The Red Lion

The Red Lion in York is a proper old city-centre pub trading from a 16th-century building, with traditional pub grub and dogs welcome inside. The big draw is the huge heated beer garden, which gives it a more spacious, sociable feel than many tightly packed historic pubs in the middle of town.

Inside, it leans into character rather than polished reinvention, making it the sort of place that works equally well for a casual pint, an easy meal or a dog-friendly stop while exploring York. The menu focuses on traditional pub grub, so expect straightforward, satisfying food rather than experimental small plates.

Dogs can come in too, which means nobody needs to do the pavement-waiting shuffle while the rest of the group orders. The heated beer garden adds useful outdoor space when the weather plays along, and the whole setup feels like a practical, characterful base for a dog-friendly day out in the city.