The Black Swan in York

Steak and ale pie - think the stewed steak had been cooked a few days prior and had just been warmed up, certainly was not fresh. We left a lot on our plates. Nobody came to ask if everything was ok and, in spite of the place being quiet, nobody had the courtesy to say “thank you and goodbye”. No atmosphere whatsoever, like a morgue.

Place is lovely inside and out but unfortunately staff are terrible.....they will just simply ignore you and make no attempt to communicate with you...I have no problem waiting but please say hello..or "We will be with you as soon as"...don't ignore valuable customers!!!!!

Superb food, only issue was the wait

I can't say enough good things about this place. I wanted to visit an historic pub while in York and Andy and Jim with 'eBike Tours in York City' recommended it as an establishment that would satisfy my wish. I went in and could feel the souls of the drinkers before me. Such charm and history packed into this building. The gentleman behind the bar was patient as we asked questions on his drink options. He recommended my son take a sip of the cider before ordering so we didn't pay for something we wouldn't like. This is a high integrity move on behalf of the that shows he's playing the long game. I highly recommend this pub. You will not be disappointed if you want to visit a pub that will take you back in time.

We were in York for a family wedding with other family members from across the country, many of whom had been travelling for 6 or more hours. We met up at the Black Swan where we were hoping to show them some really friendly Yorkshire hospitality but instead were so embarrassed by the treatment we received. We were made to feel extremely unwelcome, that we were in the way, a burden to them and there was certainly no customer service with any hint of a smile at the bar- just curtness to the point of being rude. We were ignored even though the bar was not busy, and when we finally got their attention we were met with unfriendly surly attitudes. The drinks were expensive too compared to other places in York! We have tried to raise the issues we had with them directly but not surprisingly they have been completely ignored. To sum up, a charming building but staff definitely in need of a visit to charm school.

Haven't been in the rooms but lovely place for a chilling afternoon in the bar or garden. Attentive and good customer service. Jess and Taylor were quite professional and helpful.

Haunted pub in outskirt of city centre,cosy full of conversation and quiet,not rowdy.

This pub shouldn't let you book for sunday lunch at 4pm and then not have sunday lunch available- disappointing as we had pre booked on a visit to York

Cool old world pub. My German friends loved it!

Old world pub, building dates from 12-something. Great atmosphere, traditional English pub. Bar staff efficient but not friendly. Didn’t try the food. Beer decent.

Incredible quirky 15th century architecture. Food was brilliant. Slow service, so make sure to add 1 hour if you have any pre booked events.

The ambiance is good but they took bookings for our group and when we reached most of the food items and drinks were not available. We asked them on the call about pre-order and they said it is not necessary

Oh dear. For a pub with such history such a disappointment. If only a few of the resident ghosts had have been in attendance the atmosphere may have been so much better. Atmosphere so dull didn't finish our drinks before making a hasty retreat. Unfortunately one of our worst pub experiences ever.

Didn't have any food unfortunately but the atmosphere of this historic pub was lovely and the staff there too. Will definitely nip back in for a pint or two when I return.

Lovely historical real ale pub. Will be stopping for food next time in York.

Superb steak and ale pie. Massive.

Interesting old pub built in 1470 we were told..

Awesome people, great atmosphere

Great pub, always a nice quiet pint and with just the right bustle to feel cosy but you can speak without raising your voice.

Food was very delicious and great quality ingredients only downside I'd say it was tad greasy. The staff were friendly and very helpful and it was very quirky little pub when your inside

Amazing History. Food was superb, the staff friendly & welcoming and the atmosphere was lovely. Can’t wait to go back.

Beautiful historic and traditional pub. The service was good but the wait for food a little long. But the menu had a brilliant selection at good prices.

Disappointing, went in as it was convenient for us. Unfortunately more than half the food items were unavailable and I ended up with my fourth choice of cheeseburger which was very dry and tasteless, the cheese had no flavour either and the chips were barely passable. My partner had the steak and ale pie, and whilst it was a generous portion the pie itself was loaded with dry flavourless beef with no liquor. Maybe we caught them on a bad day but I wouldn't go back.

