THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Friday, November 14, 2025

🌤️ Good morning, York!

Right then, grab your coat because it’s a proper Yorkshire Friday with plenty happening across our city! From major climate wins to civic appointments, sport updates, cultural events and policing news - we’ve got it all covered. Here’s your complete York roundup.

Weather Update:
Right then, it’s a drizzly Friday in York with temperatures sitting around 7°C and rain showers throughout the day - so you’ll definitely want that brolly if you’re heading to the Christmas markets! The weekend’s looking a bit brighter, with Saturday offering some dry spells and Sunday potentially the best day to get out and about. - Full Met Office forecast for York is here.

📰 NEWS

🌍 York slashes carbon emissions by 16% - Brilliant news on the climate front! York has cut carbon emissions by 16% since 2021, dropping from 906,000 tonnes to 758,000 tonnes in 2023. Cleaner buses, better cycling infrastructure, and energy-efficient buildings are driving the change, earning York an ‘A rating’ from CDP for the third year running. Read More on York.gov

“A 16 per cent drop in emissions is a great achievement for York and backs up our recent ‘A rating’ for leadership on climate action, awarded by the CDP (formally known as Carbon Disclosure Project), for the third year running. This isn’t just about reducing the impacts of climate change – it’s about making York a more liveable city for everyone. To see our emissions rates drop below those recorded during the Covid pandemic is a big part of making this happen.

👥 Margaret Wells set for Lord Mayor return - Labour’s Councillor Margaret Wells is set to return as York’s Lord Mayor next May after councillors approved her nomination. The Clifton ward member previously served during 2024-25 and says she only scratched the surface of meeting York’s volunteers. Update on Y01 Radio.

🎓 University of York opens doors to Chinese students - The University of York has launched a new partnership with China’s Ministry of Education to offer a High Achiever Programme. First cohort arrives September 2026, focusing on Business and Computer Science degrees. Read More on University of York Website.

🗳️ York St John tackles youth voting engagement - As Year 7s gear up to get the vote in a few years, York St John academics are highlighting youth work’s crucial role in political engagement. Dr Carole Pugh hosts a webinar next Thursday (Nov 20) exploring how to support 4.4 million young people engaged through youth work. York Saint John Website with more updates.

🍽️ New free school meal system saves York families time - York’s new auto-enrolment system for free school meals is helping families by automatically checking eligibility through housing benefit data, potentially saving parents up to £450 per year while ensuring schools get vital Pupil Premium funding.

🚨 CRIME

👮 Wanted York man Isaac Green arrested - After a manhunt this week, Isaac Green, 30, is now in police custody. Green was wanted in connection with harassment, coercive behaviour, assault, and criminal damage. More in Gazette and Herald.

🔍 Police hunt 42-year-old Raymond Harris - North Yorkshire Police are searching for Raymond Harris, 42, who’s been recalled to prison for breaching his early release licence. He has links to York’s Clifton area, Leeds, and Middlesbrough. If you see him, dial 999. More on Gazette Live

🎨 ARTS & CULTURE

❄️ Slava’s Snow Show hits York for first time - Prepare for a proper blizzard indoors! Slava’s Snow Show arrives at the Grand Opera House next week (Nov 19-23) in its first-ever York visit. Expect clowns, giant snowballs, and an indoor snowstorm that’ll leave you knee-deep in “snow.” Gazette and Herald.

🎭 Joseph Rowntree Theatre celebrates 90 years - The Joseph Rowntree Theatre is hosting a dazzling 1930s-themed fair tomorrow (Saturday, Nov 15) at 2:30pm at York Hospital Social Club to mark its 90th birthday. Tickets.

🏆 Barley Hall wins Visit England award - York’s Barley Hall has scooped a Visit England Visitor Attraction Accolade, recognizing the medieval townhouse’s excellence in providing outstanding visitor experiences. Update on York Press.

🎪 Sunny Afternoon impresses at Grand Opera House - The Kinks musical “Sunny Afternoon” has been delighting audiences at the Grand Opera House this week, showcasing the band’s iconic hits and Ray Davies’ story. More on York Press.

🏃 SPORT

⚽ York City’s Mo Fadera loan saga continues - York City boss Stuart Maynard has been expecting Mo Fadera to leave on loan, with the 20-year-old winger heading to Scunthorpe United for valuable first-team minutes.

⚽ Stones and Pearce celebrate braces - York City’s Josh Stones and Ollie Pearce both grabbed braces, giving fans plenty to cheer about in recent matches. More on York Press.

🏟️ York Stadium launches sports education centre - The LNER Community Stadium has launched a pioneering training and education centre offering Pearson BTEC Level 3 Sport pathways, with students gaining behind-the-scenes experience including match-day tickets and work placements. York Stadium Management Company.

💙 COMMUNITY

🏥 Saint Catherine’s Hospice launches £40,000 Christmas appeal - Saint Catherine’s Hospice has launched its annual Christmas appeal targeting £40,000 to continue providing vital end-of-life care and support for York families during the festive season.

🚆 TRAVEL

⚠️ Festive getaway warning for rail passengers - Planning Christmas travels? York Railway Station passengers are urged to plan ahead as improvement works take place during the festive period. Saturday, December 27 expected to be particularly busy. Gazette and Herald.

🎃 WHAT’S ON TODAY - FRIDAY 14TH NOVEMBER

🎄 Christmas kicks off across York - Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland opens for its 20th anniversary season at York Designer Outlet (from 9:30am), while York’s award-winning Christmas Market continues in Parliament Street (10:30am-7pm) with 80%+ Yorkshire traders.

🎪 Festive markets galore - Little Bird Artisan Acomb Christmas Market runs 10am-3pm on Front Street with 85% local Yorkshire vendors - perfect for supporting local businesses.

🎭 West End comes to York - Sunny Afternoon - the Olivier Award-winning Kinks musical takes the Grand Opera House stage at 7:30pm tonight, featuring hits like “You Really Got Me” and “Lola.”

🩰 World-class ballet returns - London City Ballet presents Momentum at York Theatre Royal (7:30pm), featuring rarely-seen George Balanchine work unseen outside the USA.

😂 Comedy night at Patch - Funny Fridays returns with host Katie Lingo and Yorkshire’s finest comedians including Amit Mistry and Lulu Simons (7:30pm, Terry Avenue).

🐷 Pig racing spectacular - Fancy something different? The Great PIGGIN’ Civic Races features electronic pig racing with 8 races, pie & pea supper from award-winning Ged Bell Butchers (7-10:30pm, York Hospital Sports & Social Club).

🎵 Candlelit music tribute - Ed Sheeran and Coldplay tribute concert at The National Centre for Early Music under candlelight (8:30pm, Saint Margarets Church).

📺 Dibley on stage
The Vicar of Dibley stage adaptation continues at Theatre@41 (7:30pm, 41 Monkgate).
https://www.yorkmix.com/huge-new-village-between-york-and-harrogate-gets-the-go-ahead

That’s your Friday sorted, York!

From cutting carbon emissions to cutting through indoor snowstorms, and from Lord Mayors to pig racing - we’ve got the lot. Personally, I’m still trying to wrap my head around electronic pig racing with a pie and pea supper. Now that’s what I call a proper Yorkshire night out!

Have a brilliant weekend, whether you’re braving the Christmas markets or staying cosy indoors.