A YORK pop-up bar business is celebrating a successful festive period during which it teamed up with one of the city’s accountancy firms.

Garbutt + Elliott’s integrated payroll team has been appointed to handle salary payment requirements for THOR’S Bars, which operates York’s THOR’S Tipi over Christmas.

THOR’S Tipi, in Parliament Street, is a collaboration between Lunchbox Theatrical Productions and marquee firm Papakata and draws its inspiration from York’s Viking history.

As well as a bar in York, THOR’S Tipis are also in operation in Hyde Park and Regent’s Place in London, alongside venues in Hull, Sheffield, Leeds, Lincoln and Milton Keynes.

The company has now appointed York and Leeds-based Garbutt + Elliott’s integrated payroll team to handle the salary payments, expenses and benefits for its 232 current members of staff from the accountant’s offices in Monks Cross.

Maria Farrugia, co-founder of THOR’S Bars, said: “It has been an exciting year for THOR’S Tipi.

“We have added five new locations this year, taking our total number of bars to eight, and we have plans for further expansion in the winter of 2018.

“Our growth will require additional staff and with this in mind we appointed Garbutt + Elliott’s payroll team to handle our payroll requirements.

“As a York-based company ourselves we are keen to use local suppliers where possible and we were very impressed by the firm’s flexibility and ability to meet our requirements now and in the future.”

THOR’S Tipi bars offer visitors a winter BBQ, local draft beer and Christmas cocktails in a traditional Viking setting, with a fire, reindeer skins and bespoke crafted furnishings.

Garbutt + Elliott partner and head of the firm’s integrated payroll team, Sarah Ashton, said: “THOR’S Tipi has been a real success in the city this year and the plans for the future are very exciting.

“We are pleased to have been appointed by THOR’S to provide payroll services, which will help free up time within the business to ensure it meets its ambitious growth plans.”