THE second most exciting thing to happen in the world of York Brewery pub-opening takes place this week. Ever-popular and ever-expanding, York Brewery opens its second pub on Tuesday, veering away from the tradition found in pub number one, the Last Drop Inn on Colliergate.

In what licensee-to-be James Butler describes as "an absolutely fantastic and hugely exciting project", the Three Legged Mare (named after a gallows not a disabled horse) is to open in High Petergate on Wednesday.

The idea for pub number two came about even before number one opened. And 11 months after the Last Drop took the York drinking circuit by storm, the Mare is set to do the same, and some.

This is a more modern pub, aiming for a different market, boasting sofas near the full-length windows and chrome tables in the conservatory.

Chrome also adorns the wooden bar, offering a younger, less traditional feel.

The lack of a jukebox, dancefloor or fruit machines is in keeping with the York Brewery theme of pubs for drinking, eating and talking.

The piano is perfect for drunken birthdays and maybe the odd Sunday afternoon session and the beer garden is set to be the biggest in York (excluding beer car-parks).

But the biggest pull is the beer. An enormous fridge behind the bar houses a range of ten Belgian beers, while the bar itself will see nine real ales dispensed as well as Staropramen on permanently and a rotating Belgian or pilsner-based foreign beer.

Naturally, cider, chemical-based lager and the usual range of 'girlie' pre-mixed alcopoppy Bacardi Breezers and Smirnoff Ice-style drinks are on sale for the less adventurous.

Food is set to be simple but interesting, with a basic range of breadstuffs and matching toppings available for the mix and match eater.

"We are not trying to compete with the hugely successful Last Drop Inn," said enthusiastic James, who ran the Last Drop as well as numerous pubs in York and Scarborough.

"This is for a different type of pub-goer and we will be introducing real ales, in particular those brewed by us, to the drinkers of York."

It is clear that after any initial 'novelty' visits from Last Drop drinkers, there is unlikely to be a loss of business there.

The two pubs are quite different and York Brewery deserves a pat on the back for daring to be a real ale pub offering chrome and sofas alongside pianos and barrels.

It is a halfway house that Bar Talk expects will be a winner with York drinkers keen to experiment.

The range of drinks, the conservatory, the beer garden, James's natural enthusiasm, the food, the modern feel and the spiral staircase, all are certain to turn the Three Legged Mare into the pub we all want to drink in.

"It is a theme pub," enthused James. "The theme is come in, have a few beers, relax, talk to the other drinkers, have a spot of food and enjoy a really good night."

Rumour has it that this is number two of four or five pubs from the York Brewery empire, which is set to expand across York and even beyond to the parts of North Yorkshire other beers can't reach.

If our predictions about the success of the Mare are correct, York Brewery pubs are going to be the best thing for North Yorkshire since it stopped raining.

The pub opens to the public on Wednesday and we will see you in there.