Cittie of Yorke

Not withstanding the fact it’s a Sam Smiths pub, we managed to find drinks that everyone was happy with. The main hall of this pub is splendid, from the vaulted ceiling to the small booth seating and the paneled walls. The pub is worth a visit just to see its atmospheric interior. Then of course sit and have a drink.

One of the best looking pubs in London. That old dark wood everywhere, smell, massive barrels and small booths create unique atmosphere which can't be replicated. Visited when it open it's doors, so barely people inside but it help to experience that décor even more. For some reason my brain though we are in church. This is Samuel Smith's pub and they don't serve beverages from other brands which I didn't know. Shame their range for non-alcoholic beers and not good, that's the common problem in London, which is very weird for such a massive market. My dark ale was ok but honestly not my taste. I didn't eat but my buddy had a burger and said it was good and juicy. Good service, seems they have fun working there, clean toilets. Come in and allow to soak yourself in in this one of a kind vibe.

We came here after work for a bite to eat, and it truly felt like stepping back in time. The interior was beautifully preserved, with its fully wooden booths, grand fireplace, and historic charm creating a warm and unique atmosphere. It’s the perfect spot to unwind after work and soak in the vintage vibe. While the burger I had was just okay, the ambiance more than made up for it. If you’re looking for a pub with character and history, this place is a must-visit.

We didn't eat, hence a no star rating for food. The pub is an amazing building. The aroma of the wood and the feeling of the building took you back in time. We were lucky to have started chatting to a gentleman who happened to be the son of a previous owner of the pub, and he was able to regale us of stories of when worked for his dad as a 20 year old.. this happened to be the first time he'd been back in the pub in 64years. It was like our own private history tour. We'll definitely be back to soak up some more of the atmosphere and of course, a few more ales 🍻🍻🍻😁

My partner and I came here for a bite to eat and although the food was very nice, I felt that it was expensive for what we had. I had the toasted sausage sandwich with fries, and there was hardly any caramelised onion on it, which I found disappointing. Also, I found the lady behind the bar a bit ignorant and dismissive. The pub itself is gorgeous with very olde worlde décor. Overall, it was a nice experience but definitely room for improvement in certain areas.

Nice old pub so much history. Inside just as good as outside, just a small selection of beers though.

Cittie of Yorke, established in 1430, is a historic treasure with medieval-style interiors that transport you back in time. The atmosphere is amazing, but the service was just average—staff seemed a bit disinterested. Still worth a visit for its timeless charm!

It's a very nicely decorated and has it's character. It takes one back in time, but it's dark and closed. There is no view to the outside. The few windows on the street side are made of clouded glass. It feels closed in. Quick service and friendly staff.

Food - 3 stars Ambiance - 4 stars Beer - 5 stars The Sam Smith beers are so delicious. The pub itself is very cozy, and architecture when you step inside has a church interior, with high ceilings and confessional style booths. Unfortunately when I went, it was super busy so all the booths were taken! We were lucky to find a table and ordered some food. It was very noisy, so even though we were sitting in the back, there was lot of noise, The cellar floor was much quieter. Since we wanted dinner, we stayed on the ground floor. The food itself was a little lackluster. We got fish n' chips and their homemade beef pie. The breading of the fish n' chips was tasty but the cod itself did not have much flavor. Similarly the pie crust was good but the filling needed more flavor. We ended up smothering the pie with gravy to add more flavor. All in all, I'd go back for the atmosphere and beers.

Classic Sam Smith pub which is always enjoyable. I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place before. One of my favorites, for sure. I love the fireplaces; however, it was not cold enough to have them going. The service is wonderful too.

Came in for food at 2:00pm on a Saturday and the kitchen was closed. Yelp featured loads of pics for traditional fare but they had none. What a joke.

Transported back in time. Beautiful pub. Seat yourself and order at the bar. The ales are aplenty, the food is mediocre. Go for the atmosphere, eat elsewhere and just grab snacks with your ale.

First glance, cool place. Walked in and the staff couldn't have been less interested. One bartender walked off after eye contact and the other one was playing on their cell phone. Finally ordered a couple of beers from the small selection at the quiet bar from a very bored looking person, and lingered while looking at the menu, then was asked to leave the bar until we knew what we wanted. Whatever you do, don't order the "light bites". 5 chips arrived and a few nachos. Anyway, at least the place looked cool.

Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Cleanliness: 5/5 Decor & Style: 5/5 Large selection of beer and the decor is what gives this place 5 stars. Chips are good as well. This place looks like an old church with private confession rooms, but it's a bar! Slight medieval ambience due to the old, old look! Bartenders were friendly and quick. My pics aren't that great, but some is better than none!

Good pies in a traditional looking pub. Going in through a corridor I had never thought of visiting this pub and was fortunate when a friend dragged me there. It is simply amazing inside and cannot look more like a Tudor establishment. It has many fine corners where four people can go unnoticed and be oblivious to the world. I was simply taken by the atmosphere in this pub. The pub is very clean, as are the toilets which have a glass ceiling so lots of light during the day. The contrast between the dark moody pub and the bright toilets is striking. The drinks are pretty good as well, especially the organic ale which was refreshing and light. The food did not look appealing or that substantial but it was well made and the pie was moist, full of beef and had plenty of taste. We went at lunchtime and I was surprised that there were so few people. The staff are friendly and made the whole experience very good. I appreciated their historical knowledge of the pub. I will definitely visit again.

This place is epic. I don't care about the selection or service in this review. Normally I would, but this joint is so cool looking that you kinda have to put that normal review stuff aside and simple admire the uniqueness of the place. And to be fair, I had no problem with the selection or service. It does get packed, but it's so big you can find un-congested spots - and people seemed to gather in spots apart from the main, big bar. There's a main bar, front room, alley and people also hang out in the street. Plus there's an underground bunker where Churchill updated England's Facebook page during the Biltz. In time I will create a list of "must see" pubs in London and this will be on it. Just remind me, please.

I came here a ton while working in my London office. Why? The traditional architecture and decor were redic gorgeous. It has a knightly-vibe, like Excalibur-ish, bruv. It is totally cavernous and the cathedral-like ceilings are magnificent. Just like the Princess Louise, there are booths to shoot the tom tit with your mates...in private. It can get loud post-work so these are useful. The cask ales are refreshing and plentiful AND reasonably-priced. The meat n ale pie was, once again, killer deelish. You can also drink outside (obv this is awesome in London) when it seems to get crowded. It is near the Holborn tube exit. Bonus. I'll be back in a couple of months, no doubt. No doubt.

The architecture is wonderful. Light and airy. A great gathering place. The wine and beer are fantastic and the Fish and Chips is awesome. I will return. Really liked the atmosphere

My experience with the Cittie of York was down in the cellar. Yes, the cellar, down the stairs in a warmly lit section of the establishment. I went here to meet up with a predestined group of others - a large group - so I didn't pay much attention to the rest of the crowd, but most people seemed to be the kind who like their Wheatbix with chocolate milk if you catch my drift. Are you catching it? Good, because I'm not either. The pub does have the benefit of being out of the way. I do not mean that it's hard to get to I mean that its less touristy, more real deal. Other than that though, it's your English pub of today complete with all that such a status implies. It's a nice place to have a bite or a glass (but don't try to combine the two and bite the glass). It's like your next door neighbor in the movie Pleasantville - nice personality, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Not my favourite Sam Smith pub (as you asked nicely it's Chandos in Charing Cross). I will say that the private room is great for functions/meet ups and you can book it free of charge. I've found the staff rude on more than one visit now though which in my opinion just isn't excusable.

