Sea Horse Hotel in York

Noticed this pub was completely empty as we were passing so thought we'd help boost their sales. We soon realised why it's empty. They were unwelcoming and awkward about my friend's assistance dog and said the dog wasn't allowed. We had to explain what an assistance dog was and my friend is registered disabled (not a great , welcoming start). The barmaid put her glasses on and leaned over the bar to inspect his harness before we were allowed to order a drink..... I asked what white wine they had and they only had one. I asked if I could try a tiny taste to make sure I liked it - no that's not allowed either. We promptly left before any more rules could be forced upon us and headed down the road where our custom was more welcome.

Normal Sam Smith's experience, reasonably priced drinks and nice staff. The rooms are also very comfortable if you need a place to stay

Be careful. My very good friend has worked behind the bar in the past, and got severely bullied by the landlady/management. Heard this isn’t the first time either. To anyone looking to work Here please avoid.

Stay here every time come to york,wonderful welcome from Jan&Mike every time we arrive,immaculate clean rooms super comfy beds,proper well run pub,bar staff really friendly,plus excellent Sam smiths beer.would give ten stars if we could.plus super Indian restaurant one side,super Chinese restaurant other side,Oh and car park so forget about driving, buss stops outside.Highly recommend.

Don't go worst pub in York. No phones allowed very limited selection of beers. Staff ok though.

Friendly staff and no t v screens ,great for conversations with friends.

Nice atmosphere, but kind of annoying not being aloud on your phone

The landlord and landlady were very friendly and helpful, warm comfortable rooms with free parking. This Hotel represents great value for money if visiting the city of York and is only about a 10 minute walk from the center. Would stay here again.

Pure brown pure brew pure brew...

Pop in to get out the rain, lovely real fire's. Signs up no mobiles which was a refreshing change, we enjoyed friendly conversation with other people and the lady behind the bar. It was a shame that a couple of ladies in the front bar couldn't follow the brewery rules they moaned. Sorry this isn't the only pub that's introduced no technology rule its happening all over now. Needless to say we still enjoyed ourselves.

No atmosphere. Got in trouble for responding to a message on my phone. Poor drink selection. Best avoided

Practical location with a very short walk to the city centre & for shows at the Barbican. Our room was clean, warm & included all amenities. Considering the reasonable rate & warm, informative welcome we would definitely stay again. Thank you.

We had a wonderful stay at this inn! The couple who run it are friendly and inviting and the pub was fantastic. The building itself is beautiful and very well kept. Our room was affordable, comfortable and very clean, breakfast in the morning was fast and delicious - we really could not have asked for more!

Just spent a very relaxing weekend at the Seahorse hotel, very friendly & easy going, fantastic breakfast, will definitely stay again.

I stayed 2 nights at this establishment. The staff were friendly and professional. The room was to my liking; the breakfast was to my liking. Conversations were easily made between other patrons of the Sea Horse. I hope I will return here one day.

Charming little hotel, inexpensive, clean. Private parking

I've been coming here for around 15 years,usually 1 or 2 times a year and it's a hidden gem and will always stay here.great people who work there and breakfast is lovely,it's got a small carpark that's free to use and everything is laid back and relaxed,please don't change and will hopefully see you soon as not been this year yet.

Absolutly brilliant pub very quaint we even got offered to run a pub while we was there

Amazing traditional local pub, with excellent Sam Smith beer, and very friendly bar staff (student from York University, of course) Good place to spend an evening.

Stayed here with two friends lovely beds n breakfast , felt very welcome , enjoyed York recommend

Warm friendly welcome. Room clean and comfortable. Lovely fluffy white towels. Breakfast excellent. I'm looking forward to our next visit.

Nice sam smiths pub, glad we checked it out.

Absolutely lovely place. The owners were amazing and were extremely helpful when we needed bits and bobs for our 1 year old. Couldn’t recommend this place enough!

