In these days of parliamentary skulduggery and dodgy expenses, it feels apt to stay in an inn named after the man who once tried to blow up Parliament.

Guy Fawkes Inn is a higgledy-piggledy warren of a building dating from the 15th century, a stone’s throw from York Minster, which is across the street.

A plaque declares that this is where Fawkes was born, in April 1570, though another plaque on the neighbouring Stonegate makes the same claim. No one is entirely sure which is accurate, though the gunpowder plotter is known to have been baptised in St Michael-le-Belfrey church, next door to the Minster.

“He’s reputed to have been born here,” a cagey receptionist said, handing me my key (and smiling conspiratorially).

Whatever the truth, it is a terrific old inn and has more than a touch of the plotter about it, its rooms having dark walls and old candlesticks with wax dripping down them illuminating nooks and crannies where you can just imagine schemers getting together to dream up an attack on James I.

There are 13 rooms, and mine was across a courtyard at the back, where there is a large picture of Fawkes on a wall. The room was small, neat and olive green, although a little dirty around the edges and with a tiny shower room that was equipped with a “sugar cube for a bath with essential oils, mint, pine and rosemary”, despite not having a bath.

In the courtyard a group of drinkers was ordering another round of ales and saying things such as: “Happy days, lads, happy days!” One of them possessed a laugh that reminded me of Basil Brush. Their conversation filtered upwards as I lay on my bed.

The Guy Fawkes is clearly not pitched at fussy guests. It’s more a place for banter and real ale, and is a member of the Campaign for Real Ale. I ordered a hot beef and gravy steak sandwich (£5.95 and very good) and a pint of Acorn Darkness in the front bar.

A candle flickered on my small circular table next to old church pews and a grandfather clock. A group of friends sat down near me, one saying to another: “This is great, where did you find this?” His companion replied, in a local accent: “On t’internet.”

The local paper was full of news of the latest expenses outrages and shenanigans in Westminster. I tucked into a Guy Fawkes Chocolate Bomb and wondered what the gunpowder plotter would have thought of things today.

Need to know

Guy Fawkes Inn (01904 623716, www.guyfawkes inn.co.uk), 25 High Petergate, York YO1 7HP.

Mystery Guest paid £90 for a B&B double.

Room 4 out of 10

Service 7

Food 6

Value 5

Score 5.5

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