View Full Version : A nice day out in York
After being locked down for months, in one form or another, we decided to take advantage of our ability to cross the border into England again and visit somewhere we'd been wanting to go to for some time, plus do some Christmas shopping...
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Nice little pub we had some lunch in:
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Afternoon tea at Bettys:
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What a superb old-fashioned tearoom, and an overall great day out!:cool:
Marco.
Good pics. Civilised living
The Black Adder
08-12-2020, 07:23
I love Bettys. Been there loads of times.
I'm quite envious. Nothing is open here being in T3.
I miss cake.
rmcin626
08-12-2020, 08:43
Nice photos , a day out is always good, still another few days before we can go anywhere
Ali Tait
08-12-2020, 09:07
Some nice places there, was working there for a few weeks recently.
brian2957
08-12-2020, 09:41
Love York , it's one of our favourite places, and that's our favourite place for a cake and a cuppa . We were just talking the other day about another visit once this is all over :)
Cheers, guys. I was a lovely day out for both of us, but Del in particular was dying to see some shops again after months of being cooped up - and she absolutely adores Christmas, was in her element in that Christmas shop, lol!:eek::D
Never been to York properly before, and would go back in a shot! If the traffic is ok, it's 2 hours away, which is nothing in the Brabster. The Park & Ride system is great - straight into Grimston Bar, park your car for free, and it's £6 each return on the bus!:)
There were no shortage of folks milling about, and so the shops were pretty full, albeit that controlled entry was in place, to facilitate social distancing. Staff were all really friendly and cheery, especially in Betty's tea shop, where I enjoyed a lovely bit of vanilla slice and some spiced Christmas tea. It was so good we bought some to take home!
...as I did with some German and Polish beers from The House of Trembling Madness (just a selection, as I couldn't get them all in):
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Looking forward to enjoying those over Christmas!:cool:
Marco.
Firebottle
08-12-2020, 10:42
Good haul of beers there Marco :cool:
That Vanilla Slice looked fabulous, we are really missing going out as also in T3 :(
anthonyTD
08-12-2020, 10:46
Nice picks, and york looks lovely, can't remember if i have ever been.
Some great looking beers too, perhaps i may sample a few soon. :eyebrows::D
Lol - do you want me to bring you a couple down?:)
Marco.
Good haul of beers there Marco :cool:
That Vanilla Slice looked fabulous, we are really missing going out as also in T3 :(
Cheers, Alan. It was fab - proper gear, lol!
Yeah, hopefully we can all enjoy a bit more freedom soon.
Marco.
Had a dirty weekend in York some years back :eyebrows:
Stayed in a B&B just outside the walls near one of the bars, the Minster was amazing.
Yesh, I saw the 'Roy wiz 'ere 1974' graffiti scrolled on the bus shelter!:eyebrows:
Is 'she that was pumped' still around?:D
Marco.
Yesh, I saw the 'Roy wiz 'ere 1974' graffiti scrolled on the bus shelter!:eyebrows:
Is 'she that was pumped' still around?:D
Marco.
I was only 15 in '74, this was early 2000s I think? Certainly before phones had cameras.
I've moved on a few times since that weekend companion but I'm still in contact with a couple of past 'conquests' ;)
Lol... Quality:eyebrows:
Marco.
anthonyTD
08-12-2020, 16:14
Aye, that be nice!:)
Lol - do you want me to bring you a couple down?:)
Marco.
Lol - daftee, sorted... See how good I am to you!:D
Marco.
prestonchipfryer
08-12-2020, 17:54
Nothing like a good day out to blow the cobwebs away and have some quality time. You must be feeling better after visiting such a lovely place. :)
Thanks, John. Yes, definitely. Such things are good for the soul, and it also puts you in the mood for Christmas:)
Marco.
Beobloke
08-12-2020, 23:38
Looks like a lovely day out! I haven’t been to York for many years but it’s definitely somewhere I’d like to go back to.
