Spread your wings …

Still on Walmgate, York, here is an opportunity for you: the Spread Eagle, renovated about 10 years ago, is to let! It boasts reasonably-priced pub food, live music and other regular entertainment. I don't know whether or not it is the recession, retirement or relocation that has led to the vacancy, so look before you leap.

Walk Around the Snickelways of York

The Complete Snickelways of York

Stretching lunch

The family-owned Coach House on the corner of Marygate and Galmanhoe Lane offers hotel facilities at guest house prices, to quote their website video. The site is worth a visit, as are the Museum Gardens just two minutes stroll further on. Galmanhoe Lane is also the home of York Archeological Trust.

Red, not rampant

With foundations going back to 13th century, the Red Lion on Merchant Gate claims to be York's oldest inn. A walk of less than five minutes from the city centre, providing you can resist the shop windows on the way, will bring you to this timber-framed hostelry which was the highwayman Dick Turpin's local before he was caught and hanged. 

Only the baskets are hanging …

With a floral display worthy of Alsace outside, and an authentic pub experience inside, the Punch Bowl is  a popular haunt for tourist and locals alike.  It belongs to the Nicholson group whose site has a slide-show of typical British pub food.

The title refers to the several York pubs whose names refer either to the gallows or to those who were executed on them. See The Three-legged Mare label.

The Fox, but no sign of Zorro …

… or Rommel, for that matter. A good 15-minute walk from the walls at Micklegate Bar, the Fox Inn, Holgate Road, serves beer from an independent brewery. Although not an ancient construction, it has its charm, as an enlargement will reveal. 

According to this 2009 report, you can order a special brew for your own event.