THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Wednesday, January 21, 2025

✨ WELCOME BACK It's Wednesday, and York's got stories to tell. From heartbreaking closures to exciting firsts, economic wins and budget pressures – here's what's happening in our city and beyond.

💼 BUSINESS

🍷 "A terrible loss" - Pairings Wine Bar closes Sunday; Ten years. That's how long sisters Kate and Kelly have poured their hearts into Pairings on Castlegate. But this Sunday, they're closing the doors – not by choice. The landlord's taking back the property, and a planned move to another Castlegate spot fell through due to planning nightmares and costs. TripAdvisor called it one of the world's best date night spots last year.

🚀 York's officially one of UK's hottest business spots Forget Blue Monday – York's got some bragging rights. New data ranks us as one of the UK's top five growth locations, with 11% of our businesses set to scale up (beating the 9% national average). We're the strongest performer in Yorkshire, outdoing bigger neighbouring cities. The secret? Our mix of digital tech, rail innovation, and that resilient visitor economy. Perth topped the list, but we're punching well above our weight.

🎯 Mayor launches £2.5m "Dragons' Den" for local businesses Got a brilliant business idea? Mayor David Skaith's got £60,000 with your name on it – well, if you can pitch it right. His new Great Ideas programme is basically Dragons' Den for York and North Yorkshire. Investment-ready businesses will face regional expert panels for funding and advice. Skaith, who ran Winstons menswear before politics, calls it "the most ambitious support package we have ever delivered." Applications open now. 📍 | Northern Echo

“This is the most ambitious support package we have ever delivered, and it shows that when we say York and North Yorkshire is open for business, we mean it.”

🏭 Moores Furniture sold: 336 jobs saved, 124 lost The furniture maker between Tadcaster and Wetherby has been through the wringer. After 78 years in business, Moores called in administrators but Wren Kitchens stepped in. Good news for 336 workers. Brutal news for 124 others. Rising costs and plummeting housebuilding did them in. The construction industry's headwinds are hitting hard across the supply chain. 📍

🏛️ Tesco's "Hello Low Ousegate" signs rejected; Tesco Express wanted to jazz up its Low Ousegate store with vinyl window displays and illuminated signs. The council said absolutely not. Why? It's a Grade II-listed building in the Central Historic Conservation Area, and those bright vinyls would "dominate" a 19th-century gem. Historic York: 1. Corporate branding: 0. 📍

🏢 M&S Food Hall opening in Driffield East Yorkshire's getting a new M&S Food Hall in Driffield this spring. The store opens in the former Poundland unit on Middle Street South, creating jobs and filling the gap left when the full M&S closed in 2019. Construction's already underway. 📍

📰 NEWS

🚨 Domestic abusers could be kicked out under new policy York's draft Antisocial Behaviour Policy just got teeth. The council can now evict tenants who commit domestic abuse while keeping victims safe. It's the first update in a decade, and responses to domestic abuse and hate incidents will happen within 24 hours on working days. Councillors vote on it January 27. 📍 YorkMix |

💰 Council tax rising 4.99% – brace yourselves North Yorkshire Council's hitting us with the maximum allowed increase: 4.99%. That's an extra £96.78 a year for Band D properties (total: £2,036.32). Why? A £43 million funding shortfall from government cuts and rising National Insurance. They're using reserves to avoid pushing it to 7%, but still – ouch. 📍 York Press

He said: “If we take into account the fair funding review, the loss of the rural services grant last year, plus the net cost to this authority from the rise in employers’ National Insurance contributions, we are looking at a £43m wallop.”

🔥 Danby village evacuated after house fire Monday night got scary in Danby. Fire crews evacuated several North York Moors homes after a blaze spread between properties on Briar Hill. Five crews responded around 8:50pm, cutting electricity and relocating residents. An investigation kicked off Tuesday morning. The village has about 1,200 residents. 📍

🗑️ £52 charge for green bin collections North Yorkshire Council's bringing in a £52 annual charge to empty your garden waste. It's part of the budget squeeze, and you'll need to buy a licence for collections. Not everyone's thrilled about paying extra for what used to be free. 📍

🎖️ North Yorkshire Council wins MOD Gold Award; Some good news: the council's been recognized with the Ministry of Defence's Gold Award for supporting the Armed Forces community. It's about employment support, mental health services, and accommodation for veterans and their families. 📍