Traditional Sam Smith's pub in the City of York. Good value for very acceptable beers. Great place for a quiet drink in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.

One of the best traditional pubs in York. If you want to use your phone then look else where. Cheap, high quality beer.

After visiting this pub over the last few weeks we decided to book our relatives into the hotel whilst they were visiting York. We initially thought the pub was cosy and the staff were pleasant, these pleasant staff are probably the ones who get the good reviews. This instantly changed on meeting the management couple. The first occasion we overheard the female manager constantly pick fault with the young member of staff serving behind the bar. She didn't seem to have a good word to say about anyone and it was obvious she was talking negatively about some of the regulars. She also said that she wanted a different pub because she hates doing the b&b side but Humphrey won't let her. I thinks this reflects in her terrible attitude towards customers and staff. It was too late to cancel the booking at this point but things got much worse on night our relatives stayed over. One of our party closed the back door of the pub because there was a draft blowing in the bar. Within 30 secs the phone in the bar rung and the member of staff went and closed the door. It was obvious at this point that the manager was monitoring the CCTV. After enjoying excellent service and food at the Indian restaurant next door we returned to the pub, the managers were not in the bar area when we got there. A member of our party put some coal on the fire and again the phone rang within a second and the barman asked them not to put coal on the fire which is fair enough, however, moments later the manager came barging in and rudely said 'you don't put coal on the fire'. It's not what she said but how she said it which was very abrupt and rude. A bit later my 81 year old father in law and his son started singing not loudly a nostalgic Nat King Cole song which the manager really didn't like and said 'you can't sing in here' when asked why she said 'it's a digital detox pub'. I'm confused. What has singing got to do with it being a no-tech pub and why was she so rude about it? This is the most backward place I've ever been and I've drank in Sam Smith's pubs for 20 years so that is saying something. By the way the rooms were unclean and surprise surprise no full breakfast in the morning because the oven wasn't working! Utter disgrace. I think the only reason why she is still running the place after 12 years is because Sam Smith's brewery can't get anybody to manage their pubs for love nor money hence why so many of them are closed but need this hotel to stay open to take advantage of poor unsuspecting customers from out of the area that aren't aware of the culture of contempt towards people that the brewery promotes.

Was just myself, but price was great with 2 beds and a bunk bed. Nice and toasty, nice pub downstairs for fans of Samuel Smith beers.

Very nice, good service, good beer, great price.

Sea Horse is a really friendly and clean place. Nice open fires in the winter and good 🍻. Only minus to the place is it is a Sam Smiths house, no music or modern tech. mobile phones etc. not even to check your bus time home or order a taxi 🚖

Excellent place at a great price

Great stay here. Great position near Clifford's Tower. Enjoyed our stay here. Great breakfast. No TV in the room, but we knew that before booking. Parking at the rear.

No thrills no spills but bang on

2nd time we've stayed here, a lovely little B&B, clean and cosy. Short walk into York center and a massive saving compared to other hotels in York.

Even though it was a limited menu the options were enough for what we needed. No kids menu but my 12 year old managed the mac and cheese and 9 year old ate most of the scampi and chips. Friendly staff and a nice cozy pub. Beware, it is a mobile and electronic devices free zone so take some colouring if you have young children.

Fantastic. Very clean room + great breakfast. Beer v.good.

Very old school pub. Friendly staff well priced

The DJ was playing 1970's Disco and some of the dancers on the dancefloor were semi-naked. A really good atmosphere and this was on a Sunday at 2pm.

Really oldie world pub, very Victorian, was like walking into the past, I loved it. Food was lovely, beer was lovely, staff were lovely and prices were really reasonable. Definitely recommend. Rooms were clean and tidy and bathroom has been renovated since we were last here and looked gorgeous.

Friendly helpful staff,very clean room lovely breakfast very reasonably priced and free parking.

Lovely, clean rooms with nice, antique furniture, products such as shower gel, shampoo and hand wash supplied and bath sheets rather than bath towels are always appreciated. Good value for money drinks in the cosy bar too.

