THE YORK BRIEF - WEEKEND WRAP UP ⏰ October 31 - November 1, 2026

Happy Halloween, York, and welcome to the weekend. The artist behind the Angel of the North wants to put two new sculptures at York Minster, Yorkshire Water's boss is stepping down a day after that one-star rating, and the city's smoke rules change tomorrow. Plus York City's lunchtime trip to Grimsby, a giant spider loose in Swinegate and the York nicknames only locals understand.

🗿 Angel of the North artist could bring two sculptures to York Minster

Sir Antony Gormley, the artist behind the Angel of the North and Another Place on Crosby Beach, could be making new work for York Minster. The Chapter of York is exploring a collaboration with him through 2027, the Minster's 1,400th anniversary year, with the pieces then forming part of its programme of events and exhibitions in 2028. The two proposed sculptures are called Meet and Close, and both need consent under the Care of Cathedrals Measure. Meet would be an outdoor work, so it also needs planning permission from City of York Council, and YorkMix reports that application has gone in. The Dean of York, the Very Reverend Dominic Barrington, says the works would offer "a contemporary examination of the body", which already features throughout the Minster, most famously in the Kings' Screen. Gormley calls it "a precious opportunity to make a new work for the Minster". The Press recalls that the Queen's statue on the west front divided opinion when it was unveiled in 2022, so we suspect the pub debates are already under way.

Sources: York Press, YorkMix

👉 Read the full story at York Press

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🏛️ POLITICS & COUNCIL

🌼 Fancy looking after your street's grass verge?

Residents and community groups could take over some grass verges, planters and other council-managed spaces in a new City of York Council trial, aimed at boosting biodiversity and getting people more involved in local green spaces. Groups would pick a spot and the council would assess it first: it has to be council-owned, on a road with a limit of 30mph or less, and at least 1.5m from the carriageway. There are rules on risk assessments, utility checks and digging no deeper than 200mm. The update goes before councillors on Tuesday 3 November. Guerrilla gardeners, your moment has come (officially).

👉 Read the full story at York Press

🚸 20mph limits coming near Manor CE Academy

Council officials have approved 20mph limits on Millfield Lane and Low Poppleton Lane in Acomb, near Manor CE Academy, under the Safer Route to School scheme. A council report says traffic there can be overwhelming at the start and end of the school day, with complaints about inconsiderate driving and parking making it harder for pupils to cross. Millfield Lane is largely industrial, with lots of commercial vehicles passing the school gates.

👉 Read the full story at York Press

🗣️ 1,800 young people have their say on staying safe

More than 1,800 young people helped shape recommendations from the York and North Yorkshire Youth Commission's latest Big Conversation, covering online safety, gender violence, discrimination, drugs and how they get on with police and fire services. Their ideas include more visible patrols in public places, especially around schools and the night-time economy, and better support for young victims of crime. The final report is due later this year.

👉 Read the full story at York Press

🏗️ County housebuilder needed a £3.4m bailout

Brierley Homes, the housebuilder owned by North Yorkshire Council (not York's council), would have gone into administration without £3.4m in council loans made in 2025, council leader Carl Les has revealed. The loans were approved when it was forecasting a £350,000 profit, before it emerged it would make a £7.8m loss in 2025/26. The council confirmed the company has borrowed £27.54m from it in total, and Reform and Green councillors are demanding more transparency.

👉 Read the full story at York Press

⚽ SPORT

York City go for a first away win at Grimsby

York City are at Grimsby Town today, with an earlier 12.30pm kick-off, still chasing their first away win of the season after Tuesday's controversial 3-1 defeat at Barnet. They'll be without three players: Ollie Banks (concussion protocol), Hiram Boateng (suspended after his second yellow) and Morgan Williams, who picked up an injury in an accidental collision and is waiting on a scan. Scott Lindsey says he wants to give the travelling fans something to cheer. On the plus side, Arthur Read, who scored City's goal at Barnet, says he's glad to have ended a "frustrating" wait for a starting spot.

👉 Read more: York Press: team news · York Press: preview · York Press: Arthur Read

A 147 at the UK Championship could win a fan some cash

If a player makes a maximum break at this year's UK Snooker Championship in York, a member of the audience will win a cash prize under a new promotion from the tournament's betting partner. Mark Williams and Kyren Wilson are backing the idea, which The Press describes as a "little mini lottery" for fans.

👉 Read the full story at York Press

⚖️ CRIME & COURTS

Man arrested after alleged assault in Piccadilly

A man in his 60s was arrested after reports that a woman was assaulted in Piccadilly, York, at 12.56pm on Friday (30 October). Police say no injuries were reported. Witnesses who haven't yet spoken to officers can call 101, quoting NYP-30102026-0206.

👉 Read the full story at York Press

Appeal after car stolen from York hotel car park

North Yorkshire Police has released CCTV images of a person they'd like to speak to after a car was reported stolen from a York hotel car park between 3 and 4 September. Officers would particularly like CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage. Email keilee.wilson@northyorkshire.police.uk or call 101, quoting 12260173182.

