THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Good morning, York! It's Wednesday, and the city is buzzing with big decisions, bigger football wins, and a museum just down the road from Malton finding some new owners. There's also some news for those who felt the Christmas Market outstayed its welcome last year; proposals to shorten the season are now officially on the table. Let's get into it.

📰 NEWS

🏙️ York Christmas Market Could Run for Fewer Days: Future York Christmas Markets could be shorter; fewer days, different hours, under proposals heading to the council's Executive on 3 March. The review follows last year's controversial Anti-Terror Traffic Regulation Order (ATTRO), which blocked Blue Badge holders from the city centre while the market was open. Short-term fixes include extra Blue Badge parking at Duncombe Place and Piccadilly, dedicated quiet spaces, and better bus access, at a cost of around £70,000. The market contributes an estimated £80–100m annually to York's economy, so any tweaks will be closely watched.

Labour council Leader Cllr Claire Douglas said some could not enjoy last year’s Christmas Market and the city centre and future events needed to be safe and accessible for everyone

💨 York Set to Expand Smoke Control Area City-Wide; City of York Council is set to approve plans to extend its Smoke Control Area to cover the entire city, currently 80% of York households are within one. The change targets PM2.5 fine particle pollution, which is estimated to contribute to 1 in every 23 deaths in York. Residents can still use stoves and open fires; they'll just need to burn approved fuels. Councillor Jenny Kent: "This is not about banning stoves, it is about burning the right fuels in the right way." The expansion kicks in no sooner than six months from the order date.

“Expanding the Smoke Controlled Area will make York a healthier place for everyone, ending the postcode lottery for clean air and applying the same rule across the City. This is not about banning stoves or open fires, it is about burning the right fuels in the right way and helping to protect our children, elderly and vulnerable neighbours.”

🏗️ £33.8m Plan for 93 Affordable Flats in Piccadilly Moves Forward; A revised scheme to build 93 affordable homes at the Castle Mills site in Piccadilly - 56 social-rented flats and 37 shared-ownership homes- is heading to the council's Executive on 3 March. The £33.8m development forms part of the wider Castle Gateway Masterplan and requires a £10m council investment due to challenging ground conditions on the site.

🏛️ City Centre Events Safety Update - Report Published; Ahead of the 3 March Executive meeting, the full progress report on safe and accessible city centre events is now public. The council is working with North Yorkshire Police, York BID, the York Disability Rights Forum, and Make it York on both short-term improvements and longer-term infrastructure plans.

🚌 TRANSPORT

🚆 Settle - Carlisle Line Disruption, Today: Heads up if you're using one of Yorkshire's most beautiful rail routes today. Services between Garsdale and Kirkby Stephen are not running in either direction on Wednesday 25 February, due to urgent repair work. Road transport has been arranged between Skipton and Appleby and between Settle and Carlisle. Check before you travel.

🚂 North Yorkshire Moors Railway: Kids Go Free & Holiday Discounts for 2026: Brilliant news for families, the NYMR has turned holiday pricing on its head for 2026: cheaper fares during school holidays and one free child ticket for every paying adult, all year. The steam-hauled season opens 28 March.

🛤️ Four Weekends of East Coast Main Line Disruption - Starting 7 March; If you're planning rail travel between York and Newcastle over the next month, get it in your diary now. Network Rail is carrying out a major package of upgrades on the East Coast Main Line across four consecutive weekends from Saturday 7 March to Sunday 29 March. Works include renewing 3.8km of track, installing new switches and crossings at Croft (south of Darlington), and progress on the £140m Darlington station upgrade. LNER services between Newcastle and Edinburgh will divert via the Durham coast or terminate at York. TransPennine Express will run rail replacement buses between York and Newcastle. Grand Central and Lumo will also operate reduced services. Plan ahead at nationalrail.co.uk.

🚌 What on Earth Is Happening with York's No. 11 Bus? Residents on the South Bank Loop are fuming, and fair enough. The No. 11 bus has been skipping its designated route around the Loop on the "majority of its journeys" since gas pipe works on Brunswick Terrace and Queen Victoria Street were completed on 16 February. No notices have been posted at bus stops or on buses, and drivers have reportedly told passengers they've been instructed by their controller to bypass the Loop. A reader's letter to the York Press puts the question bluntly: if First Bus isn't fulfilling its franchise commitment to service the South Bank Loop, should the franchise be reviewed?

⚠️ Beware Fake Rail Social Media Accounts: North Yorkshire rail operators are warning passengers about fake social media accounts created to steal personal details. Use official websites and apps only when booking tickets.