Had Sunday roast dinner here with my wife and it was great ... Big portion and the beer was great too..

Excellent little pub , relaxed atmosphere, polite bar staff and the food is absolutely amazing, I had gammon chips and peas my wife had steak and ale pie , best pub food we have ever had

Always a pleasure great old bar dating bk to 1400's 3 min walk from centre of town superb food great outdoor drinking area

Traditional 15th century pub, great for fans of original features and historic venues

Really old pub good selection of beers with friendly staff

Great pub! Super cool atmosphere and delicious food, staff are absolutely wonderful too! The chef came to check with us to make sure we liked our meals! Definitely pop by this gem, for the food, for the history, for everything!

Lovely lunch and a quiet drink. Enjoyed my visit thank you!

Quiet family time in beer garden with delicious pints of Old Peculiar.

Lovely old pub and lovely pie and chips. Relatives wanted old pub and I delivered. They loved it.

Always visit this hidden gem but just 5 minutes walk from centre of york. The resident cat Salem always around so if you have dogs ( even on leads ) respect this elderly cats home! Pub quirky with plenty to look at as very old indeed. Staff friendly too.

In my humble opinion, and as a York born and person, The Black Swan is only one of two pub's I'm York that have kept their character since the 70s

Lovely atmospheric old pub with interior well worth a visit. Great service and drinks. Recommended

Watch out for the car park rip off! We pulled into the pub to ask for directions to the Moxy hotel which (as it turns out) is just around the corner. Walked into the bar just as the barman disappeared into a storage room. Waited for a while then gave up. Could not have been there for more than 20 minutes. Came back to the US to receive a letter from Hertz ( we were in a rental car) charging us £42 "administration fee" plus a £60 parking fine! I will make it my life's work to deter anyone from going to the Black Swan in York.

Great wee pub with a little gentleman resident cat ❤️

States free parking on the website, but I got stung with a parking fine after visiting. The woman was pretty surly with me on the phone when I asked for advice on if it was worth appealing.

Again how a pub should be. Loved it

RIP OFF!! CAR PARK!! running a SCAM!!! i've seen a load of reviews on tripadviser stating the same experience. I was a paying returning customer popping in to meet a friend visiting York (90 mins), got a parking fine, the Black Swan told me to contact the car park management company which i did, and proved i was a paying patron at the public house and proved this when appealing the fine... Fine went up to £100.... Avoid the place at all costs.... lost mine and my friends business..... probably in cohorts with the parking company as this is from The Black Swan's own website "Parking: We have a large car park to the rear of the pub to accommodate your parking needs while enjoying your stay at the Black Swan." no mention controlled parking... or staff telling you that you need to give reg details.

Very old pub, had stayed here previously but this time just called in for drink, good selection of drinks

Can't beat a pint in these surroundings

Recently stayed at the black swan and was very pleased with the service of the staff there, especially Adrian. The room and bathroom was beautifully presented and the standard of cleanliness was high. Food was great and priced well. Bonus it was also dog friendly. Great little market square and local pubs a really lovely Olde English feel. Would definitely recommend and would stay there again. 👍

Amazing pub with friendly staff and very dog friendly. Highly recommend.

Went last night for a meal four of us.The staff dint bring us any menus or even seem bothered we were there.the pie i had was the worst steak pie of my life.i ate 2 pieces of steak and struggled to swallow it as it was that dry.

if u r a cat lover u might chance on the owner’s cat sailor

This was the second time I visited. The food was good. They were out of Landlord so I was unable to try it. Theakston Old Peculiar is delicious! The staff is very nice and helpful. The day we visited was a bank holiday, so they were sold out of a lot of items. Is a nice cozy pub that isn't as crowded as the center of York. Made for a nice time.

Great tasty food piping hot good bar maid with a good sense of humour and friendly.

Called here for a drink after a visit to a nearby restaurant but the atmosphere was non existent so we drank up and moved on! This could be a lovely pub but was sadly lacking.

Lovely olde worlde pub. The original oak beamed ceiling and york stoned flooring . The bar has a big fireplace keeping you warm on a winters night . And quirky little artifacts telling the story of pubs history. GREAT 👍 No sign of any ghost though, a pair of legs are said to be seen walking up the stairs .

