Mittel River Terrace bar set for York council hearing

A bid from Pivovar to licence a vacant unit in the Guildhall complex for its proposed Mittel River Terrace is set to go before councillors on Monday, April 13.

Director Jamie Hawksworth said the venue would serve a range of lagers produced on-site by the Elvington-based firm and offer the best private views across the River Ouse.

But several companies with offices in the Guildhall complex said opening a bar there would disrupt them during working hours.

It comes after Pivovar lodged a the licensing application for the Guildhall Restaurant unit with City of York Council in February through its company Leeds Tap Ltd.

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Planning permission has been granted for the company, which produces Mittel pilsner and lager and operates 14 bars and restaurants including in York, to redevelop the unit.

The council-owned two-storey restaurant space overlooking the River Ouse, off Lendal, has stood empty since it was built as part a £20m refurbishment to the Guildhall complex completed in 2022.

Pivovar boss Mr Hawksworth said in February Mittel River Terrace would serve a range of lagers produced in a bespoke on-site copper brewhouse made in the Czech Republic.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the venue would also offer a range of food including oysters, rotisserie pork and chicken sourced from local suppliers.

But five comments have been lodged including from four companies and organisations based at the complex all voicing concerns about the plans.

York Science Park, which offers offices and co-working space to 23 companies there, called for a ban on outside music and seated drinking only during working hours.

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

They said: “Our tenants chose The Guildhall for its prestige and professional serenity.

“The introduction of a gastro-brew pub threatens tenant retention and the first impression for visiting clients.”

The Archaeology Data Service, which is due to move into the complex in June, said the venue’s location was ill-advised, risking bottlenecks along the narrow passageways used to reach it.

The firm said: “The grant of this licence in its current form would be detrimental to our research and development activity and, in the worst case, would force us to reconsider our location in the city.”

XR Stories, run by the University of York, and Colour Urban Design Ltd which are also based in The Guildhall objected over noise, public nuisance and disorder.

North Yorkshire Police and the council’s licensing department have also raised concerns about the plans.

The applicants have agreed close the venue earlier, at midnight rather than the 1.30am originally proposed.

Drinks would not be served after 11.30pm and its outside terrace would be closed at 11pm.

No outdoor speakers would be used at any time and bottles would not be taken to bins off the premises during office hours from Monday to Friday.

A part of the terrace would also be reserved for staff from overlooking businesses from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, to have their own food and soft drinks there.

The venue would be licensed to serve alcohol from 10am to 11.30pm daily if the application is approved.

At least two door supervisors would be at the premises from 7pm until closing time on race days.