I ALWAYS think the best entrance to York is from Bootham, heading through the medieval Bar and down into High Petergate towards the Minster.

The sense of history is instant and enthralling. And, crucially for readers of this column, there is no shortage of good pubs.

I made fleeting reference a few weeks ago to The Three Legged Mare, so thought I ought to return and do it justice.

This was one of my regular haunts when I lived at Clifton Green but, rather regrettably, I’ve been far less often since I moved to the other side of the city.

The pub opened eight years ago, the second in the York Brewery empire, and was touted as a modern pub, a feel that it manages to maintain well.

It’s lighter, brighter and more chic than many traditional watering holes, but remains unmistakeably a pub rather than a bar.

The comfy chairs and airy conservatory all make it a pleasant place, either by day or night, while the vast wooden tables are the ideal place to laze away a Sunday afternoon with the papers.

As for the beers, the natural choice is to go native and opt for one of the many ever-endearing York Brewery tipples, including the pub’s exclusive offering, Wonkey Donkey.

Behind the bar though, there is also an impressive selection of Belgian beers so, in the interests of variety, I opted for a bottle of Timmerman Kriek, a 4.0 per cent ABV cherry beer. Pungent, sweet and very, very enjoyable – but given the sweetness, I wouldn’t fancy many more than one.

The pub offers light lunches and tapas, from 12pm to 3pm and 6pm to 9pm respectively, and there is live music on Sunday nights and an enjoyable quiz on Mondays.

I won’t tell you how embarrassingly badly I fared when I tried last week!

*I WROTE two weeks ago about the Micklegate Run, but omitted to mention its latest addition.

The Scene, which has opened half way up on the south side, adds a new dimension to York’s eating and drinking circuit, with TVs beside every table.

I was sceptical about the concept, but went along last week to watch England v Belarus and was pleasantly surprised. I can’t say I’d enjoy a meal out with the TV blaring away, but for sport it seems an excellent option.

*REGULARS got the chance to grill the experts at one York pub last week.

Top bods from Batemans Brewery in Lincolnshire were at the Waggon and Horses in Lawrence Street for a special “meet the brewer” evening.

Paul and Mandy Marshall took over the pub 17 months ago and have revived its fortunes, and punters enjoyed the chance to chat to the people who brew the beers behind the bar.

Our picture shows, from the left, Jaclyn Bateman, marketing director of Batemans, Waggon and Horses landlord Paul Marshall, Martin Cullimore, Bateman’s head brewer and Dale Huntington, Bateman's profit partnership manager.