Been here many times the history inside is unreal

What a shame ,seems to have gone to the wall ,very expensive, with no customer service at all ,drinks non exsistaned, not a good experience

I loved the place, the building itself and the atmosphere, as well as the local black cat. I didn’t eat there so cannot assess the food, just had a couple of pints. The choice of beers was average (quite limited, and not my favourite a either). But I would go again for the sake of the place

This was the first pub we visited on Friday on our weekend away in York and was really disappointed as a lot of the draught beers were unavailable. Place was quiet as it was only midday so they perhaps were waiting for a delivery. The barmaid was quite miserable and the atmosphere was dank even though the place oozes history so we drank up and headed for some life.

Visited Saturday 27th Jan with my ghosthunting friends. What a fabulous place. Staff were lovely and the food was delicious. We all enjoyed our meals. I had the steak and stilton pie. It was amazing! Our breakfast was lovely too. Rooms had everything we needed, with the addition of a fridge which was great. Can't wait to go back if you'll have us!

Dramatic turn for the worse since my last visit. No beer available at all. No explanation or apology - just told it’s only lager or cider on offer from bar staff who looked liked she’d far rather be somewhere else. Bad atmosphere. Would have gone elsewhere, but we had gone to see the excellent Blonde on Bob gig upstairs. I know I’m old, but £6.80 for a pint of lager. Really?

We were staying very close to this pub and it's dog friendly I rang to see if they had a mixed grill and they did we went that night had the mixed grill very good plenty of it cooked well. We were told ours were the last two which did not seem surprising. But as more customers came in there was a list of sold out items a lot missing from menu. .but we were happy with our meal so we asked about booking for the next night we were told sold out grill would not be available. So we did not return.

Been coming here for years when visiting, but Oh My God, £23 for 2 double Vodka’s and Diet Cokes! I’m sorry but as a pub it certainly doesn’t cost £23 for a bottle of Smirnoff! You really should be ashamed of yourselves! Never will come here again! Nevermind Guy Fawkes being born here? So must have Dick Turpin!!! Shocking!

Finally visited this beautiful pub and will definitely revisit on our next trip to York. As this trip was in December the whole pub was decorated for Christmas and the historical interior gives a fantastic warm and cosy atmosphere. A perfect place to relax with family or friends. Already this is one of my favourite pubs and the staff are welcoming and friendly. I didn’t get to try the food on this occasion but saw someone else’s meal and it looked delicious.

Brilliant food, can't fault it..Maybe 1 of bar staff needs to be more attentive. The other girl was attentive, but maybe basic training given to the other!!! When I asked where menus are was told just there and she carried on looking on her own mobile. You are paid to work so just help us to help you .

Very cosy, great food and a good select of bev (alcohol). Definitely recommend. We stayed in the Stag. One recommendation to the hotel would be to update the mattress, a little bit thin. But to be honest, still had a great sleep.

We went to The Black Swan because of its history and beauty and we were not disappointed. We had a lovely table in one of their beautiful front rooms. Our meals were excellent and the service was great. We loved reading about the history of the inn during dinner, as well as the possible ghosts and other interesting anecdotes. What a lovely experience!

Fantastic rooms, extremely friendly and welcoming staff and just a stone's throw from everything. Highly recommended

I had the absolute pleasure of experiencing my second stay at The Black Swan Inn, and it was nothing short of extraordinary. This charming inn, with its roots dating back to the 1400s, exudes an irresistible allure of history that envelops you from the moment you step inside. The staff at The Black Swan Inn are not just accommodating; they are the epitome of excellence. Their warmth and willingness to assist in every possible way made our stay even more enjoyable. A particular highlight of the inn is the presence of Salem, the delightful pub cat. Salem's friendly demeanor and constant companionship added a unique and heartwarming touch to the experience. Now, let's talk about breakfast – it deserves a perfect 10/10 rating and the other food options are equally impressive. Some reviewers may lament the price of drinks, but I found them to be exceedingly reasonable, especially for a city pub. A special thanks to Mags and her exceptional team for making us feel so welcome throughout our stay. The Black Swan Inn has left an indelible mark on my heart, and I am eagerly anticipating my next visit. If you seek a blend of history, exceptional service, and an unforgettable atmosphere, look no further than The Black Swan Inn – it's an experience that lingers long after you depart.

