Valhalla York

What it’s like

A rock and metal bar in York where kids are welcome for food and the atmosphere, as long as you're out by 9pm.

This isn't a soft play with a bar attached, it's a proper rock and metal pub that happens to let under-18s in during the day and early evening. If your idea of a family outing includes Yorkshire tapas, pork pies and cheese boards while something loud plays in the background, this is the one. The kitchen serves loaded fries and platter boards, though it shuts at 8pm sharp, so don't turn up at half seven expecting a full meal.

There's no booking for the main bar, it's walk-ins only, which is refreshingly simple if you just fancy popping in, less simple if you've driven across York hoping for a table on a Saturday night. Under-18s are welcome daily until 9pm, or 10pm if you're at a private function in the AllFather Hall function room, so this works better as an afternoon or early evening stop than a full evening out.

Opening hours stretch late into the night on Fridays and Saturdays, but that's really for the adults who stay on after the kids have gone. For a family visit, think of the window between opening (11am on Saturdays, 11.30am other days) and 9pm as your slot. Don't go expecting cocktails or chart music, they're upfront that neither is on the menu here.

Facilities

Need to know

Booking

Walk-ins only, no bookings except for function room (AllFather Hall)

Food

On-site food including loaded fries, Yorkshire tapas, platter boards, pork pies and cheese boards

• Under-18s must be out by 9pm, or 10pm if it's a private function night
• Kitchen stops serving at 8pm, so eat before you linger
• Saturdays open earlier at 11am, every other day it's 11.30am
• Fridays and Saturdays run until 1am, but that's well past the kids' curfew

Plan your visit

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