Our recent gallery of lost York pubs will have rekindled many memories.

Here, we focus on just one: The Coach and Horses in Nessgate.

The pub is shown above in 1965, but it had a history dating back far further.

According to Hugh Murray's Directory of York Pubs, it was built in the early 1900s, after the demolition of a pub of the same name, on the same site, in 1904.

It was, for many years, one of York's biggest pubs and it was widely known as The Big Coach, to distinguish it from its namesake pub in Micklegate (which in turn was known as The Little Coach).

This picture shows the music room in 1954, which had been the first room to be altered during a refurbishment. Capacity then was 250, including 155 seats.

York Press:

 

This image shows the bar counter area in 1962, following another refit. We reported: "Extensive alterations to the building have resulted in a spaciousness which is appreciated by both the staff and the customers."

York Press:

 

Within a few years though, the pub was up for sale. This picture was taken in February 1970.

York Press:

A few years later, in 1977, it was up for sale again, with plans to turn it into flats and offices. This picture was taken that year:

 

York Press:

 

The building was sold as Ousegate House in 1978, and today it houses Thomas Cook and Royal Bank of Scotland.

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