This is a terrible pub. The beer is ridiculously expensive for York - £5.90 for a pint of Landlord when other pubs in the city centre charge £4.50. Plus you rarely get a full pint, unless you let it settle and ask them to top it up . The bar staff act as if they don’t want to be there . Many times I’ve waited at the bar for ages with no staff anywhere to be seen. They seem to think it’s ok to go out for a cigarette break leaving nobody serving. Last night two of the four draught butters weren’t available, leaving a poor choice of a blond beer or Old Peculiar. The tables were sticky with stale beer, and the whole place smelled musty. It didn’t used to be like this, but it’s gone steadily downhill for the last few years . My advice is to go and find somewhere more welcoming and cheaper to drink .

Anya seems more interested in her mobile phone or stacking bags of crisps in containers rather than thinking of engaging, welcoming regulars ( over many years) and of serving drinks. This had occurred both last week & today. On both occasions I had to ask to be served & was made to wait, despite no other customers in the bar.

Wouldn’t stay anywhere else when in York. Lovely atmospheric pub, friendly staff and good food. Stayed over a few times and have had some ghostly experiences the pubs haunted reputation is certainly true. And the best bit - Salem the pub cat of course!

Enter if you dare! A 'reet spooky' little place. Well worth a visit and located near the city centre (right next to the Moxy Hotel) The interior is very old and it has an atmosphere. When we visited, a large brass candle holder fell on a guys head. When the candle holder was put back on its hook it proceeded to rock from side to side. It has a ghostly reputation but if you spot a black cat, he is for real! On a down to earth note, the staff are really nice and prices for drinks are reasonable. Loved this pub.

After a recommendation we visited the Black Swan with friends from Adelaide Australia to appreciate great Yorkshire pub food. How disappointing after ordering our food we were overcharged, and the explanation was that the menu had not been updated. Then the food arrived and the real disappointment hit home Beef stew & Horseradish dumplings (absolutely tasteless) Beer & Ale pie ( overcooked tasteless with gravy like brown glue) Haddock fish cakes with plain salad Tasteless to say the least. On a positive note the Gammon steak was really good. Not really the memory we hoped for our friends to take back to Adelaide. York must remember complacency is a terrible thing.

£5.90 for a pint of carling, grumpy Scottish bar man and no atmosphere. Bloody appalling, the cheek of the place

The place itself was lovely. But we went a bit later around 7:15pm for dinner and it wasn’t too good. The pies didn’t have much sauce in them. And the menu isn’t the same as online. When we tried to get pudding around 8:15- 8:30 the said they closed the kitchen already. They didn’t let us know it was closed or that it was closing. Not great service.

It's been a few years since I've been here, but this is a 10 out of 10 pub for atmosphere, cosiness and everything that makes a pub British. Well worth a small walk out of the usual city centre to find.

Wonderful place, the oldest in york, but too very expensive, a couple of beers 12,70. Soon to get 1 pint of beer you need 10 pound, the price rising is taking people exasperation.

Food was absolute dire, beef was straight out of a bag from Iceland and the dumplings well shocking. Wont be entering this place anytime soon

Most expensive pub in York?? As a local used to love this pub but they are really taking the mick with their pricing - it’s now £5.90 for a pint of Landlord / £6.80 for a pint or Peroni. A complete and utter ripoff - avoid.

Very nice, atmospheric pub. Excellent Theakston's mild. Nice outside seating. Food looked good. Cosy and historic. My only complaint is that the ghosts don't make an appearance on demand.

Came here on a recommendation as we were in the area. Lovely little traditional 1800's style pub. Split over a few rooms with friendly staff. Food was nice and came out quick. Only reason it got 4 stars and not 5 was because I asked for no peas on both meals but still came out with them on and this happens in alot of places I go.

