ONE of York’s top restaurants is expected to remain closed beyond the second anniversary of flooding which devastated the building.

Lower areas of the Blue Bicycle, inset, in Fossgate were badly damaged when the adjacent River Foss burst its banks just after Christmas in 2015. Now the restaurant has said that structural damage has prevented it from moving forward with restoration work in the basement and low level areas. It said in a statement posted on its website that the delays were “due to the complexity of the issues involved and the proximity of our building to the River Foss.”

It said: “Regrettably, we will be unable to open for business until the situation is resolved.

“Work is continuing to progress steadily, but as yet we do not have a more specific date for reopening.

York Press:

“We are working tirelessly behind the scenes to reopen as soon as possible but due to both the extent of the damage and the number of our properties affected, the work is taking some time to complete. We do not anticipate being open before the end of 2017. We will provide further updates on an estimated reopening date as we have this information available.”

It said anyone with a gift voucher for the restaurant or rooms could be assured that vouchers had no expiry date and would be accepted as a method of payment when it reopened, although a refund could be provided if preferred.

It added: “Please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience our continued closure may cause. Many thanks for your continued understanding and patience. We very much look forward to welcoming you back as soon as possible.”

Hundreds of homes and businesses were flooded by water from the Foss and the Ouse after heavy rain on Christmas Day and Boxing Day 2015.

Buildings near the Foss should have have been protected from flooding by the Foss Barrier and Pumping Station but this was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of water coming down the river and the barrier had to be lifted.

Businesses flooded by the Foss included pubs and shops in Walmgate and Fossgate, and the Jorvik Viking Centre in the Coppergate Centre, but have re-opened - apart from the Blue Bicycle.

A multi-million pound project to upgrade the pumping station, enabling it to cope with even more water and prevent any repeat of the floods, is due to be completed by the end of this year.