The Black Swan

Book a stay at The Black Swan

Booking route

Bookable direct or via major booking sites

Checked October 2026. Pubs change hands, hours change, policies change — always confirm anything that matters, especially the dog policy and kitchen days, directly with the pub before you book. Run this pub? Confirm or correct these details.

A bit of history

A Grade II* listed timber-framed town house on Peasholme Green. The listing dates the standing building to the late 16th century with 17th-century extensions; Wikipedia says Martin Bowes rebuilt it around 1560 and Henry Thompson altered it in 1670, and that it became a pub in the late 18th century.

Source: Historic England listing 1256886 (via City of York Historic Environment Record); Wikipedia, 'The Black Swan, York', citing Pevsner and the York Civic Trust plaque

Stories & legends

• Disputed: The pub's own history page says the building dates to the 15th century and was built in 1417 for William Bowes, a merchant, Sheriff and later Lord Mayor of York. The listing and Wikipedia date the standing building later, to the late 16th century, so the earlier date probably refers to a medieval house or inn on the site. Source: Pub's own history page (blackswanyork.com/history) versus Historic England listing 1256886 and Wikipedia
• Local legend: A passage is said to run under the road to St Cuthbert's Church. The pub's own page admits no proof was found, only steps in a cupboard ending at a blank wall. Source: Pub's own history page; Wikipedia, 'The Black Swan, York'
• Local legend: The pub bills itself 'Historic and Haunted' and tells of a bowler-hatted man at the bar, a woman by the fire thought to be a jilted bride, a highwayman called Jack in the kitchen and a pickpocketing boy ghost. These are the pub's own stories and cannot be verified. Source: Pub's own history page (blackswanyork.com/history)

Character

Pub grub

Menu style

Pub menu

Booking model

Dinner is booked separately from the room

Room prices include breakfast and parking but not dinner. No dinner, bed and breakfast package is advertised.

Source: Pub's own contact and dining pages — blackswanyork.com. Main menu and buffet menu; menu not reviewed. — checked October 2026

Other pubs with rooms near York

Straight-line distances, so allow longer by road.

• The Golden Fleece

  York · about 0.2 miles

  4 rooms. No dogs in the rooms.

• The Watergate Inn

  York · about 0.2 miles

  13 rooms. Dogs in the rooms not confirmed.

• Guy Fawkes Inn

  York · about 0.3 miles

  No dogs in the rooms.

Questions people ask about The Black Swan

Is there parking at The Black Swan?

Yes — The Black Swan has parking.

Does The Black Swan serve food every day?

Yes — the kitchen at The Black Swan is open every day.