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.

High Petergate and Bootham Bar

A view from High Petergate, within the walls, looking towards Bootham Bar, the western gate which we saw from the Art Gallery a few days ago. The Minster is about a hundred yards or so behind us. Yesterday's Wonkey Donkey or Three-Legged Mare is on this street of boutiques, restaurants and pubs.

The Three-Legged Mare 2

Thanks to Steffe, Gunn and Hilda for their responses to yesterday's photograph. Today's gives the macabre nexplanation of the name of this High Petergate pub. It not only has a gallows on its sign but also a scale model of the three-man gibbet in the beer garden. Locally known as "The Wonkey Donkey" (wonkey = crooked), it was the first York Brewery pub to be opened. That's one of the west towers of the Minster on the left.

The Three-Legged Mare

Strange name for a pub? An explanation will be provided tomorrow, along with an indication of the location.