A pub on the rise

The Phoenix success story comes courtesy of a wonderfully sympathetic restoration by owners the Unique Pub Company, and the committed stewardship of Barry and Barbara.

Eighteen months ago, Unique rightly decided that the pub in George Street, York, needed a makeover. This could have been a disaster - chrome fittings, distressed pinewood, we've seen it so many times.

Mercifully, Unique recognised what they had in the 1830s pub, built by Tadcaster firm Bromet. And the restoration has seen the Phoenix beat off competition from across the country to win the Campaign for Real Ale/English Heritage Conservation Award.

Chairman of the judging panel Dr Steve Parissien commended Unique and designer Richard Wellock for a "sensitive and careful restoration" done in consultation with the council, English Heritage and the Victorian Society.

"The work done highlights the many surviving historic elements of this Grade II-listed pub in an unassuming and unpretentious way," Dr Parissien said.

"Inside, there is much to commend: chocolate-painted bar counter, doors, skirtings and surround: the cream-painted floorboards and repro Victorian grate in the public bar."

Barbara said: "It's been kept in the style of an 1830s pub. Plain wallpaper, wooden flooring on the bar side, clean panelling."

She is delighted that Unique resisted the urge to theme or modernise. "That didn't want to happen at the Phoenix. It needed to stay as an old pub, and not an olde worlde pub with horse brasses, but a traditional alehouse."

Before they took over last November, Barbara ran the Ship at Acaster Malbis and Barry was a steward at Pike Hills golf course. As soon as they walked into the Phoenix "we knew it was right for us. We fell in love with the place".

Trade is building quickly thanks to their convivial welcome and well-kept beer: John Smith's, plus two real ales, currently Bombardier and Ruddles. A darts team has been added to the dominoes team and, true to the alehouse tradition, there are no plans to introduce food.

Barbara and Barry's work has led the Phoenix to be named York Camra's Town Pub of the Season for summer 2001.

"We're all on a high at the moment," said Barbara. Congratulations, and, as befits the twin award, doubles all round.

REMEMBER when Bar Talk revealed that York Brewery's second pub in High Petergate was all set to be called the Centurion Inn?

It was another Pulitzer Prize-winning example of investigative journalism. So you will not be surprised that next month the pub will open under the name... The Three Legged Mare.

This late suggestion so gripped brewery boss Tony Thomson that he instantly despatched the Centurion in its favour.

We must thank James Spriggs of Portland Street, York, for the name. He wrote directly to Tony, suggesting that Centurion Inn was "a little too obvious".

The Three Legged Mare was the nickname for the three-post Tyburn Scaffold on Knavesmire, writes James.

"This was a triangular-shaped gibbet allowing multiple hangings, the poor sufferers being seated on the back of a cart, and left hanging when the cart was driven forwards."

The brewery's first pub The Last Drop Inn celebrates Turpin's last drop on the scaffold, of course.

In his letter to Tony, James unconvincingly continues: "I'm not particularly keen to celebrate or condone such gruesome and degrading spectacles as hangings (as I am sure you are not either!)"

Don't be so sure, James. "It's pretty gruesome. We think it's a good name," Tony said. "There won't be another Three Legged Mare."

We look forward to seeing the pub sign.

For coming up with the name, James wins a year's free membership to the York Brewery Club for him and wife Sally, and an invitation to the VIP opening night.

We will be covering that opening, natch. And the launch of the brewery's third pub, if that ever happens, provisionally titled The Hung, Drawn And Quartered And Left On A Spike For Birds To Peck At Inn.