Reputedly the oldest pub building in York dating from 1417. As you’d expect it’s an incredible building all nooks and twisty staircases, apparently with three ghosts, thankfully none of whom were around on our visit. There’s a good selection of ales, the Rudgate’s Jorvik I has was exceptionally good. Our food was all home made, very tasty and there were generous portions for reasonable prices. The service was friendly and efficient. We really enjoyed our visit and would recommend it for anyone visiting York for food and/or drinks.

Popped in for a beer 3/5/23 in the arvo. The property has wonderful charm unlike the lady behind the bar.

Excellent old Pub/Coach House hotel.Great oldie spookie haunted atmosphere.Warped staircase,Four poster beds. Great food.large old fireplace. And Small beer garden. A must if you're in York.

We were so pleased to read that the Black Swan offered, in addition to their other plant based menu items, a vegan Sunday lunch. On enquiring via FB on the Sunday morning if we needed to book, we quickly received a polite reply suggesting they would appreciate a confirmation as their vegan Sunday lunches have become very popular of late. We arrived at our stated time to find a small chalkboard on our table with my name and “(vegan)” written underneath - I would hope they don’t write (diabetic), (celiac), (nose-picker), (nut allergy) or (never happy) on other chalkboards. Clearly a breach of GDPR, but we let it go. The room was small but cosy with just enough room for us at a ye oldie copper-topped round table. Piped music was cheesy, thankfully discreet, medieval-esque instrumental cover versions of familiar pop songs of old. We were served by polite and friendly staff and our meals soon arrived. Our server asked if we’d like any condiments, and being unsure if the HP sauce was vegan friendly said he’d find out. We reassured him it was VF and we were impressed by his thoughtfulness and attention to detail. Prior to us booking my partner had expressed the thought that most likely we wouldn’t get Yorkshire puddings with our meal and was halfway through trying to identify the filling in what she thought was a small pie, when we realised it wasn’t a pie, but a stodgy Yorkshire pudding. So, if you like your Yorkies light and crispy, be warned. Overall we really enjoyed the meal which received admiring glances from nearby diners. The roast potato’s could have been roastier, seemingly unable to decide whether they were roasted or boiled, or some form of hybrid - a boasted potato perhaps. The cauliflower cheese, served in a small pot, was a nice touch although would benefit from using cathedral city vegan cheese as it would melt better with the sauce. Our only other suggestions would be the addition of small amounts of, for example, peas, sweetcorn, mash, mint or horseradish sauce. Small touches to make the meal stand out as a creative and imaginative alternative to the run of the mill meat and three veg. Would we go and have the same meal again? We would. Thumbs up Black Swan for offering a vegan Sunday lunch.

Booked a table on the back of the online menu (to meet some family for dinner) It looked lovely with so much choice. DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THIS. When we arrived we were greeted by a very miserable looking woman behind the bar. Ordered our drinks and was pointed to our table. We asked for the menu which she gave us! It was an A4 clipboard with a printed menu of about 15/20 choices along with four or five smaller menus which were, vegetarian/vegan, Children’s, small plates and desserts. She then gave us a piece of paper saying these are the things we do not have. On that list was almost half of the A4 menu!!!!! NO steak pie, ploughman’s, lasagna, no burgers or jacket potatoes etc etc. This did not leave very much to choose from. We questioned the difference in menus and was just told (by grumpy) we haven’t updated online menu yet. At this point we should have really left and gone somewhere else, but due to the weather it would have been ages until we found somewhere else to eat. We decided on the only pie left available on the menu, Home made Chicken ham and leek pie peas chips and gravy. The pie itself was quite nice, plenty of chicken and leek but couldn’t find any ham. Peas ok gravy ok. I asked to swap normal chips for sweet potato fries. Unfortunately these were the frozen variety and barley cooked. All in all I will not be recommending this pub to anyone which is a shame because of the history of the building. It COULD be an amazing place to eat and drink instead of what it is, which is more a locals drinking den.