Pigmy Pony
09-12-2020, 17:01
Me and Mrs. P are considering going to York next Monday, but I'm not even sure if the current rules will allow it. I'm not too bothered, my Christmas present is in the bag, and for everyone else there's always BM Bargains :santa:
Very nice Marco. I used to regularly visit there with work and around this time of year we'd often find an excuse to finish early and get a bit scran and a few beers somewhere. It is a nice city and I recall one time going for a late train home when I was quite well served and walking through the quiet town with the streets covered in frost. Even in mynhalf cut state I thought how pretty it looked and stopped to take a few pics...
Easy to see why the Harry Potter movies took The Shambles as inspiration for Diagon Alley. We visited universal studios a few years later and they've made a whole area to look it... snow covered rooftops the lot in the Florida heat. Quite mad.
Me and Mrs. P are considering going to York next Monday, but I'm not even sure if the current rules will allow it. I'm not too bothered, my Christmas present is in the bag, and for everyone else there's always BM Bargains :santa:
I'd thoroughly recommend it mate, and I'm sure that Anita would love it, too. It's a nice vibe. The House of Trembling Madness is a nice place for a quality and unpretentious lunch (if you go, try the Goulash, it's fab), and they have a great choice of beers, but Betty's, for afternoon tea, is simply a MUST!!:)
Marco.
Very nice Marco. I used to regularly visit there with work and around this time of year we'd often find an excuse to finish early and get a bit scran and a few beers somewhere. It is a nice city and I recall one time going for a late train home when I was quite well served and walking through the quiet town with the streets covered in frost. Even in mynhalf cut state I thought how pretty it looked and stopped to take a few pics...
Easy to see why the Harry Potter movies took The Shambles as inspiration for Diagon Alley. We visited universal studios a few years later and they've made a whole area to look it... snow covered rooftops the lot in the Florida heat. Quite mad.
Lol... Nice tale! York is defo on our list now of 'charming places to go', especially around Christmas. Chester, Shrewsbury, Hay-on-Wye and Ledbury also come under that category, and which for us are all within reasonable reach:)
Marco.
Pigmy Pony
10-12-2020, 18:04
I'd thoroughly recommend it mate, and I'm sure that Anita would love it, too. It's a nice vibe. The House of Trembling Madness is a nice place for a quality and unpretentious lunch (if you go, try the Goulash, it's fab), and they have a great choice of beers, but Betty's, for afternoon tea, is simply a MUST!!:)
Marco.
Last time we visited York was about 8 or 9 years ago, on a run out from Motorcycle Action Group's "Farmyard Party" at Helmsley. We had lunch at some place, and I had goulash, so maybe it was the same place. I'll look out for Betty's, sounds like our kind of place :)
Then me and my mate went up the steps to the top of York Minster - great views, but quite a workout for the legs! I'd probably struggle with it these days.
Last time we visited York was about 8 or 9 years ago, on a run out from Motorcycle Action Group's "Farmyard Party" at Helmsley. We had lunch at some place, and I had goulash, so maybe it was the same place. I'll look out for Betty's, sounds like our kind of place :)
Betty's is simply tremendous - everything a proper traditional tea room should be, and the service is superb!:)
Then me and my mate went up the steps to the top of York Minster - great views, but quite a workout for the legs! I'd probably struggle with it these days.
We wanted to do that, but didn't have time, as it was primarily a shopping trip (for Del) and to have a nice lunch and afternoon tea. We plan on doing York Minster next time.
The steps shouldn't be too much of a problem, as we're both reasonably fit (especially Del, as she's always running around the place, with seemingly boundless amounts of energy, lol), and we've both been up the Dom cathedral in Cologne, which has 533 steps and is 157 meters high...
She had to slip off her strappy high-heeled sandals and go in her bare feet though, to make it up [it was summer], as the steps are quite tricky, especially after copious quantities of Prosecco!:D
Info on Dom cathedral here: https://www.cologne-tourism.com/see-experience/cologne-cathedral/tower-ascent/#:~:text=The%20cathedral's%20visitor%20platform,to p%20of%20the%20South%20Tower.
Marco.
