Trembling Madness is a bar in York that my boyfriend tried to take us to on our second date last year. Sadly, it was full so we ended up going somewhere else. After trying a few times since, we finally managed to get a seat on a Sunday afternoon.
Update 2025: House of Trembling Madness York remains one of the most unique pubs in the city! The original Stonegate location is still owned and run by Ian who set up the business. They’ve expanded their food offerings with generous platters and hearty stews, plus they now offer breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night options. They’re open 10am-midnight, 7 days a week, and you can even order same-day York delivery! The pub has earned TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice award for 2025.
Important note: The Lendal location is now under different ownership (Tipi people), so this review focuses on the original Stonegate venue which maintains the authentic Trembling Madness experience.
About House of Trembling Madness York
The medieval hall has seen a lot of history. The rear end of this fantastic building began life as part of a Norman house built in York dating back to c.1180AD, believed to be the oldest Norman house in York. The building has survived much adversity through wealth and poverty, decimating fires, and even the widening of the narrower streets that took place many centuries later.
Other parts of the city were not so fortunate to have survived, beams and cobbles intact. The building still has all the original old ship beams that sailed the seas over 800 years ago – you can see and touch history!
Trembling Madness York is famed for its unbelievably small kitchen, impressively huge collection of beers, rich and varied history, and quirky taxidermy animal collection. The staff truly embody the spirit of “Madness”!
Where is Trembling Madness York?
The House of Trembling Madness is located at 48 Stonegate, York YO1 8AS, right in the heart of historic York city centre.
Contact Details:
- Phone: 01904 289848
- Email: info@tremblingmadness.co.uk
- Website: tremblingmadness.co.uk
Opening Times
7 days a week: 10:00am – midnight (New Year’s Day: 12pm – 11pm)
They’re open all day, every day, so you can visit for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or late-night drinks!
The Shop – Over 5,000 Beers & Spirits
The small independent company is also a shop that sells quality alcoholic drinks. There’s over 5,000 products in the shop and 10,000 available to order. It’s one of the widest ranges of craft ales in the UK!
You walk through the bottle shop on the ground floor to access the pub upstairs – it’s like a treasure trove for beer and spirit enthusiasts. The shop offers:
- Craft beers from around the world
- Local Yorkshire ales
- Extensive spirit selection
- Wine
- Cider
- Rare and specialist drinks
Same-day York delivery: Order before 4 pm for delivery the same day (7 days a week)!
Click & collect: Order online and collect from the Stonegate location.
The Medieval Bar Experience
If you can get a seat in Trembling Madness, it’s worth having a drink here. The pub is tucked away above the shop, accessed via a narrow staircase. Once upstairs, you’re transported to a medieval tavern with exposed beams, low ceilings, quirky taxidermy, and an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in York.
The space is designed for “budging up and sharing a pew” – it’s cosy, intimate, and wonderfully atmospheric. The pub serves the very best of modern craft beer paired with locally sourced Yorkshire produce in a comfortable environment that preserves the experience folks may have had in days gone by.
Important: There are four flights of stairs to reach the toilets, so accessibility is limited. There doesn’t appear to be a disabled toilet, which is worth noting if you have mobility issues.
Food at House of Trembling Madness York
The Trembling Madness York menu features food sourced from the best that Yorkshire has to offer, intended for sharing. They believe in good quality grub with Yorkshire spirit – that means large portions!
What’s on the Menu?
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch & Late Night options available
Popular dishes include:
- Venison pie (highly praised!)
- Steak pie (gets rave reviews)
- Generous platters for sharing
- Hearty stews
- Cheese boards with fresh accompaniments
- Ploughman’s lunch
- Yorkshire-inspired dishes
The menu is vegetarian-friendly with various options available. The food is all sourced from Yorkshire suppliers where possible.
Note: The kitchen is unbelievably small, yet they manage to produce excellent food! Some reviews mention occasional delays during busy periods, but the quality is generally praised.
The Trembling Madness Apartments
There are also 2 apartments (The Old Gallery) for short-stay rentals that are said to be haunted. Spooky!
Located at 52a Stonegate, these holiday apartments are tucked in an ancient courtyard behind the Trembling Madness pub and overlook York Minster. They feature:
- Views of York Minster from the bedroom
- 3D TV with Sky channels
- iPod docking station
- Full kitchen facilities
- Retro gaming (one has Atari 2600, the other PlayStation 3)
- Free Wi-Fi throughout
- Medieval character and charm
Booking.com rating: 8.2/10 (Very Good) from 179 reviews
Location rating: 9.8/10 (Excellent)
Guests love the amazing location in the historic centre, the quirky medieval feel, and being able to see York Minster from bed whilst hearing the bells. The blonde woman who helps with check-in gets particular praise for being amazing!