The Cittie of York is worth a visit for its interior alone - and, despite the olde worlde interior, all is not what it seems. A Grade II listed building, there has been a pub or drinking establishment on this site since the 15th century. In 1695 it became the Gray's Inn Coffee Shop (coffee shops being the 'in' places of their time) although it continued to sell wine and beer too - it was listed as a coffee house and tavern in 1819. The site was redeveloped in the 1923-4 by the wine merchants George Henekey & Co., who also owned a chain of pubs. The Tudor interior is therefore a 20th century recreation, but done with great confidence: it actually incorporates elements (such as the fire) from earlier periods, but not the Tudor! Also fake is the name, which dates from 1979, when Sam Smiths took over the Henekey chain. The name evokes a long-vanished pub across the road in Staple Inn. The outside signage, the stained glass in the window overlooking the bar and the copper cartouches all date from this relatively recent refurbishment! As you enter, the front bar is heavily and darkly panelled and, although unexceptional, quite comfy. The main room is actually behind, and this is built in the form of a large Tudor hall. There is a large counter on the left, above which are huge wine vats, supported on a shelf - a reminder of Henekey's original business, and thought to have still been in use until World War II. Opposite the bar are seven 'carrels', small enclosed seating boots rather like old railway compartments. These provide a more intimate and private drinking area for a small group of friends or couples. The final feature - and perhaps the most interesting - is the stove in the centre, which has three faces, and dates from 1815. It is rare in having an underground flue - the draught pulls the smoke back down and out! Below all this is the former wine cellar area, now providing more seating. The beer on my last visit was OK, if unexceptional, (I'm not the greatest fan of Sam Smiths, but at least it is cask-conditioned) and the staff were friendly and reasonably efficient. It does get very busy immediately after work, however, and what puts me off is that some of those City boys - whether lawyers or bankers I know not - can get very loud and brash, and lose all sense of personal space, when they've had a few. It does tend to quieten down a bit once they've moved on

Recalibration upwards from 4 to 5 stars. Just as good as it gets for an after work pub. Fantastic interior, Sam Smiths beer which is always well priced compared to other pubs, great bar staff who are efficient and friendly, good crowd.

Gorgeous old pub, huge ceilings, medieval feel. And beer wasn't extortionate - huzzah! Even better are the little private booths, which block out background chatter perfectly. To me, this really symbolises a British boozer at its Londony best. Love it.

It's truly one of my faves. It's a really impressive space - and sufficiently cavernous that even when it's busy it's not THAT crazy. Ok, fine, it can get packed, but the high ceilings make it better? I dunno. Good beer menu, but I mean...don't go doing some crazy like asking for a negroni (I did this. Do as I say, not as I did). Despite negroni gaffe, staff is awesome and I find getting attention at the bar is easy: fast, friendly, done. My only real quibbles (which are not sufficient that they keep me from 5-starring this place): i. 2 stalls in the women's bathroom. 2 is too few (that sounds like a lyric to a rap?). 2 is too few, queue (this sounds like a lyric to a bad rap). ii. on a nice summer's night it's not a pub for standing outside much. I mean, people _do_ but it's...on High Holborn. It's not the "spill out onto the streets" kind of environment. Unless, of course, you want to lose a toe or something. In sum: indoors, kids! Yelp note: I like it here. I think I'll stay a while.

Quick glance: + oozes charm + lives within Grade II listed building Full review: Cittie of Yorke is charming, living inside a Grade II listed building that transports you back in time. It is a Samuel Smith's pub and doesn't offer particularly exciting drinks or pub grub, but prices are decent and portion size for food quite generous. But you don't really come here for the food and drinks; you come here for the enchanting ambiance. I especially love the Victorian-style cubicles (think confession booths without the dividers) where you and your lover can disappear into each other's gaze for the evening in an otherwise heaving pub. Charming pub worthy of a visit if you are thirsty in the area!

We actually found this place on a Google search looking for reasonably priced beers in London. With poor exchange rate 6 £ beers have been killing the backpacking budget. The bar is a classic old English pub, they've got a ton of Samuel Smith's on tap, and you can get 2 pints for the price of a beer elsewhere.

We loved this pub. Large interior, great paneled booths. Furnishings and decor were historic. Delicious cask pulled beer, great pub grub with some of the best Mac n cheese ever. So glad we stopped in. They actually loaded coal into the three sided stove.

Stepping over the threshold of Cittie of Yorke, one feels like they've crossed into a medieval beer hall. Complete with vaulted ceiling, central iron fireplace, and cloistered booths, Cittie of York - for the building alone - is worth visiting. There's a large, adjoining living room with comfy chairs, but I often opt for what I call "the temple of beer" room. The staff are reasonably friendly, the prices fair, and the beer selection acceptable. In this rare case though, all that is filler for experiencing the building itself.

