Sapphy Star > York Pavilion Hotel

Planning to visit York? Thinking of staying over? Look no further than the York Pavilion Hotel. Situated on the A19, one of the main routes into York it is easily accessible but still within striking distance of York’s City walls and only a few minutes drive from the designer outlet park that will assuage any self-respecting Sapphy’s need for retail therapy.

The hotel is a Grade II listed building, a Georgian country house, and once inside it does feel like you’ve stepped back in time. It is part of the Best Western chain and as such maintains its individuality. It has 57 ensuite rooms – it’s a good size for a same-sex couple to stay in. Staff are professional and worldly-wise enough to ‘cope’ with dealing with us and the hotel has enough rooms in it to be able to blend in a little bit as guests. The rooms are all individually decorated – my girlfriend and I stayed in the Frankie Howard room (how apt for us!) – its walls adorned by memorabilia of the comedian’s life (there’s even a photo of a very young Jonathan Ross with him way back when!). The hotel is also registered to carry out civil partnership ceremonies and we managed to take a sneak peak (courtesy of the operations manager!) of the room where they are held. If you’re in the area and planning on a small service with family and friends it’s worth checking this one out.

The night we stayed dinner was served in the hotel’s intimate restaurant – the function room was booked for the festive party season, and although there were people passing through to reach the function the noise didn’t reach us in the dining room. It was a little draughty (it is winter though!), but the food was good and the service sound – our waitress was attentive and chatty but not intrusive. After dinner we wandered into the bar and then on to the guest lounge, both small but relaxed and comfortable.

All in all, the hotel has an intimate feel to it and with a good shower, good bath, good food, good bed and the staff being gay-friendly to boot, you can’t ask for anything better.

Visit their website here