Outdoor bar to open in one of York’s most beautiful gardens

Thousands of people take photographs of it every year as they walk around York’s city walls.

The walled garden of Grays Court Hotel is one of the most picturesque spots in the city. And from Saturday (4 July) it will reopen and host an outdoor bar.

After more than three months of being closed, the multi-award-winning Grays Court will welcome guests back, and owner Helen Heraty can’t wait.

“People need somewhere to relax and where better than in an English country garden, in the heart of the city?” she said.

“With our views of York’s stunning city walls and the beauty of Grays Court itself guests are sure to have an exceptional experience during a summer like no other.”

Crafted cocktails

The Garden Bar at Grays Court will offer a range of drinks, including cocktails created with ingredients sourced from the garden itself.

New safety measures have been introduced including:

• A new entrance to the walled garden via the gates in the courtyard
• New directional signage across the site
• Social distancing measures, including a queuing system for the bar and the installation of plastic screens.

“We have taken the safety arrangements seriously, whilst ensuring we maintain our award-winning service standards,” Helen said.

“This is a fine balance but we are committed to offering the best experience and guests can discover everything we have put in place via our website.

“This is the first step in the full reopening; we expect to open our doors on 17th July when we can once again welcome our resident guests to stay in one of the twelve luxury rooms. ”

The Garden Bar at Grays Court opens on Saturday from 12pm to 8pm, and will be open every day, weather permitting. There is currently no requirement to book but people are asked to follow social distancing guideline on arrival.