From the second I stepped into this pub I got a strange feeling of deja vu and nostalgia. Maybe I was a 20th century English pub-patron in a past life. I'll take it. I really enjoyed the dim lighting and the large space this unexpected pub provides. This Sam Smith pub is fabulously priced, despite being essentially right in the middle of the Chancery Lane, financial services area. Though inches from the station and clearly a destination for the quintessential post-work pint, I haven't found it especially crowded any of the handful of times I have frequented it. Notably historic in it's interior design, it is particularly appealing for those of us foreigners who are still amazed by how old everything is in England... The highlight of the pub in terms of architecture is the wooden beamed ceiling reminiscent of smaller parish churches and the enormous oven dominating the interior of the space. I really enjoyed the slightly tucked away enclosures which look like a mix between confessional boxes and chapel pews. Either way, my friend and I stayed significantly past closing in that area, finishing our drinks and the staff was extra nice and accommodating. There is a large sitting area closer to the exit with more plush seating, giving you a choice of ambiance. A top-notch pub which is definitely a go-to if you are in the area.

Amazing pub. It definetely has the oldest world charm of any Pub I've been in and it doesn't come across Touristy and fake in doing so. Really huge for a pub (goes far back). Great prices too, £2.90-£3.50 for a nice pint (but beware of the very low end price as they are lower in alcohol %). Food was very impressive and affordable. Got a wonderful southern style chicken burger that well may actually be the best crispy chicken burger I've had in this city. Try and get one of the covered booths in the back on the right. Very cool even if you feel you're in a confessional. Think this may be my new out-of-towner pub I take them to.

The Cittie of York is a pretty cool pub. The aforementioned "Olde Worlde" feeling of the place makes spending a night out at the Cittie of York feel like a bit of an adventure. I feel like I'm an anachronism in this pub, mostly because I don't get to hang out in places with stone floors, cavernous wooden-beamed ceilings, and antique-feeling, intimate, dark wooden booths very often. These alcoves/booths provide a bit of a feeling of privacy, but make things a bit difficult for a larger group, as their absolute capacity is about 6 normal-sized people. As a Sam Smith pub, one can always count on a decently-priced pint of drink here. Also, thanks to the low foot-traffic of the area after business-hours, patrons can bring their drinks outside with them to smoke or socialize in front, a treat which seems to be getting rarer and rarer in London pubs. While this pub is terrifically huge, it still has the capacity to get completely and totally rammed in the evenings. A word of advice for fidgety bar patrons and smokers: If you visit the Cittie of York on a Friday night and you foresee yourself wanting to get up and head outside at any point, don't let your friends choose the tables at the very back of the upstairs area for your group to settle. It can be an incredible task to make your way all the way through the pub when it is heaving on a Friday night, and at least two members of my group had entire glasses of wine dumped on them while trying to navigate their way through on our last visit. My favourite bit of The Cittie of York: As an (expatriated) American, I find myself humbled by the knowledge that the barrels above the bar are very likely OLDER THAN MY HOME COUNTRY. Dayum.

I'm an American who actually worked at this pub at the end of 2008. It's a Sam Smith's pub, though it's changed ownership since then. So, I don't really have anything current to say on service and food. As for history, this place is just fantastic. It's one of the oldest (if not THE oldest) continuously operating pub in London. The oldest piece is the oven in the center of the main room. As for the confessional style booths and general "churchiness" of the place...it was actually the result of a early 1900s remodel to make it look more historic. So most things aren't quite as old as they appear. If you are a tourist, I highly recommend this pub. Hidden in a historic part of central London and not too crowded on weekends as its main draw is the afterwork banker crowd. It's central and off the beaten path at the same time. It is also owned by Samuel Smith's and ONLY serves their beer. To many people, this is a huge negative. I can't tell you how many people I served that were outraged that I couldn't serve them a Bud Light. To an American/other tourists, this is a HUGE positive. Do you know how much we pay for Sam Smith's in the States???? It's here in abundance and Sam Smith's sets their pub prices lower than pretty much any other pub in central London. When I worked there, the owner of Sam Smith's was trying to force all of his pubs into frozen meals. I have no idea where that issue stands now. But the former owners made the most AMAZING food and were one of the few Sam Smith's pubs to still serve meals made from scratch. The lunch hour had an awesome variety of homemade pies, soups and lasagnes. While the dinner hour, they were forced to serve frozen pies, hamburgers and fries as dictated by the company. It's a shame that they've probably moved completely to the frozen model. It was some of the best home cooked classic British food you could get, especially in the banking area of London.

