York Mittel River Terrace bar and restaurant moves forward

Pivovar has lodged a planning application to convert the vacant Guildhall Restaurant building into a venue dubbed Mittel River Terrace overlooking the River Ouse.

The firm, which runs Elvington Brewery and venues across York and the North, stated they would bring the vacant building into use while being sensitive to the surrounding Guildhall complex.

Pivovar’s planning application comes after the firm’s bid to licence the building was approved by York Council on Monday, April 13.

The two-storey building has stood empty since 2022 when it was built as part of a £20m regeneration of the wider Guildhall complex.

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New plans for the space propose seats for up to 300 patrons spread across two floors.

Brewing equipment would be installed at the centre of the ground floor which would also feature riverside garden, kitchen, toilets and back of house facilities.

More seating and service areas would be on the first floor, along with an outdoor terrace.

The venue would operate from 8am to midnight and serve drinks from 10am to 11.30pm daily.

Pivovar Director Jamie Hawksworth previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) a range of lagers would be made on-site with a bespoke brewhouse made in the Czech Republic.

He added it would serve food including oysters and rotisserie pork and chicken sourced from local suppliers.

Mr Hawksworth said they hoped to offer the best private views of the River Ouse in York.

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

The director added in February were hoping to open the venue in the summer, subject to the council approving the company’s plans.

Councillors heard in April around £250,000 was set to be spent kitchen facilities alone and it would focus on food though people would be able to come just for drinks.

But representatives of three businesses based in the Guildhall complex told the licensing hearing they were concerned about noise and disruption coming from the venue’s patrons.

A total of five objections were lodged against the company’s bid to licence the building.

York Archaeology Data Services’ Julian Richards said his firm was set to move into offices in the Guildhall in June but took a shorter one-year lease because of the plans.

He added their nightmare scenario was having stag and hen do groups leaning against their office window while staff try to work.

Mr Hawksworth told the meeting they were aiming to foster a continental-style atmosphere at the venue and not have patrons standing shoulder-to-shoulder.

Councillors also heard most customers were expected to come to the venue outside of working hours.

The planning application is awaiting a council decision.