A YORK pub which has served as a venue for bands for the past year is to close this summer - but looks set to re-open in a new form in the autumn.

Paul Crossman, co-owner of the Woolpack in Fawcett Street, says it will cease trading in its current incarnation at the end of August.

Mr Crossman and his business partner Jon Farrow took over and re-opened the pub early last year. Mr Crossman said he would always remain extremely proud of the events put on over the past year or so, and he was 'hugely grateful' for the support received from so many fantastic musicians and other performers/artists.

"Once we began to mine York’s rich underground scene, we found a real embarrassment of creative riches, of which, in my opinion, the whole city should not only be aware but also very proud," he said.

"However, the sad fact is that we have had to finally accept that it is no longer financially viable for us to continue in this form."

He added that it was looking likely The Woolpack would be resurrected at the start of October in a different form, 'but one which will please a great many people.'

Meanwhile, the pub had a 'pretty full diary' for July, so there were 'loads of great Woolpack nights' still to come.