THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Thursday, 18 December 2025

👋 Hello, York.
From hospital strikes and emergency incidents to big planning moves, greener energy wins, and festive events pulling crowds across the region, today’s briefing is packed. Serious headlines sit alongside progress, culture, and community - let’s get you up to speed.

🌤️ Weather Today

Mild for December with highs around 10°C, but a yellow fog warning is in place overnight into Wednesday morning, with visibility potentially dropping below 100 metres in parts of York and North Yorkshire.
Source: Met Office

🏥 HEALTHCARE & EMERGENCY SERVICES

🩺 Doctor Strike Continues Through Weekend - Resident doctors at York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are in day two of their five-day strike (running 7am Dec 17 to 7am Dec 22). Some appointments and procedures are being rescheduled - if affected, the Trust will contact you directly. Otherwise, attend as planned and continue seeking care for emergencies. 👉 York Hospital | YorkMix | York Press

“It’s important to still come forward if you need urgent or emergency care, especially in life-threatening situations. Our emergency services remain open and ready to help.

👮 Three Officers Assaulted at Christmas Market - A 44-year-old York man has been remanded in custody after three police officers were assaulted at York Christmas Market on December 16. He’s been charged with two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, one count of assaulting a police officer, and criminal damage after reports he was “causing disorder.” He appeared at York Magistrates’ Court this morning. 👉 Gazette & Herald | YorkMix

🚗 TRANSPORT & INFRASTRUCTURE

🅿️ Parking Charges Review Launches - Your Say Needed - Arup has been appointed to run an independent review of parking charges on Bishopthorpe Road, Micklegate, and The Groves after traders and residents triggered a “Right to Challenge” petition. The consultation runs until February 2, 2026 - whether you’re a local resident, business owner, employee, or regular shopper, your input matters for the future of these areas. 👉 City of York Council | YorkMix | York Press

“We are asking local residents and businesses to give their views about the impact of the price increase and the actions they think the Council should take going forwards.”

🚉 WWII Station Canopy Removal Approved - Council planners have approved the dismantling of York Station’s 1940s bus shelter canopy after warnings it’s at risk of collapse. The concrete, timber and glass structure above the taxi rank was originally installed during WWII to shelter service personnel heading to army bases and airfields. It’s become redundant since buses moved as part of the Station Gateway scheme, and contractors refused to work beneath it. 👉 YorkMix | Gazette & Herald

🚙 A1M Delays Cleared Near York Turn-Off - Drivers faced delays on the A1M near York yesterday when one lane closed on the entry slip road at Junction 44 (A64 turn-off for York and Tadcaster) due to a broken-down vehicle. Traffic queues formed but the delays have since cleared and traffic has returned to normal. 👉 Gazette & Herald | YorkMix

🚗 Student Parking “Getting Worse” in Groves - Residents in The Groves area say unfair parking by students and tourists is getting worse, with local streets increasingly congested. The issue has been raised as part of ongoing concerns about parking pressure in residential areas near the city center and university. 👉 YorkMix

💼 BUSINESS & DEVELOPMENT

🏢 Wheldrake Finance Firm Expands to Larger Office - One Stop Business Finance is moving to bigger premises in Wheldrake after outgrowing its barn conversion headquarters. The alternative funding provider, founded in 2014, has Renaissance Asset Finance backing and expects to continue its growth trajectory after a decade of success. The move reflects expanding operations as the business serves SMEs across Yorkshire and beyond. 👉 Business Money

🏘️ Miller Homes Plans 500+ Yorkshire Properties - Housebuilder Miller Homes is targeting delivery of over 500 new homes across Yorkshire in 2026, with developments including Knights Manor in Copmanthorpe (just outside York) and new sites opening in Harrogate, Huddersfield, Crofton and Lepton. The Yorkshire operations director called 2025 a “prosperous year” and is looking to build on that success. 👉 Harrogate Informer | Telegraph & Argus

🍺 Lendal Cellars Eyes Major Makeover - Greene King has submitted planning applications for a significant upgrade to Lendal Cellars, the Grade II listed pub next to the Guildhall. Plans include a new outdoor serving area with lighting, heating and furniture, plus internal refurbishments to the main bar area, additional seating and general redecoration. The terraced pub sits above extensive historic cellars once used by wine merchants. 👉 Gazette & Herald | York Press

🎓 Askham Bryan Launches Adventure Sport Degree - University Centre Askham Bryan has launched a new BSc (Hons) degree in Adventure Sport and Outdoor Education, designed to develop the next generation of outdoor activity professionals with hands-on experience in fields like rock climbing, kayaking, and wilderness leadership. Guidance on the UCAB website, or to book a place at an upcoming open day can be done at: www.askham-bryan.ac.uk/open-days👉 York Press

🎬 Vue Cinema Unveils Ultra-Lux Seats - Vue Cinema at Clifton Moor has introduced new ultra-lux seating, offering moviegoers an upgraded premium experience with enhanced comfort and amenities. The improvements are part of ongoing investments in York’s entertainment venues. 👉 York Press

