A wonderfully unchanging York pub has taken a top award – 15 years after it last won.
The Swan on Bishopgate Street has been named the Pub Of The Year by York Camra.
This thriving community hub last took the honour in 2009.
Owner Paul Crossman revealed the news on Facebook. He said: “Absolutely delighted that the lovely folk of York Camra have chosen The Swan as their branch Pub of the Year!
“It’s a wonderful accolade that we last achieved 15 years ago in 2009, since when so much has changed while we have hopefully remained a reassuring constant on our little street corner.
“Many thanks to all who voted for us, and also of course to our absolutely fabulous staff, customers and wonderful indie brewers and other supppliers, all of whom are essential to making our beloved pub as magical as it is!”
The presentation of the award will be some time in the summer.
The Swan was built as a beer house and grocery in 1861, and was bought by the Tetley brewery in 1899.
The brewery redesigned the interior in 1936, to have a large drinking lobby next to the bar, with two rooms off – the public bar at the front and the smoking room at the back.
It has stayed like that ever since. And the wonderfully-preserved Grade II listed inter-war interior is now a rare gem.
Paul, who also runs the Slip Inn and Volunteer Arms, is a powerful advocate for British pubs. He’s co-founder and chairman of the Campaign For Pubs, set up in the aftermath of the pandemic, which wrought havoc on the industry.