
Quick info
About The Dawnay Arms
The Dawnay Arms is a riverside pub in York, on Newton-on-Ouse, with a garden at the back that overlooks the river. The kitchen cooks modern British dishes, and Sunday lunch is served as two or three courses table d'hôte with vegetarian choices. Lighter plates include a ploughman's lunch and sandwiches with chunky chips. The bar pours local ales and keeps an extensive wine list. Open fires burn in winter. A private dining room takes groups, and dogs are welcome.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree parking lot · Free street parking · Paid parking lot
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, parking lot, restroom
- Good for kidsGood for kids
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention riverside beer garden, pizza, sunday roast and chunky chips.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention riverside beer garden, pizza, sunday roast and chunky chips.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often single out the setting, a garden and beer garden overlooking the river, where diners describe drinks at sunset, pizza, and a relaxed afternoon with young children. Food comes close behind. Diners name a scotch egg starter, a venison special, the doe burger, roast beef Sunday lunch with sticky toffee pudding, the ploughman's lunch, pizza, and sandwiches with chunky chips described as crispy outside and fluffy inside. Staff are repeatedly called friendly and welcoming, and one regular calls the pub genuinely dog friendly and wonderfully cosy with the fires roaring in winter. The one practical complaint is parking, with one reviewer finding the large car park had not that many spaces and ending up on the road. One diner who took back an amaretto that tasted off had it swapped immediately, and the woman behind the bar laughed along about it.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often single out the setting, a garden and beer garden overlooking the river, where diners describe drinks at sunset, pizza, and a relaxed afternoon with young children. Food comes close behind. Diners name a scotch egg starter, a venison special, the doe burger, roast beef Sunday lunch with sticky toffee pudding, the ploughman's lunch, pizza, and sandwiches with chunky chips described as crispy outside and fluffy inside. Staff are repeatedly called friendly and welcoming, and one regular calls the pub genuinely dog friendly and wonderfully cosy with the fires roaring in winter. The one practical complaint is parking, with one reviewer finding the large car park had not that many spaces and ending up on the road. One diner who took back an amaretto that tasted off had it swapped immediately, and the woman behind the bar laughed along about it.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“Wonderful pub, large group with 4 young children in tow. Sat outside on a beautiful day and outside garden space ideal to relax in. Food was superb staff were extremely friendly and welcoming. This is a real gem of a pub. Will come back.”
- Google user
“One of my favourite pubs in the area. I'm a regular here, whether it's for a drink with my dog after a weekend walk or a meal with family and friends for a special occasion. The staff are always so friendly and welcoming, the food is consistently excellent, and the atmosphere is lovely all year round. In the summer, the garden overlooking the river is the perfect place to enjoy a drink and watch the sunset, while in winter it's wonderfully cosy with the fires roaring. It's genuinely dog friendly, always has a great atmosphere, and we've never had a bad experience. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for great food, lovely service and a beautiful setting.”
- Google user
“What a fab country pub, beautifully located by the river. Varied menu- something for everyone! But the ploughman’s lunch and pizza’s are amazing! Staff are always friendly, attentive and helpful!”
- Google user
“Been visiting this place on and off for about 15 years - never disappoints. Food is always of a great standard and really fair prices, service friendly and efficient and a beautiful setting on the river. Ideal family-friendly spot for Sunday lunch”
- Google user
“I first visited this pub with my mum around 10 years ago, possibly even longer, and it’s one of those places that has stayed in my memory ever since. The setting alone is absolutely beautiful, with the stunning lake/river at the back creating the most peaceful atmosphere. Sitting outside with a drink, looking over the water, honestly feels like something out of a postcard. We recently came back and it reminded me exactly why I loved it so much in the first place. We ordered a couple of drinks and my partner got an amaretto which he insisted tasted “off” (very likely him being dramatic!). I took it back to the bar, fully expecting nothing more than maybe a quick check, but the lady behind the bar was incredibly kind and immediately swapped it over without hesitation. She even laughed along with us about my partner being fussy, which made the whole interaction feel so friendly and genuine. Customer service like that is rare these days. We decided to stay for food and ordered two sandwiches with chunky chips, and honestly… the food was unreal. Everything tasted fresh, homemade and properly cared about. The sandwiches were packed with flavour and the chunky chips were some of the best I’ve had — perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle. You can tell this is a place that takes pride in what they serve. What makes this pub special isn’t just the gorgeous surroundings or the amazing food, it’s the atmosphere. It feels warm, relaxed and welcoming from the second you walk in. Whether you’re stopping for a quick drink, food with family, or just somewhere peaceful to sit by the water, this place is genuinely perfect. A beautiful pub full of charm, lovely staff, incredible food and memories I’ll always treasure.”
Highlights
“Riverside pub serving modern British dishes, local ales and an extensive wine list.”
- Great beer selection
- Great wine list
- Popular for solo dining
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
- Dine-in
- Good for kids
Show more amenities
- Food at bar
- Cozy
- Beer
- Food
- Private dining room
- Table service
- Offerings· 4
- Alcohol
- Cocktails
- Hard liquor
- Wine
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Crowd· 2
- Groups
- Tourists
- Facilities· 1
- Restroom
- Accessibility· 2
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Parking· 4
- Free parking lot
- Free street parking
- Paid parking lot
- Usually plenty of parking
- Dining options· 1
- Seating
- Highlights· 2
- Great beer selection
- Great wine list
- Atmosphere· 3
- Casual
- Romantic
- Upscale
Location
Bars near The Dawnay Arms
- Lysander Arms4.58925.4 mi away£20–30ReservationsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
milkshakes, burrata salad, steak pie
- The Mitre4.01285.5 mi away£10–20Wheelchair accessibleOutdoor seatingGood for kids
sunday carvery, karaoke night, roast potatoes
- The Crooked Tap - Acomb4.82586.5 mi away£10–20Wheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
pizza van outside, live music, bar snacks
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Dawnay ArmsReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.6556 | — | £20–50 | riverside beer garden, pizza, sunday roast |
| Lysander ArmsReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.5892 | 5.4 mi away | £20–30 | milkshakes, burrata salad, steak pie |
| The MitreWheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating · Good for kids | 4.0128 | 5.5 mi away | £10–20 | sunday carvery, karaoke night, roast potatoes |
| The Crooked Tap - AcombWheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.8258 | 6.5 mi away | £10–20 | pizza van outside, live music, bar snacks |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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