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York and North Yorkshire reopening day – Live

Monday, 12 April 2021

Live updates as pubs, restaurants and attractions welcome customers inside

• Key updates

  • Pictures: Pints and smiles as York pubs and restaurants fully reopen

    2 years ago

  • Watch: ‘Boris Johnson’ declares the York Dungeon open again

    2 years ago

  • Watch: York’s newest attraction is declared open

    2 years ago

  • Pictures: York cafes and bars prepare to reopen

    2 years ago

  • Amazing drone video shows the big day being rung in over York hotel

    2 years ago

Reopening of York’s Grand Opera House delayed again

2 years ago

Photograph: YorkMix

All good things come to those who wait, and fans of the York Grand Opera House will have to wait a few more weeks for live shows to resume.

Today owners the ATG Group announced they were suspending all live performances in its theatres until  Saturday 26 June 2021.

In a statement the group said: “We apologise for the inconvenience caused but hope you will understand given the exceptional circumstances.

“If you have made a booking that is affected by this suspension, you do not need to do anything. We are currently contacting customers booked for performances up to 26 June 2021.

“Bookings for performances with confirmed rescheduled dates will be automatically moved to the new dates and customers will be informed accordingly.”

The first show listed at the Grand Opera House is Adam Buxton Rambles… which is due to run on Wednesday, 14 July.

Most shows have now been rescheduled. You can see the new dates here.

Curtain up at York Theatre Royal: ‘We’re giddy, we’re excited, we’re a little bit nervous’

2 years ago

York Theatre Royal is reopening

The Theatre Royal will reopen to indoor performances this evening.

It’s first show – Love Bites – is sold out, which is a very good sign. There are lots of safety measures in place, including socially distanced seating – you can read all the details here.

Chief executive of York Theatre Royal Tom Bird told Ben and Laura on YorkMix Radio how he felt as curtain up finally approached.

York Theatre Royal
York Theatre Royal
York Theatre Royal
York Theatre Royal #Ad

“It’s quite emotional, to be honest. We’re giddy, we’re so excited. We’re a little bit nervous.

“In a way, it’s emotional. You never think in your career you’ll have to do what we had to do 14 months ago, and say we’re pulling everyone off stage, and you might not be back in for a while.

“It’s been tough on everyone. It’s been really tough on theatres, because it was immediately clear that lockdowns and the restrictions were going to be difficult for us, but we’re just over over the moon to be back.

“And we just can’t wait for tonight.”

For the comeback, they decided to commission works from “as many artists in York as we possibly could.

“So we went out with this call for love letters to the theatre, or to your partner, or to absolutely anything you want. And said write us a five minute love letter in any format.

“And we’ve commissioned 22 artists in York to come up with love letters for our night tonight, which is Love Bites.”

You can read all about York Theatre Royal’s new season – featuring Ralph Fiennes, Brian Clough, trapeze artists and a brief history of drag – here.

Queues are back! The Jorvik Viking Centre returns

2 years ago

This is a sight we haven’t seen for a while – a queue outside York’s Jorvik Viking Centre.

People were eager to travel back a thousand years and explore Eboracum now the Coppergate Centre attractions is open again.

You need to pre-book your slot, which you can do on the Jorvik website.

Queues are back at the @JorvikViking Centre!! #yorknews #yorklive https://t.co/JTtgJp9KVP pic.twitter.com/ME0SZUbEmc

— YorkMix (@theyorkmix) May 17, 2021

These are the new opening times:

17th May – 28th May: 10am-5pm
29th May – 6th June: 9am-6pm
7th June – 18th July: 10am-5pm
19th July – 23rd July: 9am-5pm
24th July – 5th September: 9am-6pm

The other attractions in the group, Dig and Barley Hall have also reopened today.

Pictures: York Minster welcomes back visitors

2 years ago

Rob Tomlinson and Katie Hill take a selfie in York Minster on Monday. Photograph: Danny Lawson / PA wire

Visitors returned to York Minster today – enjoying the majestic architecture for the first time in months.

