HOW times change. This is a picture taken nine years ago when the Gimcrack in York reopened after a £700,000 refurbishment.

Owners Tom Cobleigh were rightly boasting about the transformation of the Fulford Road pub at the time. The work at the Grade II listed Victorian building had been sensitively carried out, and many features of its distinctive 1935 art deco interior had been restored to their best.

York CAMRA even leant their expertise to ensure the authentic features were preserved and enhanced.

Now all this effort could be reduced to rubble.

Last month, Jones Homes put in an application to pull down the Gimcrack pub and replace it with no fewer than 19 three-storey houses. That would be a scandalous waste of an historic building and community facility.

Readers will recall it was the Gimcrack's regulars who did so much sterling fundraising to send multiple sclerosis sufferer Yasmin Heesom for pioneering treatment in New York.

Now the fate of their favourite watering hole hangs in the balance, only weeks after that jumpin' joint, the Frog Hall, was McBurgerized.

Tom Cobleigh was taken over by a management buy-out in September 2000 (with cash coming from the Electra venture capital group). Then, staff were assured that their jobs were safe. In other words, nine years ago Tom Cobleigh said the Gimcrack had a bright future, and 19 months ago, bosses said that future was secure.

Now the Gimcrack might be demolished - and another Tom Cobleigh pub, The Punch Bowl in Nunnery Lane, is being sold to Wetherspoon's. So what do we think of this pub group's promises? Altogether: a load of old Cobleighs!

- BAR Talk enjoyed a refreshing stretch of the legs around York on Monday night. A fantastic pint of Rooster's Yankee at the first port of call, the Tap And Spile, Monkgate, set us up nicely, although we quickly made our excuses and left when landlord Andy started describing the kilt-and-sporran antics at the pub on Burns Night.

Our next stop was the newly-refurbished Golden Slipper, Goodramgate. Very fine it looks too. There are now so many books on the shelves, it is like a lending library with booze (now there's an idea to get Britain reading again...) And it still boasts the loudest game of dominoes this side of Selby.

Fine pints were sunk at the Blue Bell and the Last Drop, but our vote for best entertainment went to the Snickleway, Goodramgate. Instead of a juke box, they appear to have installed a live Welsh voice choir, who sang in perfect harmony to the delight of the other drinkers.

Every pub should have one.

Updated: 08:54 Saturday, February 16, 2002