A NORTH Yorkshire brewery has completed a refurbishment of a pub in York, which will open its doors to customers for the first time since March 2020.

The Last Drop Inn in the heart of the city has remained closed since the start of the pandemic - and its Masham-based owners Black Sheep Brewery have taken the opportunity to embark on an upgrade.

The brewery, which acquired the pub in 2018, has brought in a new manager, Alex Higginson and created five jobs for local people. As part of the refurbishment a team of designers and craftspeople have completed a full makeover, which includes a new bar, new beer cellar, new flooring and refitted toilets. In addition, the pub’s staircase, which is a listed feature, has been expertly repaired and renovated.

Charlene Lyons, chief executive of Black Sheep Brewery, said: “We’re really excited to be reopening The Last Drop Inn and welcoming customers back into the pub to enjoy the new surroundings.

"We’re really proud of the upgrade and also recruiting Alex as our new manager who is as passionate about Black Sheep and the pub as we are. I am sure customers will share our enthusiasm for the reopening and come and join us for a nice pint of Black Sheep"

The new bar is complemented by a keg wall, which has created space for up to eight hand pull beers from Black Sheep’s popular range of cask and craft ales.

The exterior of the pub in Colliergate has also been upgraded, highlighting its place within Black Sheep’s collection of owned retail premises, which also includes the Three Legged Mare in High Petergate.

The Last Drop Inn will also serve food, following the installation of a new kitchen offering a range of sharing platters, cheeseboards and locally sourced pies. It will host open mic nights on Mondays, a quiz on Wednesdays and live music on Fridays.