The York Brief ⏰ Tuesday 28 October 2025
Today's edition has quite the spread: we're talking about trust betrayed, Yorkshire innovation reaching farmers, and the perennial debate about charging more for Christmas parking.
🌤️ Good morning York.
Welcome to your Tuesday Brief – where we bring together the stories that make our city tick, Unsettled start to the day with rain on the way. Here’s Tuesday’s York Brief.
☔️ This week’s weather: Showers clearing this evening before heavy rain arrives overnight. Wednesday will be windy with rain and thundery showers (max 21°C). Drier and brighter Thursday through Saturday with sunny spells. Full Met Office forecast here.
🕒 Remember: The clocks went back Sunday - sunrise is currently around 7:40am, sunset around 4:30pm. Days get longer from 21 December onwards. Here’s what it does for this week’s sunrises and sunsets.
🚨 Crime & Courts
🏛️ Freemason stole £12K from York charity - A former ‘Worshipful Master’ of the Eboracum Masonic Lodge admitted fraud yesterday after stealing £12,355 from the lodge’s benevolent fund. Grant made over 30 transfers to his own account between October 2023 and March 2024 while serving as charity steward. He’s since repaid nearly £2,000 more than he stole and awaits sentencing. Full story at YorkMix.
⚔️ Two arrested after war memorial assault - A man and woman have been arrested following an altercation at the South African War Memorial on Duncombe Place near York Minster on Sunday 19 October. The victim challenged the pair when an item was thrown at the memorial, leading to a physical assault. Both suspects have been released on bail while police investigate. Read more at YorkMix.
Teenagers spray people with hosepipe in York car-park - group of teenagers spraying people and vehicles with a hosepipe in a city centre car park; police investigating. YorkMix
🏗️ Development & Business
🎓 York Central welcomes architecture students - The York Central strategic development partners joined forces with the new York School of Architecture last month, giving 53 first-year students a guest lecture and site tour of the UK’s most significant regeneration project. Jack Stephenson from masterplan architects Allies and Morrison led the session. Details from York Press/Yahoo | York Central announcement.
🥑 York agri-tech firm boosts global avocado production - AgriSound, a York-based biodiversity tech startup, is using bioacoustic pollinator monitoring to help boost avocado production globally - including partnerships with Westfalia Fruit in South Africa and projects supporting women farmers in Kenya. The company’s solar-powered “Polly” devices listen for bee activity 24/7 to optimise pollination. Read more at AgriSound.
💰 Transport & Council
🅿️ Christmas parking fees branded ‘cash grab’ - Parking charges at York city centre car parks will rise to £5.30/hour during the Christmas Market (13 Nov-21 Dec), with opposition councillors calling it a “Christmas cash grab.” Labour’s transport lead Cllr Kate Ravilious defended the hikes as necessary to curb congestion, while Lib Dem Cllr Ashley Mason warned it could turn away trade businesses rely on. YorkMix has the full story.
Call to extend underground tunnel to link York Central to the station - local debate about adding tunnel link to the York Central regeneration site. YorkMix
“The architects for York Central partners recently told disabled people the step-free access to the western station entrance will be via lifts that will take one up, not down.
🎭 Culture & Events
🎸 OMD announced for York Museum Gardens 2026 - Synth-pop legends Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark will headline York Museum Gardens on Thursday 9 July 2026, with special guests Heaven 17, China Crisis, and Andrew Cushin. York exclusive postcode presale starts tomorrow (29 Oct) at 10am, with general sale on 31 October. Full details at Harrogate Informer.
🎬 UNESCO City of Media Arts Expo coming to York - A UNESCO City of Media Arts expo is set to take place in York, showcasing the city’s creative industries and digital innovation. More at Make It York.
🍪 Aldwark Manor first to offer Bettys biscuits in rooms - Aldwark Manor Estate has become the first hotel to offer Bettys biscuits in guest rooms, celebrating Yorkshire’s premium hospitality partnership. See Aldwark Manor’s announcement.
📌 Community Notices
📋 Annual Canvass reminder - City of York Council is conducting its Annual Canvass of electors. Make sure your household is registered to vote. More information here.
🚔 Project Servator patrols in city centre - North Yorkshire Police have been conducting Project Servator patrols around Blake Street and Museum Gardens as part of enhanced security operations. YO1 Radio has more.
🚨 Emergency services response times improving - 101 response times continue to improve as police staff mark International Control Room Week, with North Yorkshire Police celebrating better service levels for non-emergency calls. Read at YorkMix.
What’s on in York this week?
🎭 Party Piece at Theatre@41 - York Settlement Community Players present Richard Harris’s Party Piece - Michael and Roma are meticulously preparing for their fancy dress housewarming party. Roma treats it like a coronation, while Michael plans it like the Normandy landing, manning the barbecue with 5-star determination and Gordon Ramsey’s personality.
- Theatre@41, 41 Monkgate, York, YO31 7PB
- Tue 28 Oct – Sat 1 Nov, 7:30pm (2:30pm Sat matinee)
- More info
🍎 Apple Day at Homestead Park - Join a fun-filled celebration of the humble apple. Try your hand at apple pressing and take home fresh juice, enjoy apple tasting, and get stuck into crafts and family-friendly activities.
- Homestead Park, 40 Water End, York YO30 6WP
- Today (Tue 28 Oct), 11am – 3pm
- More info
The York Brief is your daily dose of what’s happening in York. We keep it short, we keep it local, and we keep it relevant.
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