Mittel River Terrace bar approved by City of York Council

York councillors approved an application from Pivovar to open its new Mittel River Terrace in the empty Guildhall Restaurant unit, off Lendal.

Jamie Hawksworth, Pivovar’s director, told councillors they wanted to foster a continental atmosphere with customers sitting for drinks and food, not standing shoulder-to-shoulder.

Representatives of three neighbouring businesses said they were worried about noise from the venue’s outdoor terrace, with one saying they had taken a shorter lease as a result.

The application, which Pivovar made through Leeds Tap Ltd, was approved following a City of York Council licensing hearing on Monday, April 13.

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Pivovar runs the Elvington Brewery where it produces its Mittel pilsner and lager and it also operates 14 bars and restaurants nationally, including four in York.

It is set to see the empty two-storey building completed in 2022 as part of the £20 million Guildhall refurbishment brought into use for the first time in four years.

Pivovar’s plans include installing a copper brewhouse specially-made in the Czech Republic which will produce a range of lagers that will be served there.

There are also plans to serve food including oysters, rotisserie chicken and pork sourced from local suppliers.

Monday’s meeting heard emphasis would be placed on the venue’s food offer with around £250,000 spent on its kitchen alone, but people would be able to come only for drinks.

The outside of the Guildhall Restaurant, off Lendal, in York (Image: LDRS)

A minimum of 60 people will be seated on the lower floor of the building with 20 on the upper floor.

The lower terrace would have seating for at least 20 people with 40 seated on the outdoor area above when weather permits and standing drinking is not permitted.

No speakers or TVs will be allowed outside.

The venue will operate from 8am to midnight daily, with drinks served from 10am to 11.30pm daily.

But five comments were lodged raising concerns about the plans, including four from neighbouring businesses who work in offices in the Guildhall complex.

Claire Bennett, of the York Science Park, said they always understood that a restaurant would move into the unit but uncertainty remained over how it would affect them.

Julian Richards, of Archaeology Data Services, said his firm was set to move into offices at the Guildhall in June but they had taken a shorter one-year lease because of the venue.

Mr Richards, whose firm’s offices would face onto the terrace, said: “The nightmare scenario is stag and hen dos leaning against our office window and making our business untenable.”

Monday’s meeting heard most customers were expected to come outside of working hours.

Mr Hawksworth told the meeting: “We want to create an atmosphere, we don’t operate shoulder-to-shoulder.

“Out customers are attracted more to seating and we want to take a continental approach, people will want to stay if they’re comfortable.

“The reality is that there’s 52 weeks in a year and only a few of them are sunny, so while it’s nice to offer the outdoor terraces we’ll only be doing that when we can.”