-The Rook & Gaskill-
Review:
The Rook & Gaskill sits just beyond the City Walls on the busy junction of Lawence Street opposite the imposing Walmgate Bar, the only Barbican in York to retain its full structure. The pub itself looks like a fairly traditional local from the outside, maybe only the funky colourful signage giving away that there may be a little bit more beneath the surface. The obscure name of the pub has a gruesome history as well, Peter Rook and Leonard Gaskill were two of the last men to be hung in York in 1676 after being found guilty of sheep rustling, hence the hangman’s noose featuring on their sign. They took their last breath not too far away from the pub by the City Walls.
The main single space inside is on several levels, just a step up each time but this does hinder access a little. It also zones the room though, with seating to the front by the windows and the bar area leading out to more seating, a couple of booths and then on to the back corridor from which you can access the beer garden and toilets. But before you even get that far you might be surprised at the sight that beholds you behind the long wood topped bar, an expansive line of 8 hand pumps, boxes of craft cider and the jewel in the crown of The Rook & Gaskill the shiny stainless steel of the 20 strong keg wall! Not the sort of thing you expect to find in an out of town pub, but this is no normal boozer. Appealing to locals, students and visitors alike, and with always a warm greeting from Landlord Paul, once you arrive there’s pretty much no reason to leave. A simply stunning range of craft beers are available and at a very reasonable price too, not to mention the great food offers and wood fired pizza oven. It still remains a traditional looking York pub, with low ceilings and beams but a refurbishment in 2018 has modernised the back of the pub somewhat, with open brickwork and light wood panelling. The toilets are clean and functional and their little Yarden provides some much needed space. It’s a long and thin area to the side of the building that’s covered and packed with comfy seating, maybe not the ideal outside garden but it uses what the building has to its maximum potential.
With regular events, quizzes, live sport and other entertainment The Rook has pretty much nailed down the perfect mix of what a proper traditional public house should be in these modern times, appealing to all as a welcoming community pub, as long as you’re over 18 or a dog! We wish Paul and his team every success at keeping this great pub alive and will visit as often as we can as the beer choice is always spot on. It’s well worth the little walk out of town to find this hidden gem and we’re very pleased to award our first “Without the Walls” pub a solid 5/5.
The Rook & Gaskill sits just beyond the City Walls on the busy junction of Lawence Street opposite the imposing Walmgate Bar, the only Barbican in York to retain its full structure. The pub itself looks like a fairly traditional local from the outside, maybe only the funky colourful signage giving away that there may be a little bit more beneath the surface. The obscure name of the pub has a gruesome history as well, Peter Rook and Leonard Gaskill were two of the last men to be hung in York in 1676 after being found guilty of sheep rustling, hence the hangman’s noose featuring on their sign. They took their last breath not too far away from the pub by the City Walls.
The main single space inside is on several levels, just a step up each time but this does hinder access a little. It also zones the room though, with seating to the front by the windows and the bar area leading out to more seating, a couple of booths and then on to the back corridor from which you can access the beer garden and toilets. But before you even get that far you might be surprised at the sight that beholds you behind the long wood topped bar, an expansive line of 8 hand pumps, boxes of craft cider and the jewel in the crown of The Rook & Gaskill the shiny stainless steel of the 20 strong keg wall! Not the sort of thing you expect to find in an out of town pub, but this is no normal boozer. Appealing to locals, students and visitors alike, and with always a warm greeting from Landlord Paul, once you arrive there’s pretty much no reason to leave. A simply stunning range of craft beers are available and at a very reasonable price too, not to mention the great food offers and wood fired pizza oven. It still remains a traditional looking York pub, with low ceilings and beams but a refurbishment in 2018 has modernised the back of the pub somewhat, with open brickwork and light wood panelling. The toilets are clean and functional and their little Yarden provides some much needed space. It’s a long and thin area to the side of the building that’s covered and packed with comfy seating, maybe not the ideal outside garden but it uses what the building has to its maximum potential.
With regular events, quizzes, live sport and other entertainment The Rook has pretty much nailed down the perfect mix of what a proper traditional public house should be in these modern times, appealing to all as a welcoming community pub, as long as you’re over 18 or a dog! We wish Paul and his team every success at keeping this great pub alive and will visit as often as we can as the beer choice is always spot on. It’s well worth the little walk out of town to find this hidden gem and we’re very pleased to award our first “Without the Walls” pub a solid 5/5.