A popular York café which has featured in a national list of the best places to eat has unveiled plans to expand.
Robinsons on Bishopthorpe Road has a five-star Tripadvisor rating from nearly 400 reviews, and gained a Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award in 2022.
It was also named as on of the ‘49 best places to eat this summer’ in the Sunday Times last month.
Robinsons regularly has a queue of customers waiting for a seat.
It now plans to expand by creating an outdoor decking area, complete with branded planters.
A design statement submitted as part of its planning application says: “Robinsons is a thriving neighbourhood restaurant, creating employment for a team of 14 local people.
“After managing to survive the pandemic, the businesses has been hit by rising costs throughout the board, including ingredients, energy costs and wage expectations.
“The investment and proposals to create an attractive semi-permanent dedicated seating area, whist creating a visually attractive shopfront will go some way to address these challenges and ensure the business remains financially sustainable.
“During the pandemic, a number of seats were removed to provide a comfortable dining experience for customers.
“Our client has recently installed a further 16 internal seating spaces, which should help combat the queuing customers upon the footpath.
“The additional 14 external seating spaces will further enhance their offer and provide an external seating area for customers less keen on internal dining.”
The decking would be surrounded by an 110cm high timber enclosure.
“It is considered that the proposed design will complement and enhance the streetscape, and the outside eating area will help further animate the busy high street,” the statement adds.
A previous plan to construct an all-weather outdoor shelter with retractable awning was withdrawn in 2021.