Voting has closed for the February Twissup and we’re going to… York!
Despite a last minute surge from Brighton (taking the last five votes), York is where we’ll be going with 26 of the 69 votes (Brighton picked up 21 votes, Newcastle 15, Bristol 4 and Derby a surprisingly low 3).
Let's get twissed
Mark and I will now try and sort out a plan for the day. If anyone knows York well and can suggest a good pub crawl then let us know : remember that we need to be able to fit around 30 people in at a time. We also need somewhere to eat and affordable accommodation for people.
The best place to meet will probably be the brewery at 12pm and we’ll try and arrange a tour and a pint to get us on our way. We’ll keep everyone updated by email and twitter from here on in.
Get train tickets booked : we’re going to York on 26th February 2011
If you want to find more out about beer in York check out my visit from last week and my visit from last year or my write up on their brewery tour
Just a thought…..how about a North vs South Twissup next time with two happening simultaneously? We can have one group in Newcastle and one in Brighton with people choosing the one they want to go to. Could be fun!Voting has closed for the February Twissup and we’re going to… York!
Hey not a blogger and only part time twitter writer about beers, but was wondering how easy it is to join in with this, have been reading about them for awhile and want to get to know about beers with some professional writers.
just fill in your details on the post before, that has the form at the bottom and you’ll be kept up to date on developments, anyone can come along, the more the merrier!
This is what you need:
http://www.yorkcamra.free-online.co.uk/york2010.PDF
http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/pubs/find/york?_frameset=true
do you think i could get a police car to take me home from there?
Rook and Gaskill is a great pub and rather big. Someone would need to ring the landlord and notify him of when we’d arrive because its usually very quiet and they have just one person on the bar. He’s a bit of a “character” but a big Brewdog fan, if you give him some notice I’m sure he’d make sure there is some great ale on for us. But its a bit out of the way. A must visit!
Brigantes is plenty big enough but I think a phone call before hand would be a good idea so they know what is happening when a big group walks in. I’d recommend to not go there at lunch time as it will be very busy.
Just down the road is the Ackhorne, its OK but the selection of beer is limited.
The Swan is OK but a bit out of the way but its pretty close to the Slip Inn which I’ve heard good things about.
I think it would be essential to reserve the upstairs room at Pivni for an hour or two. I’m sure we are well enough connected with them to sort that out especially if Yan is coming.
The Bottle is nearby so I’m sure some people would want to pop in and snap up some bottles.
I think the Maltings could cope with our group but because they have bouncers on we’d need to give them notice and earlier the better, 2-3pm-ish.
I’d love to hear other people’s ideas because I’ve only scratched the surface on place to go. But my votes of must visits go to Pivni and Rook & Gaskill.
Had a fantastic curry in York last year… will try to remember name. Also meant to be a very good italian deli there.
I appreciate this isn’t what you are after, but us cultured types need to break the day up from just an endless slog of boozing 😉
Trembling Madness should be a definite, but it is small so you’d want to go earlier in the day before it gets mobbed. Maybe phone ahead too (01904 640001) to ask them to keep some space. It only opened last spring and is the most exciting new thing in York in years. The Bottle shop is below it too, which will appeal to people.
Pivni’s very near there and has a very good range of beer.
As Rob says, Brigantes is very good for both food and drink. Ackhorne is under new management and is on its way back to being very good, but for now you’d be better going a bit further south to the Golden Ball (won our pub of the year award last year) and The Swan, which is tremendous.
Depending on time, you could then cross the river to the Phoenix (lovely little old-fashioned, no-frills free-hold pub).
Maltings is first pub for those turning left out of the station and is very popular.
A York Brewery pub would be good, unless people have a drink at the brewery. Terrier on Stonegate is only 50 yards from Trembling Madness.
Blue Bell on Fossgate is awesome but very small and they don’t like crowds. People could maybe go in in 2s and 3s as the day progresses?
Guy Fawkes and Lamb and Lion in High Petergate (very near the Minster) are definitely worth considering. Lamb+Lion garden has the best view of any I’ve seen (City Walls on one side, Minster on the other). Both it and the Fawkes are under fairly new management, after a tempestuous time when their previous bosses went into administration. Good range of beer in each, and very well kept.
From there, and if people don’t mind a slight detour, about 150 yards outside the City Walls, the Minster Inn is another nice, small Camra favourite.
Finally, there are 6 pubs in Goodramgate which is very central and a nice “ye olde York” street. None is sensational, but a few are big and spacious, so could accomodate a crowd (especially Old White Swan).
If you want to book upstairs at Pivni it will need to be fairly early on in the day. We have a blanket no weekend bookings policy which I’m happy to turn a blind eye to but would need to be maybe 2pm-4pm or something like that.
Cheers for all the comments guys!!!
i’ll start putting a plan together soon.
Chris – curry sounds great – it seems to have become a part of twissup since the yukky kebab fiasco in sheffield.
Tom – Thanks for the offer we might take u up on that, will be in touch soon.
oh and Stu, im sure we could arrange a lift with the police but im not sure mrs crownbrewerstu will be too pleased!
Gavin’s recommendations are all spot on, as they should be, given his exalted position in the city!
As a long-term resident I would would add The Slip as a pub to link with The Swan and Golden Ball axis.
The Blue Bell is an absolute must to those who have never visited, but the advice to go in 2’s or 3’s is wise.
A ten minute amble from The Blue Bell will result in a visit to the Rook and Gaskill, which is definitely worthwhile.
York is a perfect choice for a solid day out on the ale, compact, easily walkable and some quality pubs, serving great beer!