Objectors are urging the council to save a York pub which was also “one of the premier music venues in the city”.
Plans are in to turn the Victoria Vaults on Nunnery Lane into three houses.
National campaigners and councillors have joined forces to object to the proposal. But others have welcomed it, saying York needs more homes.
The pub, also known as The Vaults, closed a year ago, to the shock of pubgoers and music lovers alike.
Nabeel Hanif of company The Vaults (York) Ltd has applied to turn it into housing.
It dates back to at least 1857, when it was just known as The Victoria. According to the Clements Hall Local History Group, it was sold in 1884, complete with a brewhouse, to a local wine and spirit merchant, before being rebuilt in the 1920s or 30s.
In recent years it has been a popular venue for live gigs.
One regular, who has lodged an objection to the plans, said: “It was one of only two music venue pubs in the whole of York which had a small stage and professional sound system and therefore was able to cater for smaller grassroots full size bands that are looking to play to crowds of 100-150 people.
“There is now no other venue in the city, other than the Fulford Arms, that is able to do this.
“The Crescent is nearby, but this caters for larger more established acts as it has a bigger capacity of 300.”
Martin Bate and Greg Mulholland, of the national Campaign For Pubs, have also objected to the housing plan.
“The Victoria Vaults is a well known venue in the city and has operated as a public house for around 160 years.
“Latterly The Vaults established itself as one of the premier music venues in the city which has helped numerous performing artists the opportunity to develop their craft.
“Several have gone on to wider and greater success and can proudly claim that they started their journey on York at The Vaults…
“It would be a tragedy for York if The Vaults were allowed to go the same way as other pubs and music venues in the city and rob the local population of its valued facilities.”
After it closed, The Vaults was listed as an Asset Of Community Value by City of York Council.
A document submitted by the applicant says it was bought by property company Appleton Estates Ltd in 2013.
“The current tenant took responsibility for The Victoria Vaults in 2022. Approximately 16 months ago the tenant asked whether he could surrender his lease as he was losing considerable sums of money per month
“The current tenant has compiled a history of the pub’s trading which clearly shows that the fickle nature of live music venues in York is unsustainable for small venues.”
The pub’s leasehold is being marketed by Barry Crux, with a rent of £25,000 per year. The document says no offers have been received. Then an offer to buy the pub with vacant possession was accepted.
In his objection, York councillor Jonny Crawshaw contests this. He writes: “I have been made aware of a number of interested parties who wish to continue to operate the venue as a live music venue.
“I understand that approaches have been made to the current owners with a view to purchasing the venue for such a purpose but these have been rebutted.”
There are eight objections to the plans to turn The Vaults into three houses – and four support comments.
One supporter says: “York has no shortage of pubs – in fact, there are more than enough in and around the city centre already.
“What’s really missing is decent housing for local people.
“The Victoria Vaults has been closed for ages and clearly isn’t working as a pub anymore. Turning it into homes would give the building a new purpose and stop it from falling further into disrepair.”
Another writes: “I work at the hospital and have been looking to buy a home in York and want to support this application. It’s incredibly difficult to find suitable housing in the city – prices are high, and there’s very little available.
“This proposal would bring a neglected building back into use, provide much-needed homes, and improve the look of the area.”
You can read the application and all the comments here.
