THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Thursday, 12 November 2026

Morning, York. The Christmas Market opens at 10.30am today, and locals get a discount if they bring proof of address. Plus a six-day closure on Boroughbridge Road, LNER says sorry for Tuesday's station chaos, a £32 million hole in the council's budget, and some Icelandic trolls have moved into JORVIK.

🎄 The Christmas Market opens today, with a residents' discount and a quiet hour

York's Christmas Market on Parliament Street opens at 10.30am today and runs until Monday 21 December. This year it trades Wednesday to Monday, closing at 7pm (5pm on the final day), and shuts on Tuesdays as a trial rest day, though the city's shops, pubs, cafés and attractions stay open as normal. People who live in York can get 10% off at the stalls by showing a residents card or other proof of address, such as a driving licence, and organisers Make It York say more than 80% of the traders are from York. Music will be switched off from 10.30am to midday every market day as a quiet period, and St Sampson's Centre on Church Street is offering a quieter space from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday. York BID says it will use card transaction data to see whether Tuesday closures bring more residents into town, with findings due in February, since November and December make up 22% of its members' yearly sales on average. One Colliergate shop, Avorium, is already turning the rest day into a "Residents Tuesday", with weekly offers for YO postcodes. Park and Ride is the easiest way in, and there's an online map of the stalls on Visit York.

👉 Read more: York Press · York Press on Residents Tuesday

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📰 NEWS

🚧 A59 Boroughbridge Road shut until Monday

The A59 Boroughbridge Road is closed in both directions between the A1237 outer ring road and Beckfield Lane for Yorkshire Water main works. It shut on Tuesday (10 November) and is due to reopen at 6pm on Monday 16 November, so expect delays and diversions on the west side of the city until then.

👉 Read more: YorkMix · York Press

🚆 LNER says sorry for "absolute carnage" at York station

LNER has apologised and launched an investigation after Tuesday's overhead wire damage near Northallerton brought the East Coast Main Line to a halt, with hundreds of people queueing out of York station for replacement buses. Joint operations director Gunnar Lindahl said it was "incredibly difficult" for passengers and that the company is working to understand the root cause; services were back to normal yesterday. Yesterday afternoon there was more disruption to London services after a person was hit by a train near Hatfield. British Transport Police said their injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

👉 Read more: YorkMix · York Press

🙏 Appeal to bring Haxby teenager home from Krakow

The family of Harry Marchant, the 19-year-old from Haxby who was shot in Saturday's attack in Krakow, have launched a GoFundMe to bring him home once he is fit to travel, which is likely to be by land, as flying may not be possible. His mum, Fran Talbot, says his medical costs are covered but he had no travel insurance, and the BBC reports the appeal raised more than £9,000 within a day. "We are overwhelmed - Harry is overwhelmed," she told The Press. The Prime Minister told the Commons that British families affected would be supported "in whatever way we can".

👉 Read more: York Press · BBC News

💷 Council warns of a £32 million budget gap

City of York Council says it is facing one of the most significant financial challenges in its history, with a projected budget gap of around £32 million between 2027/28 and 2029/30, up from about £20 million when this year's budget was set. It blames rising demand for adult social care, higher costs and national funding changes, and says York remains one of the lowest-funded unitary councils in England. A report goes to the Executive next month. Council leader Cllr Claire Douglas says the council is committed to protecting services and will keep pushing the government for a fairer deal.

👉 Read the full story at City of York Council

🚗 Groves roads motion voted down

A Conservative motion calling for a consultation on reopening four streets in The Groves to one-way traffic, including Penley's Grove Street and Lowther Street, was rejected at full council last night, after residents spoke against it. Cllr Martin Rowley said it was about tackling congestion on Monkgate, Wigginton Road and Lord Mayor's Walk. Guildhall's Labour Cllr Dave Merrett said the bigger problem is queuing back from York Hospital's car park.

👉 Read the full story at YorkMix

🅿️ Permit parking plan for Dodsworth Avenue set for a decision

Plans for residents' parking permits on Dodsworth Avenue, Pottery Lane, Arran Place and Saxon Place go before a council decision meeting on Tuesday (17 November), but officers are recommending no further action. In the informal consultation, 73 of 363 homes replied, with 46 for and 27 against. Permits would start at £115 a year.

👉 Read the full story at YorkMix

🕳️ Potholes a "juggling act", says the council

A fifth of York's residential roads now need repair, down from a third a year ago, according to transport boss Cllr Kate Ravilious, and the council fixed 11,892 potholes in 2025/26, up from 9,074 the year before. She says the city's busy streets make roadworks tricky, and planned maintenance has been paused for the Christmas Market period. One York garage owner reckons potholes account for up to a fifth of his work.

👉 Read the full story at BBC News

🔪 Police appeal after knife incident on Tang Hall Lane

Police have released CCTV images of two people they want to speak to after a man was allegedly threatened with a knife on Tang Hall Lane at about 10.25pm on Sunday 8 November. A large knife was later recovered. Anyone with information, dashcam or doorbell footage can call 101 quoting 12260220175, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

👉 Read the full story at York Press

🏙️ AROUND THE CITY

🎖️ £625,000 for a new veterans' centre at West Offices

York is one of just 20 areas to get money from the government's VALOUR programme: £625,114 to set up a veterans' support centre at West Offices, working with York Learning, Age UK York, York Carers Centre and York CVS. It's due to open in January 2027 and run until March 2030, and the council expects to help around 1,500 veterans and 3,000 family members and carers.

