THE YORK BRIEF⏰Wednesday, 31st December 2025

🌤️ Good Day, York!
Right then, here we are - the final hurdle of 2025! There’s a proper festive buzz in the air today, though you’ll want to wrap up warm if you’re heading to the Minster for the midnight bells. It’s been a year of highs and lows for our fair city, but ending on a “Christmas miracle” transplant story and a last-minute Minstermen winner feels like the perfect way to usher in 2026. Let’s raise a glass to a brilliant year and crack on with the final brief of the season!

🌤️ WEATHER UPDATE

Cloudy and cool in York today with highs around 6°C (43°F), feeling like 3°C due to wind chill. Lows overnight dropping to 2°C (36°F), feeling like -1°C. Light rain possible around 1pm (30% chance). Humidity 83-88%. Winds westerly 15mph with gusts to 23mph. Bundle up for New Year’s Eve celebrations tonight! 🌥️🧣

🏥 HEALTH & COMMUNITY

❤️ ‘Christmas Miracle’ Kidney Swap Gives York Man Second Chance - Martin Gaffney, 57, from Birkenshaw, received a lifesaving kidney transplant after his Wheldrake brother-in-law (49) entered the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme. The scheme connected two donor-recipient pairs who effectively swapped kidneys at St James’s Hospital, Leeds, in late December. Martin’s wife Juliette, called it a “real-life Christmas miracle” and urged more people to consider organ donation as 8,000+ people remain on the transplant waiting list. Read more

🏠 HOUSING & PROPERTY

💰 York Named UK’s Most Expensive City to Heat Homes - Research from Hillarys found York households spend an average of £1,181 annually on heating - the highest in the UK. With 61% of York homes rated EPC D or lower and energy prices rising 5% from January 1st, experts advise submitting meter readings before Thursday to avoid overcharging. York topped the list ahead of Dundee (£1,134), Stoke-on-Trent (£1,096), and Grimsby (£1,083). Read more

❄️ Aviva Warns York Residents: Prepare for Cold Snap - The York-based insurer has issued guidance as temperatures plummet, with snow and ice expected across northern England. Laura Lazarus, Aviva’s director of home and lifestyle claims, warned frozen pipes could burst causing significant property damage. Tips include keeping heating at minimum 13°C, insulating exposed pipes, and stocking essentials. Read more

🏚️ Widow, 74, Despairs Over Damp-Riddled Council Home - Margaret Clark has spent nearly two years battling severe damp and mould in her Heworth council home of 42 years. The pensioner reports a leaking roof, a collapsed wardrobe, peeling wallpaper, and mould reappearing within a week of treatment. She now sleeps on her living room sofa due to health concerns with her lungs. City of York Council states repairs are being delivered “in line with an agreed schedule.” Read more

🏛️ PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT

🌿 Stillington Hedgerow Removal Set for Refusal - A planning application to remove 223 metres of hedgerow at Ravensdale Farm, Stillington, has been recommended for refusal by council officers. The tree and woodland officer found the hedgerow in good condition, with five native woody species present, including hawthorn, rose, field maple, elder, and ash. The applicant claims the work would prevent soil erosion and improve road access safety. Read more

🚨 CRIME & SAFETY

🚂 Sexual Assault on Train Sparks CCTV Appeal - British Transport Police are hunting a man after a woman was sexually assaulted on a train from York to Selby on December 14th around 8pm. The suspect sat next to the victim before the attack. Police have released CCTV images and urge anyone with information to contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 (reference 266 of December 15). Read more

🏛️ POLITICS & COMMUNITY

🎖️ MP Rachael Maskell Continues Welfare Advocacy - York Central MP Rachael Maskell continues her battle against government welfare cuts, having been one of four Labour MPs to have the whip suspended in July 2025 for voting against disability benefit cuts. Maskell has consistently advocated for wealth taxes on the super-rich instead, arguing that a 2% tax on wealth over £10 million could raise £24 billion annually for public services. Read more