Pigmy Pony
14-12-2020, 22:22
When we got near York this morning, we saw signs for Scarborough, and i said "Oh, I've never been there", so off we went to Scarborough. Well that's three hours of my life I won't get back. So we only got to York about 3pm. Still nice though, and quite festive as it went dark. Shame there wasn't time to eat anywhere though. Saw that "Bettys" place and the queue outside was about 20yards long, so sod that.
No such queues at Burger King. I got an "Angus Steakhouse" double burger, with fries and a big cup of Fanta. See, I'm a foodie too, but not precious about it, as you are about to be :ner:
When we got near York this morning, we saw signs for Scarborough, and i said "Oh, I've never been there", so off we went to Scarborough. Well that's three hours of my life I won't get back. So we only got to York about 3pm. Still nice though, and quite festive as it went dark. Shame there wasn't time to eat anywhere though. Saw that "Bettys" place and the queue outside was about 20yards long, so sod that.
No such queues at Burger King. I got an "Angus Steakhouse" double burger, with fries and a big cup of Fanta. See, I'm a foodie too, but not precious about it, as you are about to be :ner:Was that not an anus double steak burger [emoji23]
Named as it is made from cow anus and it arrives rapidly at yours after eating.
Actually, I quite fancy one.. Been a while
When we got near York this morning, we saw signs for Scarborough, and i said "Oh, I've never been there", so off we went to Scarborough. Well that's three hours of my life I won't get back. So we only got to York about 3pm. Still nice though, and quite festive as it went dark. Shame there wasn't time to eat anywhere though. Saw that "Bettys" place and the queue outside was about 20yards long, so sod that.
No such queues at Burger King. I got an "Angus Steakhouse" double burger, with fries and a big cup of Fanta. See, I'm a foodie too, but not precious about it, as you are about to be :ner:
Lol... Your mistake there was not to make a plan and stick to it! You should've left the house with the sole intention of having a day out in York, and left EARLY - that's the key to these things, as the day just flies by otherwise. I hate being limited for time, or rushed, on a nice day out:)
I should've mentioned something about Betty's, which is key at this time of year, in reference to the queues outside... The vast majority of that is for their shop, with people buying gifts, as they sell some really nice food and drink stuff. Usually not much of the queue is for the cafe, so if you go to the door, a member of staff will escort you to a table (presuming that there's one free), and you'll bypass all the other daftees!
Plus, should you wish to buy anything from the shop, as we did [two tins of their lovely spiced Christmas tea], when you're at your table, the staff will fetch it from the shop and you can pay for it at the table. Just one to bear in mind in future if you go back:cool:
Marco.
Pigmy Pony
15-12-2020, 18:28
No, I don't consider going to Scarborough to be a mistake, it could just as easily have been really good. Just wasn't. We've never been ones to plan our days/trips/holidays, preferring to "wing it". Sometimes it works out great, sometimes not. I find careful planning to be safe, and so a bit 'meh'. Give it a go sometime, you might like it :)
I prefer "I've been to Scarborough Christmas shopping, and it was shit", to "I read somewhere that Scarborough is shit for Christmas shopping, so I won't bother".
We can go back to York any time, it's 90 minutes away. And the Civic has the legs for those kind of runs.
No, I don't consider going to Scarborough to be a mistake, it could just as easily have been really good. Just wasn't. We've never been ones to plan our days/trips/holidays, preferring to "wing it". Sometimes it works out great, sometimes not. I find careful planning to be safe, and so a bit 'meh'. Give it a go sometime, you might like it :)
I prefer "I've been to Scarborough Christmas shopping, and it was shit", to "I read somewhere that Scarborough is shit for Christmas shopping, so I won't bother".
We can go back to York any time, it's 90 minutes away. And the Civic has the legs for those kind of runs.
Yeah sure, we're usually also the spontaneous types [although Scarborough and most other such English resorts aren't really our thing], so wouldn't have been on our radar.
However, when it's a long trip by car (2 hours or more), unless I know exactly where I'm going, say like up to Glasgow or down towards Cardiff, to visit a friend of mine who lives there, I like to be super-organised and well prepared.
