Kennedys
Wine Bars in York
1 Little Stonegate
York
North Yorkshire
YO1 8AX
Contact Numbers
Reviews
Nice enviroment
Its a Nice enviroment, very clean and good variety (music downstairs) drinks are MORE expensive than the posh riverside bars! one occasion waited over one hour for some food (during the week at lunchtime) and wasnt worth the wait
chris barrass - 21/11/2008 | report this review
reviewed again
I felt compelled to re-review kennedy's for the third time, as despite my last glowing words something has gone terribly wrong. Kennedy's may be new styled, but on my last visit (yesterday) staff were rude and inept, glasses were unclean, our order was wrong (twice) and no apologies were made.First i had to wait over fifteen minutes to get served at the upstairs bar empty of other customers and with four members of staff 'mucking about' at the back and far more concerned with flirting with one another than taking a simple drinks order. After being prompted by myself, twice, to, 'please could someone take my drink order please', this was delivered wrong. twice. They also saw fit to overcharge me, and make no apology. Our glasses were dirty and had to be sent back. In the ladies toilets, i can't speak for the men's, but the ladies was a shocker. water everywhere on the floor. doors off their hinges, loo paper sopping on the floor. the only saving grace was the lack of light, which meant i probably missed the other hygeine related flouting of regulations. in short. yuk.
A User - 08/09/2008 | report this review
RE-view
Being one of the few late liscence bars, Kennedy's USED to be the domain of beer fuelled late night drinking and some very sweaty understairs dancing.After a refurb, gone is the 'VIP' area that was enclosed in swaths of curtain material suitable for Aunt Matilda. IN instead is air con (!), subtle lighting, three newly stocked bars across three floors, the roof terraced more 'restauranty' area as well as new drinks and food menu. Before i slated Kennedy's for being 'just another bar', which york has a LOT of. Now it stands alone not only for the brave new colour scheme that involves a lot of cream and purple which in the wake of the previous red/green/lilac combination is a vast improvement. Improved too is the lavatorial experience. I can't say much for the guys, but the 'bettys' have squared sinks, loooong full-length mirror and the most exciting moment i've ever had in hand-drying. Seriously, you'll have to trust me on this one. Just one small note, the combination of low level 'flattering' lighting and dark colour scheme make for a somewhat claustrophobic trip to the loo, so if your over anxious go in pairs if only to admire the 'speed super-dry' hand moisture remover... The menu's too are MUCH improved. There are now decent wines by the glass including Sancerre and Chianti, both of which are a nightmare in york to get outside of bottled measurements. Like the drinks, food is more tempting and satisfying on the palate. When i was lazying on the roofterrace on a friday afternoon the newly appointed Cuban chef Carolos produced some very popular and generously portioned dishes. Looking especially good were the share plates that a party of six next to me had trouble finishing. Down, understairs rumour has it that the dance area is still sweaty as ever. I was warned by the bar staff 'not to go down there tonight' followed by a nasal sniff , flick of the head and tut. So it seems improvements are moving in the right direction, but some things stay the same. BUT ask nicely and they'll mix a fairly decent mojito, just watch them with the sugar; DARK, not white!
A User - 06/05/2008 | report this review
Late opening & a facelift are helping
"Kennedy's" hit the proverbial brick wall when "Biltmore" opened around the corner. Its more glamorous competitor lost no time it accentuating Kennedy's rather careworn interior that had been allowed to go too far downhill before getting a kicking where it hurts - in the till's !!The original late night bar, with it's snaking queue's of drinkers desperate for entrance after the old 11pm last orders had been called elsewhere, had to wake up or give up - and thankfully it embarked on a significant refurbishment.It seems to have done the trick, a marble bar crowns off a thoroughly modern colourful approach to the decor with lots of soft furnishings upstairs and on the ground floor. I think they still are pursuing the ridiculous VIP lounge concept which has so far failed but thankfully that only takes up a small part of the place. The outside patio upstairs is a welcome part of the place that has been retained and extended and all in all it's attracting the sort of people it was designed for - not your end of night lairy fighting heads that were drawn there towards the end of its previous incarnation.Not eaten there yet - I only hope that they have replaced the old chef when they replaced the decor - after all his offerings were as tired.The bar is comprehensive in its offering - lots of gleaming fonts for keg beer and continental lagers and the shorts include the usual premium brands. You won't be stuck for choice that's for certain...
A User - 02/04/2008 | report this review
Another bar
Oh another York bar! And what makes this one stand out? Well not a lot. Usual pub food; steak, chips, microwave offerings. During the day is the favourite of pushy chair mothers and small children. By night during the week sometimes good live music. At weekends head downstairs to very small and long, narrow bar where you can 'dance' on the 'dance floor'. This is more an excuse of the latest round of hen parties and stags to rub up against each other before getting kicked out at 1am. Other bars are better in York: Dusk, Living Rooms, Biltmore, Alley cats, Evil Eye. Plus their wine list is easily forgettable, i'm tyring to recollect something 'nice' on the menu...The saving grace is in the summer there's a roof garden one can mingle beneath and get away from the sweaty bodies downstairs.
A User - 10/03/2008 | report this review
Cafe what bar?
Styles itself as 'York's No1 cafe bar' - Not sure what this might be ...Close to the tourist centre of Stonegate it attempts to be everything - as its own Web page claims from 'pumped up partying' to siting in the sun - there is some outside seating and a sometimes drab roof terrace for the summer. Trouble is while is does much none is done very well. Beer typically corporate and vastly overshadowed in choice and quality by the close by Terrier run by the local brewery. Does the usual drinks but don't expect any good quality wine or sprits. Food is typical pub stuff (sorry cafe bar). For coffee go to Starbucks! All quite costly given the quality but you pay for locality. Suspect quite a high staff turnover so service of any kind is at best OK. Can be handy escape for those with kids in the summer. In the evenings it gets err pumping so thats students and younger town folk who are not trendy enough to pop over to the more atmospheric Evil Eye.
A User - 12/12/2007 | report this review
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