A STRONG start to the year for York's retail sector is being reported following a number of lease signings against a backdrop of increasing deals among restaurant and bar operators.

Recent headlines have revealed a surge of shops in York city centre being converted into restaurants or bars, with a restaurant operator likely to move into the TSB bank and former Swarovski shop in St Helen's Square, and plans approved for the former MacDonalds furniture store in Fossgate to become part of national restaurant chain Cosy Club.

The shop to restaurant conversions will follow on from the Army and Navy Store in Fossgate, which has become Sutlers, the Jane Norman store in Coney Street, which is now Bill's, the Argos store in Bridge Street, which is now Cosmo, and the back half of Laura Ashley, which is now Turtle Bay in Stonegate.

However property surveyors in York are reporting retail demand is still prominent in the city following a number of deals since the New Year.

Bosses at Barry Crux & Company say they have seen a "positive start to 2016" in York’s retail sector. Rosie Crux said: "While the demand for food and drink establishments remains high, the number of recent enquiries for retail space in York is particularly encouraging.

"There is also a real confidence from new start businesses."

The firm has recently completed a deal to let a former hair and beauty salon in Castlegate to Nicholas Barker, the owner of York-based vintage clothing and gift business Dog & Bone, which has traded from Gillygate since 2012.

Having let the 1,600sq ft premises, off an asking price of £32,000 per annum, Barry Crux is also close to completing a deal on Dog & Bone's former shop, which is under offer.

Elsewhere in York Barry Crux & Co has leased a shop in Shambles to London's Pride Ltd, which is taking a third site in addition to premises in High Petergate and Low Petergate, while Victoria Joy Beauty has taken premises for a beauty salon in York Road, Acomb.

Convenience store operator Spar beat competition from restaurant and cafe operators to secure premises in Bridge Street.

Stapleton Waterhouse Suveyors, based in Bootham, secured the deal for Spar to lease the former Cooplands bakery shop on a 20-year lease off a £30,000 per annum asking price.

Director David Waterhouse, said: "We got about six bids for this site, and all but one were from restaurant or cafe operators. However the landlord felt the Spar was the best operator for this unit.

"Retail demand in York at the moment is very buoyant. We are doing a lot of leases before properties have even formally gone on the market. Retail and always has been very strong in York."