Chopping Block at Walmgate Ale House

Chopping Block at Walmgate Ale House is a French restaurant set above a traditional British pub on Walmgate, inside the city walls. The restaurant occupies part of a 17th-century Grade II listed building that once housed rope makers and saddlers. Its narrow frontage gives little indication of the space within, which extends across three floors and includes several dining rooms.

The cooking combines contemporary and traditional French food with produce from France and Yorkshire. The style is relaxed and informal rather than formal, making the restaurant suitable for an unhurried lunch, an evening meal or a gathering in one of the private rooms. French techniques and flavours provide the focus, while the setting retains the character of the historic building.

Downstairs, Walmgate Ale House provides a separate traditional pub atmosphere. Its drinks selection includes beers from local breweries, along with craft cask and keg options, cans and bottles. A blackboard menu of homemade bar snacks is available in the pub, alongside access to the restaurant menus. This arrangement gives the venue two distinct ways to dine, from a full French meal upstairs to a more casual drink and snack downstairs.

The restaurant has private rooms for celebrations, seasonal parties and group dining. The booking arrangements also cover the ground floor, including access for disabled diners and tables for guests bringing a dog. The building's layout means that different areas offer different atmospheres, from the pub below to the more settled restaurant rooms above.

Chopping Block suits diners looking for French food in a characterful setting, as well as groups seeking a flexible venue with both restaurant and pub spaces. The combination of French cuisine, Yorkshire ingredients, local beer and historic surroundings gives the Walmgate address a clear sense of place in York.