A prominent and historic building on Coppergate is set to be brought back to life under plans submitted to the City of York Council.
Yorkies Fish and Chips has applied for permission to transform 24-26 Coppergate into a “high-end seafood restaurant and takeaway”.
The site has sat empty for some time following the sudden closure of the Italian restaurant Vitoria.
Prior to that, it was famously the long-term home of Russell’s Restaurant and Carvery, which served locals and tourists alike for more than 32 years.
A previous planning proposal by a different operator to turn the site into a Spanish tapas restaurant fell through, but now Yorkies Fish and Chips wants to breathe fresh life into the location.
Yorkies, which has one other branch in Harrogate, says it will serve “proper fish and chips made with passion, tradition, and just the right amount of salt and vinegar”.
According to planning documents the company wishes` to create a high-end fish and chip and seafood restaurant, complemented by a dedicated takeaway area on the ground floor of number 24 Coppergate.
Numbers 24 and 26 are already connected internally at the ground and first-floor levels, and the applicant intends to occupy both properties to establish a “welcoming
environment for the customers”.
Because 26 Coppergate is a Grade II* listed building dating back centuries, the developers say they will work to ensure the historic fabric of the structure is preserved.
Before it became a carvery or an Italian restaurant, historical records show the location originally operated as the Market Tavern public house in the mid-19th century.
The planned interior overhaul will see the old Vitoria restaurant fit-out completely stripped out.
To create a maritime atmosphere, the group plans to install a sea-blue swirl resin floor on the ground floor, matching the style found at the Ivy Asia restaurants. They will also install a light-up quartz bar counter, a temperature-controlled wine cellar behind tempered glass, and decorative interior greenery.
Other modern improvements include replacing a modern staircase with a striking glass and copper balustrade, full electrical rewiring, and the installation of a brand-new commercial kitchen on the first floor.
The kitchen will utilize advanced electrostatic purifying machines designed to eliminate cooking odours before air leaves the building.
Externally, the woodwork on the shopfront will receive a coat of white and blue paint, matching the operator’s corporate colours.
In the planning application, the agents emphasise that the building has a longstanding association with food, drink, and hospitality.
They state that the new venue will represent a continuation of the established character of the street, while avoiding long-term vacancy on a key commercial gateway that experiences heavy footfall throughout the day and evening.
You can read and comment on the planning application here.
