THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Tuesday, March 24, 2026

📍 York faces a grey and rainy Tuesday — taxi drivers are fighting a plan to ban them from Rougier Street and Micklegate, Gary Lineker drops in on the nation's best chippy in Dunnington, a 15th-century guildhall needs urgent repairs, and the Minstermen head to Gateshead tonight in the rain. Here's everything you need to know.

📰 NEWS

🚖 Taxi Drivers Fight Back Over Rougier Street and Micklegate Traffic Ban York's taxi trade is furious. City of York Council is planning to close Rougier Street and Micklegate to all vehicles except buses, and the York Taxi Association has submitted a stinging written representation to the Place Scrutiny Committee meeting this evening. The Association says taxi drivers attended a council engagement session last May and were shown plans that included hackney carriages in the new transport corridor — only to discover months later they would be banned entirely. The Association accuses the council of having "thrown us under the bus." They calculate the scheme would displace nearly 10,000 vehicles per day onto Lendal Bridge and Bishopgate Street, neither of which can handle the extra load. They also warn that banning taxis will hit hardest those who rely on them most — disabled passengers, elderly residents and the 28,000 people who pass through York station daily, for whom longer diversions will mean higher fares. (Source: York News Focus)

🏛️ Structural Repairs Needed at One of York's Oldest Buildings St Anthony's Hall in Peaseholme Green — a Grade I-listed building dating back to the 1400s and one of very few of its kind left in the UK — is in need of urgent repairs after minor structural defects were discovered. York Conservation Trust has applied for permission to fit wrought iron straps to its timber-framed roof and repair a crack in one of its walls. The building, first constructed as a religious guildhall in the mid-15th century, has since served as a prison, workhouse, hospital and armoury, and currently houses the Quilter's Guild and Trinity Church. (Source: Gazette & Herald)

🏛️ York Heritage Risk Register Highlights City's Most Vulnerable Sites The York Civic Trust's Citizens' Heritage at Risk Register has published its latest findings, drawing attention to the city's most vulnerable listed buildings and heritage sites. The community-nominated register — the first of its kind in England — flags sites at risk from neglect, decay or inappropriate development, and is used to channel attention and funding toward the most urgent cases across York. (Source: York Press)

🎓 University of York Opens Mumbai Campus — First Students This Year The University of York is among nine British universities opening campuses in India, and its Mumbai site is set to welcome its first 270 students for the 2026–27 academic year — growing to 3,000–4,000 students annually in the years ahead. The campus will focus on computer science with AI and cyber security, business, economics and creative industries. York's provost in Mumbai told the BBC they aim to bring Russell Group quality to Indian students at fees around £10,000–12,000 a year — roughly half the UK price. The move comes as around 45% of English universities face financial deficits, with institutions looking to diversify income beyond domestic fees and UK-based international students. (Source: BBC News)

🍷 New Wine and Cocktail Bar Wants to Open on Fishergate A licence application has been submitted to City of York Council for a new wine and cocktail bar on Fishergate. If approved, the bar would serve wine, cocktails and beer on the premises. Details via the council's licensing team. (Source: Gazette & Herald)

🚨 Person Hit by Train on York–Newcastle Line in the Early Hours Emergency services dealt with a serious incident in the early hours of this morning after a person was hit by a train between Darlington and Newcastle on the East Coast Main Line — a route serving York. LNER said: "It is with great sadness that we report that a person has been hit by a train between York and Newcastle." Services operated by LNER, CrossCountry, TransPennine Express and Northern were all affected, with all lines between Darlington and Newcastle closed while emergency services worked at the scene. Lines have since reopened, though some residual disruption to York services may continue. (Source: Gazette & Herald)

🚨 CRIME & SAFETY

🛍️ CCTV Appeal After Thieves Target McArthurGlen Designer Outlet North Yorkshire Police are appealing for help identifying three people — two men and a woman — caught on CCTV after a theft at the McArthurGlen York Designer Outlet in St Nicholas Avenue on Friday 27 February. If you recognise them, email ben.hepworth@northyorkshire.police.uk, call 101 and ask for PC 685 Hepworth, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Quote reference 12260037091. (Source: Gazette & Herald)

🚗 A64 Fatal Collision — Police Continue to Appeal for Witnesses North Yorkshire Police are still appealing for witnesses following Saturday night's fatal collision on the A64 between Grimston Bar and the Hopgrove Roundabout, in which a pedestrian died. Officers want to hear from anyone who saw a man on foot near Grimston Bar that evening, or who has dashcam footage. Contact the Major Collision Investigation Team on 101, option 2. (Source: YorkMix)

⚽ SPORT

⚽ Minstermen Head to Gateshead Tonight — Kick-Off 7:45pm York City travel to Gateshead International Stadium this evening for a crucial National League away fixture — though they'll be doing so in the rain, with the Met Office putting the chance of rain at around 95% at kick-off. The Minstermen are in superb form following Saturday's dominant 4–0 win over Brackley Town and sit second in the table, two points behind the leaders. Gateshead are deep in the relegation zone. York Pullman are running a supporters' coach — departing Memorial Gardens at 4:30pm, Acomb at 4:40pm. Advance booking only — call Joanne on 01904 630444. (Source: York City FC)

💪 History Made in York — UK's First All-Female Armed Forces Strongwoman Competition A little piece of sporting history was made in York last week. The city hosted the first-ever UK Armed Forces Strongwoman-only novice competition, with 12 female athletes from across the services competing across five events — including a Battlefield Ambulance pull. Special guests included 2024 World's Strongest Woman Meg Robson-Austin and five-time Scotland's Strongest Woman Nicola Bennett. Winners in each weight category now qualify for the UKAF Strongest Man and Woman event in April. (Source: Forces News)

🍟 COMMUNITY

🐟 Gary Lineker Pops Into Britain's Best Chippy — In Dunnington A very good weekend for The Scrap Box in Dunnington. Gary Lineker paid a surprise visit to the Hull Road chip shop on Saturday after hearing it had been crowned the best takeaway in Britain at the National Fish & Chip Awards in February. He had the cod and chips, praised the famous tartare sauce, and later re-posted the visit to his Instagram. Co-owner Aman Dhesi said Lineker was "a lovely guy" who chatted with customers and was intrigued by Dunnington's cricketing history. The Scrap Box, which Aman runs with his brother Gavin, opened a decade ago and has seen trade go "crazy" since the award. (Source: York Press via Yahoo)

🎭 WHAT'S ON

🎬 A Floating Cinema Screening of Jaws Is Coming to York One for the diary. A floating cinema is bringing a screening of Spielberg's classic Jaws to York — full details on date, location and tickets at yorkmix.com. (Source: YorkMix)

🐙 Giant Inflatable Octopus — This Saturday, Free York BID's giant inflatable octopus puppet comes to King's Staith this Saturday 28 March at 2pm, 4pm and 6pm — moving to the Eye of York if river levels are too high. Free entry, just turn up. (Source: YorkMix)