A CITY centre pub which closed when its owners went into administration is set to reopen.

The YO1 bar in Fossgate, York, has been left empty after the Exhibition Hotel Group suffered financial difficulties.

Now new owner Paul Gardner has taken over the premises and is busy preparing to open for business next week.

His company Ginger Taverns has already made a success of other pubs including the Cock And Bottle, in Skeldergate, York, which he fitted out after it suffered flooding; The Bay Horse at Stamford Bridge; and The Greyhound in Dunnington.

"We really believe in taking on bankrupt pubs and turning them around," he said.

"We want to take on friendly local pubs, support them and make a success of them."

After weeks of cleaning, clearing and painting, Mr Gardner hopes YO1 will be ready to open next Thursday, ahead of an England football game on the Saturday.

"What we do is make sport-friendly bars, where people can come in and watch the main events, be it football or rugby league," he said.

"There are a couple of big screens going in now and, in January, we are closing down for a full refit, so we can create cosy booths with individual plasma screens.

"Our bars are women-friendly - the kind of place that everyone can come to and watch sport in comfort without being intimidated by a lot of burly blokes standing in the centre of the bar."

The pub will also eventually start selling food, including bar snacks and combos for groups of friends to share while having a quiet drink and watching the match.

"It is something that has really worked in our other bars, so we know people like the formula," said Mr Gardner.

YO1 was among a number of businesses affected when the Exhibition group, which also owned the Snickleway Inn and The Exhibition Hotel, went into administration last year.

Now the Enterprise Group has taken over the outlets and Mr Gardener is renting YO1 from the company on a 25-year lease.

"We've had to do a lot of work so far, but we are hoping everything will be ready for next Thursday," he said.

"I have a team of people who will come in to manage and run the bar and they know how we like to do things."