CUSTOMERS at a York riverside pub could get the chance to drink outdoors if plans for a new terrace get the go-ahead.

The owners of Yates Wine Lodge, Low Ousegate, have submitted proposals to City of York Council to refurbish the inside of the building and add a two-metre-wide terrace outside over the River Ouse.

Plans include redeveloping the building's second floor, currently unused, as a chill-out area where people can eat and have a quiet drink.

Outside the plan is to give drinkers the option to take their drinks out on to the ground floor terrace.

The architect Peter Schofield, of York-based Inspire Design, has previously worked on the re-branding of The Punchbowl pub at the top of Mickelgate.

Mr Schofield said he hoped the terrace might act as a catalyst for a walkway along the riverbank linking the Wine Lodge with terraces outside the Pitcher and Piano further along the embankment.

He said: "The initial proposal is to cantilever the terrace to the building in much the same way as the terrace outside The Living Room across the river.

"It will run the full length of Yates, projecting two metres out over the river. It's designed to take about eight tables of four people.

"At the moment the building is lost - it is tucked away next to Ouse Bridge which is a very influential crossing point for the two halves of the city for people on a night out."

Chris Blacklock, Yates operations director for the North, said: "Yates York is one of our most successful businesses in the county and, at the moment, we have all this redundant space over the existing licensed area.

"What this development will allow us to do is concentrate on doing more food later in the day.

"The terrace is going to be a smashing feature for the city. With the move towards more cosmopolitan licensed premises in York we want to explore outdoor drinking opportunities where we can and maximise the business opportunity within our property."

Mr Blacklock said the food being served would still be traditional bar food and the new building would increase their capacity to serve food by 50 per cent. The plans will go before the citycouncil's planning committee in due course.

Updated: 08:42 Friday, April 29, 2005