A short lane with a long memory
Grape Lane barely counts as a street. It’s a narrow medieval cut between Low Petergate and Swinegate, lined with the brick and timber frontages that fill this corner of York. In the Middle Ages it had a much ruder name, which local historians still enjoy explaining.
Fish and Forest sits at number 13. It’s the kind of place you could walk past on the way to the Minster without a second look. That’s the appeal. Plenty of visitors never leave the Shambles crowds, so this stretch stays one of the quieter places to eat in the old city.
Fish from the coast, game from the woods
The name tells you what’s on the menu. The restaurant cooks sustainable fish and game, and that’s a focused idea in a city where most menus try to cover everything. The room is described as cosy and laid-back. Expect a relaxed dinner, not a ceremony.
Yorkshire suits this kind of cooking. The North Sea coast at Whitby and Scarborough is about an hour’s drive away. The moors and estates around York are traditional shooting country. Game in Britain is seasonal by law:
- Grouse season opens on 12 August
- Partridge follows in September
- Pheasant runs from October into the winter
- Venison is available for much more of the year, depending on species
So what’s on the plate will depend on when you visit. Autumn and winter are the obvious time for the “forest” half of the menu. Ask what’s in season instead of arriving set on one dish.
Getting to Grape Lane
You’ll be on foot; the whole of central York is walkable. From York railway station, cross Lendal Bridge and head up past the Museum Gardens towards the Minster. That’s roughly a 15-minute walk.
From the west front of York Minster, walk down Low Petergate and turn into Grape Lane. You’re there in about five minutes. Coming from the Shambles, cut through via Swinegate. Don’t drive into the centre. The streets inside the walls are narrow, partly pedestrianised and heavy with foot traffic, and the car parks sit around the edges.
Picking your day
The schedule is the thing most likely to catch you out. Fish and Forest opens only four days a week:
- Wednesday to Saturday: 10am to 11pm
- Sunday, Monday and Tuesday: closed
If your trip runs Sunday to Tuesday, you won’t get in, so plan around it. The long opening day helps. Because it opens at 10am, you can make it a late-morning or lunch stop between sightseeing, not only a dinner booking. Lunch is the obvious choice if you want the room calmer than it is on a weekend evening.
Booking, paying and the bill
This is a small, cosy restaurant, and small rooms fill up. Friday and Saturday nights are when York is busiest with weekenders, hen parties and race-day crowds, so book ahead for those evenings. Midweek, or at lunch, you have a better chance of walking in, but a quick check first costs nothing.
Some habits worth knowing in a British restaurant:
- Paying: cards and contactless are standard; ask for the bill at the table and the card machine comes to you
- Service charge: many UK restaurants add a discretionary charge to the bill, so check before you tip again
- Tipping: if no charge is added, around 10 to 12.5 percent is normal for good service
- Dietary needs: with a fish-and-game focus, mention vegetarian or allergy requirements when you book, not when you sit down
Prices aren’t published here. Check the restaurant’s current menu before you go if budget matters.
Before and after your meal
Grape Lane puts you right at the start of a proper evening walk. York Minster is a few minutes up the road. On a clear evening, the floodlit west front is the best view in the city.
Stonegate, one of York’s best-preserved medieval streets, runs parallel nearby. It’s lined with old pubs, including Ye Olde Starre Inn with its sign stretched across the street. The Shambles and Newgate Market are a short walk south-east. Walk up to the city walls at Bootham Bar for a stroll along the ramparts, which close at dusk.
On a longer evening, finish in one of the historic pubs around Petergate. That way the whole night stays within a ten-minute radius of your table.
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is Fish and Forest in York?
At 13 Grape Lane, York YO1 7HU, a narrow lane between Low Petergate and Swinegate. It's about five minutes' walk from York Minster and roughly 15 minutes on foot from York railway station via Lendal Bridge.
Which days is Fish and Forest open?
Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 11pm. It's closed on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, so plan around those days.
Do I need to book?
For Friday and Saturday evenings, booking ahead is sensible because it's a small, cosy room and York is busiest at weekends. Midweek and at lunch you have a better chance of walking in.
What kind of food does it serve?
Sustainable fish and game, in a relaxed, laid-back room. Game in Britain is seasonal, so the menu will change through the year. Autumn and winter are peak time for game birds such as grouse and pheasant.
What's nearby to see before or after eating?
York Minster, Stonegate and its old pubs, the Shambles, Newgate Market and the city walls at Bootham Bar are all within a few minutes' walk.
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