tynemill) chain of pubs based out of Nottingham. Named after the last two people (sheep rustlers) to be hanged nearby. Always a couple of Castle Rock beers obviously along with several guests. These usually include a dark beer or two. Very friendly place that does good sandwiches until early evening. It's a little bit scruffy but this all seems to add to the ambience of the place. We always visit this one when we're in York.
On 15th February 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
James Joines left this review about The Rook & Gaskill
Castle Rock's most northerly pub with Real Ales including Castle Rock Harvest Pale and upto 11 guest ales plus Continental draught and bottled bers.
Holds a Beer Festival twice a year.
Home cooked food avilable (not Sun)
#GBG 2008 listed#
[Admin Edit]
Merged from duplicate listing:
Upto 11 Real Ales.
Food offering Mon-Sat 5-8.
#GBG2009 listed#
Part of LocAle.
On 12th December 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 841 recommendations about 835 pubs]