The message to anyone celebrating New Year’s Eve in York this year is to stay safe and heed the travel and safety warnings issued by the police and the council.
Any paths and roads which have ‘closed’ signs on them should not be used. They may not have flood water on them but they may still have silt or debris on them.
Freezing conditions are forecast overnight on New Year’s Eve making wet ground and driving conditions potentially more hazardous.
The river levels remain above normal and anyone out and about in the city should be cautious and keep away from the river and the areas that have yet to be cleaned.
Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Ken McIntosh said:
Celebrate the New Year in the way you have responded to the floods over the past few days and we will not have any problems.
Whether you are out and about or having a quiet night in, please look after each other, the vulnerable and the elderly, but above all, enjoy yourselves, you all deserve it.
What’s going on where
Most bars and restaurants will be open. Many of those hit by the floods plan to open, although some will not be ready in time.
We’ve put together a few options. So raise a cup of kindness with acquaintances old and new and get ready to offer a raucous hello to 2016.
Party bars
Lots of bars are holding parties into the wee small hours of 2016. Here are just a few of them (follow the links for more details…)
York’s Big Phat NYE Party
This is a strict no gimmicks, no themes party.
You don’t have to dress up as anything other your gorgeous self and all you have to do is have a good time with 1,000 or so other like-minded individuals.
Among the highlights are free booze (got your attention now, haven’t we?), York’s biggest confetti cannons and a big-screen firework display.
New Year’s Eve at the Hyena Lounge
Why not start the New Year as you mean to go on by having a really good laugh with comedians Alun Cochrane, Alex Boardman, Danny Deegan and Barry Dodds.
The show finishes a little earlier than usual on New Year’s Eve so the audience can take advantage of complimentary admission for The Duchess’s club night that runs straight afterwards and into the wee small hours.
Herb Helpless & The Marijuana Brass New Year Party
There’ll be dancy covers of the likes of Happy Mondays, Supergrass, The Specials, B52s, Ian Dury, Sparks, Fatboy Slim and more. They are now appealing for a York ‘Bez’ to come forward – “being a good dancer is not essential…”
Traverlin Band’s NYE Party
Drink, dance and sing your way into 2016 with the Travelin Band, a group of local lads (they’ll like it that we called them ‘lads’) who cover music from the Sixties onwards, including Freedance, Bob Seger, Steve Earl and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
They call themselves York’s maddest party band, and who are we to argue? Expect a smorgasbord of semi-digestible pop nonsense including toe-tappers by Bowie, The Clash and Santana and more. There’s also a cabaret and a late DJ too.
New Year’s Eve at York Racecourse
If you like the red carpet treatment (there’s nothing wrong with being a diva), you can stroll into the New Year celebrations at the racecourse along your favourite floor covering for a sparkling wine reception, four-course carvery meal and dancing to a live band.
If you prefer to bust your moves to platters spun by a good old DJ instead, you can D.I.S.C.O with your friends at a separate (and cheaper) party.
Black Tie Dinner at Grays Court
You know your evening is going to be better than meh when it begins with a glass of Laurent Perrier champagne and musical accompaniment by a nationally-acclaimed flamenco guitarist.
Gray’s Court follows this up with a wine-matched seven-course taster menu, live music in the dramatic Long Gallery and the option of popping round to the neighbouring Minster at midnight to hear the bells chime in the New Year.
New Year’s Eve shows
Let’s be honest, not everyone will be dancing round the Minster at midnight waving bottles of champagne in the air and snogging everyone in sight (even the gargoyles). If you know you’ll be tucked up in bed by midnight but still want to do something special to mark the passing of another year, here are a few early bird ideas for you.
The Great Gatsby
For dancing and debauchery of the highest order, join F Scott Fitzgerald’s eponymous hero (ish) Jay Gatsby for a night to remember in an immersive theatrical experience.
If you want to dress up in a sparkly little 1920s’ number, no one will stop you. And if you’re simply too divine for words, you might even get invited to Gatsby Late, the after-show party that runs until 1am.
Peter Pan On Ice
Follow the second star to the right and you’ll find the Russian Ice Stars at York Barbican, where they’re slipping and sliding their way through a frosty adaptation of JM Barrie’s classic children’s story. Rest assured, they Neverland on their backsides.
Dick Whittington & His Meerkat
Dame Berwick Kaler and the gang will be more than ready for a snifter come midnight as they’re performing two shows on New Year’s Eve.
The panto is on at the NRM this year while the Theatre Royal gets a bit of a spruce up, so expect lots of steamy action and the latest hit tracks (I apologise for those terrible puns – oh, no, I don’t!).
Jack & The Beanstalk
Who wouldn’t want to spend New Year’s Eve with a fella from TOWIE, a couple of former Eurovisioners, an X Factor contestant and that nice chap who used to play Biff on Emmerdale?
They’re all in Jack & The Beanstalk at the Grand Opera House, wheeling out favourite panto scenes (“We’ll have to do it again then, won’t we – whoo!”) and belting out some top tunes for your pleasure. It’d be rude not to join them.
If we’ve missed your event, drop us a line and we’ll endeavour to add it in…