YORK is about to get a new Italian restaurant and tapas bar when the former Russells carvery in Coppergate opens next week.

The new eaterie, Vitoria, will sell Italian food and bosses have applied to City of York Council to extend its alcohol licence to the second floor of the landmark Grade-II listed building.

The popular Russells carvery restaurant, well known to York residents and tourists, shut its doors in 2019, after being a firm favourite with locals and visitors alike for 32 years.

The new licensees, Mielikki Coppergate, first applied for their drinks licence last October, with opening times expected to be from midday to midnight, seven days a week.

But the licence was for the ground floor only. Now the restaurant wants to serve drinks on an upper floor ahead of the restaurant's opening next week.

Owner Polat Akcicek told The Press the restaurant would open on Wednesday and would serve Italian food.

The property, at 24 to 26 Coppergate, is owned by the council was on offer for rent.

The new restaurant has recently been advertising for staff, including a general manager on a salary of up to £32,000 per year.

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