A CITY-centre pub in York is being converted into a restaurant, getting a new lease of life and a new name.

The Yorkshire Hussar in North Street has been bought by businessmen Martin Bridge and Andrew Whitney.

It is being revamped, with plans to reopen it later this month as The Whippet Inn, employing 11 people and serving British produce with a menu predominantly based on steak.

Mr Bridge, who opened the nearby Living Room and managed it for three years before going on to look after eight Living Rooms around the country, said his plans for the pub were in two stages, the first being the 50-seater restaurant which he hopes to open in the coming weeks.

He said: “The building dates back to 1895 and although a lot of the original interior of the old building has sadly gone over the years, the refurbishment is sympathetic and has a Victorian feel with a modern twist to it. The second phase would be some way off, but there are a lot of outbuildings which one day we’d like to turn into a boutique hotel.

“The core element of the menu will be steak from around Yorkshire, and there will be a smaller a la carte menu with daily specials. We will also be looking to serve ales, lagers and champagne from British suppliers.”

Mr Bridge said the name came about from the mistelling of a joke he heard 20 years ago, and because the dog is such a Yorkshire icon.

He said: “I have had my eye on the building for about seven or eight years when it was owned by Punch and I sold Andrew on the dream. When they put it on the disposals list we bought it. We are looking to open the third week in March, all going well.”

Mr Whitney is the York-based director of private jet and helicopter charter flight company FlyMeNow and he also runs Mansion nightclub in Micklegate. In recent years the Hussar has had several changes of management and was most recently York’s gay pub.