York restaurant reopens with new cocktail bar – and aims to be top city nightspot

It’s been six weeks and £100K in the making, but the refurbishment of a York restaurant is nearly done.

Filmore & Union reopens on Low Petergate on Tuesday (November 14) – complete with a swish new cocktail bar.

It is now being rebranded as ‘York’s hottest new evening out destination’.

“We always aim to surprise our customers and bring them something that they can’t find elsewhere so now feels like the right time to give the restaurant a makeover and add something extra special to the offer, especially as an evening destination,” , says founder Adele Ashley.

“We’re keen to attract new customers into the restaurant, especially men, who may have previously thought of us as day time health food café.”

The wow factor

York’s Filmore & Union opened in 2012, the original eaterie in a group that now has eight restaurants and several more takeaways.

“The restaurant is housed in one of the oldest buildings in York which used to be home to the Minster Choir School and has stunning views over York Minster from upstairs, so its interiors deserve some ‘wow factor’,” said restaurant manager Danielle Linley.

“We also wanted to make it into somewhere that both locals and tourists could enjoy as a new night out destination that is unlike any other they’ll find in the city.”

Everything has been stripped out and replaced from the flooring to the kitchen.

And the take-out deli fridge has been replaced by a cocktail bar “which will turn the restaurant into a ‘hot spot’ for a full evening out of dinner and drinks for foodies who love to try new things but want more than the tiny portions found in most fine dining restaurants,” she said.

Good for flexitarians

The updated restaurant will serve up “health-inspired food and drink trends within hearty Yorkshire-sized dishes”.

Diners will be able to see the chefs preparing it all in the open kitchen.

Filmore & Union offers options for vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, and “‘flexitarian’ customers who like to mix things up,” said Danielle, who was a PE teacher before working in hospitality.

“We’ll also be focusing on bringing the best in traditional hearty Yorkshire cuisine with a Filmore & Union twist such as cacao fillet steak and a melt-in-the-middle burger”.

The cocktail bar will serve an eclectic mix of drinks from gluten free lager to crafts beers, and freshly made cocktails.

She said Filmore & Union would add something unique to York’s busy eating out scene.

“It’ll be a great place to start off a night out with an indulgent, wholesome dinner and drinks which are satisfying but don’t leave you with the post meal out slump.”

They will also be serving sharing platters and nibbles for those looking for a light bite “and we’ll be welcoming people in just for drinks who don’t want to eat out”.