💼 BUSINESS

🏛️ Eden Camp Bought by York's Continuum Attractions; York-based Continuum Attractions - operators of York's Chocolate Story, The Real Mary King's Close in Edinburgh, and Oxford Castle & Prison - has acquired Eden Camp Modern History Museum near Malton. The former Italian prisoner of war camp, which opens from 23 March and attracts 125,000 visitors a year, has been family-run for over 40 years. CEO Andrew Pawson said the company's "aim is to invest for the long term" while protecting its heritage.

🩸 York Biotech Cizzle Nears US Lung Cancer Test Launch; University of York spin-out Cizzle Biotechnology is closing in on the US commercial launch of its CIZ1B early-stage lung cancer blood test. Its North American partner is in the final stages of CLIA accreditation, with a submission expected in Q2 2026. The company's shares jumped 21% on the news and a further $3.5m in guaranteed royalties has been secured. ,

📊 Croda International Publishes Full-Year 2025 Results; York-headquartered speciality chemicals firm Croda International has released its 2025 annual results.

🎨 ARTS & CULTURE

🏃 Race Across the World Experience Coming to York This Spring; Fancy living out your BBC reality show fantasies? The Race Across the World: The Experience is arriving in York this spring, a Yorkshire first for the hit format. Organised by CityDays, teams navigate York's snickelways and landmarks, including The Shambles, York Minster, and Dean's Park over a 4–5km course, solving escape-room-style puzzles and managing a budget against the clock. Following success in London and Manchester, York joins Bristol and Edinburgh as a new location.

🎵 Del Amitri at York Barbican, Tickets on Sale Friday: Scottish rock legends Del Amitri are coming to York Barbican on Monday, 16 November 2026. Expect timeless hits, heartfelt lyrics, and a sold-out crowd. Tickets on sale this Friday, 27 February at 9:30 am - set your alarms.

🌸 Goddards Hidden Garden Reopens, Free Entry for Residents Saturday: York's beloved hidden gem, Goddards on Tadcaster Road, former home of the Terry chocolate dynasty, reopens for spring this weekend. On Saturday, 28 February, York residents get free entry as part of the York Residents' Festival. Just bring proof of address and ID. The official public season opens Sunday,1 March, with snowdrops, crocuses, and early spring bulbs on show.

🖼️ York Kids Art Exhibition Raises £2,150 for Local Charities; The 2026 YorKAOS (York Kids Art Open Studios) exhibition at Spark York has raised an incredible £2,150 for five local charities, with 127 sales and over 600 visitors during February half-term. The whole event was organised by four 10-year-olds, Ada, Seth, Ellie, and Olive. Absolutely heart-warming stuff, York.

🌺 York Health Arts Mela Returns to Museum Gardens; The annual York Health Arts Mela is set to return to Museum Gardens for another year of community celebration bringing together arts, culture and wellbeing.

👥 COMMUNITY

🏛️ York Student Leaders Vision Summit at the Guildhall; Young people from across York gathered at the historic Guildhall for a student leaders vision summit, setting their sights on the city's future.

🚲 Active Travel Fund to Improve School Run Safety; Funding is being tapped to enhance active travel routes, making the daily school run safer for York children.

🍼 Fundraising Quiz for Vulnerable Newborns at York Hospital.; A charity quiz is raising money for vulnerable newborns in York Hospital's neonatal unit, a worthy cause with a fun night out attached.

🏥 HEALTH

✅ NHS Mill Lodge Ward Shows Improvements After CQC Inspection; Positive progress has been confirmed at Mill Lodge ward following a CQC inspection, with measurable improvements noted in the trust's latest review.

🚨 CRIME & SAFETY

🔥 Humberside Tops UK Table for Fire Safety Audit Failures; A sobering national report has placed Humberside at the top of the UK's fire safety audit failure rates - a concerning finding for the wider Yorkshire and Humber region.

⚽ SPORT

🏆 York City 3-0 Scunthorpe; 8 Straight Wins, Table-Toppers Roar On: The Minstermen were electric last night, dismantling Scunthorpe United 3-0 away at the Attis Arena to extend their unbeaten National League run to an extraordinary 22 games (18 wins, 4 draws). Josh Stones grabbed a brace (14' & 71') with Joey Grey notching in between (29'). York sit top of the table on 80 points. The title is firmly in sight.

🚨 Police Probe Offensive Chanting at York City Match; North Yorkshire Police have launched a formal investigation into alleged obscene and offensive chanting in the home supporters' section during York City's match against Forest Green Rovers on 7 February. Officers are appealing for witnesses and footage. Contact: carl.barnes@northyorkshire.police.uk | 101, quoting ref 12260023464. (via YorkMix & York Press)