THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Weekend Wrap Up - December 20 - 21 2025
Business rates set to double for some York businesses, first families settle into housing co-op, and bikes donated to vulnerable people
👋 Hello, York.
Final Saturday before Christmas, and there’s serious news alongside festive cheer. From devastating business rate hikes threatening city centre venues to community initiatives helping vulnerable residents, today’s briefing covers the stories shaping our city. Let’s get you up to speed.
🌤️ Weather Today
Mild and cloudy with highs around 9°C. Expect overcast skies throughout the day with light winds. A settled weekend continues before rain potentially arrives early next week.
👉 Source: MET Office
💼 BUSINESS & ECONOMY
💸 York BID Warns Business Rates Hikes Threaten City Businesses - Businesses in York, especially hospitality venues, are facing massive increases in business rates, with some warning the proposed hikes could force them to close. One city centre pub has reported its annual business rates bill will more than double from £32,800 to £66,626 (plus inflation) over the next three years. 👉 York Press | YorkMix
💍 Sora - Bespoke Japanese Ring Shop - Opens on Low Petergaten - A unique ring-making shop inspired by Japan has opened on Low Petergate. Sora, founded by Sindija Avotina and Jamie Roche, offers a bespoke service where customers choose their metal and design, then watch their ring being made in front of them in just 10-15 minutes. The pair were inspired by a similar shop they visited in Japan and knew York was perfect for their business.. Offering silver and brass rings from £29, with plans for workshops where people can make their own completely unique rings. 👉 YorkMix | Gazette & Herald
“York is such a small but busy place, and it’s also very rich in history and amazing for independent businesses - it’s a community with everyone supporting each other,” said Sindija
☀️ Big Changes Planned at Bettys York - Including Solar Panels on Roof - Bettys Café Tearooms in St Helen’s Square is planning major changes to its upper floors, including installing solar panels on the roof. The project involves refurbishing the second and third-floor staff and back-of-house areas at the Grade II listed building, including a new shower room for staff who walk and cycle to work, improved changing rooms, a dedicated meeting space, and improvements to the staff canteen in the former Bettys ballroom. Bettys has been serving York from this venue since 1937, a year after Swiss confectioner Frederick Belmont purchased the property. 👉 YorkMix
🏠 HOUSING & COMMUNITY
🏘️ First Families Move Into York’s Pioneering Housing Co-Operative - The first residents are settling into YorSpace - York’s first-ever housing co-operative in Acomb - after a decade-long journey. Laura Patrickson and her two daughters now have their own bedrooms for the first time, calling it “an emotional moment being back in York.” The development offers homes at 75% of market value through a community land trust model, with 19 low-carbon Passivhaus-standard homes featuring shared tools, babysitting networks, and a car-free central street with communal gardens. 👉 York Press | Yahoo News UK
🚲 York Central Donates Bikes to Vulnerable People - McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate, the developers behind the £2 billion York Central regeneration project, have donated bikes to vulnerable people for the second year running through the YorkMix Toy Appeal. Working with YorkMix and City of York Council’s Social Care team, the bikes were sourced from sustainable pre-loved bike specialist Recycle York on Walmgate, which helps recycle over 5,000 bikes a year and has recycled over 50,000 bikes across North Yorkshire in its 13-year history. 👉 YorkMix
McLaren Regeneration, said: “Donating these bikes to young people in York, to help with their independence and social mobility, very much fits with our aspiration to create a sustainable new city quarter the local community will benefit from.”
