BEER enthusiasts will have another venue to aim for in York from Friday, when the city's newest bar opens in Micklegate.

Scottish pub chain and brewing giant BrewDog has converted 130-134 Micklegate, which was for many years the Shouksmith's shop, but which has more recently been Portfolio Studios.

The bar is the company's 48th worldwide and the fourth in Yorkshire, following the opening of two in Leeds and one in Sheffield.

James Watt, co-founder of BrewDog, said: “York already has an incredibly rich selection of craft pubs and bars, and we’ve been working to launch this latest venue for a while now.

"It’s exciting to finally open the doors, as we know there is a very thirsty community of locals who are keen to pay a visit! Merry Christmas, York!”

The company announced its plans to open in Micklegate in July last year, and initially hoped to open that year, but the opening was delayed several times.

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The firm also faced but won a court battle, when a local resident and businesswoman challenged City of York Council's decision to approve the bar.

The new bar will have 14 draft beer lines and a large bottled range, and will also serve pizzas.

The company said it would "offer local beer geeks an unrivalled selection of craft highlights from local and international breweries".

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BrewDog was launched in north east Scotland in 2007 and has grown rapidly into a global business, helped by highly successful crowd-funding drives, which have raised more than £30 million from more than 50,000 people.

The company is highly respected for its beers and has won numerous awards, but has often been criticised for its controversial marketing stunts, most recently for turning animals found dead on the roads into bottle holders, and offering them as rewards to customers who help recruit new investors.