THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Tuesday, 31 March 2026

Good morning, York! We close out March with queues outside the LNER before 8 am, a Viking pop-up bar plotting its summer return, and somebody about to open a cowboy bar in one of England's most medieval cities. It's all very on-brand for this town. Brew's on - here's your Tuesday briefing.

💼 BUSINESS

🌍 York and North Yorkshire Firms Eye £45m in Global Trade After Export Grants Windfall - Thirty York and North Yorkshire businesses have been confirmed for a share of the Combined Authority's £635,000 Get Exporting grant pot - with forecasts of over £45 million in new global trade as a result. It builds on a pilot that generated £15m from a £200,000 pot, meaning Mayor David Skaith has tripled down on a proven return. Among those benefiting: York-based data and AI firm Simpson Associates, Malton tofu maker The Tofoo Company (heading into the German market), and Thirsk-based Resimac Solutions (exhibiting at a major industry event in Thailand). Skaith called the programme about "backing ambition and unlocking more in new global trade." | | The Business Desk | YorkMix

🏥 HEALTH

📉 Trolley Waits Tumbling at York and Scarborough Hospitals - There's cautious good news from the wards: the number of patients waiting 12 hours or more on trolleys at York and Scarborough hospitals is finally heading in the right direction. February saw 406 such waits, still too many, but a significant drop from 930 in January and 759 in December. At a recent trust board meeting, health bosses welcomed the milestone that on 22nd March, York Hospital recorded zero 12-hour trolley waits. CEO Clare Smith said she was "hopeful that we're starting to demonstrate an improvement" and that the trust is working to "eradicate corridor care." Scarborough Hospital is "struggling a bit more due to medical staffing differences," but bed management and continuous flow improvements are starting to bear fruit. | The Scarborough News | York Press

🚆 TRANSPORT

🔧 Plan Ahead: Major Rail Chaos on Both May Bank Holidays - York rail passengers have been warned to brace for significant disruption over both May bank holiday weekends. Network Rail is carrying out major works on the East Coast Main Line between York and Northallerton across 2–4 May (May Day) and 23–25 May (Spring Bank Holiday). During both weekends, LNER trains will start and terminate at York, with replacement buses to Darlington; TransPennine Express will run no trains between York and Northallerton at all; CrossCountry runs replacement buses between York and Darlington; and Northern replaces trains between Poppleton and York on the May Day weekend only. The advice is simple, plan ahead, allow extra time, and check before travelling. | Gazette & Herald | Network Rail

🚒 Firefighters Cut Trapped Driver Free After A64 Crash Near Barton Hill - Emergency services raced to a two-vehicle collision on the A64 near Barton Hill, a major route in and out of York, at around 5:55 pm on Monday. Crews from Huntington, Malton and York stations attended the scene, using stabilisation equipment, hydraulic cutters and spreaders to remove the roof from one of the vehicles and free a trapped occupant. North Yorkshire Police closed the road while emergency services worked at the scene. | York Press

⚽ SPORT

🎟️ Fans Mob Club Shop as York City Rochdale Tickets Go on Sale This Morning - The buzz around York City's National League title charge hit fever pitch this morning as season ticket holders queued outside the LNER Community Stadium from 8 am, clamouring for the 1,590 away tickets allocated for the crunch season finale at Rochdale on Saturday 25th April (12:30 pm kick-off). Tickets went on sale exclusively to season ticket holders from 8 am today, one ticket per holder, priced from £7 (juniors) to £24 (adults). The match is shaping up to be a potential title decider, and Rochdale have already sold out their lounge hospitality due to "unprecedented demand." York City are averaging nearly 6,500 fans at the LNER this season, a club record, and have hit over 3,600 season ticket holders, also a record. General sale for any remaining tickets opens on Tuesday, 7th April. | York City FC | YorkMix

📋 York City Announce 2026/27 Season Ticket Prices - York City have confirmed their 2026/27 season ticket pricing ahead of an official on-sale date of Thursday, 2nd April. Supporters can buy online, by phone on 01904 624447, or in person at the LNER club shop. Season tickets cover league matches only. | York City FC | York Press

🏉 Carrie Roberts Re-Joins York Valkyrie for Second Stint - York Valkyrie has announced the return of Carrie Roberts to the club, bringing a familiar and welcome face back to the women's rugby league setup. Yahoo Sports UK.

