THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Weekend Wrap Up - February 7 - 8, 2026
📍Lendal Bridge delayed, life sentences for machete killers, trans people let down by NHS, £500K tribunal row, Ice Trail returns, Suede tonight - your complete weekend sorted!
Morning York! ☀️ What a week! Life sentences for Vyner Street murderers, council facing £500K tribunal bill, Healthwatch reveals trans people being let down by NHS, and firefighters rescued a kid from a rocking horse (yes, really!). But the magic's here too - 300+ ice sculptures transform the city, Sara Pascoe brings laughs tonight, Suede rocks the Barbican, and our students just clocked 7,000+ volunteering hours. From Lendal Bridge delays to vintage flea markets, we've got 23 stories painting the full York picture. Let's dive in! 👇
SUNDAY: Still cloudy, warming up to 9°C 🌡️ with 35% rain chance 💧. Your last chance to catch those magical ice sculptures before they melt away! Get out early for the best experience ✨ Via Met Office
📰 NEWS
🏗️ Lendal Bridge Repairs Pushed Back to 2027; Major works on Lendal Bridge originally scheduled for spring have been delayed to 2027 due to clashes with the Station Gateway project. City of York Council says unavoidable delays - including rerouting electrical supplies and filling in a Victorian water tank - mean the two projects would overlap, causing chaos and extra costs. Enhanced inspections will keep the bridge safe in the meantime.
An updated programme for Station Gateway has confirmed it will take a little longer. In order to keep the city moving we need to avoid the Station Gateway and Lendal Bridge schemes overlapping. As a result, we are rescheduling Lendal Bridge to a later date and through ongoing inspections will ensure the bridge remains safe for all users.”
💰 ,Council Faces £500K Bill After Tribunal Ruling; City of York Council has been ordered to pay £10,500 to former corporate director Neil Ferris for failing to offer him a suitable alternative role during redundancy. The ruling has sparked a political row, with Liberal Democrats claiming the case will cost taxpayers around £500,000, including legal fees and pension costs. Labour council leader Cllr Claire Douglas says she cannot comment on ongoing proceedings as the council has lodged an appeal.
🏥 Trans People's NHSBeing Let Down by NHS' - Healthwatch York; Transgender people are "being let down by the NHS" when accessing health services in York, Healthwatch York has found. York Press reports 82% of trans, non-binary and intersex people surveyed said they faced barriers "because of who they are," with healthcare professionals not following requests to use chosen pronouns being a significant issue. More than 50% said they hide their identity to access services. Healthwatch York manager Siân Balsom said many local trans people "no longer trust services" but noted some have positive experiences. NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB acknowledged "there is work to do" to improve experiences. Jake Furby from York LGBT Forum called recognising these specific health needs "essential to achieving better health outcomes."
🎓 University Parking Row Divides Osbaldwick; Council plans for new parking restrictions on Tranby Avenue, Cavenish Grove and Baysdale Avenue are splitting opinion. Residents say University of York students are using their streets as free car parks during term time, with some cars left for weeks.
🏫 York Celebrates National Apprenticeship Week; City of York Council is championing apprenticeships during National Apprenticeship Week (9-15 February). Over 50 apprenticeship opportunities within 10 miles of York city centre are currently available across key growth sectors. The council has approved over £395,000 in levy transfer requests to support York businesses. Free Jobs, Apprenticeships and Skills Fair coming to York Barbican on 24 March.
“High quality skills and learning for all is one of the key pillars of our Council Plan.
🚗 Car Parked in Cycle Lane Sparks Safety Concerns; A car parked in the cycle lane outside Upside Design on Bootham has sparked safety concerns among cyclists. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between motorists and cyclists in the city centre.
🚨 CRIME
🔪 Life Sentences for Brutal Vyner Street Murder; Two thugs who murdered a man during a robbery at a York bedsit have been handed life sentences with minimum terms of 27 years. Examiner Live reports Michael Mulvana, 32, and Jobie Tyers, 28, burst into the Vyner Street property armed with weapons and killed Indrit Mustafaj, 26, using a machete found at the scene. YorkMix reveals the pair also subjected two other victims to horrific violence, shattering bones with a crowbar during the ferocious attack on 23 November 2024. The victim's family described how Indrit came to the UK alone to support them and was due to return to Albania after nine painful years apart.
🚂 £10,000 Lead Theft Devastates Heritage Railway; Thieves stole £10,000 worth of lead from North Yorkshire Moors Railway's Pickering station, causing £20,000 in damage. Yorkshire Post reports two men arrived in a white VW Tiguan on 23 January at 8:50pm, scaled a gate and stripped lead from the roof before fleeing toward Scarborough. NYMR CEO Laura Strangeway called it "soul-destroying" that thieves would target a charity staffed by volunteers.
🚆 TRANSPORT
⚡ Major Train Disruption After Power Outage; York faced major rail chaos on Friday afternoon after a power failure between York and Doncaster blocked all lines. Trains were delayed up to 60 minutes, with disruption lasting until the end of the day. LNER and Grand Central services between London King's Cross and York/Edinburgh/Sunderland were all affected.
