AN unholy row has erupted over plans by the owners of a historic building in the shadow of York Minster to sell booze for celebrations.

Licensing chiefs at City of York Council will decide this week whether to grant a premises licence which would allow alcohol to be served at the Grade I-listed Grays Court with meals, and when weddings and other events are being staged there.

But the application by the property’s owners, Helen Heraty and John Edwards, has drawn a wave of objections from people living nearby, and from the Dean and Chapter of the Minster, who claim the noise created would “severely damage the setting and relative tranquillity” of the area around the cathedral.

Grays Court was at the centre of a dispute last year over plans to build an electricity sub-station in its garden, which stands next to the Bar Walls. The request, which will go before a council licensing hearing on Thursday, is to allow alcohol to be served until 11pm from Sunday to Thursday and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, as well as for recorded and live music to be played.

“We are not out to cause problems for our neighbours, we are simply trying to run a business,” said Mrs Heraty.

“We do have a certain clientele as it is a nice place, and we would make every effort to prevent any problems as they leave.”

The owners have given assurances the capacity of the venue would be limited to 100, CCTV would be installed and a record of any incidents kept, and the area around the Bar Walls would be checked after closing time to make sure glasses are not left strewn around. Businesses and customers who have used Grays Court have written letters of support.

But the Minster’s chapter steward, John Morris, in a letter of objection on behalf of the Dean and Chapter, said: “The setting and relative tranquillity of the Minster precincts in the heart of York is an essential part of the character of the area, and this would be severely diminished if permission for this application is granted.”

He said the extra noise would disturb residents in Ogleforth, Chapter House Street and Minster Yard.

The Rev Canon Dr Jonathan Draper, the National Trust and people living in neighbouring streets have also objected.