👮 SAFETY & POLICING
🚨 Police Stepped Up Patrols for Mad Friday - York’s Busiest Night - North Yorkshire Police deployed extra officers across York last night for Mad Friday - the last Friday before Christmas and “one of the busiest nights of the year for emergency services.” The force had a “robust and proactive plan” with additional patrols in town centres and extra staff manning phones in the Force Control Room. Last year’s Mad Friday saw over 300 calls - 10% more than a typical Friday night. Superintendent Andy Nunns urged revellers: “Please enjoy yourselves, but please be responsible.” The extra presence continues through the weekend as the Christmas party season hits its peak. 👉 YorkMix
🚗 Tadcaster Junction Safety Pledge After Teenager’s Death - North Yorkshire Council has pledged to improve road safety near Tadcaster Grammar School where 16-year-old Ellie Hague died in a two-vehicle collision on 1 December at the junction of Toulston Lane and Rudgate. A 40-year-old woman from Leeds was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and released on bail. 👉 York Press
🌍 SUSTAINABILITY
☀️ York Minster’s Solar Panels Save Nearly £20,000 in Six Months - York Minster’s 184-panel solar array has generated over 42,000kWh of electricity in its first six months since commissioning in January, meeting more than 80% of the building’s energy needs at peak times. The system’s saved nearly £20,000 in electricity costs and offset eight tonnes of CO₂ emissions. The discreetly positioned panels on the South Quire roof use specialist SolarEdge technology with safety features including automatic voltage reduction and a Firefighter Gateway wired into the fire alarm system - crucial for a building that suffered a devastating lightning-induced fire in 1984. This is the fourth solar installation across the seven-hectare estate generating 120,000 kWh annually - enough to power 41 average UK homes. 👉 The Construction Index | Envirotec
🌳 Eden Camp Plants 250 Wild Cherry Trees for Sustainability - Eden Camp museum near Malton has planted 250 wild cherry trees as part of a sustainability project. The Prunus avium trees were donated by CGI, one of the world’s largest IT and business consulting firms, and planted on 15 December around the perimeter of the former prisoner-of-war camp to enhance green spaces and promote sustainability. Howard Johnson, director at Eden Camp, said: “Sustainability is at the heart of our future plans. 👉 Gazette & Herald
🏫 EDUCATION
🫁 Hob Moor Primary Academy Wins Asthma Friendly Schools Award - Celebrations are underway at Hob Moor Primary Academy in Acomb after gaining the Asthma Friendly Schools Award. The school ensured all staff - from teachers to lunchtime supervisors - are trained to recognise early warning signs of asthma and act decisively during emergencies.👉 Gazette & Heral
🏃 SPORT
🏃 Pickering Runner Paul Simpson Achieves Podium at York University Challenge - Paul Simpson of Pickering Running Club showcased his endurance prowess at the Valhalla Challenge, securing second place. The event, organised by SeeYorkRunYork in the grounds of York University, had competitors tackle a challenging 2.2-mile route with the option to run multiple laps in a six-hour timeframe. Simpson completed six laps, totalling 13.2 miles, in exactly 2 hours. Regardless of distance run, all participants received a medal, goody bag, choice of homemade cakes and mulled wine. 👉 York Press
🗳️ POLITICS
⚖️ 39 Labour MPs Urge PM to Drop Controversial Jury Trial Plans - York Central MP Rachael Maskell is among 39 Labour MPs who’ve signed an open letter calling the government’s jury trial plans “madness.” The proposals would scrap jury trials for crimes with sentences under three years - but the MPs reckon it’ll barely touch the 80,000-case Crown Court backlog while stripping defendants of a fundamental right. Karl Turner MP, a former barrister, says he’ll break the Labour whip for the first time in 15 years over this. The letter warns that removing jury trials “fundamentally undermines the principle of trial by peers and erodes public confidence in our justice system.” 👉 LabourList | Guido Fawkes
🗳️ Six Candidates Standing in Heworth By-Election - Six candidates have been announced ahead of the Heworth by-election on Thursday, January 15. Standing are Anna Perrett (Labour), Ben Ffrench (Green), Emma Dolben (Conservative), Emma Hardy (independent), Ian Eiloart (Liberal Democrats), and John Crispin-Bailey (Reform). The election was called after incumbent Labour councillor Ben Burton announced he was standing down due to leaving York for work. The ruling Labour group currently has 24 seats on the 47-member council, giving them an overall majority of one. 👉 Gazette & Herald
🎭 WHAT’S ON TODAY (SATURDAY 20 - 21 DECEMBER)
🎄 Acomb Christmas Market - Festive stalls with locally made gifts, seasonal food and drink, and artisan crafts at Little Bird Artisan market on Front Street. 👉 Front Street, 10am-3pm
🎵 Big Christmas Concert by Candlelight - Alistair Griffin brings festive favourites to life at Selby Abbey with the Ebor String Quartet and live band, all surrounded by magical candlelight. 👉 Selby Abbey, 7:30pm
🎉 The Escape Club Christmas Party - The most wonderful night of the year returns with all proceeds going to local charities. 👉 The Crescent York, 8pm
🎶 Step Into Christmas - Christmas feel-good show featuring all your favourite festive songs from “All I Want for Christmas” to “Merry Xmas Everybody.” 👉 York Barbican, 7:30pm
🎭 Christmas Inn Trouble - Riding Lights Theatre Company brings Christmas comedy with silly shepherds, (un)wise men, and a young family who have no idea what they’ve let themselves in for. 👉 Friargate Theatre, multiple times
🎅 Jingle Bell Bop - After yet another sell-out year, the Jingle Bell Bop returns to Tadcaster with two showings to choose from. First show at 12 noon with doors from 11:30am, second show at 3pm. 👉 Tadcaster, 12pm & 3pm
🎨 ROSE+ Craft Fair - Space for 25-30 year olds to connect, reflect and support each other. They’ll be hosting a craft fair at SPARK with crafts and activities. 👉 SPARK, times vary
🎵 Candlelight Concert - Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations. 👉 York venue, £22
🎭 Christmas Inn Trouble - Final performances of Riding Lights Theatre Company’s Christmas comedy. 👉 Friargate Theatre, multiple times
Today's stories show a city under financial pressure but still building community - from devastating business rate hikes to grassroots initiatives helping vulnerable residents and pioneering sustainable living. Have a great Saturday.
