I HAD a most pleasant surprise when I ascended the outer stone staircase at Walmgate Bar to visit the small café which occupies the upper floors of the Bar.

The café has three areas, the entrance and serving room on the first floor, an upper second floor, more luxurious sofa relaxing area, and if you so wish you can have your coffee and cake outside, on the walls of the Barbican itself, which is where I took this photo.

I was fortunate to have a most beautiful sunny day on my visit, so the outside area was where I sat. Although restoration work is still going on all around the Bar, it did not interfere too much with my enjoyment.

The Barbican structure was part of the defence of the gateway into the city and, while sitting on the defences, it made me think what a formidable situation any attacker may find themselves in, if they broke through the first outer gate of Walmgate Bar.

There is also an upper “roof top” floor but it is still closed at the moment due to ongoing restoration.

As a resident of York, I often think I know my city quite well, and then along comes a nice surprise.

Stuart Wilson, Vesper Drive, Acomb, York