From the outside, this seems your typical 'olde worlde' pub of yore, and I left - albeit worse for wear - not knowing quite whether it lived up to to its exterior. It wants to come across as old, which it undoubtedly is. It's really old, like really. And it is mad just how old it is. So, this pub is owned by this brewery in Yorkshire, which means they have a full range of beer, lager, stout, bitter, alpine lager etc, all brewed up in Yorkshire, and all really cheap. Which is nice. They have what I take to be Tudor 'booths', lining the side of the pub, which were full when we got there. But there were tables. Lucky we got there when we did. It sooned filled up as all the city boys and girls finished for the week and piled in. Quite a good atmosphere to boot! I would definitely come back here. Even though most of the brewing barrels above the bar appear to be as real as the runaway mine trains which litter the queuing areas in Alton Towers, it's still quite a nice establishment. I had the 'oatmeal stout' - RATHER GOOD

One of my favorite pubs that I visited in London. Very old and rich with history, the atmosphere was amazing! Definitely your quintessential pub vibe. The fish and chips were great, and they have a nice selection of different brews to choose from. Definitely a fun experience!

Unique pub, with large rooms and a creative layout, and a very historic ambiance! I've wanted to try this place for a while and was surprised by how much I liked it! The upstairs is very open and spacious, and there is also a giant cellar downstairs that has some particular decorations. When we went, the first floor was absolutely packed with people (and kind of smelled like a gym bag, albiet still very pretty), while the downstairs was pretty empty and there was plenty of seating. However, all the seats filled up within 10 minutes of us sitting down. The prices are pretty decent, and I like the feel of the pub as it is one of the larger ones in London city center, and one of the older ones as well! They offer a good selection of foods for medium pricing, and their spicy chips were rather delicious! This is a perfect place to go in the city and get a couple drinks and eat some pub food!

Awesome pub! Very roomy, and I loved the 'confessional' type booths across from the bar. Staff was great and made some lazy Americans feel at home.

What a wonderful pub. I have discovered that whenever you have friends or family from out of town (or visiting from another country), the Cittie of Yorke is the kind of place that gets them excited. When walking in you find yourself stepping back in time, and even the prices are from yesteryear! Sam Smiths prices are very good, especially for London, and the pubs themselves are incredibly unique. I recommend for both cheap pints and the lack of tacky music in the background.

Visited Cittie of York this evening, and found it consistent with the recent April review of this year. It is architecturally fascinating, and has that wonderful dark-wood-paneled City-of-London vibe. Yes, they charge less for the Samuel Smith Ales too - prices are £2.90 for a pint, which is really not bad for London. I didn't order food so I cannot comment on that. If you can, however, try and snag one of the enclosed booths shrouded in wood paneling and stained glass for a truly intimate London pub experience right out of a Dickens novel. Tube stop Chancery Lane is literally steps from the entrance.

This is a beautiful vintage bar that oozes history. It's definitely a place to go at least once whilst your in London. However, don't make the mistake of ordering any food as this place could easily feature on kitchen nightmares. Burger had tough leathery reheated frozen mince. Lasagne seems to lack any mince whatsoever. The waitresses were great through and gave us a full refund. I'll be back but just for the atmosphere next time.

I've been meaning to come to this pub for the longest time (I mean a pub has been here since the 15th century so I really should have made the effort sooner!) , but somehow just hadn't made it. But by one of those pleasant coincidences a friend I hadn't seen in a while texted me from within its visually impressive and cavernous (almost churchlike) interior and I made haste. Not much to say on the drinks. The usual Sam Smith's stuff. This is definitely one of their better pubs though, just for the lovely interior. Really has to be seen at least once. Can get very busy though, but I guess the area, the pub and prices mean that this would be inevitable.

I'll let the five stars speak for themselves. Mostly. It's an after work scene so don't come expecting anything else. It's Sam Smiths, great space, friendly bartenders, cheap food 'til 9pm. Not much else I want from a pub.

If you are as lucky as we were and you snag one of the super cool booths, you'll have as cool of an experience here as we did (the rest of the place is awesome too, with huge vaulted ceilings, we just have a serious thing for booths). The huge ceilings make this place feel really unique and the whole place has this lovely non-douchey vibe to it. We sampled a few great real ales here and a cider or two and soaked up our time in here. Definitely one of our favorite pubs in London.