Within walking distance of York. Clean and cosy little pub. Rooms clean and breakfast nice. No phones allowed in public spaces which was fab

Lovely pub and bed and breakfast, owners really lovely. Hope to be back soon.

Standard Sam Smiths pub. Quite a lot of seats that were all empty so it felt cold and echo'y. Nice enough for 1 drink and well priced but I wouldn't rush back as others have said. 3 rooms in the bar, can't speak for the hotel part but I wouldn't stay here.

Great stay over I really like the rooms the style of furnishing is very homely really like having a bath instead of a shower, had a good sleep, food lovely and a cosy pub with friendly staff and locals

Nice pub to stay in and explore York.Staff friendly and helpful breakfast great.

Just back from a few days in York, staying at the Sea Horse. Lovely pub, comfortable room, good pub grub and lovely hosts. We will he back!

just love this hotel in york, it a very traditional pub, roaring fires, very cosy, the hotel rooms are very traditional too, quite basic but a perfect location in york for exploring. the breakfast is amazing. all very reasonably priced

Cosy old fashioned bar, nice staff, shame food and hot drinks were not available on the day I visited, had to resort to red wine!

Stayed here with my wife on an anniversary night out. Plusses are, good price, good bathroom and real fires. Negatives are, missing bedside table and no power socket, cool room, boring selection of drinks in the bar and the gin was served in a small tumbler, far too quiet and the ban on mobiles is absurd. The breakfast was well generous enough but lukewarm and served on a cold plate which is a big no no. Staff were ok but lacked personality. Oh, and no cover on the ironing board so my shirt kept falling off! Won't rush back.

Nice option if you are wanting somewhere just outside the city centre

Good place to stay and a good breakfast

Please bear with me as my story unfolds. Myself, son, brother and friend visited this Sam smith pub last night and sat in the parlour (snug) where we settled for a pleasant drink and to continue our conversation of our day out in York. During our discourse I wanted to show a photo to my son (who I hadn’t seen for a while as he is a student in York) so opened my phone showed him the photo and popped my phone back in my pocket. Now I realised from the many signs in the pub that phones weren’t allowed OR swearing OR children OR credit card payments, however I was quite shocked when the unpleasant rude ruler of the bar who was clearly monitoring the parlour using the large CCTV camera , found time in her busy schedule to come through in order to bellow at me that mobile phones weren’t allowed. This then happened again to a couple near to us who I believe were researching what else they could do in York. I do realise the brewery has put these rules in place to avoid the stagnation of conversion we sometimes see, but when the use of phones is simply used as a means of research or as an adjunct to conversation, then the unpleasant ranting of a power crazed CCTV monitoring rude harpy is most unwelcome. I am sure the pointing out of the rules in a better more polite way is possible. I realise that if I don’t like the strict rules then I may drink in a different establishment in future AND that I will. The rules in place I fear will spell the ultimate demise of Sam Smiths pubs which is a shame because it was a canny pint. I mean when you can’t even call a taxi to escape, then civil liberties are indeed becoming eroded. I do wonder where overuse of technology, for example “persistently watching CCTV of your customers” exceeds the mobile phone use then what the blinking flip is happening in that pub - I hope you are noting my no swearing observation of that rule. Anyway if you love rules and being constantly monitored then this is the place for you 😁 enjoy

Coal fire in every room. Good real ale.

Great pub and hotel this is our third stay in four months,great English breakfast Mike and partner very friendly, excellent value, lovely and clean.

We/I would of left pub, if i hadn't had a pint because I didn't realised it was a no phone or ipad policy in pub also no swearing allowed

Love this pub, traditional Sam Smith's pub, but has more character than most S.S.pubs. Well worth a visit.

