Sitting elegantly behind a rather impressive front courtyard lies the handsome grade I listed building, which in the early 19th century was used for, er, the lodging of judges whilst they attended the sessions at the Assize Courts at York Castle.

Whilst the upper levels of the building are now home to a boutique hotel, the cellar of the Judges Lodgings is now a bar, and an award winning one at that; in early 2009 it was awarded CAMRA’s Spring Pub of the Season and no one, certainly not thepubsofyork.com, will argue with that. The Judges Lodgings is, to quote Alan Partridge, “a smash hit sensation, a corking copper bottomed success”.

Entering the bar, however, you would be forgiven for thinking we, and CAMRA for that matter, are liars, as how on earth could an award winning pub have such an uninspiring entrance, an entrance that would look more at home on your granddad’s allotment shed.

But, you needn’t have worried, the dull entrance soon gives way to brick vaulted cellars, comfortable seating, exceptionally friendly bar staff and a bar selling a fine selection of ales that makes you instantly promise never to doubt CAMRA again.

There are generally at least four real ales available at any one time and thepubsofyork.com have recently sampled tipples from Daleside, Osset and Marston Moor breweries, indeed, the latter is part of the bar’s commitment to CAMRA’s ‘Locale’ scheme, which champions locally-brewed real ale and supports local breweries.

Your beer may also be supped in the courtyard to the front of the building, should you require some summer rain and wind with your ale. This area does get very busy with the slightest sign of sunshine, but, its rather nice, so is probably just about worth the queues at the bar.

The current owners deserve a huge amount of credit as the Judges Lodgings wasn’t always this good, it was for many years a run of the mill watering hole, but a refurbishment and a re-focus on good drink and food has turned it into an establishment well worth visiting. Back of the net.

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