House of the Trembling Madness in York

Stunning - great staff & fab veggie options too

Great pub, fantastic atmosphere Really busy but still managed to get a seat Serving staff were really friendly. Highly recommended

House of Trembling Madness is a proper hidden gem in York! From the outside, it looks like just an off licence, but head upstairs, and you’ll find a quirky little pub full of character. We stopped in for a few beers, and the selection was incredible everything from German and Belgian brews to Irish classics. The downstairs shop is a beer lover’s paradise, and upstairs, you can enjoy the same great selection in a cozy, medieval style setting. If you’re into your beers, this place is a must visit. Definitely recommend!

Amazing bar with a fabulous range of wines and spirits to buy in the shop below! A visit to the loo also gives you inspiration to buy a vast range of spirits too!

Excellent place to visit in York. Superb upstairs bar with a great range on offer. As for downstairs, quite possibly one of the best range of ales, spirits and meads (plus lots more) on offer. The staff downstairs were super friendly and very helpful, too helpful as my backpack was somewhat heavier on my return journey! 😆

Looks like you're just in an off license until you realize there is a bar upstairs. It's a very cool place, unbelievable selection of beer wines and spirits busy place day and night bar snacks and hot meals very old building

Live this place, good selection of drinks, we only had light snacks but they were very tasty and nicely presented, the beer and cheese soup was very good.

This place is amazing. More beers in the shop than you can shake a stick at. And upstairs, the pub is amazing.

Not many bars have a lion’s head above the bar. A fun place to visit, the decor is unique, never seen so much curio in such a small space. A great selection of beers with varying strengths, prices are fair given the location. You need to access this place via the ground floor bottle shop. Staff very helpful with the speciality beers and you can sample first. The food menu looks fun, so we’ll be back to try some next time.

A bar within a shop?! Definitely worth a visit. Great attention to detail

Great Little place , friendly Quirky Fab beer

Nice place to stop for a mooch and a beer! Didn't have any food so can't comment.

Even as a Belgian myself, I was impressed by their extensive collection of Belgian beers, some of which I had never seen before. Similarly, their prices are more than fair, and in some cases more affordable than back home. We had a lovely local drink from the cask upstairs, under the auspicious gaze of a whole zoo of taxidermied heads. Feels unchanged since it was built centuries ago.

Went back in 2019 on our trip through England. Incredible selection and atmosphere. Definitely worth a stop for beer lovers!

Curly burly 70s pornstar wannabe gave me just a bit too much sausage

Absolutely loved this bar. It's accessed via the bottle shop below where you can buy a massive range of beers, ciders, mead etc. A really quirky venue with stunning beams and olde world charm. We ordered food and had the madness burger which was lovely. The beer on pump was great too. We hadn't realised but there's an option to buy in the shop and consume in the bar. We'll definately be back and so pleased we found it. A little gem.

Excellent home prepared comfort food! Beers expertly chosen by the "trendy" owner Ian. Very rewarding experience in a truly unique setting.

First time here and won't be our last. Excellent food (lamb stew, beer and cheese soup) and beer. Amazing room. Helpful and friendly staff.

Marvellous selection and atmosphere

characterful and the shop is superbly stocked for drinkers of craft beer etc Food was fairly priced and plentiful enough but I just can’t accept microwaving anything with pastry 😭😭😭 to microwave a pie is sacrilege . So if I went back I’d have the stew

The place is pleasant and very traditional with its architecture. Very delicious food and excellent beer. The exquisite meat pie.

Very good place. The food is very delicious.

Loads of choice here. Card only though.

House of the Trembling Madness in York, particularly the original Stonegate location, offers a unique and atmospheric experience. Tucked away in a historic building, the hidden bar upstairs has an extensive selection of craft beers, real ales, and ciders, often showcasing local breweries. The ambiance is rustic and cozy, with wood beams, dim lighting, and a laid-back vibe perfect for both casual drinks and special occasions. The knowledgeable staff are always happy to offer recommendations, and the selection is well-curated, ensuring even the most discerning beer lover will find something to enjoy. The combination of great drinks, friendly service, and a charming setting makes it a must-visit for anyone in York.

Beer is fine but wouldn't go again, not the cleanest place, dusty, stuffed heads and acky rug things. Came away with bites. The other bar on Lendal is much better.

Tried our luck in this bar, post Christmas rush and there were seats available which can be an issue at busy times. The food and drinks were excellent, the atmosphere is superb, if you’re looking for something different, here it is, and it’s not overpriced either.

