Bids for new York bars submitted (From York Press)

Bids for new bars in Swinegate and Grape Lane submitted

9:30am Thursday 21st June 2012 in News By Mark Stead, mark.stead@thepress.co.uk

NEW bars could be set up in York’s café quarter after three bids were submitted to planners.

The separate applications for drinking establishments in the Swinegate and Grape Lane area have been submitted to City of York Council, while another city centre bar is asking to open a pavement cafe for customers.

Bora Bora, which is based in Swinegate Court East and already has a licence as a cafe bar, is looking to change the terms of the agreement to allow it to operate as a wine bar, while the owners of Mr Chippy, in Swinegate, want to alter the use of the first floor of its premises so it becomes a bar.

The floor is currently a mix of restaurant and drinking space and Vudu Lounge Ltd, which owns the site, also wants to change the opening hours so they are extended until 4am every day of the week.

North Yorkshire Police have been consulted about the application but have lodged no objections.

The third application has been drawn up by White Rose (York) Ltd for the Lucia Bar and Grill in Swinegate Court East.

If approved, will see the first floor of the building, previously used for offices, become a bar. Council planners granted permission last year for the restaurant to be expanded on to the first floor, creating 56 extra dining spaces.

Meanwhile, McMillan (York) Ltd, which runs Society Lounge and Bar in Rougier Street, has launched a fresh attempt to set up an outdoor drinking area after the council turned down its previous proposals last year over concerns it could cause more city centre crime and disorder and lead to noise problems for nearby residents.

A statement submitted to the authority said the premises - formerly Bar Salvation before it reopened under the new name earlier this year – already had an indoor café, and the company was looking to expand this along a nine-metre stretch of pavement with four tables and 16 chairs. The pavement cafe would operate until 8pm.

“The daytime business currently employs four full-time and two part-time staff and the objective is to support the business and underpin the security of the existing jobs,” it said, adding that the scheme was designed to boost the vitality of the Micklegate area.