I went to an SEO meetup at this pub and it is wonderful. We were in the cellar but the upstairs was absolutely fantastic! If you have guests visiting and they want a spot of jolly ol England take them to this pub. It is not the best pub in the world for service or food but ambiance more than makes up for it!

It's been a bit of a week of Sam Smith's pubs. Having reviewed The Chandos on Tuesday, I met up with some people in the Cittie of York on Wednesday. I know this pub pretty well, and like the interior (and, of course, the excellent prices). The pub really has three sections - an upstairs bar at the front of the premises, all wood panelling and lounge-bar like, the high-ceilinged Great Hall-like bar at the back, with its lovely carved booths (though you need to get there early to acquire one!) and finally a rather labyrinthine cellar bar, with white painted low barrel-vaulting and the inscription In Vino Veritas. The drink selection at SS pubs is always good, so long as you like their own brand stuff, but the food is rather average. Tip is stick to standard pub grub - I ordered meatball pasta, and it was bizarre: a smattering of meatballs and pasta in tomato and chickpea sauce spread thinly over a bowl of chips(!), two huge wodges of garlic bread, and a mix of salad leaves and coleslaw. If you count the chickpeas, that's four types of carbohydrate in one meal, so if you're off rowing/running maybe this is your dream meal. I was just confused. They operate a funny system for food: you order, they give you some kind of electronic buzzer. It buzzes when the food is ready, you go and get it from the bar. While the cellar bar is good, it lacks the ambience of the upper rooms, so do try and blag some space on the ground floor if you can.

I met a friend here at the Cittie of York for a pint, which somehow turned into four pints and staying until the pub closed! It's a very atmospheric old pub. Others have noted the very long bar (the longest in Britain?). There is an interesting triangular metal fireplace, towards the middle of the ground floor of the pub, and some cool little booths along the walls. I think my favorite part (besides the pints!) is the surprisingly high ceiling, complete with beams. Very atmospheric. Service wasn't outstanding, but it was more than adequate. The pub was quite crowded when we arrived (on a Tuesday night around 7), although of course the crowds thinned over the course of the evening. I recommend a stop at the Cittie of York!

This fabulous pub is a Grade II listed building, harking back to the 15th century ... it's always been a drinking den, whether for coffee or beer. Very much an old haunt for anyone who works near Chancery Lane, you can just imagine ghost lawyers of yesteryear sitting in the cubicles towards the back of the pub, thrashing out deals for clients! There are three main seating areas ... as you walk into the pub through the "alleyway" entrance, you can either turn left into a lounge bar, walk through past the hot food area and enter what would have been the original drinking-den with the cubicle areas, or go downstairs into the cavern-area. Easy to imagine smuggling going on when you are down there - be careful not to bump your head when you visit the downstairs toilets, too! One charming feature of the pub is that it doesn't sell branded spirits or beers - instead every drink (even soft drinks) are Sam Smith's own brand. So if you ask for a JD and coke, you will be sorely disappointed - but instead, try their delicious cherry beer. It gets very busy in the back bar in the early evenings, but it always has a good atmosphere. Food. I've always found the food to be of an OK quality, and you get quite a fair amount for your money (around £5.50 - £5.95 main meal). Chips are always a bit of strange one ... you can never tell how they will come out, nor how long you will have to wait. TIP: If you are on a lunch-hour, always choose food which is on the hot plate in front of you - otherwise you will still be waiting 30 minutes on, when all your friends have finished! The service is what I find lets the place down somewhat, which is why I've only rated it 3. Sullen and surly describes the staff mostly, 'tho there are a couple of gems tucked away!

This is my favourite Sam Smiths bar in London, even more so than Chandos on Trafalgar Square. It's unique layout and interesting history give it a quaint feeling that is so rare in places these days. The vaguely impractical features around the place like the stove make it quite a unique area. Being Sam Smiths means the bar prices are right too.

As with all SS pubs you will be guaranteed a half decent pint at a good price. So for me that's about 65% of the battle won. Saying that this pub has a lot of history (links to Dickens etc) and the main bar is very impressive indeed. So all in all well worth a visit.

