THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Wednesday, 15th April 2026

Good morning, York. The council approved £200 fines for traders selling illegal vapes yesterday. York becomes a city-wide art gallery this Saturday as 150 artists open their studios. A York financial planning firm has been absorbed into a £2.2 billion national group. And York City host Yeovil Town this Saturday in what could be a title-clinching afternoon.

🏛️ CITY & COUNCIL

🚬 £200 fines for illegal vape traders approved at Tuesday's meeting - City of York Council approved plans yesterday to fine traders caught selling illegal single-use vapes up to £200, reduced to £100 for those who pay within 28 days. Selling more than 20 disposable vapes will be treated as an aggravating factor, opening traders to formal caution or prosecution. The crackdown came after figures revealed 12,000 illegal vapes and 239 packets of illicit cigarettes were seized in York last year. Two local traders were also caught selling vapes to under-18s in covert operations, though follow-up visits found both had stopped. Council public protection lead Matthew Boxall said behavioural change was now needed, noting that manufacturers had redesigned products to comply with the ban while continuing to sell them at the same price. Cllr Michael Pavlovic told the meeting that trading standards officers were "working incredibly hard to keep people safe." York Press

🏠 Affordable homes vote: outcome from Tuesday's executive - Tuesday's City of York Council executive was set to vote on a major U-turn in Labour's affordable housing programme - dropping Passivhaus standards, winding up in-house delivery, and appointing a private Strategic Delivery Partner for at least ten years after no viable construction tender was received for any of its five sites. The row, which broke earlier this week, saw Lib Dem leader Cllr Nigel Ayre accuse the administration of delivering "not a single affordable home" in its term of office. Full vote outcome available at york.gov.uk/webcasts. YorkMix | Yorkshire Post

🏛️ Mayor Skaith welcomes Yorkshire Museum's £2 million roof grant - Mayor of York and North Yorkshire David Skaith has welcomed the £2 million Arts Everywhere Fund grant for the Yorkshire Museum's leaking Grade I listed roof. The museum's senior curator Dr Andrew Woods had warned that priceless artefacts risked irreparable damage and that £500,000 a year in revenue was at risk. Phase one of the £5 million project covers the Tempest Anderson Hall and museum entrance; fundraising for the balance is ongoing. Yorkshire Post

💼 BUSINESS & PROPERTY

💰 York's Mowatt Financial Planning acquired - now part of £2.2bn national group - York-based Mowatt Financial Planning, founded in 2009, has been acquired by One Four Nine Group in the firm's first deal of 2026, taking the national independent financial planner's assets under advice to £2.2 billion. The business, which serves clients across Yorkshire and the wider UK, has been rebranded as One Four Nine Wealth. The deal marks One Four Nine's 12th acquisition since 2021, bringing its network to more than 30 planners serving over 5,500 clients. Founder Will Mowatt said the group stood out for its "cultural fit and client-led approach." Money Marketing | Professional Adviser | York Press

Exclusive: One Four Nine grows to £2.2bn AUA with York advice firm deal | One Four Nine Group

We’re pleased to announce that One Four Nine Group has welcomed York‑based Mowatt Financial Planning to the business, marking our first acquisition of 2026. Mowatt is known for its client‑led approach and long‑standing relationships. Now rebranded and operating as One Four Nine Wealth, the team becomes part of our national platform while continuing to serve clients across Yorkshire. This addition takes One Four Nine Group’s total client assets to £2.2 billion and reflects steady progress in our growth strategy, supported by our long‑term partner Copper Street Capital. Read the full story at the link below. Money Marketing Momodou Musa Touray https://lnkd.in/eR4P2rrk #OneFourNineWealth #WealthManagement #FinancialPlanning #Growth #Yorkshire #UKFinancialServices #York #LocalBusiness

LinkedInOne Four Nine Group

🏠 York home buyers get the least space for their money in all of Yorkshire - New property data confirms York remains the priciest housing market in the Yorkshire and Humber region by a wide margin - average prices stand at £311,000 against a regional average of £206,000. Measured by price per square foot, York buyers consistently get significantly less physical space for their money than counterparts in Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield or Hull. Affordability constraints are keeping annual house price growth to around 2%, well below faster-growing cities where entry-level prices are much lower. YorkMix

🍺 Alpine and German-style taproom approved at Elvington brewery - City of York Council planners have approved Pivovar's expansion of its Elvington Brewery - where its Mittel pilsner and lager range is produced - with a new taproom inspired by a German beer hall and an Alpine ski chalet. The two-storey extension will include a kitchen, covered terrace, and up to 16 new jobs. Planning officers overruled objections from two nearby households over noise concerns, ruling the development would not cause undue harm. The taproom opens 11am–10pm Sunday to Thursday, and until 11pm Friday and Saturday. Pivovar already runs 14 bars and restaurants across the UK including four in York. YorkMix | York Press

🥃 Spirit of Yorkshire launches exclusive whisky - selected by The Whisky Shop York - Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery has released a new exclusive single cask expression through The Whisky Shop, including its York store on Stonegate. Filey Bay Single Cask #3521 (58.2% ABV, 294 bottles) is matured in an ex-Pedro Ximénez Sherry cask and was personally selected by The Whisky Shop York manager Christopher Dunn after a day in the distillery warehouse trying six candidates. The dram is described as rich and spicy with dried fruit, dark chocolate, caramel and toasted oak. RRP £125. The Whisky Shop York held a tasting for this release on 9 April. Yahoo News UK | Whisky Wire

🥐 Greggs Foundation supports York school pupils - The Greggs Foundation's Feeding Brighter Futures programme has provided support to a York school, helping disadvantaged pupils access breakfast and enrichment activities through its national network of breakfast clubs and school funding grants. York Press

