The Falcon Tap
The establishment originated as an inn named The Falcon, in the 18th-century. It was first recorded in 1715, and in 1736, Francis Drake named it one of two notable inns on the street. In 1818, William Hargrove described it as the most notable inn on the road. Its site stretched back to Tanner Row, where its stables were located. With the opening of York railway station, the stagecoach trade declined, and the inn struggled. In 1842 and 1843, the site was redeveloped, being divided between a smaller pub (now 94 Micklegate) and a neighbouring house (now 96 Micklegate). The only surviving feature of the inn was a gilded carved figure of a falcon, acting as a pub sign.
The Victorian buildings are of three storeys and an attic, and largely original sash windows above the ground floor. The pub also has a bay window on the first floor. There is a substantial cornice above the second floor. Inside, 96 Micklegate retains an original staircase, but the property has been converted into a shop. Since 1971, the pair of buildings has been Grade II listed.
In 1981, a new cellar was added underneath the rear yard of the Falcon. In 2002, the pub was converted into a bar named "Rumours". However, in 2014 it returned to operating as a pub, under the name The Falcon Tap, and the original cellar was reopened. In 2017, permission was received to demolish modern rear extensions, and replace them with nine flats, and two more on the upper floors of the main building, while also halving the area of the bar. By 2018, it was listed in the Good Beer Guide.
In 2018, it was purchased by Almero Holdings and closed unexpectedly for conversion into an aparthotel, intending to retain the pub on the ground floor. In 2022, it reopened, as "The Falcon", run by the owners of the Turning Point Brewery.
References
- ^ "Historic pubs of Bishophill". Clements Hall History Group. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
- ^ Gav, Guzzling (17 January 2015). "York pub undergoes major refurbishment". The Press. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ Johnson, Alan (1989). The Inns and Alehouses of York. Beverley: Hutton Press. ISBN 0907033814.
- ^ An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in City of York, Volume 3, South West. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. 1972. pp. 68–96. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
- ^ Historic England. "THE FALCON INN (NUMBER 94) (1257289)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ "The 12 York pubs that have made it into the Good Beer Guide 2018". York Mix. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ Love, Nick (23 April 2018). "Shock as popular York pub to shut this week – new owners plan to develop the site". York Mix. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ Knowlson, Laura (29 May 2018). "London developer reveals aparthotel plans for York city centre pub". The Press. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ Greenwood, Darren (24 November 2022). "The Falcon is a Turning Point for brewer Cameron Brown". The Press. Retrieved 28 November 2022.