GAVIN AITCHISON welcomes a small pub that packs a lot in

WHAT a week it’s been for York pub-goers! After a fairly quiet start to the year, things have suddenly picked up, with two historic pubs reopening after refurbishment.

The Blue Boar in Castlegate opened on Wednesday in the building that was previously The Little John, and The Woolpack in Fawcett Street reopened last night.

We’ll return to the Blue Boar in the next week or two, but for now, let’s enjoy The Woolpack, which has been taken on by Paul Crossman and Jon Farrow (also of The Slip in Clementhorpe, The Volunteer Arms in Holgate and – in Paul’s case – The Swan in Bishopgate Street).

The Woolpack is one of three pubs in less than 50 yards in Fawcett Street, an abundance that dates back to the days when the Cattle Market (and its many thirsty workers) was just across the road. In fact until around 30 years ago, there was a fourth pub on the street – the Cattle Market Inn in the building that now houses Toto’s Italian restaurant.

The Woolpack is the smallest of the surviving ones but Paul and Jon have maximised the space by removing an internal partition wall and the pool table. There are new signs, new carpets, new furniture and newly painted walls, but the biggest difference is on the bar, which becomes the first in York to boast the entire range from Timothy Taylor’s brewery.

Their most famous ale, Landlord, is widely available in York but far less common are its stablemates Ram Tam, Boltmaker, Golden Best and Dark Mild.

It’s a bold move to give so much of the bar to one brewery, particularly as it strays from the ever-changing variety that so many modern drinkers like. But few would quibble over the quality of TT’s beers, and the guarantee of a good pint of it here may well draw in punters from further afield.

In any case, for those after something different, there will be rotating guest ales and one cider beside the Taylor’s products on the hand-pulls and – excitingly for its many avid fans – Blackout from Great Yorkshire Brewery will be permanently available on keg alongside Franziskaner, Leffe Blond, BelleVue Kriek and Thatcher’s Gold.

Overall, the pub will be broadly similar to The Volunteer Arms in Watson Street, successfully brought back from the brink of closure 18 months ago. There will be a TV in one half of the building, often showing live sport, but a quieter section at the other end of the bar.

There will be live music weekends and a darts board on one wall, with a ladies’ team ready and waiting and a mixed team likely to follow shortly – and a dominoes team on Mondays for good measure.

Scott Spence, who has worked at The Swan for several years, steps up to his first manager’s role here and says he is keen to get started, turning it into a community local, he says, offering good quality drinks.

All being well, by the time you read this, they should already be doing just that. See you there!

Shorts

• THE Deramore Arms in Heslington has an ale and live music festival from February 21 to 23. From 6pm on the Thursday, there is a “meet the brewer” and ale showcase night with Rob Franklin from Four Thorns brewery, which is based behind the pub.

On the Friday, the Grand Old Uke of York will perform at 7.30pm, and on the Saturday, See Through Eyes will perform at 9pm.

The following Thursday, February 28, from 6pm, there is a “meet the brewer” night with Leeds Brewery, and six Leeds beers will be on the bar.

• PIVNÍ in Patrick Pool is hosting its second beer and cheese night at 7.30pm on Monday, February 25. It’s £20 a head and staff promise exciting and rare beers.

• TREBOOM Brewery at Shipton by Beninborough has teamed up with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to produce a charity beer using bog myrtle. There’s a competition to name it, closing on Monday at 5pm. To enter, send a 15-character name to media@ywt.org.uk

Follow Gavin @pintsofview