YORK should be blessed with a hundred or more truly historic pubs.

But due to the careless and cavalier attitudes of various pub owners down the years, the list has been whittled down to 13.

That is the number of city venues in the just published third edition of Historic Pubs In And Around York.

The guide, compiled by CAMRA offshoot the York Pub Conser-vation Group, is a detailed and insightful analysis of our last remaining heritage public houses.

It will be enjoyed by anyone interested in York pubs, York history or both. The text has been significantly revised and updated since the second edition came out four years ago.

On the plus side, all 23 pubs featured - including ten from outside the city - have survived since the previous edition.

But a cloud hangs low over one. The Three Horse Shoes in Boroughbridge remained in the hands of the Porter family from 1900 to 2003.

New owners sought planning permission for internal alterations and the conversion of the upper floor to flats. At the moment, the guide reports, "the pub is closed and there is considerable uncertainty about its future".

Over a pint in one of the historic pubs listed, the Blue Bell on Fossgate, Geoff Henman, of York CAMRA, said: "The other major change is in York at the Lighthorseman."

The refurbishment last year of the Lighthorseman on Fulford Road is praised by the guide for preserving the Victorian bar back-fitting and the reinstatement of the original curved corner entrance.

However, the guide adds: "At the same time, some of the pub's distinctive character has been lost. The main bar possessed a certain grandeur - it was always our nearest approximation to a room in a big-city 'gin palace' - but much of the effect has been compromised by the 2003 alterations."

The good news is that quality beer and historic pubs largely go together. Places such as the Blue Bell, the Swan on Bishopgate Street and the Minster Inn, Marygate are all in the guide and all serve excellent real ale.

Geoff, who did the research and wrote the text with David Gamston, said they hoped the guide would help ensure the pubs included were protected from future development.

A new threat came from rising property prices, which tempted pub owners to sell up and cash in.

"That's more of a problem in the villages," said Geoff. Private owners who are looking to retire from the pub trade can either "sell it for £100,000 as a going concern or for half a million, sell it for housing".

There are positive stories, however. The brewery which owned the Blacksmiths Arms in Husthwaite near Coxwold, submitted a planning application to turn it into housing.

CAMRA intervened and the brewery was forced to put it on the market as a going concern. It reopened successfully as the Red Pepper pub and restaurant.

Copies of Historic Pubs In And Around York can be obtained by post at £2.50 (CAMRA members £1.75) including package and postage from York CAMRA, 69 Newland Park Drive, Hull Road York, YO10 3HR. Please make cheques payable to York CAMRA.

Updated: 11:28 Saturday, July 03, 2004