SPARK celebrates 8 years as a popular venue in Piccadilly

Throughout the bank holiday, tables at the popular venue off Piccadilly were busy and by the end of today (Monday, May 4), 1,000 people are expected to have passed through its doors.

It houses start-up local businesses, mostly in the catering industry, before they often move onto larger accommodation elsewhere.

On its eighth birthday diners and drinkers at SPARK said they liked its atmosphere, the variety of food, the ability to socialise in the open air and the chance to support local traders.

Busy tables at SPARK in Piccadilly York (Image: Newsquest)

Luke Castle, SPARK’s partnerships lead, said: “There is nothing else quite like it in York. York really took a chance when we first opened up, and we are very grateful for their support.”

Although it has recently got planning permission to be at the same site until 2030, Spark accepts that Piccadilly will not be its “forever home”.

It is hoping to find a permanent home elsewhere in the city centre, he said.

“York is home to SPARK, we want to stay in York, in the centre.”

A big balloon at SPARK (Image: NQ staff)

Among those at the venue on its eighth birthday was Barbara, who was at SPARK for the first time. She was following the suggestion of her daughter and said she could dine alone at SPARK as she couldn’t at a standard restaurant.

“I’ll be back,” she said as she ate a pizza.

As part of the celebrations, free cup cakes from Crumbs Cupcakery proved very popular and a lucky few customers each hour on the hour were given a free drink.

In the evening, there was a special edition of Quingo, the venue’s popular winter quiz-bingo night,  which raised funds for the Merchant Taylors’ Community Grant Fund.