IT’S pretty simple really. If you’re not a football fan, then York’s newest pub is unlikely to become your local. If you are, and you like good beer, then you will be in your element.

In fact, when the World Cup begins in eight weeks’ time, this could well be one of the places to be in York. There are TV screens everywhere you look and the beer range is outstanding.

The green and silver décor may be a bit garish but The Micklegate does football and beer very well indeed, and if that combo is for you, then the chances are this pub will be too.

On the opening night on Wednesday, the pub was showing Manchester City v Sunderland and the Copa del Rey Final between Barcelona and Real Madrid, a couple of small teams from Spain. Other screens showed Sky Sports News, in all its interminable excitability, with rolling updates from Everton v Crystal Palace.

Two colleagues and I positioned ourselves by the bar, with good sightlines to all three options and within easy reach of the beer.

Football fans are not terribly well served when it comes to beer, it should be said. Corporate sponsorship deals mean bland lagers are promoted relentlessly, and many football-focussed pubs seem happy to go along with that lamentable flow.

York City’s Pitchside bar, indeed, is a notable rarity for those after a choice of good beers at the ground.

Fans can have no complaints here though. The Micklegate has a fantastic range, with more than 20 beers on tap and around 60 bottled or canned options.

On Wednesday there were four cask ales from York Brewery (Spring Fever, Guzzler, Centurion’s Ghost and the excellent seasonal special, Finnishing Touch), two from Thornbridge in Derbyshire (Sequoia and Lord Marples), and also Courage Directors and Bombardier.

On keg, there was Affligem from Belgium, Krušovice from the Czech Republic, Revisionist Craft Lager, Vedett Extra White, Heineken Extra Cold, Tiger, Shipyard Pale, Estrella Damm, Amstel, Fosters, Kronenbourg, Staropramen, John Smith’s. If none of those take your fancy, there was also Guinness and four ciders, including the regular and dark fruit versions of Strongbow.

Those with decent memories will recall this place as Harry’s Bar, or perhaps The Bedroom. More recently it was the Bohemia lap-dancing club, but it has now been renovated, rebranded and reopened by Amber Taverns as part of its expansion across the north.

They don’t do food, and it will be interesting to see whether they are able to sustain the full variety of beers on the bar long term, but for football fans after pints as well as points, this is well worth a try.

@pintsofview