A fast-growing independent brewery looks set to open a pub in the heart of York.
Northern Monk, based in Leeds, is eyeing up a large former restaurant in the city.
It comes after the brewery completed a hugely successful crowdfunding campaign to support its ambition to become ‘Europe’s biggest craft brewery’ by the end of this year.
Northern Monk is planning to create the bar at the former Forage restaurant on Little Stonegate.
Forage closed last July. At the time it said “unfortunately in today’s climate, the continuation of the business was sadly not viable”.
Plans from Northern Monk show it hopes to install a bar along one full side of one of the rooms in the Little Stonegate premises.
On the ground floor there would be 66 covers, with high benches, booths and fixed seating. There’s also a tasting room.
A further 54 covers would be on the first floor.
According to the licence application Northern Monk’s pub would open from 10am to 12.30am Sunday to Thursday, and 10am to 1.30am on Friday and Saturday.
It would also be licensed for live music for the same hours less 30 minutes at the end of the day.
Northern Monk was founded in 2013 by Russell Bisset and Brian Dickson.
Last year, the brewery launched a crowdfunding campaign aiming to raise £1m. It actually raised £1.9m.
MD Russell Bisset told The Drinks Business last month that: “2025 will see Northern Monk’s brewing capacity increase by 20%” allowing the brewery to retain its independence while also having the ability to “produce an additional two million pints compared to 2024”.
It runs the Leeds Refectory and Manchester Refectory and hopes to open a venue in London.