IN an age when pubs change their look more often than many drinkers change their underpants, two York boozers are being celebrated for staying the same. The Golden Ball on Cromwell Road and the Swan on Clementhorpe have both earned a place on the National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors.
The list, drawn up by the Campaign For Real Ale, aims to highlight, and therefore protect, pub interiors of outstanding interest.
Previously, only the Blue Bell on Fossgate had secured a place. But that will all change with the publication of the updated inventory in the Good Beer Guide 2002 later this year.
Both the Swan and the Golden Ball are inter-war refittings of earlier pubs.
Writing in this month's What's Brewing newspaper, Geoff Brandwood, says: "The former is a classic example of a common northern layout - a room at the front and another at the back with an expanded corridor in front to act as a drinking lobby.
"The latter has a highly individual layout with the main bar only reached via an L-shaped corridor."
Co-ordinator of the inventory is Dave Gamston, who lives in York. There is still much work to complete it in time for publication in October, but he is delighted that the Swan and the Golden Ball have made it.
The inventory carries no statutory weight. But if anyone wishes to change these pub interiors, he is sure it would carry some weight.
"We would hope it would make a big difference. It's awareness raising. We are acutely aware there's no statutory protection if we can't get them statutorily listed."
The two pubs have something else in common: Don Butler. Don is landlord at the Golden Ball, where Pete and Rachel who run the Swan used to work.
At the moment, Don and Golden Ball manager Linda Foster are redecorating the place. Other than that, it's "completely untouched" Don said.
"Linda's a dab hand at decorating," he said, adding she had just done up the ladies, and had moved on to the front bar.
"We have stripped six or seven layers of wallpaper off down to the Victorian age. It's absolutely stunning paper," Don said.
"Well, I say stunning, but it's completely drab. Brown with flowers on. The old-style of paper was dark and dingy. We have opened up the front. I cleaned all the paint off the front of the bar and uncovered the old Edwardian tiles."
He is not surprised that the Golden Ball has made it on the inventory.
"It's a traditional pub. The Ha Ha bars and theme pubs get swapped around every 18 months or so.
"All I have to do is put a lick of paint on mine and it's good as new."
A few years back, he opened up a former storeroom, installed bar billiards, put pictures of football and cricket teams on the wall and called it the sports bar. But other than that, the pub is the same as it was half a century ago.
Don is confident that the regulars would not want it any other way. "There's room for all sorts of pubs around town," he said.
We'll drink to that.
u THE latest addition to Bar Talk's growing library is Pub Strolls In West Yorkshire.
It was penned by Len Markham, a native of the West Riding who now lives near York.
Len's previous work includes Pub Strolls In The Yorkshire Dales, Waterside Walks in Yorkshire (volumes one and two) and Pub Walks In West Yorkshire. You may see a pattern developing...
Each stroll in his new book is centred around one pub. The first walk starts at The Red Lion at Wetherby. "Stained glass, polished wood and pew-type seating give the interior an intimate feel, old photographs adding a touch of nostalgia," writes Len.
He then sets off across the River Wharfe, on a bridge built in 1233 with the help of many townsfolk.
It was said that those who contributed would have their sins forgiven by Walter de Gray, Archbishop of York. A sort of God pro quo deal.
Other walks take in The Old Silent near Haworth, The Mansion at Roundhay Park, Leeds, and The New Inn at Barwick-in-Elmet.
Happy walking.
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