News Beat
The Old York Tearoom looks set to run into the new year
The Old York Tea Room opened back in February 2023 in Our Lady’s Row in Goodramgate.
The tearoom business has been at the centre of a protracted row with City of York Council over its signs.
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Run by Tony and Thomas Vickers, the pair have transformed what was a former candle shop into an inviting tea room with space for 14 customers on the first floor.
But, as The Press reported at the time, the seemingly innocuous sign on the front of the building caused a stir and the council went on to deny a retrospective planning application.
The business took it to an appeal which it lost and the sign was painted out earlier this year.
On social media the business said: “We have some time free in January and we are thinking of putting in a new signage application in to York Council.
“It will be based on the findings of the independent inspector who gave us good advice as to what would be acceptable. Our vision is still a hand painted sign above our window.
“It will incorporate our original signage (all be it smaller) We understand some think just move on however when someone hurts your business without justification (in our opinion) it’s not okay. We learnt a long time ago to stand up for what we believe in.”
Under a photo of the newly whitewashed building they also said: “Some would like to see our city centre look like this for the sake of preserving history.
“It’s not okay to think that historical buildings have to deteriorate in this way.
“They need to be used and lived and looked after. So many are empty and decaying as no one wants to take them on as they are not commercially viable due to restrictions. We can’t all live in a museum. York needs to be a living museum. Practical and useful.
“We are the current custodians and are now part of its history… perhaps one day in many years to come when we are long gone someone may tell a story about a controversial tea room? We are making history now and to stop this house evolving while being preserved is just wrong.”
In their post the tearoom said then: “Tony is going to stand to be a York councillor in the next election. Tony is from Acomb and has lived in York his whole life and he is not young!
“He and his partner now own The Old York Tea Room in York central. We need more common sense, and I promise I will listen. You know where I am.
“At the minute I will be independently endorsed. I also make a great cake!”
A by-election to fill his vacant seat is expected to take place in mid-January, with a date yet to be confirmed. It’s not clear yet whether Mr Vickers intends to stand in that seat.
The Old York Tea Room forms part of Lady Row, a grade I listed building constructed as early as 1317, according to the Government’s planning inspectorate.