🌍 SUSTAINABILITY & ENVIRONMENT

☀️ York Minster’s Solar Success: £20k Saved - York Minster’s 184-panel rooftop solar array has generated over 42,000 kWh of clean electricity in its first six months, meeting more than 80% of the cathedral’s peak energy needs. The system has saved nearly £20,000 in electricity costs and offset eight tonnes of CO2 emissions. Safety was paramount given the Minster’s 1984 lightning fire, with special SafeDC technology chosen to minimize fire risks. 👉 Air Quality News | York Press

🏆 AWARDS & ACCOLADES

😎 York Ranks 7th Coolest City in UK - York has been named the UK’s seventh-coolest city in a Betway Casino study analyzing food scenes, music venues, and cultural offerings. The ranking was based on veggie/vegan/gluten-free restaurants per capita, upcoming gigs, record shops, hidden gem food places, and tattoo studios. Brighton topped the list, followed by Norwich and Edinburgh, with York beating Liverpool and Oxford. 👉 York Press

♟️ St Wilfrid’s Chess Champions Strike Again - Pupils from St Wilfrid’s Primary School in Monkgate have won the London Chess Classic tournament at Emirates Stadium for the second year running. The team not only competed against schools from across the UK but also played against Uzbekistan grandmaster Javokhir Sindorov, a world top-10 player, and met author Onjali Q Rauf. 👉 Gazette & Herald | York Press

🎬 SCREEN & ENTERTAINMENT

📺 Patience Returns to Channel 4 in January - The hit York-filmed crime drama Patience returns for series 2 on Channel 4, Tuesday January 7, 2026 at 9pm. The extended eight-episode run features BAFTA-winning Jessica Hynes joining as DI Frankie Monroe, bringing a new management style that clashes with autistic detective Patience (Ella Maisy Purvis). Expect cases set in extraordinary York locations including the Minster, plus romance, a hostage storyline, and shocking family revelations. 👉 YorkMix | York Press

🎄 FESTIVE & EVENTS

🥃 York Gin Adds Sparkly Christmas Tastings - York Gin has added special festive gin tastings to its schedule throughout December, featuring a sparkly Christmas cocktail on arrival. The tastings run Friday and Saturday evenings (6:30-7:30/7:45pm) at York Distillery on Skeldergate, including generous tasters of six different gins, fascinating stories, and a full G&T with your favorite at the end. 👉 York Press

⚔️ JORVIK Festival Fringe 2026 - Businesses Wanted - Organizers of JORVIK Viking Festival (Feb 16-22, 2026) are calling on York businesses to join the Festival Fringe with Viking-themed activities. With 45,000-50,000 visitors expected, they’re hoping for Viking menus in restaurants, mead cocktails in bars, themed events, and Norse-influenced activities across the city. Email festival@yorkat.co.uk to get involved in Europe’s largest Viking festival. 👉 Gazette & Herald | York Press

🌲 COMMUNITY NEWS

🎄 600+ Flock to Rosedale Abbey Christmas Trees - More than 600 visitors attended Rosedale Abbey’s Christmas Tree Festival between December 12-14. St Mary and St Lawrence Church displayed 31 decorated trees (20 generously donated by David Ross from his Rosedale East and Westerdale Estate), raising a “considerable” sum for the Save Rosedale Church Appeal. 👉 Gazette & Herald | York Press

🎨 ARTS & CULTURE

🔥 Reignite XII at Yorkshire Museum - The twelfth edition of Reignite is coming to Yorkshire Museum and Art Gallery, featuring contemporary art in dialogue with York’s historic collections. The annual exhibition showcases innovative works that challenge and complement the museum’s traditional displays. 👉 York BID | York Press

🗳️ POLITICS

📮 Heworth By-Election Candidates Announced - The list of candidates for the Heworth Ward by-election on January 15, 2026 has been published. Polling runs 7am-10pm with the count at The Centre @ Burnholme. Note: Holy Trinity Church Hall won’t be used - those voters should use The Centre @ Burnholme instead. Register to vote by midnight December 29; postal vote applications due 5pm December 30 👉 City of York Council

🟢 Political Changes at North Yorkshire Council - Political shifts continue at North Yorkshire Council as a councillor has joined the Green Party, marking the latest in a series of party changes at the authority. The move reflects ongoing realignment in local politics across the region. 👉 YorkMix

🌾 Hollinrake “Disappointed” Over Wildfire Support - York MP Kevin Hollinrake has expressed disappointment after the government declined to provide compensation for North York Moors farmers following wildfires that destroyed 5,000 acres. Despite the significant devastation, officials determined the fires didn’t meet the threshold for emergency support funding. 👉 York Press

“I have written to the Secretary of State to demand a dedicated Wildfire Recovery Fund. These farmers are the stewards of our National Park; they cannot be left to foot the bill for a natural disaster they helped to fight.”

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 EDUCATION

🚨 Shocking School Expulsion Numbers - A shocking number of children are being permanently excluded for bad behavior from North Yorkshire schools, new data reveals. The figures highlight growing concerns about student discipline and the resources available to support challenging behaviors in classrooms across the region.👉 YorkMix

“I’ve totally taken on board that it’s a national problem, and I know that the government is trying to address it, but you can’t go on like this without actually highlighting the problem we face.”

Today’s stories reflect a city balancing challenge with momentum. Thanks for reading The York Brief - take care in the fog, and we’ll see you tomorrow.

The York Brief is compiled from trusted local sources including York Press, Gazette & Herald, YorkMix, and other verified outlets.