THE YORK BRIEF - WEEKEND WRAP UP ⏰ November 29 - 30 , 2025

✨ YOUR WEEKEND IN YORK

Right then, York - bundle up because it’s going to be a soggy one! But while the rain might be relentless, there’s no shortage of news around our city. From Next’s massive new store opening in days and troubling crime investigations to essential rail disruption warnings for Christmas travel and important safety recalls, we’ve got everything you need to know. Settle in with a brew and let’s catch you up on what’s happening...

🌤️ WEEKEND WEATHER

Grab your brollies and wellies, York! The Met Office is forecasting a thoroughly wet weekend with rain all day Saturday and temperatures hovering between 5-7°C, dropping to 4°C overnight.
Sunday morning brings more showers before clouds take over by 11am, with highs of just 6°C. Monday stays wet but temperatures climb slightly to 9-10°C. A yellow warning is in place for East Yorkshire with heavy rain threatening travel disruption and flooding across the region. MET Office

📰 NEWS

🛍️ Next’s Big Move - Tuesday Opening - Next’s massive new Coppergate store opens Tuesday, December 2 at 10am. The 26,000 sq ft flagship across three floors features doubled menswear space, new Bath & Body Works section, and opening weekend giveaways. First 75 customers get goodie bags. YorkMix | Gazette Herald

🚂 32 Days of Rail Chaos Ahead - York passengers face major disruption December 25-January 25 as Transpennine Route Upgrade transforms Leeds-York line. Network Rail deploying 45 engineering trains, installing 70 new signals. No trains on several key dates—rail replacement buses operating. Check National Rail before traveling. YorkMix | Gazette Herald

🚌 Festive Bus Timetables Released - Coastliner and York & Country reveal Christmas schedules with £3 fare cap. Christmas Eve ends around 7pm, no service Christmas Day or Boxing Day. Last buses: 7:10pm Leeds-York, 4:10pm Scarborough-Leeds on Dec 24. Check transdevbus.co.uk before traveling. The Scarborough News

🎬 £52m Tourist Tax Could Bring Major Events - Mayor Skaith’s proposed £2-per-night visitor levy could generate £52 million annually—four times the transport budget. Funds would attract major sporting events (like Tour de France 2014) and film productions. British Cycling keen for two-year events. Hospitality Association York expressed “deep concern.” Consultation starts imminently, levy possible in 12-15 months. YorkMix

“To put that into context, that’s four times our transport budget per year. We’re talking a huge amount of money,”

💙 Survive Charity Faces Uncertain Future - York’s sexual assault support charity forced to close waiting list to self-referrals as funding crisis deepens. CEO Mags Godderidge says restriction continues into 2026. The charity helps adult survivors of rape, sexual assault, and child sexual abuse but faces unprecedented demand and uncertain government funding beyond March. Yorkshire Post

We urgently need long-term strategic funding to get our waiting list open to all survivors and to keep it open. Survivors deserve better”.

🏥 NHS Health Checks Boost - City of York Council expanding free NHS Health Checks for adults aged 40-74 to prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and kidney disease. City of York Council

🚧 Navigation Road Closure - Navigation Road closes at Walmgate junction for essential works. Plan alternative routes. York Press

🚨 CRIME & SAFETY

👶 Child Assault Investigation at Jorvik - Police are investigating after a child was reportedly assaulted around 11am on Friday, November 22 at the Jorvik Viking Centre in the Coppergate Centre. North Yorkshire Police are appealing for witnesses to this troubling incident at one of York’s most popular family attractions. The investigation is ongoing. YorkMix

🥊 Taxi Rank Assault - Man May Need Surgery - A victim was knocked unconscious and had his nose broken in multiple places during a serious assault at the St Saviourgate taxi rank at 12:15am on Sunday, November 16. He may require surgery once his wounds heal. North Yorkshire Police urgently need witnesses, the taxi driver who was parked at the rank during the incident, and anyone with dashcam footage. Contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Nick Harrison. YorkMix

⚠️ Safety Alert: Electric Blanket Recall York shoppers are urged to check their electric blankets after dangerous products were recalled with high fire risk. The Office for Product Safety and Standards recalled the L’Agraty Electric Blanket sold via Amazon—the plug doesn’t meet safety standards and cannot make a secure connection with sockets, potentially sparking, overheating, and catching fire. Gazette Herald

☕ B&M Mug Recall - B&M is recalling their Cream & Green Mug (424919) covered in Christmas trees - the base can shatter when filled with boiling water. Sold since August 23, return to any B&M store with packaging for a full refund. Safety first, York! North Wales Pioneer

⚖️ Stalker Case Leaves Deep Scars - A manipulative and controlling stalker has left deep psychological scars on his victim in a case highlighting the devastating impact of such behavior. The controlling conduct caused significant trauma - a stark reminder that stalking and coercive control are serious crimes with lasting effects on victims. Huddersfield Examiner

🎨 ARTS & CULTURE

🎭 Christmas Inn Trouble at Riding Lights - Fawlty Towers-meets-Nativity romp at Friargate Theatre, Dec 20-24. Katie Coen and Jared More deliver comedy, puppetry, and heart in this festive two-hander. Multiple daily shows. Box office: 01904 655317. Gazette Herald