This unusual bar was recommended to us. It was our first time in York, and after a walk we went to a bar. We sat down at the bar, the bartenders and waiters saw us several times, but no one wanted to clear the table after the previous guests, we asked to clear the table, after which the dishes were cleared. But the table remained unwiped and dirty with sticky spots. My wife asked me to wipe it, they gave her napkins and a cleaning product so she could wipe it herself 🫠. We ordered 2 beers and two dishes. My order was not completed completely, because before serving the bartender came and said “I have bad news” there is no sauce for your dish, my wife said what should we do? He was like, well, I can just bring the order. The general impression is that the bartenders are not interested in guests, and they also do not need new clients. The beer store on the ground floor was nice and cool

Found this place by doing a google search of best pubs in York. We weren’t sure if we had found the right place as you go into a shop selling all sorts of alcohol and the pub is upstairs. It’s very small but really lovely, we had two pints of the haufbrau (I think it was called) which was really good, it had a great atmosphere, we didn’t eat but the stew the guy opposite was eating, looked absolutely delicious!!

Always buy my husband Belgium beers from here. They have a very good selection and the staff are helpful if I'm unsure. There looks to be a great selection of other beers too.

Very small inside so be prepared to feel squashed gets very busy but a great atmosphere

Very quirky bar hidden in a craft ale shop. Highly recommend the Red Delirium, strong but very tasty. Shop downstairs has a huge selection.

What a cracking little spot. Next time I come to York, I'll be back for beers and a burger!!!

On Xmas eve Xmas hats are mandatory 😂 10/10

Wow what a place, very quirky with a great atmosphere and beer selection. It’s packed but worth it!

Bitterly disappointed, having been here many times before over many years this was the worse experience I have had. Don't bother with the place. The staff are ignorant, rude and contemptuous. It's a shame they have no understanding that it a service industry. Yes, it may be near Christmas, and they may have a busy time, but that is no excuse.

Was great in here. Was a little.hazy coming out. Happy times though. 👍🙏

I love the place. Always my first port of call when in York. Quite simply mind-blowing. The history of the place. Wow

What a cool place! Go through the shop and up the stairs to the bar with an amazing selection of beers & snacks.

Unique pub with an awesome drinks selection and cool interior. Relaxed vibe. It's hidden away above a bottle shop

Another classic place to be in

This is an unusual bar, hence the name. Ic and Flic have been a few times. The basement and ground floor are a wine, beer and spirit shop. I remember buying a bottle of Dimple here. The bar is up a steep and rickity staircase. Toilets in the basement. The bar is a good size one room plus an alcove. Very atmospheric. Three real ales and a couple of ciders. Very busy the week before Christmas.

Quite small yet entertaining space. Good tap list!

Great pub. Small upstairs but cosy and great atmosphere. Large selection of drinks and a off-licence downstairs with a massive selection 👏👏👏 will come again.

No cash! Card only!!! Disgusting!!! I walked away without my shopping.

Only down side is the popularity when the building is so limited on space (but over flowing with character). Had a festive stout and the beef stew, both were superb. Sufficient staff for prompt service, simple beef stew was just what we wanted, place was filled with Christmas aromas, there was mulled cider and wine available, lots of happy folk enjoying a break from Christmas shopping outside.

Ordered just 2 soups waited half an hour soup was shit dont go in

Ordered beer through their website recently. - Very well packaged and best before dates excellent - Small mix up with order but an email to the shop and a phonecall from Rob quickly resolved the issue. Will definitely use again. Many thanks

Lovely atmosphere for a drink and a brilliant selection of booze downstairs which is great for a gift or just expanding your horizons in terms of trying new types of alcohol

This is the perfect pub! Good beer, great food and a shop to buy more beer downstairs! We tried to get a table a couple of times before finally striking it lucky. We were recommended the food and so glad we had it. The service was excellent and the staff couldn't have been more friendly and helpful.

Only reviewing the mail order beer experience. Never been to the bar itself - one day though, it looks amazing. This is the best bottle shop in the UK. I've looked at 10s (if not 100s) and I regularly order from around 5 (have done so from, maybe, 10). I've placed many orders and, truly, they got me through Covid and beyond! Really good range (though not as many as Beers of Europe but a more diverse selection, especially imports). BoE pull ahead in ales/bitters (preventing HoTM being a one-stop, depending on what you like) but still excellent. Little affordances such as being able to ask for dispatch on a particular day really help with scheduling. There have been a few mishaps - generally the courier dropping a parcel - but these were all quickly corrected and I can promise that every online vendor I've tried suffers from this. Generally the website is great (certainly better than BoE which doesn't allow out-of-stock to be excluded). Not quite as strong as Ghost Whale who do a better job of aligning the on-page selection with what is already present in your basket. Ghost Whale also putting key information upfront without forcing a click-through which saves time. An example would be showing the ABV on the card (although it does allow me to filter on it). A more refined front-menu and more extensive filtering options would be a benefit. It's close between HoTM and GW but I've regularly found myself favouring the former of late. One day a site will hook into my Untappd profile and prevent me from ordering beers I've already consumed but until that happens (or until Untappd allow it since I don't think their API supports), these guys are the best.