House of Trembling Madness York Reviews – What Others Say
Looking at Trembling Madness York reviews across platforms, the Stonegate location maintains strong ratings:
TripAdvisor: Travellers’ Choice 2025 award
Yelp: Popular with 83 reviews
Booking.com (Apartments): 8.2/10 rating
What People Love:
- “One of my all-time favourite pubs” – Must-visit if you’re in York
- Impressive beer selection – Huge collection of craft ales
- Medieval atmosphere – Quirky, unique, historic feel
- Amazing staff – Embody the spirit of “Madness”
- Quality food – Venison and steak pies highly praised, generous portions
- Historic building – Norman house from 1180AD with original beams
- Taxidermy collection – Quirky and memorable
- Beautiful cheese boards – Well-presented with fresh accompaniments
Common Concerns:
- Very busy – Can be hard to get a seat, especially weekends
- Small space – Gets cramped when full
- Steep stairs – Four flights to the toilets, no disabled access
- Can be loud – Lively atmosphere
- Service delays – Can be slow during very busy periods
Important update: Some reviews mention the Lendal location has changed ownership and quality, but the original Stonegate location run by Ian maintains the authentic experience and quality that made Trembling Madness famous.
Tips for Visiting Trembling Madness York
1. Visit During Quieter Times
If you want to guarantee a seat, visit on weekday afternoons or Sunday afternoons rather than Friday/Saturday evenings when it’s packed.
2. Be Prepared for Stairs
There are multiple flights of stairs – to get to the bar, and then four flights to the toilets. Wear sensible shoes!
3. Explore the Shop First
Don’t rush through the ground-floor bottle shop – it’s a treasure trove of craft beers and spirits with knowledgeable staff who can recommend drinks.
4. Embrace the Cosy Atmosphere
It’s designed for “budging up and sharing a pew” – expect to be close to other drinkers and embrace the intimate, communal vibe.
5. Try the Pies
The venison and steak pies get consistently excellent reviews – they’re proper Yorkshire portions too!
6. Book the Apartments in Advance
If you’re interested in staying in the medieval apartments with Minster views, book well ahead as they’re very popular.
7. Check the Correct Location
Make sure you’re visiting the Stonegate location (48 Stonegate) – this is the original run by Ian, not the Lendal venue which is under different ownership.
Why Visit House of Trembling Madness York?
Trembling Madness York offers an experience you genuinely can’t get anywhere else. Where else can you:
- Drink in a Norman house from 1180AD
- Touch 800-year-old ship beams
- Browse 5,000+ beers and spirits
- Eat in a medieval tavern with taxidermy
- Stay in haunted apartments overlooking York Minster
- Experience proper Yorkshire hospitality with “large portions!”
It’s quirky, it’s historic, it’s uniquely York. The fact it’s still owned and run by Ian who set it up means you’re getting an authentic, independent experience rather than a corporate pub.
Yes, it gets busy. Yes, the stairs are steep. Yes, you might have to wait for a seat. But that’s all part of the charm – Trembling Madness York is popular for good reason!
My Final Thoughts on Trembling Madness York
We finally managed to visit after several attempts, and I can see why it’s always full. The atmosphere is incredible – sitting in a medieval building with original Norman beams from 1180AD whilst drinking craft ale and eating Yorkshire food is such a unique experience.
Walking through the bottle shop to reach the pub upstairs adds to the discovery element. Once you’re up there, the low ceilings, exposed beams, quirky taxidermy, and cosy communal seating create an atmosphere that’s part museum, part medieval tavern, part modern craft beer bar.
The staff really do embody the “Madness” spirit – they’re friendly, knowledgeable, and add to the unique character of the place. And that beer selection! Over 5,000 products in the shop means there’s always something new to discover.
If you’re visiting York, House of Trembling Madness on Stonegate is an absolute must. Just make sure you visit during quieter times if you want to guarantee a seat, wear sensible shoes for those stairs, and embrace the cosy, quirky atmosphere. It’s everything a historic York pub should be.
House of Trembling Madness (Original Stonegate Location)
48 Stonegate
York YO1 8AS
Phone: 01904 289848
Email: info@tremblingmadness.co.uk
Website: tremblingmadness.co.uk
Open: 10am-midnight, 7 days a week
Looking for more unique York pubs and bars? Check out Pivni York for craft beer, House of Trembling Madness Lendal for the larger sister venue, Evil Eye Lounge York for quirky cocktails, or Eagle & Child York for traditional pub atmosphere!
For more great York pubs and bars, see my full best pubs in York guide.
Looks so good! I’ve got to add it to my list, next time I’d be planning a trip to York. I’m a lover for everything creepy, so might even be brave enought to check out the haunted apartaments!
Ania x
Oh wow look at the selection in the shop! Packed full!
It looks and sounds like a really interesting place for a drink – glad you were able to go there at last! 🙂
Hope you are having a great weekend 🙂