Therefore, that means programming the sat-nav with all the addresses I need, ensuring that Del's phone is fully charged and that the car itself is 'sorted': tyre pressures checked, water and oil levels, there's a full tank of fuel, etc, and that I have everything necessary, not only for the trip ahead, but in case of an emergency - so that means warm blankets in the car and plenty of fluids to drink.
You can never be too well prepared, especially when travelling on roads during the winter!:cool:
Marco.
Pigmy Pony
15-12-2020, 19:27
Yeah sure, we're usually also the spontaneous types [although Scarborough and most other such English resorts aren't really our thing], so wouldn't have been on our radar.
However, when it's a long trip by car (2 hours or more), unless I know exactly where I'm going, say like up to Glasgow or down towards Cardiff, to visit a friend of mine who lives there, I like to be super-organised and well prepared.
Therefore, that means programming the sat-nav with all the addresses we need, ensuring that Del's phone is fully charged and that the car itself is 'sorted': tyre pressures checked, water and oil levels, there's a full tank of fuel, etc, and that I have everything necessary, not only for the trip ahead, but in case of an emergency - so that means warm blankets in the car and plenty of fluids to drink.
You can never be too well prepared, especially when travelling on roads during the winter!:cool:
Marco.
All of that goes without saying, but I don't call that careful planning, just common sense. And is probably why the Civic has covered 150,000 miles to all corners of Britain and much of Europe, without missing a beat. No, I'm talking about setting off somewhere and ending up somewhere else :)
Yeah we do that all the time abroad, and sometimes also here. The difference with the York trip was that it was somewhere Del had *wanted* to visit for ages, and also to certain shops, so to do it right and ensure that she wasn't disappointed, the whole focus had to be on that, without any extraneous distractions:)
What you have to bear in mind about Del, is that when she sets her heart on something that she's been told will happen, she *expects* it to happen and hates disappointments, so if I'd 'spontaneously' taken a detour to Scarborough (or anywhere else), and not only was it shit, but prevented her from seeing the place that she wanted to see, I'd be in big trouble!:uhho: :wah: :acid:
Marco.
Beobloke
16-12-2020, 09:19
Therefore, that means programming the sat-nav with all the addresses I need...
Sat nav? SAT NAV??
Given your aversion to technology that can track you, I had you down as much more of an ‘AA Road Atlas of Great Britain 2020” kind of guy!
;)
Lol - it was part of the Kenwood head unit (and JBL sound system) I installed in the car. I know that, realistically, you can't completely shun technology, but you can limit its use and only entertain that which is genuinely an asset to YOU:)
But otherwise try and live without it, and most importantly, NEVER become a SLAVE to it!!:nono:
Marco.
Pigmy Pony
16-12-2020, 19:31
Lol - it was part of the Kenwood head unit (and JBL sound system) I installed in the car. I know that, realistically, you can't completely shun technology, but you can limit its use and only entertain that which is genuinely an asset to YOU:)
But otherwise try and live without it, and most importantly, NEVER become a SLAVE to it!!:nono:
Marco.
I will never become a slave to my Sat Nav. If it tried to make me go somewhere else I'd just tell it to fuck off, and launch it out the window :(
I know you like to live dangerously, but were you not worried that the powers-that-be would know about your shopping trip? All they would have to do then is call up all the CCTV footage of York city centre to find that you visited Betty's Cafe. Unless you paid cash they could find through your card transaction just what you had there. If you get targeted with promotional offers , like 2-for-1 vanilla slices, you'll only have yourself to blame :)
Lol... I wasn't doing anything wrong. We in Wales weren't on lockdown and were (still are until 28th Dec, when there'll be a new lockdown) allowed to visit Tier-2 areas of England, which York was (and I believe still is), so all is cool, shweety:)
Marco.
P.S Lol!;)
Vinyl turner
17-12-2020, 00:36
Reading this with interest and glad you enjoyed the City. I'm local so unfortunately I tend to take it for granted, until I read something like your report, which makes me stop and think about how lucky to have such a place on our doorstep.
