Featuring a bottomless brunch, their very own craft beer, and possibly the best soundtrack in the city (outside of YorkMix Radio!) Jimmy’s is about to open.
We’ve been fortunate enough to get a sneak peek inside the new venue – and confidently predict it’s going to be a smash hit.
The outdoor space, with 30 seats, opens tomorrow – and the first weekend is pretty much booked out. Then the whole place welcomes drinkers and diners from 17 May.
Jimmy’s York is found at 52 Low Petergate, former home of Café Rouge. The team behind the business are George and Jimmy Craig. They have already opened venues in Manchester and Liverpool.
But for the brothers, originally from Helmsley, this is like a homecoming gig.
“It was something that was always a bit of a dream for us, but we didn’t ever really anticipate such an outstanding location as this to pop up,” George told YorkMix.
“And the response has just been mind blowing.
“As a business in this sector, it’s been quite a tough year. But it’s been such a lift for us to to feel the demand and the bookings that have just come in for Jimmy’s York.”
New look
Although they have given the place a major makeover, George and Jimmy have left the structure of the historic building untouched.
The outdoor area has been transformed, and they have added a first floor bar to go with the one downstairs.
As befits two brothers who scored proper chart success with their old band One Night Only, there’s a music theme to Jimmy’s.
“It’s got that old school, psychedelic, rock’n’roll feel with neons,” George said.
“But it’s still got a very grand, traditional feel to it. The building itself is historic.”
While the other Jimmy’s venues host live music, that was never the intention with the York version.
“That doesn’t mean that we won’t be playing amazing music on the stereo, which is kind of a big thing for us,” George said.
“What’s on the stereo is key to what makes the atmosphere in our place.”
The soundtrack will change to suit the time of day but “it can tick a box for any music lover from the age of 18 all the way up to 80 to 90”.
Food and drink
Jimmy’s “is a place for music lovers who enjoy good food and drink” said George.
So what is the food and drink? The Jimmy’s brunch, served daily from 10am to 3pm, has proved hugely popular. It features everything from an all-day breakfast (£11.95) to fluffy pancakes (£9), poached eggs and avocado (£9.50), and fried chicken and waffles (£11.50).
On a Saturday you can dig in to the ‘bottomless brunch’ – for £35 it includes one main dish and bottomless drinks.
Then in the evenings they dish out the rock’n’roll barbecue! There’s Sticky Fingers (£7.50) – smoked pork ribs, a BBQ Vegan Burger (£11.95) and Beer Can Smoked Chicken (£14.95).
These are accompanied by their very own barbecue sauces – which they say they perfected in lockdown.
And try Mum’s Fish Pie (£14.95) – it really is made by George and Jimmy’s mum, Louise! Meanwhile the Sunday Roast menu (£15) features beef, chicken, beetroot wellington and more.
Drinks wise they brew their own beer at Joseph Holt Brewery in Manchester. This includes Jimmy’s lager, smooth IPA, Irish cream and pale ale. Plus there’s an impressive array of cocktails.
Find out more at the Jimmy’s York website.
Bringing back the good times
For George, spending time back in York has brought back good memories.
“Being in school and breaking into the York music scene were just some of the best times for me,” he said.
“Something really special happened in those two or three years where things took off for us.
“Fibbers was a really magical place. It all kind of came together for us in that room, when we had a big single launch and the whole of the industry from London were there.
“Now to be coming back into the city and be a part of the fabric of it in a small way is so special.
“It’ll be nice to see some familiar faces, and maybe some people from back home. So it’s very exciting.”
