Take a stroll from down the narrow streets of Stonegate towards the River Ouse and you’ll come across Ye Olde Starre Inne, reputed to be the oldest licensed pub in the city of York. And like all pubs that have stood the test of time, it certainly has some very interesting stories to tell.  

Come with us as we take a closer look at one of our most unusual pubs, Ye Olde Starre Inne, and find it why this curious little place must be on your city ‘to visit’ list. And who better to take us on a guided tour? Why General Manager John Arnold of course! 

Want to see more Greene King pubs in York and the surrounding area? Head to our pub finder now to locate the nearest the perfect resting stop near to you.  

History of Ye Olde Starre Inn, York 

Built back in 1644, Ye Olde Starre Inne is a Grade II listed building full of character, with big open fireplaces cosy rooms and beautiful stained-glass panels everywhere. The ‘Old Star’ in the pubs name is said to be a tribute to King Charles I, but unfortunately for the then-landlord, it was invaded by Roundheads and the cellar was used as a hospital and mortuary during the Civil War. It was sold to a new owner shortly after the war for just £250.  

The people of York usually access Ye Olde Starre Inne through its stable yards, but when more buildings were added to this area, it cut the pub off from the streets. The famous sign above Stonegate was built the 1730s to coax visitors and locals back to the pub via the snickelway, and the landlord paid the princely sum of 25 pence a year for this privilege.  

At the end of the snickelway was once a well that provided the only source of clean water around for many generations, and this also supplied the pub’s own brewhouse. The well isn’t the only curious feature of this unusual pub: the rest of the courtyard is said to have an unusual acoustic feature, and on a clear day, the laughs and chatter from here can be heard from the very top of the York Minster. 

Things you’ll find at Ye Olde Starre Inn, York

Here in the 21st century, you’ll be pleased to know Ye Olde Starre Inn’s kitted out with all the pub facilities you know and love, including three beer gardens (one of which boasts great views of the famous York Minster). It’s one of the many dog-friendly pubs in York, so you can bring your four-legged friend along too and explore the beautiful space inside. “There’s loads of little nooks and crannies in the pub, and lots of places that you could go and sit. In the stained glass room, you can sit and just forget about the world. You can immerse yourself in the history with the bar, and the fireplace. In the winter, everyone sits and drinks mulled wine, and our courtyards are absolutely amazing in the summer; you get to hear the bells from the York Minister, and the views are beautiful.” 

But how to get there? Take a wander down Stonegate passing a menagerie of independent clothing stores and fun little gift shops until you see a sign for Ye Olde Starre Inn stretching across the street above your head. There you’ll find an archway and an alleyway (commonly known as a ‘snickelway’ in York) leading to the pub. It’s the perfect place to escape and put your feet up for a little while, come rain or shine, and John loves the face that local residents and visitors are still discovering this hidden gem of a pub for the first time: “We’ve had guests that have been coming to York for years and years, or came to York to go to university and are only finding us now.” 

Meet Ye Olde Starre Inne’s ghostly residents

Aside from the great atmosphere, perfect location and tasty choice of food and drink, there’s one more reason why you must visit Ye Olde Starre Inne when you’re in York... and it’s a spooky one. This unusual is home to not one, but a whole collection of spirits, making it a well-known ‘haunt’ (if you pardon the pun) for ghost hunters across the UK.  

Pubgoers and staff alike have reported lights flickering, chairs moving and strange noises through the night, but which ghost is the culprit? The cellar of the pub is said to be haunted by injured soldiers from the war, whose cries of pain can be still heard hundreds of years later. The rest of the bar is said to frequented by a WWI soldier and his love, who tragically never reunited and wander the rooms looking for each other.  

Possibly the most unusual ghost to inhabit Ye Olde Starre Inne is not a human at all, but two black cats who are thought to have been entombed in a wall. To this day, dogs visiting the pub often growl and bark at one specific area of the bar. But is it all hearsay? Not if you count John’s many conversations with his guests and his own experiences. “Last month I had a gentleman ask me if there’s a black cat in the pub and he’s one of many people who have asked us that or thought they’d seen a cat,” he remembers, “And then two years ago, I had a couple who were having a drink in the side garden. I was collecting glasses near them and they said ‘excuse me, do you have a little boy upstairs’ to which I answered ‘no, that’s just the office’. The pub has an attic with a small window, and they were convinced they’d seen a small boy looking out over the beer garden.” 

“Obviously our cellar is known to be haunted, and a lot of our team have heard noises like gasping sounds down there, especially the girls. Sometimes when we turn the lights off at night or when we come into the pub in the morning you can feel something on the back of your neck. It happens so often it’s just normal to us really.” 

Food and drink at Ye Olde Starre Inne, York

Whether you visit Ye Olde Starre Inn during the sunshine seasons or during a chilly winter trip to York, you’ll find a tasty selection of starters, mains and desserts on the food menu to choose from, plus lots of craft beers behind the bar to watch it down with. But what to choose? Here’s a few handy recommendations for those in the know... 

Dishes you need to try

If you’re looking for a quick bite to eat before heading back out to see the sights of the city, take a look at Ye Olde Starre Inne’s selection of lighter bites, like the Sirloin Steak Ciabatta, filled with salsa verde and sauteed red onions, or the Salmon & Vintage Cheddar Fishcakes, served with a rocket salad and chunky tartare sauce.  

For those that feel like putting up their feet and staying a little longer, why not take a look at the pub’s selection of classic dishes? We recommend tucking into a hearty plate of Fish & Chips, featuring hand-battered cod, crushed peas and triple-cooked chips, or switching things up with the Korean Chicken Burger, served in a linseed bun, with Korean BBQ sauce, spring onion and red chilli, plus fries on the side.  

But what do the team go for when they get a lunch break at work? “For me it’s the Steak & Ale Pie,” says John. "It's made with an ale-based gravy, and you get a charred Hispi cabbage wedge and mash." 
 

What’s behind the bar? 

If it’s a pint of beer or ale you’re after, you’re spoiled for choice at Ye Olde Starre Inne. From Flint Eye to Prior Life, Greene King IPA to Abott Ale, you’ll find all your favourite names here, plus low and no-alcohol alternatives, a selection of fine wines and premium spirits from around the world. As for John, his favourite pint is the pub’s own beer, the Olde Starre Bitter: “It’s made especially for us and it’s a really easy to drink beer at 3.9%.” 

There’s never a Greene King too far away 

Whether you’re planning an impromptu visit to York, a staycation on the South Coast or a shopping trip to Birmingham, you’ll be pleased to know there’s a huge selection of Greene King pubs to visit up and down the country.  

Search for your nearest Greene King now or head to our Behind the Bar Blog to read up on more amazing pubs to visit.