A PUB that was saved from the brink of closure and turned into a multiple award-winner is being sold.
The Phoenix in George Street, beside York's Bar Walls near the Barbican Centre, was dilapidated and looked set to be lost before it was bought at auction in 2009.
Retired Cambridge professor Tim Everton oversaw a stunning restoration and ran the pub with his wife Val until he died from cancer just 18 months later, and since then his daughter Jenny and her partner Jon Fulton have been in charge.
The couple recently had a baby daughter though, and are selling up so they can spend more time as a family.
Mr Fulton said: "We'll be having a leaving party on March 21 and we'd welcome everybody who has drunk in the Phoenix and who knows the pub to pop down and take the chance to see us off, and we'll introduce the people taking over."
He said he had heard rumours that the pub would close for a week but said that was not true, and that any closure would likely be for only one day.
The pub is being bought by Paul Rodgers, Ian Carter and Mark Taylor, who already run the Black Horse (formerly The Tap and Spile) in Monkgate. Mr Carter also runs The Masons Arms in Fishergate and Mr Rodgers was previously at The Fox and Roman in Dringhouses.
Val Everton and the late Tim Everton, pictured after they bought the then-dilapidated Phoenix
Mr Rodgers said: "We very much plan to continue the good work that has been done. They have built a good business and it's very well supported in the local community.
"It has established live music scene and that's something we want to support, and even develop. We'll be working with the guys doing the jazz and maybe add some blues and folk.
"It will be onwards and upwards along the same lines."
>>> FLASHBACK: See 1970s film footage of The Phoenix
The Phoenix had a troubled few years, with various unsuccessful short-term tenancies, before the Evertons bought it at auction and restored it.
It was named pub venue of the year by Jazz Yorkshire in 2010 and has been named town pub of the season three times in little over four years by the York branch of the Campaign for Real Ale.
Chris Tregellis, York Camra chairman, said: "The Phoenix has been built up into a smashing pub, due to a lot of hard work and diligence, and we wish them all the best in whatever they wish to do in future."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel