The Fat Badger York
Ian Jones, Food and Drink Editor
Found on High Petergate, The Fat Badger York (formerly known as the Lamb & Lion Inn) is a decorous seventeenth-century inn nestled next to the gatehouse. Fine four-star rooms are available alongside the homely restaurant. Sash windows open on polished wooden floors, with a fine fireplace or two and welcoming old wooden chairs. Out round the back, you’ll find a vast and easy on the eye beer garden, spread out under marquees and trees, with stunning views of the Minster.
On the menu, you’ll find uncomplicated pub food made to a very high standard, taking in everything from battered halloumi and deep-fried camembert to ciabatta sandwiches. Featured classics include steak and ale pie and battered haddock and chips, plus a trio of sausages sourced from local farmers and butchers, and a slow-cooked lamb shank with seasonal veg, chive mash and red wine gravy. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available, such as the vegetable curry and soup of the day.
Perhaps the best way to enjoy the Lamb & Lion is to spend a leisurely couple of hours in the beer garden, taking some time out from exploring the city and simply soaking up the suitably historic atmosphere. It’s a hidden rustic corner, ideal for those looking for a relaxing classic pub experience.
Due to its location, you can walk out of the Lamb & Lion Inn, head west and find yourself at the York Art Gallery and Yorkshire Museum, where hours of artefacts await. Or, head east, and you’re at the famous Minster, with its strata of history and amazing stained glass. It’s the ideal starting point for a jaunt around York, and a way to truly enjoy this beautiful, history-steeped city.