👥 COMMUNITY
🎠 Firefighters Free Child Trapped in Rocking Horse; A youngster needed rescuing after getting their leg trapped in a metal rocking horse on Thursday evening. YorkMix reports Acomb crew attended Burton Stone Lane at 6:07pm and used bolt cutters and small tools to free the child safely. The little one was left uninjured following the unusual rescue.
🏠 Foster Care Campaign at York City Match; City of York Council will be at LNER Community Stadium today (Saturday) before the York City v Forest Green Rovers match, raising awareness about fostering. With growing need for foster carers across the city, the team will answer questions about providing safe, loving homes for local children. Care Day is 20 February 2026.
Cllr Bob Webb, City of York Council’s Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “Football brings people from all walks of life together and we’re excited to use this opportunity to let people know we’re always looking for foster carers to provide safe, loving homes for local children and young people.
🤝 University Students Give 7,000+ Volunteering Hours; University of York students contributed an incredible 7,000+ hours to community projects in 2025. Gazette & Herald reports 797 student volunteers supported schools, community centres, hospitals and environmental groups during Student Volunteering Week (9-15 February). York SU's activities officer Anna Lindberg-Newby praised the 21 incredible projects active this past year, saying it's "a true testament to our students' dedication."
💼 BUSINESS
🧼 Yorkshire Soap Company Eyes Monk Bar Shop; Popular York business owners are planning a new retail concept at historic Monk Bar. YO1 Radio and YorkMix report Marcus Doyle and Warren Booth, who run Yorkshire Soap Company, The Imaginarium and Society of Alchemists, have submitted a planning application to City of York Council to convert the Grade I-listed former Richard III Experience building into a shop.
🏆 SPORT & RECOGNITION
♻️ ENVIRONMENT
🎵 ENTERTAINMENT
🎤 Craig David Confirmed for York Racecourse; Award-winning singer-songwriter and DJ Craig David will headline Music Showcase at York Racecourse on Friday 24 July with his acclaimed TS5 DJ set. YorkMix and Gazette & Herald report the evening will feature his signature light show plus six thoroughbred races including a £70,000 Listed contest. It's the final confirmed artist for 2026 season alongside Becky Hill (27 June) and Tom Grennan (25 July). Tickets go on general sale Friday 13 February from 10am via York Racecourse.
🍺 FOOD & DRINK
🍻 Brew York Launches Empress Tonkoko Stout New Variants; York brewery Brew York has launched new variants of its legendary Empress Tonkoko imperial milk stout. The 2026 release includes an Espresso Edition alongside Orange Brandy BA and BA Brownie versions. The decadent stout crafted with tonka, vanilla and coconut pours at 10.6% ABV with seven more variants launching throughout the year.
WHAT'S ON THIS WEEKEND
SATURDAY (TODAY):
🧊 York Ice Trail 2026; York city centre transforms into "An Enchanted City" where a mysterious spell has taken hold! Over 300 dazzling ice sculptures inspired by magic, mystery, and the weird and wonderful. Each corner reveals something new – from curious creatures to mythical marvels. But beware… who cast the spell, and why? Follow the trail to uncover the truth before the magic melts away!
🎭 Sara Pascoe: I Am A Strange Gloop; Taskmaster and QI star brings her acclaimed comedy show to York. "Have you ever been awake in the middle of the night and thought something so smart and astute that you couldn't wait for the world to wake up so you could tell them? THIS SHOW IS THAT THOUGHT.
Where: York Theatre Royal, St. Leonard's Place
When: 7:30 pm Saturday
🎸 Suede at York Barbican; Legendary Britpop icons bring their highly-anticipated tenth studio album "Autofiction" to York with support from Bloodworm. The band takes their new material on the road for the first time.
Where: York Barbican, Paragon St
When: 7pm Saturday
💃 Freida Nipples: Burlesque & Cabaret; After multiple sold-out shows, Freida Nipples brings her infamous revue back to The Crescent. Since touring York's venues since 2017, she's fine-tuned the art of producing excellent Cabaret. Expect adult humour, sequins, spandex, rhinestones and feel-good entertainment!
Where: The Crescent, 8 The Crescent
When: 7:30pm Saturday
💡 Colour & Light; For the first time, York Castle Museum and Clifford's Tower illuminated together as a combined canvas for a fully choreographed projection show, transforming the Eye of York. The continuous, ten-minute looped show brings York's historic characters to life. Family-friendly, completely free, no tickets required.
Where: Eye of York
When: 6-9pm nightly (runs until 22 Feb)
⚽ York City v Forest Green Rovers + Fostering Event; Catch the match while chatting to the council's fostering team before kick-off about making a difference to local children's lives. Where: LNER Community Stadium
SUNDAY (TOMORROW):
🛍️ The Big York Vintage Flea Market; Imagine, a massive mid-century flea market, with cool little bric-a-brac and craft stalls, vintage fashion, thrift & Y2K, and designer-makers thrown in the mix! Plus plant stalls, vintage fashion from Judy's Vintage, designer-makers from around Yorkshire, street food, a cute little tearoom and Yorkshire produce stalls. Where: York Railway Institute, 24 Queen Street When: 11am-3pm Sunday
That's York - complicated, vibrant, resilient, never boring 💙. Get out there, hunt those sculptures, support local, catch a show. Have a BRILLIANT weekend! 🎉
