One of York’s most prominent pubs will reopen this week with a ‘new lease of life’.
As YorkMix reported last week, what was Thomas’s Hotel has a brand new name – the Museum Street Tavern.
Richard Martin, an independent operator, has taken on the tenancy from owners Stonegate Pubs.
“The plan for Museum Street Tavern is simple. It’s good old-fashioned hospitality. Look after everyone and serve them great food and drink in a beautiful, historic building,” he said.
“York is full of great pubs, which rightly have a loyal following. If we get things right we will carve a little niche of our own.”
Richard, 43, has been in hospitality all his working life. He’s run pubs and restaurants in London, Dublin and Bristol,but he has chosen York for his first solo venture.
He has been visiting family here for many years, moving to the city permanently 18 months ago. Since then he has worked at several venues in the city while looking for the right opportunity.
“We aim to open as soon as we can. It will be a bit softly, softly at first. Mainly just drinks and snacks to begin with.
“We’ll continue to add a bit each week and intend to be serving a full menu by early September,” Richard said.
“The food will be fresh and seasonal and dishes will change from day to day. We will use local produce and suppliers whenever we can. Not fine dining, just rustic dishes with big flavours made with care and attention.
“First and foremost, we love pubs. They are timeless, ageless and democratic. They are for everyone, spaces where all sections of the community are welcome and co-exist together.”
Passers-by will have noticed a lot of work going on to refresh the exterior and interior ahead of opening – though as the 18th century building is Grade II listed, it will retain all of its historic charm. You will be able to get a first look when the doors open this week.
For the latest updates on opening times, food and drink, follow the Museum Street Tavern on Instagram.
Thomas’s Hotel was opened in 1861 by the hotelier William Thomas, and was then owned by a brewer called Thomas Lightfoot, before it became a John Smith’s pub in 1900.
It was later known as Thomas’s Bar. In 2010, it looked to have been lost as a pub, when the building was converted into a Mexican restaurant called Mojitos, but it returned to pub use and its old name just over a year later.
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