This is the second time I ve stayed here and would stay again. It’s clean, comfortable and you get a good breakfast. Not far to the center and next to the city walls. This time we also visited Totos the little Italian restaurant just near the hotel which was lovely, cosy and staff were great. It is technology free with no TVs but this wasn’t an issue for us and Ii had my seventeen year old with me! And lastly the couple who run the hotel are friendly and approachable and it’s reasonably priced x

Great accommodation, beer, breakfast and managers. Alway on our to do list when visiting York.

Comfy bed, very clean linen, Breakfast good. Did the job for a one night stay.

One of humphreys pubs so not popular anymore.

Great location, good rooms ,pub to quiet as it is a no go digital pub .

Quaint old pub. Nice clean rooms and lovely breakfast. Already had 2 visits and will definitely visit again soon x

We happened upon The Seahorse while looking for somewhere that wasn't absolutely packed like all the town centre pubs. We found this absolute gem hidden just outside the city walls, opposite The Barbican. Good quality food with good priced beer. The owners were very friendly and rigorously upheld their no technology policy! A shame it was so quiet but it definitely made you speak to your companion! Would definitely recommend.👍

I was with my little boy (4 years old) and he was desperate for a wee so I knocked and asked if they would let me take my boy to wc as he was crying and dancing and the man looked at him and said " you're not a guess so no" and closed door. I was mortified!

Staying there for a few nights excellent value,, clean and lovely breakfast, a proper pub in my opinion.

Just got back from a great wkend in York with the wife and a lovely stay at The Seahorse Hotel as usual. Mike & Jan do a fantastic job and make your stay as good as possible. Wholesome hearty full brekky to start the day and some great tasting beer and lager. Spotless pub and rooms, usual Sam Smiths rules, no music, digital devices etc but that suits us, nice and relaxing !! Be back soon wouldnt stay anywhere else unless they were fully booked. Thank you Mike & Jan.

Have just been in for a drink, the chain leaves a lot to be desired. If you want a Victorian atmosphere, with own brand spirits and beer, this is your place. Not for me.

No sea horses. And I was looking forward to swim. I came in my swimming shorts and everything.

Very welcoming hosts very clean and comfortable lovely breakfast

Really nice staff. Great breakfast and only a 20min stroll from the centre of York. Good beer too!

The breakfast is quite delectable and the hotel was splended. Certainly has that Sam Smith's seal of approval.

It is a good quite and a very social lite pub

This is a lovely hotel with clean comfortable bedrooms. No tv but no problem great Sam Smith's pub .close to all of York sites. Would use again.

Charming bar person. Spotlessly clean. 3rooms with coal fires blazing away. Value drinks. Well worth a visit. Next to Barbican centre decor very traditional. Historical photographs of York.

Warmest pub in york.fantastic quality ales.

One room where you can't use a mobile phone, unfortunately you don't know until the your phone rings

Friendly couple behind this Sam Smith's bar. Clean and tidy with no internet in the bar. You can hear people talk.

El Seahorse Pub es un gran pub que siempre espero visitar en cualquier vacación que lleve a York, ya que es un pub maravilloso, cálido y acogedor. El pub en sí es encantador, tiene varias habitaciones con características de madera oscura, una excelente decoración y muebles, incluido un bar de servicio y un montón de opciones de asientos repartidos por este pub tanto dentro como fuera en su terraza. Mi hermano gemelo Stephen y yo estuvimos aquí un domingo por la tarde, recibidos calurosamente por un miembro del personal muy agradable, ya que es un pub de Samuel Smith que tenían toda su gama de cervezas en oferta, ambos optamos por tomar la "cerveza" de Samuel Smith. nos sirvieron en excelentes condiciones, nos dieron una buena mesa donde simplemente nos relajamos, nos relajamos y disfrutamos del gran pub en el que estábamos. Mi cerveza era sobresaliente, una cerveza estilo lager rica, lupulada y sin pretensiones llena de sabor, muy fácil de beber, un estilo de cerveza que tanto yo como mi hermano gemelo Stephen somos particularmente aficionados. Me encanta la ética de este pub, no hay teléfonos móviles ni computadoras portátiles para usar y una prohibición de jurar, en esta conversación de pub es el rey y eso está bien para mí. Realmente disfrutamos nuestras cervezas aquí y la gran vibra tanto que terminamos quedándonos por otra cerveza cada uno antes de seguir adelante y como en cualquier otra visita aquí, lo pasamos muy bien. El Seahorse Pub es fácil de localizar a lo largo de la calle Fawcett. Los horarios de apertura son; Lunes a sábado, mediodía hasta las 11 de la noche. Domingo, mediodía hasta las 10. 30 pm. Un pub maravilloso, uno que recomiendo visitar si estás en la zona.