🍺 FOOD & DRINK

🤠 Yeehaw! A Cowboy-Themed Bar is Riding Into York - Saddle up, York, a new cowboy-themed bar is set to open in the city, according to YorkMix. Details on the precise location and opening date are still to be confirmed, but York's already eclectic bar scene is about to get a Wild West twist. Watch this space, partner. | YorkMix

🍸 Thor's Viking Tipi Is Coming Back to Parliament Street This Summer - York's beloved pop-up Viking bar Thor's has confirmed its return to Parliament Street for summer 2026, opening Friday 22nd May until Sunday 6th September - subject to York Council planning approval. Director Amanda Monaghan says they "can't wait to be back in their spiritual home," promising a new-look tipi, themed Fridays pairing decade-matching music with cocktails, live music, open mic nights, comedy and new food vendors. Thor's has also applied for five-year planning permission - rather than the usual annual application - to secure the venue's future through to 2031. Separately, a second Thor's pop-up tent is planned for the gardens of The Milner hotel from 9th May, and a tipi is also heading to Leeds City Square from 14th May. | Gazette & Herald | York Press | YorkMix

👥 COMMUNITY

🍺 York's Community-Owned Pub Buys Its Own Freehold - The Golden Ball on Cromwell Road, York's first community-owned pub and a city institution dating back to at least 1773, has secured its future by purchasing its freehold after Stonegate Group listed it for £575,000. The Golden Ball Co-operative, made up of around 200 York locals who collectively bought the pub's leasehold in 2023 on a 20-year term at £48,343/year, challenged the listing by citing their Asset of Community Value status, which gives the community six months to purchase before any outside sale. | Gazette & Herald | YorkMix

🌿 VetPartners Staff Join Clifton Moor Community Litter Pick - Staff at VetPartners, based at Clifton Moor, took time out to take part in a community litter pick in the area. | York Press

#environmental #veterinary #givingback #sustainability #environment #litter #caring #responsible #team | VetPartners Limited

VetPartners central team colleagues rolled up their sleeves to collect cans, sandwich wrappers, crisp packets, plastic bottles and cigarette butts as part of the UK’s largest mass-action #environmental campaign. The litter pick was organised by colleagues as part of Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean. Some 30 colleagues joined forces to tackle litter around our headquarters in Clifton Moor, York, to help keep the streets clean and waste free. Seventeen bags of rubbish in total were collected along with 13 bags of items to be recycled. A clock was among the most unusual finds. We’re committed to protecting the planet and were the first UK veterinary group to provide zero waste boxes for all of our sites in England, Scotland and Wales. Over the last five years, VetPartners practices have recycled more than 32 tonnes of waste through TerraCycle, including surgical gloves, gowns and masks, saving them from incineration or landfill. #veterinary #givingback #sustainability #environment #litter #caring #responsible #team

LinkedInVetPartners Limited

🎓 York College Students Partner with Museum Gardens

Students from York College have launched a new partnership with York Museum Gardens as part of a community engagement project. | Yahoo News UK

🏚️ Burton Lane Club to Close After Nearly 100 Years - York's Burton Lane Club is closing its doors after almost a century, a sobering end for a much-loved neighbourhood institution. | York Press

🎨 ARTS & CULTURE

🎭 York Stage Gears Up to Perform Moving Award-Winning Musical Come From Away - York Stage, the city's acclaimed amateur theatre company, is preparing to take on one of the most emotionally powerful musicals of the modern era: Come From Away, the true story of the 7,000 air passengers grounded in the small Newfoundland town of Gander in the wake of 9/11. The Olivier Award winner for Best New Musical (London) and Tony Award winner (Broadway), the production runs at the Grand Opera House York from 10–18 April 2026. Tickets are available via the Grand Opera House York. | YorkMix | York Stage

🐣 Castle Howard Launches Easter Trail with Chocolate Prizes - Castle Howard has unveiled a special Easter trail for families this spring, with chocolate prizes awaiting participants who complete the course across the estate grounds. A perfect outing for the school holidays. | YorkMix

💃 Drag Race UK Star Bimini Heading to North Yorkshire This Summer

Cultural icon and RuPaul's Drag Race UK runner-up Bimini is coming to Scarborough this summer - as a special guest of Scissor Sisters at the Scarborough Open Air Theatre on Saturday 8th August. Bimini is a musician, DJ, activist and drag performer known for house, electro, drum'n'bass and leftfield club sounds, and is currently completing their debut album. Since breaking through on Drag Race UK in 2021, Bimini has opened for Lady Gaga at London's O2 Arena. Tickets via Ticketmaster and the venue's website. | YorkMix | Gazette & Herald

🏛️ POLITICS & COUNCIL

🚗 Restore Britain: York Councillor Mark Warters Joins the Movement - Conservative councillor Mark Warters has aligned himself with the Restore Britain political movement, continuing the trend of shifting allegiances at local government level. | York Press

💷 Major Change to UK Tax System Just Days Away - A significant change to the UK tax system is imminent and will affect residents and businesses across the country, including York. The York Press has the full detail on what's changing and how to prepare. | Telegraph & Argus

🚲 Cycling & Walking Schemes Receive £108m Funding Boost - York-area cycling and walking infrastructure projects have been confirmed for a share of a £108 million national funding injection, welcome news for active travel and reducing car dependency in the city. | Gazette Herald.