📺 Ruby Wax Coming to York I’m A Celebrity star Ruby Wax brings Absolutely Famous to Grand Opera House, June 7, 2026. Scandalous stories from her BAFTA-nominated interviews with Trump, OJ Simpson, Pamela Anderson, Madonna. Tickets on sale now. YorkMix

🎨 Harold Gosney Exhibit New sculpture exhibit at York Art Gallery showcasing latest works. York Press

💼 BUSINESS

📚 Books & Bevs Opening in Acomb - Exciting news for book lovers! Books & Bevs is opening its first bricks-and-mortar bookshop café at 89 Front Street in Acomb next month after an “absolutely incredible” response from the community. Currently running as a pop-up inside The Speakcheesey on Walmgate, the new venture pairs “excellent reads with creative hospitality” - offering new and pre-loved books, literary gifts, and drinks from wines to coffees. YorkMix

Director Joe Long says: “We want to create a warm, welcoming and social atmosphere in our local village of Acomb.”

🐱 Meowcraft Opens on The Shambles - Cat lovers, rejoice! Meowcraft shop is opening on The Shambles with a nearby studio. Expect feline-themed gifts, accessories, and all things cat-related on York’s most famous medieval street. York Press

🏆 Cedarbarn Wins Family Business Award - Huge congratulations to Cedarbarn shop and cafe on winning a prestigious family business award - recognition well-deserved for their excellent service and commitment to the community. York Press

🪟 Rillington Company Protects Stained Glass - Ellis of Rillington is helping protect precious stained glass heritage with specialist conservation work; keeping history alive for future generations. York Press

👥 COMMUNITY

🐕 Nina Needs a Forever Home - York RSPCA is looking for a loving home for Nina, a boxer crossbreed who’s ready to find her perfect match. Could you offer Nina the forever home she deserves? York Press

🏫 Triple Unicef Success for Escrick Primary - Brilliant news for Escrick CE Primary School - they’ve earned their third Unicef UK award, recognizing their outstanding commitment to children’s rights and creating a caring, inclusive environment. York Press

🏥 REGIONAL

🏥 Scarborough Hospital Bridge Demolition - North Yorkshire Council has approved demolition of a link bridge and plant room at Scarborough Hospital. While Scarborough-based, many York residents use this hospital for specialist services. Gazette Herald

🚗 Whitby Bridge Gets 20mph Limit - Councilors have backed a 20mph speed limit for Whitby’s swing bridge - improving safety on this key coastal route used by York visitors and residents traveling to the coast. York Press

🏃 SPORT

⚽ York City Signs Sunderland Defender Minstermen land 21-year-old Zak Johnson on loan from Sunderland until January. Reunites with boss Stuart Maynard, addresses injury crisis (Palmer, Howe out). York 3rd in National League, one point behind leaders. York City FC | YorkMix

🥊 Harrison Defends Welterweight Belt York boxer Will Harrison faces Lewis Booth in upcoming title defence. York Press

🎃 WHAT’S ON THIS WEEKEND IN YORK?

❄️ Winter Wonderland at Designer Outlet - Festive fun, lights, and seasonal shopping returns to McArthurGlen - perfect for staying dry while getting Christmas-ready! York Press

🎄 Minskip Christmas Fayre - Seasonal treats, crafts, and community warmth raising funds for St John’s Church. York Press

🎄 York Minster Christmas Tree Festival Kicks Off York Minster’s popular Christmas Tree Festival opens Saturday at 10am with 70 decorated trees by local businesses, schools, and charities filling the Nave, Chapter House, and Lady Chapel. Opening features ‘Minster Mash-Up’ light switch-on, special service for families. Runs through January 5. Add your Christmas message to prayer trees. York Minster

🎱 UK Championship Snooker World’s greatest snooker players battle at York Barbican through December 7. World number one Judd Trump defends title. Sessions 1pm & 7pm. One of sport’s biggest global events. York Barbican.

🐾 RSPCA York Christmas Fair - Annual Christmas fair at York Animal Home, Saturday 10:30am-3pm. Christmas crafts, cakes, dog treats, Santa’s Grotto, tombola, mince pies - perfect for presents while supporting animals. Landing Lane, YO26 4RH. YorkMix

🎨 Frost Fair at Patch York 5th annual reinvention of York’s historic 1739 frost fair. Local craftspeople, artists, handmade gifts, prints, and art. Saturday 12-6pm, Terry Avenue. YorkMix

🎵 The Amy Winehouse Band Amy’s original band led by Musical Director Dale Davis performs her era-defining music. Grand Opera House, Saturday 7:30pm. YorkMix

🕯️ Candlelight: Tribute to Queen Music of Queen at National Centre for Early Music under candlelight. Saturday 6:30pm, Walmgate. Multi-sensory experience in atmospheric venue. Fever Up

🎄 Tadcaster Christmas Market Sunday 10am-3pm with stalls in Kirkgate and Westgate, Craft Fair at Riley-Smith Hall, church events. Supported by YorkMix. Tadcaster Town Council.

🎪 Giant Antique & Collectors Fair Up to 250 stalls across two floors at York Racecourse. Ceramics, jewelry, glass, coins, militaria, gold, silver, furniture. Sunday 9am-4pm. York Race Course

😂 Josie Long Comedy 3-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee with new show about extinct megafauna, wonder, and walking through disaster. The Crescent, Sunday 7:30pm. YorkMix

That’s your round-up for today, York! Keep dry, stay warm, and enjoy everything our city has to offer this weekend.

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