Short break: Judge’s Lodging, York city centre, Yorkshire

I’ve always walked past Judge’s Lodging with a curious longing to snoop inside - I think it’s ever since some friends spent a honeymoon there – many, many years ago.

Generally, I have passed it en route to something else in this fine city, but have always taken a second glance.

I’m sure it has changed an awful lot in the intervening years since that honeymoon, but this handsome Grade I building is always going to have rooms to discover so many tales to tell.

The exterior of the iconic Judges Lodging in the heart of York. (Image: Daniel Thwaites) The position in the heart of the City of York means that on sunny days you’ll see folks enjoying a drink outside from its people-watching patio terrace and on cooler days the cosy bar is the lure. Perhaps unexpectedly, there’s also a courtyard to be found at back of the hotel.

I stayed over midweek for a reunion with an old pal who had moved to Somerset. As students we’d had the odd awayday to York and as a northerner she was keen to get reacquainted with the city.

It’s great being a ‘tourist in your own town’. I may not live in York, but I spend a lot of time within its walls for obvious reasons.

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The grand staircase at the Judges Lodging. (Image: Daniel Thwaites) Blessed by brilliant sunshine, we walked old walls, riverside paths and mainly rambled and chatted, catching up on life. To be honest, shopping was on the agenda too with weddings in the diary.

The best thing about staying at a city central hotel is knowing that after getting your many thousand steps in, all you have to do is turn the room key and flop then regroup, eat and drink!

The Daniel Thwaites team are good at guessing what guests love in their room – lots of good coffee and tea plus tempting White Company bathroom goodies. You feel pampered within these rooms.

One of the elegant bedrooms at Judges Lodging. (Image: Daniel Thwaites) We ate in the Cellar Bar which serves up everything from Daniel Thwaites ales to smart cocktails or lunch options such as octopus salad or sharing mezze plates. At dinner this is where you’ll find hearty favourites like steak and ale pie (delicious), burgers, steaks, Caesar salad, sea bass and salsa vierge, or the vouched-for excellent buttermilk chicken. The bar with its thick walls and low ceiling is full of atmospheric, a lovely place to relax and where you feast on breakfasts which take in everything from the full Yorkshire to American pancakes.

The space is full of history and it’s a tourist pull for sure, popular with families and small groups alike – but not a bad base to be a tourist in your own town for a treat!

judgeslodgingyork.co.uk

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