A York village pub that has been known for its series of closures and reopenings is set to undergo more restoration work.
The Ebor, a Grade II listed building in Bishopthorpe, has submitted an application the City of York Council to change its interior, raising hopes it might reopen soon.
It comes after work to remove the white paint and rendering from the outside of the building has almost been completed.
The pub currently stands empty, following the departure of its most recent tenants in March, and villagers have been speculating as to what’s next for the local venue.
The Ebor is owned by Samuel Smith, the brewery based in Tadcaster.
The new plans would see a previously existing internal wall reinstated in the Tap Room.
This would divide the current space into two rooms, each with its original solid fuel fireplace, and replace the existing see-through gass fireplace.
Other proposals would see the entrance lobby made smaller, and the bar servery relocated.
And the modern ceiling over the Tea Room would be removed to expose the original ceiling, which will be restored along with any existing cornices.
Back to the original
The Ebor has recently undergone restoration work to the stone wall on the front of the building, removing the white paint and rendering to resemble its original look.
CWR Building & Joinery carried out the work and the scaffolding has now been taken down, revealing the pub’s historic stonework.
Fencing is still in place however, which limits access to the car park.
The Ebor served the Bishopthorpe community continuously for almost four decades, until its closure in 2021. It shut following the death of its long-standing landlord, Gordon Watkins, who was well-loved by villagers.
He passed away from Covid-19 just weeks before he was due to celebrate 40 years of managing the Main Street pub.
After remaining closed for three years, the pub reopened on 29 March 2024 under new management, David and Rachel, to the delight of residents. However, just under a year later, the pub shut its doors once more and the landlord and landlady left.
No official statement was issued regarding the closure. But locals heard that the pair had requested one day off per week, which the brewery refused.
There is no word yet on new managers for the Ebor, or when it might reopen. However, the investment in both the inside and outside of the pub suggests the brewery wants it back open soon.
You can read and comment on the application here.