Cavernous old boozer on High Holborn that gets busy at lunch, attracts a good post-office crowd most evenings, and is one of the few pubs in the Chancery Lane area to open at a weekend - all pretty strong signs that it's a decent venue. For real ale fans it's worth a punt as the well-priced Sam Smiths beers are always a good alternative to the wine-bar / pubco nature of the surrounding area. Food is reasonable, but you wouldn't go out of your way for it; as with the ale, typical SS - hearty, simple pub grub. As other reviews note the biggest attraction is perhaps the history and architecture, which make it worth a visit alone. Uncommonly (and thankfully), 'poky' and 'uncomfortable' don't fit with the 'historic' description.

I find this pub a little weird. It seems like you step off the street and into a different time.. The first thing that strikes you is how dark and stale the air is inside. They have some nice booth style tables you can sit at, if you can find one free. I've been for lunch a couple of times with friends, but never been too impressed with what was on offer.. It's basically a cheap pub you could find in any town/suburb in the country. That being said, it is very unusual and worth at least one visit. Oh, and be nice to the staff taking food orders it shouldn't, but it makes a BIG difference!

An old style Sam Smith's pub in the center of London. The pub has a few bars, a small front lounge bar, a large (almost stable type?) bar at the back and a cavern type bar downstairs. The decor is quite unique for a central London pub and it adds to the feel and atmosphere of the pub. I've only been to this pub on Fridays and it has always been very busy (as you'd expect), especially in the Lounge bar at the front. Overall, a pub with good cheap beer and a good warm atmosphere, especially on a cold rainy evening. Great place for a beer and a chat after a long day at work.

I love all Sam Smith's pubs (goes without saying really for £2 pints in London) but this one is a bit special with its gloomy interior and historic style. It's just down the road from my office and I've spent many (some might say too many) evenings in here enjoying both a quiet post-work drink and a very lively night out.

Situated in Holborn this is a great pub to bring tourist friends to. Architecturally fascinating both in the exterior and the interior. Inside the main bar area is like a mediaeval great hall, and to the side are tremendous little private booths which comfortably seat 4. They ought to serve mead really. Sam Smith's pub so only Sam Smith's beers and generic label spirits and wine. Funnily enough they don't serve Sam Smith's Sovereign beer. A great pub to bring people from out of town to, and a fascinating historic building

The best 'traditional English' pub to show to your non-British guests. Stunning traditional interiors with a side salon for big parties, or nice little booths where one can be tucked away in privacy. Good Sam Smith beers, really chill atmosphere with not too loud music - there's nothing more to ask for.

A Sam Smiths pub, so you pretty much know what you're getting in terms of the beer; although, I actually found a beer here on tap that I have never seen before in the Yorkshire Bitter. What I really loved about this place was the interior. I don't know whether it's authentic or not, but the feel of the place is great. Not totally sure how to describe it, though I would say it reminded me somehow of the Harry Potter movies. As with all Sam pubs the draft beer is dirt cheap, so that's nice. Bartender was pleasant. Absolutely worth a visit if you're in the area.

So this was my first experience at a London pub and it was very interesting. We had our school orientation here and tried there "sweet beer". It was definitely not your typical beer from the states but I'm just not a fan of beer. Nonetheless this pub is very spacey and has cute little tables and stools. Very "London-y". I loved the dark wood furniture and cabinets. It looked very cozy and intimate. It's a nice place to go if you want to just chit chat with friends or talk with your loved ones!

One of my favourite Sam Smith pubs. Came here first on a night out after the Whisky Show last year (October-ish?) with a pile of whisky mavens. The temperature outside had dropped a bit but it was warm inside without being stuff - primarily because one of the defining features of this pub is the seeming lack of doors between the road outside and the inside of the pub. You could literally ride in on a horse. It's got high ceilings and like some of the other here have said, an olde worlde feeling to it. Not surprising, as it's Grade II listed and the original pub was built in 1430 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cittie_of_Yorke). Also, it's a 4-pinter on FancyAPint: http://fancyapint.com/Pub/london/cittie-of-yorke/134 If you like Sam Smith draught (and I do) it doesn't get much better, or cheaper.

This is a nice old pub to meet up with friends. If you can get there early during the middle of the week, it's easy to stake out a place in the cellar for quite a large group. It has a nice selection of beer at good prices.