Although the cathedral has been open to worshippers for a while, today say it thrown open its doors to the general public again.

Big day for us and most places across the country as we are able to reopen our doors for general visiting.

You can once again experience the vast spaces of York Minster on your trip to @VisitYork.

See you soon ???? pic.twitter.com/rVyMMthQra

— York Minster (@York_Minster) May 17, 2021

These are the opening hours:

Monday – Saturday: 10am to 4.30pm, with last admission at 3.45pm.
Sunday: 12.30pm to 3.15pm, with last admission at 2.30pm.

All sightseeing visits must be booked in advance online.

They also have some exhibitions planned for later in the summer. Find out more here.

That selfie feeling in York Minster again…
The Reverend Michael Smith moves a Covid information board
Exploring the glorious cathedral

Pictures: Pints and smiles as York pubs and restaurants fully reopen

2 years ago

Colin Bradshaw and Sarah Meakin enjoy a pint at The Golden Slipper pub in York on Monday. Photograph: Danny Lawson / PA wire

Draught beer – out of the rain?

No wonder there were smiles on the faces of some of York’s first pub and restaurant customers today.

There are still rules of course. They are:

  • venues can offer indoor drinking and dining for groups of six people or two households
  • when not seated, for example while being shown to the table or going to the toilet, customers will need to a wear face covering
  • it is table service only
  • all customers must now check-in under test and trace rules
  • outside, people will be able to meet in larger groups in beer gardens or when dining al fresco – with up to 30 people.
The Golden Slipper
The Hop. Photograph: Hop York on Twitter
Karen McPherson (left) and Val Cavanagh at the Forest restaurant in York
Kim Spencer and Anthony Winder at the Forest
General manager David MacDonald pours a pint at the Forest
David and Anthony

‘We’re really pleased – but everybody is still a little bit nervous’

2 years ago

The Coppergate Centre in York is fully open again.

While retailers have been reopened for a while, the centre’s attractions – the Jorvik Centre and the new Hole In Wand – have allowed people in, along with the cafes.

Pippa Unwin, manager at the Coppergate Centre, said people were delighted – although: “Everybody is still a little bit nervous.

“We are still meant to be socially distanced. And it does get difficult when people come shopping for social distancing.

“But all of our retailers work really well together. Because York is so heavily a tourist city, and because the tourists and the international trade hasn’t come back yet, we found that social distancing isn’t a problem here.

“Today, now we are fully back as a centre. And we’re really pleased to see that and when do you think it’s going to translate well for businesses, and it’s just a nice feel in the centre.”

Online bookings at both Jorvik and the Hole In Wand have been strong.

‘This is the date where we can hopefully get back to the new normal’

2 years ago

Andrew Lowson, executive director of the York BID (Business Improvement District), has been talking to YorkMix about the reopening.

He said: “I think everyone’s excited. Hospitality, it makes a big difference for them being able to actually have their indoor facilities open – because much as we like to do al fresco in this country, and we’ve embraced it more, as we know the British weather isn’t always conducive to that.

“Having the indoor capacity will make a big difference. Retail will really appreciate it as well people come into a city like York to shop, then have a cup of tea, have a meal.

“I think a lot of people now will be seeing this as a date where hopefully, we can get back to to normal, or the new normal.”

He said York needs domestic tourism to do well, with the continued restrictions on international travel.

York’s ‘experience economy’ – boosted today by the opening of the Hole In Wand, which he described as ‘a great addition to the city’ – was crucial to bringing people in.

Watch: ‘Boris Johnson’ declares the York Dungeon open again

2 years ago

‘Boris’ at the York Dungeon. Photographs: Richard McDougall

He’s a busy man, but he still found time to reopen York Dungeon this morning.

Boris Johnson left Downing Street to cut the ribbon at the Clifford Street attraction.

And if it wasn’t the actual BoJo it was someone who looked and acted remarkably like him…

Although he did use the scissors correctly – first time – so maybe it wasn’t the Prime Minister…

After performing his ceremonial duties he headed down the street, muttering about ‘finding a fridge to hide in’.

Find out more about the York Dungeon, and book tickets, on the website.

