A GRADE II-listed pub in York city centre has been sold, with the new owners announcing plans to re-launch the bar "with a new concept".

The Parish, at the junction of Micklegate and North Street, has been sold through Christie & Co to Newcastle-based Cairn Group.

The company says all 17 staff will be retained. It plans to make a series of improvements at the bar over the coming months.

The bar becomes Cairn Group's first outside the North East.

Naveen Handa, director of the comapny, said: “We’re really excited to have secured this opportunity in York – a city I’m both personally fond of and have admired as a business destination for some time. The Parish is a truly stunning building with huge potential and our location is ideal for passing footfall.

“The team on-site are all staying on and we’ll be introducing a training programme to formally bring them on board with Cairn Group. The bar will no doubt be a great asset for us and we’re looking forward to getting involved in York’s vibrant leisure scene.”

The Parish occupies a traditional church building which was known as St John’s Church until 1934 before becoming an arts centre in the 1970s.

Ryan Lynn, associate director at Christie & Co, who handled the sale, said: “We are delighted to announce the sale of The Parish in York and to have achieved a sale price to meet the expectations of the vendors.

York Press:

“The Micklegate area of York is thriving and has a great reputation for embracing new concepts and supporting new ventures, whether from a chain brand or local operators, and we are sure that the re-launch will be an exciting and welcome addition to the York leisure circuit.

“We would like to wish the new owner every success in their new venture and look forward to seeing the re-launched bar in due course.”