🏗️ DEVELOPMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE

☀️ Solar Farm Plans Draw 430+ Objections - The proposed Stell Solar Farm between Bedale and Exelby has attracted over 430 objections from residents, with campaigners raising £4,000 to fight the 30MW scheme on land off Lords Lane. The Say No To Stell Solar Farm group commissioned independent transport consultants who concluded the access proposals “present an unacceptable risk to pedestrians, cyclists, and equestrians.” Read more

🚆 TransPennine Route Upgrade Work Continues - Drone footage shows ongoing TransPennine Route Upgrade works near York, part of a multi-billion-pound program transforming rail connectivity in the North. Engineering work between Leeds and York runs through January 25, 2026, with some services diverted and reduced frequencies. Read more

🏈 SPORT

⚽ Minstermen End Altrincham Curse with Dramatic Winner - York City secured a vital 2-1 away victory at Altrincham with a 90th-minute winner from captain Ollie Pearce on December 30th. Alex Newby opened the scoring against his former club before Altrincham equalized in the 88th minute, only for Pearce to snatch all three points in stoppage time. The win maintains York’s promotion push in the National League. Read more | Match Report

🎙️ York Hospital Ball Podcast Reaches 100 Episodes - The popular York City supporters’ podcast hits a major milestone in early January with its 100th episode featuring former record signing Dipo Akinyemi. Launched in 2019, the podcast has recorded 60,000+ downloads across 99 countries and raised over £6,000 for York Hospital Radio. Host Dan Tait was ranked the 12th highest-rated football podcast in the UK in July 2025. Read more

🏇 York Racecourse Celebrates Record-Breaking 2025 - The racecourse welcomed 289,917 visitors (up 12% year-on-year) and invested over £12 million in improvements. Queen Camilla made two visits during the Sky Bet Ebor Festival, unveiling a plaque for the Juddmonte International’s Longines World’s Best Race award. The Macmillan Charity Raceday raised £458,000, while performances by Olly Murs, Ronan Keating, and Natasha Bedingfield drew bumper crowds. Read more

🍽️ FOOD & HOSPITALITY

🍕 Bodrum Pizza Told “Major Improvement Necessary” - The Bootham takeaway received a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (Improvement Necessary) from City of York Council inspectors in May 2025, requiring upgrades to food handling practices and procedures. Read more

🎉 New Year’s Eve Options Across Yorkshire - Multiple York venues are hosting New Year’s celebrations tonight, including Bosun’s Restaurant at The Riverfront featuring musician Chris Stocks and fireworks at midnight (£120 per person). Various bars and restaurants across the city center remain open with special menus and entertainment. Read more

💼 BUSINESS & ECONOMY

🎖️ David Dickson OBE: York Business Leader Honored - Former Garbutt & Elliott managing director and St Leonard’s Hospice chair David Dickson has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to business and charitable causes in York and North Yorkshire. The 70-year-old, who has judged The Press Business Awards for 30+ years, praised his wife, Sarah, for supporting his recovery from recent ill health. Read more

🚜 York Machinery Sales Reports Landmark Year - York Auction Centre achieved record demand in 2025, with early-year sales seeing 8,600 lots and a 90%+ sell rate. The agricultural machinery auctions attracted 3,177 registered bidders from across the UK, Europe, Middle East, and North Africa, with one sale generating 1.4 million online catalogue views. Read more

🥛 St Helen’s Farm Wins Retail Awards - The Vale of York dairy’s SuperNutrio high-protein milk brand earned Silver and Bronze awards at the Great Yorkshire Show in its first major competition appearance. The innovative filtered cow’s milk contains double the protein and 80% more calcium compared to standard milk. Read more

🦉 Hooting Owl Distillery Reflects on Growth Year - Founder Dom Mbenga’s award-winning York distillery looks back on a successful 2025 and forward to 2026 expansion plans from their Rougier Street location, which opened in March 2024 following a £400,000 transformation of the former Society nightclub. Read more

📋 NOTICES & PUBLIC INFO

🏥 Dementia Support Events - Barchester’s Thistle Hill Care Home in Knaresborough hosts regular dementia support events and monthly carers’ cafés (last Tuesday of each month, 11am). Read more

That’s your 2025 wrapped!
It’s been an absolute privilege sharing the city’s stories with you this year. Thank you for being part of The York Brief community - have a smashing night, stay safe, and I’ll see you all in 2026!