In at lunchtime, busy in bar , it's quite small. A couple were happy to share a table with us. Really helpful staff. Great selection of beers and quality food.

Set in a beautiful building with many retained features, this place has a real buzz of an atmosphere. Food and coffee spot on. Service friendly and efficient. Didn't get upstairs to sample the craft beers.... next time.

Fantastic huge choice of beers ales whisky ect and a great bar upstairs

Quirky pub above an off licence. Popular with tourists and locals alike. Friendly staff too.

Lovely place, with a great selection of beers and very tasty food.

Atmosphere are amazing but the girl that working on bar is not for that job. She is very rude. I dont want to say something and make worst the situation. She dont know how to act to custemers :(

Visited here Saturday 30th November as we couldn’t get in anywhere else and we needed some lunch and a sit down as a break from the ridiculous crowds. Found a seat upstairs but 2 of our group spent 5 mins taking all the dirty plates cups and glasses over to the bar as they were obviously understaffed and there was nowhere else to sit It was like a furnace in there, the staff were bright red in the face it was awful. It was so busy that people were shouting at the tops of their voices to each other all around. The food took an hour and 10 mins to arrive ! Couldn’t wait to get out of the damn place.

What an amazing place! Great service, great beer and the best pie and mash ever!

Downstairs shop selling all sorts of alcohol and upstairs bar with taxidermy on the walls! Quite cosy upstairs so sometimes difficult to get a seat. The shop has a huge variety of drinks at good prices, good selection of glasses as well that are great for gifting

Pretty impressive bottle shop with a quirky, very popular pub on top. We only visited the pub, and besides the really good beer selection, the service is extremely slow and the lighting quite aggressive.

An unusual pub above a liquor shop. Lots of choice of local beers. The food was excellent at reasonable prices. I had to try the beer in the photo, it was an unusual beer with a minty flavour.

A must for any visitor to York. Everytime we get chatting to lovely people from all over the globe. Very quirky. Love it. Come here on every visit to York

Love love love this place, such a charming bar and great atmosphere. Sometimes must wait for a seat as extremely popular but wasn’t too long before we were seated and able to partake of the menu. We ordered the mulled cider, delicious and freshly made behind the bar and a ‘Daily Stew’ which was generous and laden with beef; delicious, tasty and very filling. Served with bread to mop up the gravy! Well done to the Trembling Madness team, another very enjoyable visit.

Me encanta este lugar, un bar con mucho encanto y un gran ambiente. A veces debemos esperar por un asiento tan popular pero no pasó mucho tiempo antes de que nos sentáramos y pudiéramos participar del menú. Pedimos la sidra caliente, deliciosa y recién hecha detrás de la barra y un “guiso diario” que era generoso y cargado de carne de res; delicioso, sabroso y muy lleno. ¡Servido con pan para limpiar la salsa! Bien hecho al equipo de Trembling Madness, otra visita muy agradable.

Great place for beer both to drink and take out. They have a large bottle shop on the ground floor, bar is on the first floor. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable about the beer. A great place with unusual decor. Excellent beer.

A beautiful medieval pub with very friendly service.

The place is very nice and the service is very good and friendly but the food is terrible, I don't know where the reviews come from that it is very delicious. They gave me a fairly normal meat pie, boiled pea puree without seasoning, and terrible mashed potatoes that tasted like beef chute. I highly doubt the gravy is homemade; it looks like it's from a can. I wouldn't go back or even touch most of the food because it was so ugly.

Loved the decor, good atmosphere and excellent food!

Brilliant. You must visit here, it looks just like a small shop selling beers etc., but go through and upstairs to the most wonderfull quirky bar, full of history and a great view of the Minster. Beers are good as well! Don't confuse this with another place of the same name which is also nice but more traditional.

The venue in itself is wonderful. However, thể staff working on the Sunday shift appear to be more concerned in getting customers to leave the venue by creating artificial waiting times of "30 mins to an hour long" for ordering food in order to push customers away from ordering. Furthermore, the most shocking part of the visit was upon leaving we heard a member of staff say "these pies are out of date today and I don't want to throw them out" to to which another colleague answered "if we chop them up we can reuse the meat". To say I was shocked would be an understatement, but what worried more was the other customers who had chosen to order and consume the food at the venue. Hope no one gets poorly. Would not recommend.

Good beer selection in interesting old building

Really cool place, one stop shop for beer lovers

Wow what a great bar.. And the bugers were excellent..