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Northallerton couple fosters 16 children in two years Paula and Mark from Northallerton have opened their home to 16 foster children in just two years. That's not a typo. Their story's a reminder of the families who quietly do extraordinary things right here in North Yorkshire. 📍

🎓 STUDENT LIFE

👶 UK first: York St John gets high-tech birthing simulator York St John University just made history – they're the first UK uni with the Mama Anne birthing simulator. Student midwives can now practice on tech that mimics real childbirth scenarios, safely building skills before the real deal. It's available to all students starting the new Midwifery BSc in September. Programme lead Rebecca Beggan says simulation is key to training the next generation. 📍

🏛️ HISTORY

⚔️ Anglo-Saxon "lordly centre" found near Skipsea University of York archaeologists just uncovered something rare: a high-status Anglo-Saxon settlement near Skipsea Castle. We're talking a medieval malthouse (AD 750-850), timber tower, and a massive feasting hall. The site likely served as a power center in the Anglo-Saxon landscape and later belonged to Harold Godwinson – England's last Anglo-Saxon king. Dr Jim Leary says discoveries like this are "exceptionally rare." Catch it on BBC's Digging for Britain, January 28. 📍 University of York |

🎨 ARTS & CULTURE

🎵 Tubular Bells trilogy at York Barbican Mike Oldfield's iconic Tubular Bells I, II & III are coming to York Barbican on February 15. Robin A Smith, Oldfield's long-time collaborator, is leading the show – expect the complete Tubular Bells I, highlights from II and III, and Moonlight Shadow. After triumphant 50th anniversary tours across the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, this is your chance to experience it live. 📍

🎭 Annie's back in York after 25 years York Light Opera Company is bringing Annie to York Theatre Royal (February 12-21), and the kids are stealing the show. Assistant director Kathryn Addison says the young performers "are the soul of the show." With a cast of 38, two teams of orphans, and Annabel van Griethuysen as Miss Hannigan, tickets start at just £15. 📍

💡 Colour & Light returns – bigger than ever; York's massive light projection show is back February 4-22. This year, the Eye of York transforms with illuminations of rogues, rebels, and legendary figures from our history. First time ever: York Castle Museum AND Clifford's Tower lit up together. It's free, runs nightly for three hours (including half-term), and last year pulled 100,000+ visitors. Mayor Skaith's Combined Authority chipped in £46,914. 📍 York Press

🌍 ENVIRONMENT

🌳 Nature strategy adopted for North Yorkshire and York; A new strategy's been adopted to shape the future of nature across the region. It's about protecting habitats, boosting biodiversity, and balancing development with environmental care. The plan aims to guide conservation efforts for years to come.

👥 COMMUNITY

☕ Brew Monday at York station – fancy a chat? Network Rail staff invited passengers to stop for a brew and a chat at York station Monday as part of Samaritans' Brew Monday campaign. The message? None of us have to struggle alone. Customer assistant Richard Bayton said: "Taking a moment to check in with someone can make a real difference." Samaritans and Network Rail have partnered for 15+ years to reduce railway suicides. 📍

🏺 Eden Camp's deep clean before reopening Britain's only remaining POW camp is getting its annual conservation scrub-down. Eden Camp's team is preserving hundreds of wartime artefacts before reopening for February half-term (16-22 Feb). Collections manager Summer O'Brien says it's all about keeping everything in top condition for visitors. Expect hands-on WWII Home Front activities. 📍

🏃 SPORT

🏅 79-year-old rower wins first medal – "never too late" Roger Davies took up rowing at 75. At 79, he just won his first medal. The York resident started after spotting rowers on the river in 2017, progressed from land sessions to York City Rowing Club's squad, and won at Small Boats Head in a mixed quad. His advice? "Most people are apprehensive about going on the water... Once you get comfortable and progress at your own pace you can do really well." Legend. 📍

🏅 £2m sports funding up for grabs York athletes: GLL's Sports Foundation is offering record funding for 2026. We're talking bursaries, free gym access, physio, mental health support – the works. Last year, 28 York athletes got £18,000, including triathlete Lucy Hurn (Ironman World Champs qualifier). Past winners include Tom Daley, Ellie Simmonds, and Anthony Joshua. Applications close February 20.

🏃 Bridlington Beach Fun Run confirmed Mark your calendars: Bridlington's Beach Fun Run is happening later this year. Details on exact dates and registration coming soon, but it's set to be a great community event on the coast.

That's York for today – from heartbreaks to breakthroughs, we've got you covered.

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