Video and 22 pix: First look inside Spark:York – with bars, cafés, shops and more

There are all sorts of fab food options at Spark:York. Photographs: Richard McDougall

For a city best known for its timber-framed medieval houses and gothic cathedral, Spark:York could not be more different.

And it’s all the better for that.

The box park is opening on Friday at 4pm (May 4) – with a bustling mix of food, drink, shops, a brewery, performance space and more.

Created from old shipping containers on Piccadilly, Spark:York is the vision of co-directors Sam Leach and Tom McKenzie.

Although it is only set to be here until June 2020, the hub is set to change York forever – proving that this city can do something defiantly different.

The units are decked out in every sort of style. It is a celebration of individual entrepreneurship – and brings an energetic injection of youthful colour and creativity directly onto the city centre streets.

There’s the Cuckoo Brewery from Jamie Hawksworth and the team behind Pivovar, who already brought us Pivni and the York Tap. It will be showcasing some new and exciting – all vegan – beers.

Food includes Tikk’s Thai Kitchen and Sloppy’s Burgers, while you can shop for eclectic interior pieces at Helston Street, as well as vintage and vinyl at Heart Of Wax.

Take a look around

[arve url=”https://s3.amazonaws.com/embed.animoto.com/play.html?w=swf/production/vp1&e=1525372807&f=MUK68HOdf93ZKV5MFFq1kA&d=0&m=p&r=360×360+480×480+720×720&volume=100&start_res=720×720&i=m&ct=Find%20out%20more&cu=https://yorkmix.com/&asset_domain=s3-p.animoto.com&animoto_domain=animoto.com&options=” thumbnail=”165658″ aspect_ratio=”4:4″ /]