One of York’s best known bars is put up for sale for £250K

With its riverside patio and historic home, it is a uniquely special York venue.

And if you can raise a quarter of a million, it could soon be yours.

Dyl’s, housed in the old Motor House built into Skeldergate Bridge, is up for sale for offers in excess of £250,000.

It has been run by the Dyl family, including Malcolm, Annette and Jan, for ten years. But the tenant is “stepping away to concentrate on other ventures”, hence selling the leasehold, which runs until 2032.

The Grade II listed property is being marketed by property company Fleurets.

They say: “The current tenant took a lease on the property in 2012 and have slowly developed the concept over the last ten years.

“It is an all-day operation running from mornings through to 10pm in the evening and acts as café offering a brunch style menu with quality coffees, evolving into a bar on an evening.”

The bar has three floors:

• ground floor – seating is available on bar stools for up to eight customers
• first floor – accessed via a spiral staircase, it hosts the River Room and the Toll Room, with a total of 21 covers
• third floor – in the roof space, it has room for six customers.

The outside patio can host another 60 customers, with heating for colder days and nights.

Dyl’s can also use the adjacent green under temporary event notices for 21 days a year.

It’s position next to the Ouse means people flock there on nice days. But it is closed when the river floods.

£50K profit

In the last financial year, it had a net turnover of £581,238, with a gross profit of £404,037 and a net profit of £52,768.

“The business has been heavily staffed over the last few years with our clients stepping away to concentrate on other ventures,” property details state.

“This has affected the profit margins and due to various issues, our clients have now stepped back in to deal with the day to day running of the operation.

“It is therefore expected that the net profit will return to figures as seen previously which was north of £100,000 in the Profit & Loss Accounts before any items were added back in.”

During Covid in 2020, Dyl’s was able to open food and drink takeaway service for those undertaking socially distanced walks around York.

The details say: “Despite the challenges of 2020, the business still achieved a turnover of £360,550 with more modest profits. Despite the strong levels of turnover, our client does feel
that they are not realising the full potential of the business which there is more turnover and profit to be had.”

Andrew Spencer, associate at Fleurets North, said: “Dyl’s offers a new operator a strong business with good levels of turnover and profits.

“However, despite this our client does not feel that they are realising the full potential of the operation, particularly the evening trade.

“Therefore, the purchase of the leasehold presents a really great opportunity to optimise an already profitable business.”