Brigantes

kjhannah

By far one of the best in York! 8th September 2008

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Brigantes has been open for a few years now and it is only just beginning to be on the 'real ale radar' which is a shame as right from the start it had potential to be one of, if not the best, drinking establishment in York.

Now CAMRA Pub of the Year 2008, and rightly so, this pub/bar/braserie ticks all the right boxes for me. Excellent, well kept real ales, featuring both local and regional breweries. If you see a beer you fancy, try it there and then as you'll be guaranteed it won’t be on tomorrow!

There is also an excellent selection of Belgian, continental and world beers and lagers, both on draught and in bottles. Supporting this is also an excellent choice of wines and spirits.

One thing I can say is that it is probably the best place in York to eat. Just have the posh pie and you'll agree with me! Real Chips and a 'sausage of the day' just make this place outstanding. Food is of excellent quality, presented well but not overly fussy and portions are good, so you won’t feel let down by the price.

Yes I know its on Micklegate - traditionally avoided by anyone that wants a quality beer due to its 'Micklegate Run', and sometimes considered 'the wrong side of the river', but I urge you to programme this into your route as if you don’t you'll wander why you'd missed it!

johnboyd

BEER! 29th August 2008

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this place is great as it has all the beers i love from all over the world. just start at one end of the bar and work your way across!

its not too loud here so good for having a laugh and a chat, it is a bit old fashioned but you can forgive it that for having decent beer on tap.

the food is quiet good and we often eat here, ive had to complain about the food a few times but it seems to be getting better. generally my food has been overcooked but my mates are always ok! but im still giving it five stars for the beer!

oogywawa

An oasis in a cultural desert... 21st June 2008

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The Brigantes in Micklegate - now there's the perfect definition of an oxymoron. A convivial beer oasis slap bang in the middle of Darwin's Waiting Room...!!

For those living near to Micklegate, it must of been a memorable day when this place opened. A bar dedicated to bringing the great unwashed as big and varied a draught beer collection as possible: Draught UK Real Ales, Continental Lagers, Wheat Beers, Fruit Beers as well as a tidy bottle collection and Wines galore. In Micklegate of all places they've done the unthinkable and not even employed a bouncer on weekends. Why - because they realise that the brain doners that frequent the area just aren't interested in what they have to offer and that good ale and good company are the perfect turn-off for the "lager, food then vomit" crowd.

Why then only 3 stars, well because the Beer wasn't on top form. The Tim Taylor's Landlord was not - well Landlord - just some nondescript acetyl mess and if that's TT's fault then don't sell it for the sake of a name. The Leeds Brewery Midnight Bell was better but not as good as say KoKo's across town.

On a good day this is easily a 4 star pub, but not on my visit. Congrats though for what they've done so far...

mazphd

The sophisticated end of Micklegate 14th September 2007

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oooo a surprise awaits you at the top of Micklegate if you manage to get past the swarms of hens and stags, there at the top of the hill (opposite a bar salaciously called 'the bedroom', oh ye gods(!)) there resides the Brigantes.

This pub/bar has not been open for long, and its main selling point was that it was a non-smoking venue amongst the smoke filled quarters of the densely smoky chain bars. Here was a venue that 1) sells a great range of beer and ales and 2) you can breathe!

now the air continues to be fresh as it ever was and the ales and beers are still there!

So if you want to escape the constant pump pump pump of bar brawly life that is the mickelgate run in york this is the place for you. Their food menu is pretty nifty too, with a really nice restaurant area upstairs. They have a range of higher quality 'pub food' including thai fish cakes, fish in beer batter, pies, burgers etc.

In short, no loud music, no-one likely to ruin your new shoes, no yobbish behaviour or crowds and a nice venue to hang out with your friends, get a bit tipsy and still be able to hear each other at the end of the night. Oh and on your way out you get to laugh at those on worse end of their mickelgate run evening... a treat in respects!

i'm giving it 2 stars, because there is something a little 'old man-y' about it, and the last glass of wine i was served was corked - but this was immediately rectified by a more than acceptable pinot noir.