Poor customer service always smoking in the rear doorway, sad.

Don’t really know where to start, horrible experience from start to finish. Very much a locals pub who make you feel as unwelcome as the very miserable landlord. No atmosphere what so ever, no mobile devices allowed, I think the jobsworth barmaid takes it a little far when you can’t even glance at your smart watch to tell the time ! No wonder the place was empty !! Appalling customer service and most definitely the most unwelcoming public house I’ve ever experienced. As I couldn’t google local places of interest due to the no mobile device rule, asked landlord a few questions about the local area only to be ridiculed. Was also not allowed on my phone to ring a taxi to escape the place, taking things a little far in my opinion.

It's a hotel that only takes cash payment in the bar and I was told off for getting my phone out... "No phones, no laptops" the matronly woman behind the bar said, and was backed up by a local simpleton clutching a carrier bag (presumably with a severed head in it) who did an impression of a person playing the piano and said "no computers". We left without having a drink.

No phones allowed even though you are the only person in the bar crazy

Top place if you like the Sam Smiths brand. Beware - no phones or laptops, but absurdly cheap, decent beer.

Sam Smith's pub - and all that goes with it. For the uninitiated - cheap (decent) beer, cash only, no swearing and no mobile devices allowed. No complaints from me. Those who have reviewed about bad customer service are really just complaining about their own ignorance - the signs are plain to see; respect them... and others in the pub. Keep it up Sam!

We popped in for a quick drink before seeing a show in the area, then decided that we wanted a meal as well. The board outside advertised what times meals were available, but when we enquired with the barman, we were told that meals weren't available. We had chosen this pub because I am a wheelchair user & it was the only one nearby with wheelchair access, so this was very disappointing. However, I did like the "device-free" policy because it made people talk to each other and created a nice, friendly atmosphere.

Decent Sam Smith's pub - you know what to expect- cheap beer and non-branded products.

Stayed one night to meet up with old friends, nice room, brand new bathroom, excellent breakfast and good cask ale.

Very nice and helpful pub workers.

Clean comfortable rooms good breakfast hosts Mike and Jan are wonderful.

A lovely friendly place to spend the night except for lots of stairs if your disabled but a great breakfast

Went in after a meal, there was no one in the room at all, there were however some very loud people who started arguing in the room next door though (which really lit the whole room up), sat down and checked my phone as i had a text and the lady behind the bar said loudly that it is a mobile phone free zone, i then apologised for ruining the already dead atmosphere. Terrible service, terrible atmosphere and terrible pub.

No food on but atmosphere good. No much choice of still soft fruit drinks.

Great beer, staff and atmosphere

The people moaning that they can’t use their mobile devices obviously don’t get the point 😄

Very friendly very welcoming very clean place

Nothing wrong with the pub or the beer, but we were there for a meeting (7 of us) and were not allowed to use our laptop (which we needed to do) or our mobiles. Thanks Humphrey and you have just lost some more customers - we'll meet elsewhere in future.

Sams house & handy for city centre & theatres.

Barren, deathly quiet, a prime example of the brewery's dislike of customers and C 21st

Unable to rate as I was unable to use my phone.

Lovely friendly public HOUSE. very. clean and great staff.