Job done…

Watch: York’s newest attraction is declared open

2 years ago

It's open! The Hole In Wand in the Coppergate Centre. Photograph: YorkMix

York has a brand new attraction.

The Hole In Wand wizard family golf centre, in the Coppergate Centre, has been waiting for months to open.

And at 10.30am, York Town Crier Ben Fry rang out the official opening – then the first golfers and diners went inside.

Featuring nine holes of spookily fun golf, plus a diner offering food and drink at family friendly prices, it is an asset for the city.

You can read more and see an insider video here.

York hospitality leaders raise their concerns on reopening day

2 years ago

Although they have welcomed today’s reopening, York’s Hospitality Association have expressed concerns about the ‘digital timebomb’.

The problem is what they called stacked bookings – “We are now seeing customers book multiple options for both their dining and accommodation options and deciding as late as the day of the visit and cancelling,” said Martin Bradnam, chair of HAY and general manager of Doubletree by Hilton, York.

They have a solution though – the full story is here.

Castle Howard reopens – and they’re ready for Bridgerton fans!

2 years ago

Castle Howard starring in Bridgerton. Photograph: Netflix

Castle Howard fully reopens today at 10am – and they’re are ready for Bridgerton fans!

It is a chance for fans of the Netflix drama, which has been streamed more than 84 million times around the world, to see the ‘real’ Clyvedon Castle.

There’s a new exhibition inspired by the hit, and tour guides are ready to point visitors to the various locations used in the series.

Read the full story about that here.

Abbi Ollive of Castle Howard, told YorkMix Radio this morning that they are ready to welcome visitors back inside: “There’s a great sense of excitement and anticipation that we can once again open the doors to some of these really special places including Castle Howard.

“So there’s been a lot of work that’s going on behind the scenes, as you can imagine.

“The house has been closed for several months. We’ve taken that opportunity to do some well needed conservation and restoration of the building.

“And we’ve been tinkering away inside, getting the house and the rooms all ready for visitors to once again flood through the doors – in a very managed way.”

You can book online here.

Pictures: York cafes and bars prepare to reopen

2 years ago

A wash and brush up for Kennedy's on Little Stonegate. Photographs: Richard McDougall

It’s busy in York city centre today as pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants prepare to open indoors for the first time in months.

Our photographer Richard McDougall has been out and about taking some early pictures as businesses prepare for a long awaited day.

Good news – there’s definitely beer at the Eagle And Child, and fat rascals at Bettys

  • Lucia’s ready to welcome you
  • Fat rascals arrive at Bettys
  • Bettys on Little Stonegate
  • Doors open: the Lamb and Lion on High Petergate
  • Vegged up: Los Moros
  • Cut and Craft
  • A delivery at Eagle and Child

Amazing drone video shows the big day being rung in over York hotel

2 years ago

A still from the drone footage. Photograph: Alan Milner

This extraordinary video shows the York Town Crier ringing where he’s never rung before!

He is standing atop Middlethorpe Hall Hotel in York declaring it open – along with all the hotels in York and North Yorkshire.

Filmed by Alan Milner Creative with a drone, it is the most spectacular way to declare the good news of the reopening.

All the things we can do again today

2 years ago

York is still seen as a place to do business

It’s stage three of the road map to reopening – and it’s a biggie.

Here are all the things we can do from today (Monday, 17 May):

People can meet outdoors in groups of up to 30, and indoors in groups of six, or two households.

Pubs and restaurants will be able to serve customers indoors, although they will be limited to table service.

Other recreational venues such as cinemas, museums, theatres and concert halls will be allowed to reopen. although there will be capacity limits on large events.

Up to 30 people will be allowed at weddings, although dancing will still not be allowed, and the cap on the number of mourners attending funerals will be lifted, in line with the safe capacity of the venue.

Secondary school pupils will no longer be told to wear face masks in class and communal areas, and university students will return to campus for in-person lectures.

The “stay in the UK” restriction will lift and people will be able to travel to “green list” countries without having to quarantine, provided they take one post-arrival test.

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