I presume you acquired your beer supply from the cafe/bar where you had lunch ? If so, on another trip when you are at Betty's - take a saunter up Stonegate which is opposite Betty's and next to the church. Up there you will find the original House of Trembling Madness, where if you enter and go through to the back of the shop, you'll be confronted with a huge selection of beers from all corners of the World.
If Goulash is your thing - seek out The Blue Barbakan - which is on Walmgate and specialises in Eastern European food. The smell of cooking in there is intoxicating. They also have a splendid selection of home made cakes.
While in York you could pamper your vinyl itch by having a gander in Rebound Records on Gillygate (pronounced as Jilly, as in Cooper !). Almost opposite Rebound is Sound Organisation (SO) looking in the windows may keep you amused while waiting for the traffic lights to change !
Or, half way from the Park & Ride on the road into York is Vinyl Eddie. Both are worth checking out if you have time (well, maybe not if you're only there for a day).
With good food, good beer and vinyl what more do you need ? - if you get bored of that there is always the rest of the City to explore and it is one of the top 10 destinations in the World.
Although not originally from York, I am just a little biased.
Patrick Dixon
17-12-2020, 20:08
Lol... I wasn't doing anything wrong. We in Wales weren't on lockdown and were (still are until 28th Dec, when there'll be a new lockdown) allowed to visit Tier-2 areas of England, which York was (and I believe still is), so all is cool, shweety:)
Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
Indeed, and normally we don't, but after having been locked down for months, decided to have a nice day out to cheer ourselves up, and took all the necessary precautions - we even both wore masks outside for the whole time, as well as where it was mandatory:)
Great post, Mark. I'll comment later!:cool:
Marco.
Went yesterday to collect the Tandberg tape deck I'd left for repair on my last trip, at an engineer who lives locally, and this time took the opportunity of seeing some more of the beautiful city of York:
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The Ancient Guild Hall of the Company of Merchant Adventurers, which was just stunning:
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Imagine having a NEBO meet in here :eek: ...
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Bet the acoustics would be amazing!!
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Enjoyed a spot of lunch here at the Lamb & Lion Inn - superb food and selection of real ales:
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The art gallery... Didn't get a chance to have a look inside, but will do hopefully sometime next year!:cool:
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killie99
22-12-2020, 21:50
You’re lucky you didn’t get your collar felt by the local constabulary https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-55409299
Nah, the rule was you were allowed a drink if you had a 'substantial meal', which I did, with ONE pint of beer:)
Otherwise, pubs wouldn't serve you alcohol. Plus, I didn't go all the way to York just to have a pint of beer! I went to collect my tape deck, then had some lunch. I was also lucky to have managed to get there the day before Wales was locked down!
Up until then, we were allowed to travel into Tier 1 and 2 regions of England, the latter which applied to York.
Marco.
killie99
23-12-2020, 09:10
If you think what you did wasn't against the rules then that's fine but I'm pretty sure the advice has been not to travel from Wales to tier 1 or 2 unless you need to.
Yes, that may have been the advice, but it wasn't the rule. There's a difference between 'advice' and rules, so let's not confuse the two. Although I may not have followed the advice at the time (as I had things to do, which was permissible), I certainly didn't break any rules.
Anyway, let's just leave it there now:)
Marco.
Pigmy Pony
23-12-2020, 13:47
Far too much to see for even a day, never mind the 3 hours we had. So Mrs. P wants us to do a proper visit next year, and stop over :)
Absolutely, mate. I've been twice now and still not seen it all. My advice would be to go over a long weekend. Arrive, say on the Friday evening (or earlier if possible), and have that time, and all of the Saturday and Sunday to see everything you want, before leaving on the Monday.
In terms of accommodation, I'd thoroughly recommend the Lamb and Lion Inn: https://www.lambandlioninnyork.com/
Not seen the rooms, which I'm sure would be lovely, but the food is great, and there's a quaint little bar, which serves a variety of local real ales, plus it's bang in the middle of the city and near all the shops and attractions (art gallery just across the road). I'm sure Anita and you would love it:cool:
Betty's will hopefully be quieter by then, too!;)
Marco.
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