York is the second-most visited city in the UK, attracting millions of visitors from all across the world who are spellbound by the city’s medieval churches, quaint snickelways and its plentiful pubs. In 1663 it was recorded that York had 263 licensed public houses. As the population of York increased, so did the number of licensed pubs. Seebohm Rowntree’s early twentieth-century survey revealed that York had one licensed establishment for every 230 people.
The pubs that have survived into the modern era each have their own individual story to tell, a tale sure to entertain and fascinate while you sit perched at the bar. This book catalogues the most intriguing capers from the city’s historic pubs and will give the reader an introduction to a fascinating alehouse-based history of York.