🎨 ARTS & EVENTS

🎨 York Open Studios opens THIS SATURDAY - 150 artists, 100 venues, free - York Open Studios 2026 begins this Saturday 18 April across two weekends (18–19 April, 25–26 April), with around 150 artists opening their homes, workshops and studios within ten miles of the city. This year 27 artists are taking part for the first time. Visitors can browse and buy painting, printmaking, ceramics, glass, jewellery, sculpture, textiles and photography directly from the makers. Entry is free and no booking is needed. Studios open 10am–5pm on all four days. Interactive map and free printed directory at yorkopenstudios.co.uk. YorkMix

🎵 Wet Wet Wet to play York Barbican - tickets on sale Friday - Wet Wet Wet are coming to York Barbican on Tuesday 26 October 2027 as part of a tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of their debut album. Tickets go on sale this Friday. The Glasgow band, famous for Love Is All Around and Sweet Little Mystery, are one of the defining pop acts of the late 1980s and 1990s. YorkMix

🎵 Summer music festivals guide for York and North Yorkshire - A full guide to the summer of live music across York and North Yorkshire has been published, covering everything from York Racecourse concerts and Scarborough Open Air Theatre through to local festivals and outdoor events running May to September. Gazette & Herald.

🎸 Scarborough Open Air Theatre launches exclusive Rooftop VIP experience - Scarborough Open Air Theatre has launched The Rooftop - a new VIP space above one of the venue's bars offering groups of up to 50 people a raised, covered viewing area with club furniture, a private bar, dedicated staff delivering food from onsite vendors, and private toilets. The package must be purchased as a block of 50 tickets. This summer is the biggest ever at the OAT, with nearly 160,000 tickets already sold for 28 headline shows - a new record. The season runs from Rick Astley on 5 June through to a bill including Michael Bublé, Alanis Morissette, Teddy Swims, James Taylor, Tom Jones, Paul Weller, Hollywood Vampires and Nile Rodgers & CHIC. Director of operations Joe Robinson said: "The Rooftop provides the perfect VIP experience giving groups of up to 50 people the chance to enjoy one of our brilliant concerts in a completely private area." Full details at the Scarborough Open Air Theatre website. YorkMix

🚗 TRANSPORT

🐴 Pony and trap procession causing traffic disruption in York today - A pony and trap procession is expected to cause temporary traffic delays in York today. Check live conditions before you set off and allow extra time on affected routes. YorkMix

⚖️ CRIME & COURTS

🚔 Former police officer charged with abusing three young girls in York - A former police officer has been charged in connection with the abuse of three young girls in York. North Yorkshire Police have confirmed the charge. No further identifying details have been released. YorkMix

👊 Teenage girl found guilty of assaulting three police officers - A teenage girl has been found guilty of assaulting three police officers in York. York Press

🌿 ENVIRONMENT

☀️ Solar farm approved near East Cowton despite fears village could be "surrounded" - North Yorkshire Council's strategic planning committee yesterday unanimously approved a 19MW solar farm on 38 hectares of agricultural land near East Cowton, north of Northallerton, despite local objections that the village could become encircled by solar developments. East Cowton Parish Council and ten residents objected. Divisional councillor Annabell Wilkinson warned: "The village could become surrounded by solar farms, both historical and those presently under consideration." A separate 28MW application for land to the east of the village was submitted last year; a third scheme to the north was approved in 2015. Committee member Cllr Caroline Goodrick said there were no grounds to refuse but called for solar to be sited on rooftops and industrial buildings before agricultural land wherever possible. YorkMix

🏛️ NORTH YORKSHIRE

🚽 North Yorkshire public toilets: 50p charges go to executive vote on 21 April - North Yorkshire Council is pressing ahead with proposals to introduce a standard 40p–50p charge to use its 93 public conveniences, the largest council-run toilet network in the UK, alongside a programme to upgrade all sites to good or excellent condition by 2030. The full package goes before the NYC executive on Tuesday 21 April despite ongoing opposition from a "Free to Pee" campaign and concerns from Conservative councillors about practicality and cost. Cllr Keane Duncan (Conservative, Norton) said alternatives - including external funding, volunteering and community partnerships - must be properly exhausted before charges are imposed. Currently 65 of the 93 facilities are free to use; the service costs £230,000 a year. These toilets are used routinely by York residents visiting the Moors, Dales and North Yorkshire market towns. Gazette & Herald

🏛️ Ripon Town Hall to be handed to local community - Historic Ripon Town Hall is set to come under local control after a proposal to transfer its management to Ripon City Council goes before North Yorkshire Council's executive next Tuesday. YorkMix | York Press

⚽ SPORT

🏆 York City host Yeovil THIS SATURDAY - one win from the title - York City can take a giant stride towards the National League championship this Saturday (18 April, 5:30pm, LNER Community Stadium) when they host Yeovil Town. The Minstermen lead the table with 107 points and need just one more win from their final two games - with the title decider away at Rochdale on 25 April to follow. It has been a remarkable season under Stuart Maynard, with York dropping the fewest points of any team in the division.

🥊 York heavyweight Leo Atang ready for next fight - York teenage heavyweight Leo Atang - 5-0 as a professional, managed by Matchroom Boxing and trained at Legions Boxing Club - is preparing for his next bout. The 19-year-old has already scored stoppages in Manchester, Ghana and Nottingham and continues to build steadily on one of the most exciting early careers in British heavyweight boxing. York Press

⚽ Tadcaster Albion reach play-off final - Tadcaster Albion have booked their place in the play-off final after coming from behind to beat Sheffield FC. York Press