👉 Read the full story at City of York Council

🌺 Ken Cooke, 101, unveils a remembrance bench

York's last surviving D-Day veteran, Ken Cooke, marked Armistice Day by laying a poppy wreath on a new bench on Soldiers' Lawn in York Cemetery. "It helps us to remember our friends that didn't come home," said Ken, who landed at Gold Beach with the Green Howards in 1944.

👉 Read the full story at York Press

🧳 Luggage lockers planned at York station

City Spare Space Ltd has applied to put two banks of red luggage lockers, with cameras and touchscreens, in the station's short stay car park, next to the platforms. The firm says it looked at other spots with LNER, and chose this one because it is separate from the Grade II* listed station building and doesn't block pedestrians or taxis.

👉 Read the full story at York Press

🧃 Joe & The Juice a step closer in St Sampson's Square

The Danish chain has applied for listed building consent for the former Size? shop at 1-2 St Sampson's Square and 1 Feasegate, after the fit-out was approved at the end of October. It will be its first Yorkshire branch, seating up to 65 across two floors.

👉 Read the full story at YorkMix

🏘️ Have your say on Haxby

The council wants views on improving Haxby, from repairing the bandstand mosaic at Ethel Ward playing field to more benches, parking on The Green and a quiet cycle route. Drop-ins are at Haxby Memorial Hall on Tuesday 17 November (2.30pm to 7pm), at Wigginton Parish Council on Thursday 19 November (7pm) and at the Memorial Hall craft fair on Saturday 5 December. There's an online survey too.

👉 Read the full story at City of York Council

🎄 Over-65? Apply for the Lord Mayor's Christmas Cheer

The Lord Mayor and Sheriff are inviting 400 residents aged 65 and over to Christmas Cheer receptions at the Assembly Rooms on Tuesday 1 December (10am or 2pm), with festive food, school choirs and brass. Application forms, from West Offices, libraries, St Sampson's Centre and Age UK York, must arrive by 5pm on Monday 16 November, and places are drawn at random.

👉 Read the full story at City of York Council

🎟️ Kyra's advent raffle

Kyra Women's Project, which supports women in York facing things like domestic abuse and isolation, is running an advent raffle with 35 prizes from York businesses worth over £2,000. Tickets are £2, and there are daily draws until 24 December.

👉 Read the full story at YorkMix

🏉 SPORT

Knights bring back Ronan Michael

Irish international prop Ronan Michael has rejoined York Knights on a one-year deal for the 2027 Super League season, having made 71 appearances for the club between 2022 and 2024. "York is where I properly found my feet as a player, so coming back feels like unfinished business," he said. Meanwhile, Super League has agreed to grow from 14 to 15 clubs for 2027, with London Broncos tipped to be the new arrival.

👉 Read more: York Press · BBC Sport

Lindsey lays down a challenge to City's fringe players

After the EFL Trophy exit at Bradford, Scott Lindsey says there's "food for thought" for squad players, who now have to "knock on my door" in training to get into a side with only League Two and the FA Cup left. He singled out academy defender Lewis Beadle, who made his first senior start out of position and "looked comfortable".

👉 Read the full story at York Press

🎭 CULTURE

❄️ A Christmas cinema where it snows before every film

The Enchanted Christmas Cinema comes to the 100-year-old auditorium inside the Yorkshire Museum from Monday 21 to Wednesday 23 December, with Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, The Holiday and The Muppet Christmas Carol, plus mulled wine and popcorn. Organisers promise "it really snows before every screening". Tickets start at £14 for under-12s and £18 to £19 for adults, plus a booking fee.

👉 Read the full story at York Press

🪩 Sophie Ellis-Bextor brings her Kitchen Disco back

Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Christmas Kitchen Disco tour comes to York Barbican on Wednesday 8 December 2027, with a Christmas Disco album to follow. Tickets go on general sale on Friday 20 November at 10am. Yes, it's for next Christmas. Plan ahead.

👉 Read the full story at YorkMix

🎤 From the jungle to Miss Hannigan

Claire Sweeney, newly named in the I'm A Celebrity line-up, which starts on Monday (16 November), will play Miss Hannigan in Annie at the Grand Opera House from 12 to 16 January 2027. Tickets are on sale now.

👉 Read the full story at York Press

📅 THIS WEEK IN YORK

🎄 Today (Thursday 12 November), 10.30am: the Christmas Market opens on Parliament Street.

⛸️ Today: Thor's On Ice, the ice rink behind York Art Gallery, opens in Museum Gardens.

⛸️ Friday 13 November: Yorkshire's Winter Wonderland opens for its 21st season at York Designer Outlet.

🎨 Until Sunday 15 November: last chance for the Aesthetica Art Prize exhibition at York Art Gallery.

🎶 Monday 16 November, 7pm doors: Del Amitri at York Barbican.

Sources: York Press, York Press, YorkMix, York Press, York Barbican

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🧌 AND FINALLY...

Forget the Elf on the Shelf. The Yule Lads, 13 troll-like brothers from Icelandic folklore who check whether children deserve presents, have taken up residence at JORVIK Viking Centre for its Winter MisAdventure, running until 3 January. Good children who leave a shoe on the windowsill get a small gift; naughty ones get a potato. Four of them, Meat-Hook, Pot-Licker, Stubby and Sheep-Stealer, have squeezed into a snowy Viking-age Coppergate, and head of operations Mark Jackson admits "we're not entirely sure what we'll find when we unlock the doors each morning". Children get a free activity book, and prebooking is strongly recommended. Potatoes not included.

👉 Read the full story at YorkMix