A FORMER bank and travel agency in York city centre looks set to become an upmarket cocktail bar and restaurant.

The Alchemist Bar and Restaurant Limited has applied to City of York Council for a premises licence for a bar and restaurant at Ousegate House, on the corner of Nessgate and High Ousegate - now to be known as The Coach House.

The building was formerly occupied by a Thomas Cook branch, which has lain empty since it closed down in September 2019, and by a Royal Bank of Scotland branch, which closed in June last year.

The Alchemist wants to open from 9am to 12.30am from Sunday to Thursday, and from 9am to 1.30am on Fridays and Saturdays.

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The Alchemist was established in 2010, with its first outlet in Manchester, and has expanded steadily over the past 12 years.

It says it 'provides an all-day casual dining experience from breakfast through to dinner, complemented by an expertly crafted drinks menu. Its passionate in-house mixologists create every cocktail with an obsessive eye for detail, all orchestrated to serve a devilish dash of theatre.'

The building's developers, Helmsley Group, confirmed today it had agreed a letting to The Alchemist.

"Subject to planning and licensing approvals, it will be The Alchemist’s first venue in the city," said a spokesperson.

They said Helmsley was also accelerating plans to redevelop the upper floors of the three-storey building for residential use following planning approval.

"The move comes as Helmsley finalises its vision for the regeneration of neighbouring Coney Street through its Coney Street Riverside masterplan and follows it securing other prominent leisure operators in the area, including Rosa’s Thai Café," they said. 

"The Alchemist, which has more than 20 bar and restaurant venues in prime city centre locations across the UK, is set to take the ground and basement levels of The Coach House which offer almost 5,000 sq ft of open-plan floor space."

Tom Riddolls, development surveyor at The Helmsley Group, said: “The Alchemist is a fantastic brand to welcome to York and it is testament to the strength of The Coach House’s offer that it has chosen the location ahead of other venues in the city.

“When we acquired The Coach House, we said it offered a rare and exceptional leisure opportunity for a forward thinking and prominent leisure operator to open a significant bar and / or restaurant in the heart of York’s thriving retail core.

"The Alchemist fits both these criteria entirely and we are delighted to have them on board.

“This is another positive addition to Coney Street and neighbouring areas and complements our exciting vision to revitalise this part of the city centre, including opening up the riverfront for the enjoyment of all.”