Popular York bar Dusk has closed for refurbishment – and it’s going to get a magical new look.
The venue on New Street closed from today (Monday) and is undergoing a major transformation inside.
It will reopen from Friday 1 March. We spoke to the co-owner of Dusk, Amanda Monaghan, to find out more.
“We’re basing it all around tarot cards,” Amanda told YorkMix. “It’s going to be quite mystical and dark.
“We’ve looked back to its Georgian history and we want to elevate it to a really cool level.”
Amanda and her husband Richard have owned Dusk for around 18 months, after their company Fabler Bars took it over in late 2022.
They bought it from previous owner Andy Knights, who ran it from its inception in 2004. Fabler Bars also runs the popular Thor’s Tipi.
They are working with Edinburgh-based interior design company JA!COCO! Studio who specialises in “crazy interiors.” In the transformed Dusk downstairs will be completely green, while upstairs will be purple and orange. “We’ve gone all out.”
There will be a few surprises. “The bar is moving,” said Amanda. “So it will look like a different space.”
Amanda is keen to reassure Dusk-goers that it won’t become unrecognisable. “We won’t be losing our dive bar status – it will still be the same Dusk that everybody loves.”
The food menu and cocktail menu will also be staying the same – with the cocktail menu not having changed for 18 years. The pricing will also remain the same.
One change that customers will be glad to hear of is that the toilets are also getting refurbished – “It’s time for the toilets to have a facelift as well!”
Amanda “can’t wait” to reopen with the new look. “I think it will be really different and exciting for York as well.
“But it’s absolutely not going to be pretty – it’s going to stay the best dive bar in York!”
Dusk will reopen from Friday 1 March, and will have a reopening party on Friday 8 March. To find out more about the venue, visit their website here.