Delay fears for Duke of York re-opening at Gate Helmsley

Such issues may also delay the return of a much-loved York area brewery.

The Duke of York at Gate Helmsley was bought by a group of villagers last summer, who had hoped to renovate it and have it back open for Christmas.

However, by then, the pub’s new owners spoke of an Easter re-opening of the venue which has been closed since 2020. The owners are Jon Greenwood, Terry King, Richard Rycroft and Ian Teasdale.

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Jon told The Press that the four staged a public consultation last week with residents concerning their plans for the pub and related developments. This was attended by more than 80 people and of the 44 who gave a response, all were positive.

The consortium plans to submit three planning applications to North Yorkshire Council later this month, which are needed for the pub to re-open.

One planning application is to build five houses at the back of the site, a second is to convert two adjoining cottages into one, and a third concerns the refurbishment of the pub.

The pub renovation, estimated to cost £600,000, has already begun as allowed by the council’s conservation officer. Thus, the building has received a new roof and new windows and work is starting on replacing the floor, due to it having rotten joists.

However, as the building is listed, “for some elements, we need listed building consent,” Jon explained.

He continued: “The applications go in at the end of the month. It’s in the lap of the gods as to how long planning is going to take. We keep hearing horror stories. Our consultant said it may not be until December.”

Terry King, Richard Rycroft, Ian Teasdale and Jon Greenwood. (Image: Pic supplied)

Jon added: “We are trying to supply six more housing units. It maybe two years before they can be built. It’s utterly ridiculous.”

“It’s so frustrating. We are trying to get two things for the community, providing houses for the community and providing a pub.”

Jon Greenwood is also part-owner of the Ainsty Ales Brewery, which was based at Acaster Malbis, until it closed last September as the lease on the site ended.

The brewery, which was launched by Andy Herrington in 2014, had been seeking an alternative site, even considering the Duke of York as a possible location, before it was ruled out as too small and too remote, with a city location preferred.

Jon has described the brewery as “sitting in a box” until a new home can be found for it. He added, this won’t happen until matters with the pub were sorted.