CRAFT beer giant BrewDog has announced plans to open a large bar in York city-centre.

The Scottish firm has agreed a deal for 130-134 Micklegate, the former Portfolio Studios building.

A spokeswoman said its best-case scenario was that it would open within eight weeks, although likely police objections in York mean the move will likely take longer.

BrewDog announced the news on its website on Friday, along with updates on various other bars, including Shuffledog Leeds, which opens in New York Road in Leeds next Friday.

York Press:

130-134 Micklegate

The company said its York plan was still subject to planning and licensing approval, but said if it gets the required permissions it will open a bar with 2,500 sq ft of space.

They wrote: "It’s a fantastic size and we are thrilled to finally get a bar site sorted for this true city of beer. Stay tuned for more!"

BrewDog was founded in Fraserburgh near Aberdeen in 2007 and has grown to become one of Britain's best-known brewers in the past decade, popular for its American-inspired beers and courting publicity through controversial marketing methods.

Its plans are the latest in a series of new bar proposals unveiled in York in recent months. Leeds Brewery wants to turn Plunkets restraurant in High Petergate into a pub, while Pivovar, which owns York Tap and Pivni, plans to open a bar and smokehouse restaurant in the ground floor and basement of the old White Swan Hotel in Piccadilly.

York Press:

Both companies are going through the licensing process, while Leeds Brewery also requires planning permission. Pivovar's licensing hearing is on Monday.

BrewDog will be likely to face considerable licensing objections from North Yorkshire Police.

The force's licensing officer Matt Balmforth was yesterday unavailable, but when the Leeds Brewery plan emerged last month, he said the police believed there should be no more new bars or pubs in the city-centre and said: "If it is in the Cumulative Impact Zone it is something we would oppose."

Micklegate is in the city's Cumulative Impact Zone, so BrewDog will need to demonstrate that its bar would not increase the cumulative impact of York's licensed premises.

Other applicants have overcome such objections before.