Posts Tagged ‘Grape Lane’

1331

Monday, December 28th, 2009

1331 is York’s only bar with actual digits in its name (apart from pubs such as the Three Cranes and Three Tuns etc who are refered to in the more traditional alphabetical way).

So why this numerical moniker thepubsofyork.com hear you shout?

Surely it can’t be in honour of the battle of Plowce which was fought on the 21st of September 1331 and featured the wonderfully named Wladyslaw The Elbow-high at the head of a five thousand strong Polish army? Probably not. It is almost certainly not an affectionate nod towards a centered heptagonal number either, so thepubsfoyork.com can only assume it’s a lazy and uninspiring numerical palindrome based on it’s address of 13 Grape Lane (if you should know any difference, do get in touch). Feel free to ignore thepubsofyork.com’s lack of enthusiasm towards this bars name though and don’t assume that you should be put off visiting, because its actually not that bad.

1331 Bar and Restaraunt (to give it it’s full title) is a lively and vibrant establishment spread over three floors and as it’s Sunday name suggests, it is focussed just as much on the food it cooks as the beer it dispenses.

thepubsofyork.com can’t comment on the quality of the cuisine on offer but if it’s as good as the drinks, then it shouldn’t be too bad at all. There’s a good selection of continental bottled beers and cocktails the odd Belgian beer on tap and you can enjoy your tipple in several different rooms within the walls of 13 Grape Lane.

There’s the central courtyard which is an attractive prospect in the summer and a cosy seedy snug area just off the upstairs bar. This higher bar services another two adjacent rooms which at the weekends are filled with smiling faces and music from resident DJ’s.

Of all the places in York that thepubofyork.com don’t really venture to, this place is probably the best of the bunch. A good atmosphere and quirky interior make for an interesting visit and your thirsty pub reviewers would much rather have a pint in here or Wildes next door than many of their contemporaries.

However, 1331 has far too many young/good looking/expensively dressed people in here to make it just a bit too cool for these scruffy cats. You’re a lot more likely to find your rotund pub reviewers in a hostelry named after a member of the monarchy, an inanimate object or a bird.


View The Pubs Of York Locations in a larger map

Edward Balliol (c.12831367), (a.k.a. Edward de Baliol), was intermittently King of Scotland from 1332-1336
VN:F [1.8.3_1051]
Rate this pub yourself! For guidance see here .
Rating: 3.0/5 (4 votes cast)

Wildes

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

Nestled down Grape Lane, this ‘Wine Bar and Bistro’ sits next to the back entrance (so to speak) of the Slug and Lettuce in a rather understated way.

It’s not as plasticy as it’s geographical bed fellow, nor is it seemingly as ‘trendy’ as 1331, which is located a little further up the road. It just sits there, with its black and white signage and polite hanging baskets looking, well, just nice really.

The interior is smart without being pretentious and the atmosphere is always lively without being rowdy. There are three attractive wrought iron tables outside to the front of the building (with matching chairs) and inside there are plenty of stylish tables which are, unsurprisingly given this establishments proper name, set up for diners.

With this in mind, like Kim Wilde, who is now best known for her exploits with a trowel and a pair of marigolds rather than belting out 80’s pop songs, Wildes Wine Bar and Bistro is probably best known for being an eatery rather than a watering hole. The quality of the food on offer here isn’t really for this website to comment on, so, what about the beer? Well, it’s OK.

On thepubsofyork.com’s last visit on a balmy late summer evening, there were three draught beers on offer; the ubiquitous John Smiths and Kronenbourg, but also Leffe, which is a fair substitute in the absence of any real ale. The fridge behind the long, thin bar in the middle of the long thin ground floor was stocked with a decent selection of bottled lagers such as the excellent Budvar, Corona and Sol. You know the types.

If you are thinking of coming to Wildes to solely have a drink, thepubsofyork.com suggest you don’t let the limited selection of beer put you off, as it really is a rather pleasant place to be.

Having drinks here reminds thepubsofyork.com of being sat in bars of northern European cities alongside our more alcoholically sensible continental counterparts, sipping deliciously strong beers, chatting and watching the world go by. And that, dear readers, is most definitely a good thing.


View The Pubs Of York Locations in a larger map

VN:F [1.8.3_1051]
Rate this pub yourself! For guidance see here .
Rating: 3.0/5 (1 vote cast)