Great place to buy takeaway craft beer, really good range. The bar was full when we went so didn't try the draught options or food.

Brilliant shop, extensive selection of beers,spirits etc.

Great selection of drinks including gluten free beers. Bottle shop to takeaway and bar area to drink in.

The food and my drink were really bitter for some reason( my partner's order was just fine so it's not just my taste buds being off. Great staff, interesting atmosphere, table setting very, very cramped.

Great selection of real ales, ciders and flavoured beers. The atmosphere and quirky old building makes this one of the best places in York for a pint. The staff are super friendly and the food that comes out of the tiny kitchen is nothing but amazing!

This is a lovely little pub. Lots of character. Very nice food made from a very small kitchen. Downstairs, they sell all sorts of bottled beers, Ale. They don't sell the pies anymore, which is a shame as they were amazing. Best pies I ever had. Still, we love to pop in when we are in York.

Lovely pie mash and peas. Really couldn't eat for hours afterwards . Card payment only

What a fantastic place, this is very much a must see whenever in York. Make sure you go...you will not be disappointed!

Just awesome! Don't go if you have to drive though, really strong Belgian beers! My new favourite pub in York

My favourite place in York! One of the best platters I’ve ever had, generous portions, good price and presented beautifully. Cosy vibe, seating is limited but worth hanging around for a bit as a space usually becomes available. Website needs a bit of updating as food isn’t served past 10pm, which is fine, but may catch some people off guard.

What a fantastic place, a real pub with stunning beer and food.

Great and usual place. Downstairs there is a shop that sells all the alcohol you would ever want. Even some I have never heard of. Upstairs is a very old but incredibly trendy bar/restaurant we went for drinks and we wasn't disappointed. We was served by two lovely ladies who where very enthusiastic and very happy to work there. The drinks are reasonably priced for york and it was very busy. Which means it must be good! I must mention the toilets are in the basement past the shop and there is more alcohol in glass cabinets which is so amazing and unique and the toilets are very bizarre see for your self lol. But another must go in york.

What a great little pub in fact 2 pubs as they have two very different establishments. One is an above a bottle shop with stuff animals on the wall and lucky the dog over looking events and one with a bottle shop over the pub. Great beer and the food in them looked nice but did not try

Love this place, quirky and a great selection of drinks Still great

One of my go to places in York. The food is amazing considering the size of the kitchen bit.

The cheese platter was amazing, great craft ales and porters as well meads and wines! Worth waiting to get in 🙏

Often have beer delivered from here, so had to stop in when in York. Great selection of beers in the shop and the bar was lovely. Had a few nice cask/keg beers. Staff lovely.

Really good staff and a massive selection of miniatures which were perfect for a gift.

I love the decor which is unique but we couldn't believe the goings-on to be honest. Starting with childish behaviour from the bar staff - we are talking pretend "wrestling" behind the bar & lots of shouting between staff which even in student union bars is unacceptable to running out of mash potato so we had to quickly find somewhere else to eat for dinner to going in at 11.45 for a bacon sandwich only to be tersely told by the cook that he had to "prep his pumpkin soup and stew" and that if we wanted any food then we should come back in an hour ! God forbid that he couldn't cope with bacon / sausage sandwiches whilst prepping veg. And yes, there were no other customers waiting - no wonder !

An interesting place that combines a liquor store (basement and ground floor) with an ale house kind of restaurant (1st floor) Arguably, the roof of the restaurant looks like an inverted Viking ship. Check my pictures and form your own opinion. The food, prepared with produce sourced by local producers, is delicious and portions are generous. The sausages, mash and greens are awesome. The only inconvenience of the restaurant is the furniture. Too bulky for such a tiny space. Get a table just before noon, as they are occupied quickly at regular lunchtime.

Even as a teatotal spe t several hours enjoyment.

Very unique and cool place for a drink. Often very busy, so lucky to get a table!

10/10 loved this places, the decor and aesthetic here is amazing and the staff were lovely too! Met the nicest bartender, didn’t manage to get his name but he was working the upstairs bar monday night (30th) around 7pm he was very knowledgeable about the drinks and was overall such a lovely person so interact with, complimented my outfit too which was so nice of him🥹thank you!

Great shop. Massive variety at best prices. Especially German beer.

Incredible bottle shop and pub, ambience is incredible in the upper floor. danger is going to the loo, you might spend a fortune on one of the sublime bottles in the walled cabinets!

Didn't buy anything but they had plenty in. Worth a look in, it's just very tight.

Best place for a drink in York! The small menu is perfect to have with a beer or two. The beers are superb, a great variety and you can even drink what your buy downstairs in the Off licence area, up in the pub!! A must visit when in York!