TWO sisters whose father’s ashes are buried in Dean’s Park near York Minster have slammed the tipi bar which has opened in the park.

Elin Hullis said she and her sister Tammy liked to visit their father John Hullis’ last resting place for quiet contemplation and to remember him in the usually tranquil setting of the park.

She said they and their two brothers were horrified when they heard about the plans for a pop-up tipi bar selling alcohol as part of a ‘Heart of Yorkshire Summer Festival’ in the park.

They felt the bar, which opened last week, was ‘totally disrespectful’ to the loved ones of her father and others resting in peace and demonstrated a continual erosion of the cathedral’s religious setting.

She said: “I am not especially religious but someone has to stand up for my dad and others who have ashes in York Minster grounds, and to remind the Minster they are first and foremost my parish’s church, and not a theme park.”

Tammy said: “Dean’s Park is one of the only places left in York for quiet reflection. Instead, it’s OK to now have alcohol because the Tipi will make them money.

“Our father passed away in 2001 of cancer. His funeral was held at York Minster and he was cremated. It’s a little known fact that the railings surrounding parts of the Minster protect tubes of ashes buried in the ground. Our dad is resting behind the North Transept.”

A Minster spokeswoman said great care had been taken not to propose any activities encroaching on the memorial garden and ashes interred there, and the tipi was not located behind the north Transept but next to the north Nave Aisle, behind the park’s entrance gates - a ‘considerable distance’ from the memorial garden, which people could visit as normal.

She said the tipi called Sol Ast, brought by the team behind Thor’s Tipi in Parliament Street each Christmas, serves coffee and quality local produce during the day and is then transformed into a ‘beautiful bar’ for the evenings and will also host an exhibition of sculptures.

“We have previously had marquees in the park for the Mystery Plays in 2000 and 2016 and for wedding receptions and other events where alcohol was served,” she said, adding that other highlights of the festival included a stone carving event and activities for all ages in a tent including toddler music workshops and children’s craft activities.

“York Minster receives no state funding,” she said. “We rely on donations, fundraising and the income that we make from our visitors. If cathedrals are to survive and thrive for future generations we have to try different things to bring in new people.

“We know these events will not appeal to everyone and we respect their view. People come to York Minster for many different reasons - worship, pastoral care, as pilgrims, as visitors, to learn about the history and architecture and more. We hope everyone who comes here finds what they’re looking for.”