Called in on a lunchtime for a drink and a meal,only had one lager so ordered that.eventually found a menu it was behind the bar , as I was handed it I was also given a piece of paper with a list of meals not available.I was looking forward to the homemade meat and ale pie but on looking at the not available list out of a huge selection on the main menu all that was available was chicken pie or Sunday lunch after seeing the medium Sunday lunch (apparently there are 2 sizes) balanced on what was no more than a saucer we decided to go elsewhere for our lunch.Shame really as we have always enjoyed our previous visits.

Lovely pub with great character (ghost stories to boot!). Staff very friendly and the food was amazing! I had Rarebit Mac n Cheese which was cooked perfectly and tasted great. My wife had gammon, egg, chips and peas. The gammon was huge! (Excellent) and the chips were fantastic. She even ate the peas which is a rarity! A very good price for how nice it was. Would definitely recommend and will come back next time in York.

Stayed here for one night B&B with my girls, 10 & 15. Found the staff very ignorant on arrival and we didn't feel welcome at all. The room was clean and once we were in there, all was OK. We were the only people that...

We got there, and it was empty, perhaps late. My husband ordered the steak pie, peas and chips- which came looking fresh and he enjoyed it. I ordered curry, and it was the worst I have tasted. The rice was in a big clump, obviously...

Dates from the 1400's! We arrived for lunch and sat in the beer garden. Good Timothy Taylor beer. A standard menu, gluten free menu and a vegetarian menu - top marks. I had the Woodland Pie (veggie pie with mushrooms, nuts and cranberry), chips and...

First night in York and this was the nearest pub to our accommodation so in we went. Quirky wee bar, good pint of Guinness and drinkable wine. However the staff that night weren’t that great which kind of put us off. However we returned a...

The Black Swan Pub is a pub I always look forward to visiting on any trip to York I take ,a traditional pub that's just a great place to unwind in. I love the look of this pub,interior is so good ,multi roomed,exposed brickwork ,an...

We really enjoyed our experience here. The staff were friendly and helpful, the ales on point and the food hearty and tasty. The pub dates from the 15th century and has a wonderful ambience. One of York's hidden gems! Thank you for a lovely lunch...

Xmas eve and run out of all but 1 beers& it's only 18:00 . Tine to move on to a pub that actually has beer .

Called for a drink whilst in York, lovely old fashioned pub it’s kept the rustic feel that all of York has which is lovely. Seating was limited however this wasn’t an issue as we had our coats so was able to sit outside which is...

Went for food at 3.pm no Sunday lunch or literally any other meals to select just burger and sandwiches really disappointing as it states food served until 4.45pm on a Sunday. Nothing left on the extensive menu at all. Advise get there really early they...

Breakfasts were great. Unfortunately on arrival on our first night we requested a menu which we never received so we were unable to try the other food. Other than the staff on the first night the stay was mainly good. Breakfast staff especially were friendly...

Go to York, at least once a year and always go to black swan as lovely helpful staff a nice pub and meals always huge hot and filling had breakfast about 9:30 on June 23rd and didn’t eat another thing till evening meal there and...

We stopped over here for the weekend when pubs re-opened in May 2021, and loved it! Such amazingly friendly staff, nice clean bedroom, and the breakfasts are to die for! Only a few minutes walk to the Shambles and Fossgate too, plus they have parking...

Hadn't been in a few years , So time for a visit and great choice it was . Everything about it was lovely , the History , atmosphere, staff and the food . Also the local cat very welcoming too 😄

Had a lovely meal here. One Yorkshire Pie, one steak & ale, along with a very reasonably priced yet lovely bottle of red. Both pies were superb, would happily order either again.

Small old English pub, recommend by employees from City Sightseeing York, good menu choices, big portion, not comfortable seats, friendly staff.

Fuimos a cenar allí durante nuestra estancia en York.Primero una mención a la cerveza. Old Peculiar de Theakston era cremoso y divino.El miembro del personal que vino a llevarnos calentó que las porciones eran grandes y cumplió su palabra.Todos pedimos pasteles de diferentes variedades y todos coincidimos en que estaban deliciosos. Tuve la tarta de Yorkshire, que era cordero, patatas y guisantes blandos en mi sabrosa masa quebrada. Fue sublime pero muy abundante. ¡No pude molestar el menú del desierto!Personal amable y excelente comida, todo casero.