👉 Read the full story at York Press

Police hunt man who slipped away from hospital

Police are searching for Ethan Platt, 22, who gave officers the slip during a hospital visit after being arrested for breaching a domestic violence protection order. Police believe he may be in the Harrogate area and say he isn't thought to pose a risk to the wider public, but don't approach him: call 999 quoting NYP-30102026-0071.

👉 Read the full story at YorkMix

🚗 TRAVEL

🚆 Second weekend of York station works

It's round two of the big East Coast Main Line works this weekend (31 October–1 November), and last weekend only the Scarborough and Bridlington lines ran from York, with rail replacement buses on other routes. Network Rail is renewing track between York and the Colton, Holgate and Skelton junctions and upgrading overhead lines across the station. And there are still no trains between York and Leeds until Sunday 1 November while the Church Fenton work finishes. Check your journey before you set off.

👉 Read the full story at York Press

🌫️ Drivers ignore closure signs in the fog after A169 crash

Police closed the A169 Malton Road between Pickering and Malton, near Marishes, after a serious collision on Friday, leaving parts of Ryedale gridlocked with diverted traffic. The Press reports that some motorists then drove through the police closure signs, lights and cones in foggy conditions. Earlier, a two-vehicle crash had blocked the A64 near Rillington. With more fog about this morning, please don't be that driver.

👉 Read more: York Press: A169 closure · York Press: A64 crash

🅿️ Hospital parking fines up by more than half

Drivers paid almost £120,000 in parking penalties at York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's three hospitals between March 2025 and July 2026, up from just over £76,000 between March 2023 and February 2025, according to a Freedom of Information request by The Press. York Hospital has also lost 192 parking bays in three years. The trust says its charges are broadly in line with council rates, offers concessions, and reinvests the income in its car parks and sustainable travel.

👉 Read the full story at York Press

🌊 ENVIRONMENT

🚱 Yorkshire Water's boss is stepping down

A day after the Environment Agency gave Yorkshire Water its lowest possible one-star rating (our lead yesterday), the company announced that chief executive Nicola Shaw is leaving. Former National Grid executive Nicola Medalova joins on Monday and takes over in January. Shaw says there "remains a huge amount of work to do" but the business is on a "stronger footing". The company had also come under scrutiny for payments to her worth £1.3m, made through Kelda Holdings.

👉 Read more: BBC News · YorkMix

🔥 Reminder: the whole city becomes a Smoke Control Area tomorrow

From Sunday 1 November all of York becomes a Smoke Control Area (around 80% of households were already covered). It isn't a ban on stoves or open fires: open fires must use authorised smokeless fuel, wood can still be burned in a DEFRA-approved stove (dry, seasoned, look for the "Ready to Burn" logo), and chimney smoke shouldn't go on for more than 15 minutes after lighting. Bonfires, barbecues, chimineas and fire pits aren't covered. The council says it'll focus on advice first, but repeat offenders could face fines of up to £300.

👉 Read the full story at City of York Council

🎭 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

🌹 Romeo + Juliet with a live band at the Barbican

Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes, is coming to York Barbican on 21 October 2027 with a live ensemble playing the score and soundtrack in sync with the film, to mark its 30th anniversary. Expect rock and orchestral musicians, vocals, electronics and a DJ. Yes, that's next year: diaries at the ready.

👉 Read the full story at York Press

🎻 Last chances this weekend

Today (Saturday) is the final day for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at the Grand Opera House (2.30pm and 7.30pm) and Wharfemede's The Addams Family at Theatre@41 on Monkgate (2.30pm and 7.30pm). Russell Howard brings Don't Tell The Algorithm to York Barbican today and tomorrow (3.30pm and 7.30pm).

👉 Read the full story at YorkMix

💼 BUSINESS & RETAIL

🏨 Building work under way on York's Dakota hotel

Leeds-based GMI Construction has been appointed main contractor for the 140-bedroom Dakota hotel inside the city walls, with demolition finished and the main build now under way. It will have Dakota's brasserie-style grill around a feature bar, red-brick façades, a courtyard and terraces with views across the city, with entrances from both Rougier Street and Tanners Moat.

👉 Read the full story at York Press

🍛 Acomb's Bengal Lounge in the running for best curry house

Bengal Lounge at Acomb Wood Shopping Centre, which opened in 2019, has made the top 10 in The Press's Best Curry House in York 2026 competition, its second shortlisting in two years. Owner Riyadh Ali recommends the "Mad Chef Specials".

👉 Read the full story at York Press

🍺 Village pub "here to stay" despite community bid failing

A bid by Wighill Parish Council to list The White Swan near Tadcaster as an asset of community value has been rejected, after a council assessment found not enough evidence of significant community use. The pub reopened this month under new owners, and landlord Tom Brown, who already runs several pubs in York, says it's "definitely not being turned into housing".

👉 Read the full story at BBC News

🐟 ONLY IN WHITBY

🦇 Swing Bridge shut to cars for Goth Weekend

Whitby Goth Weekend is back, so the Swing Bridge is closed to all traffic except buses from Friday morning (30 October) until the early hours of Monday (2 November), with temporary barriers in Church Street and at either end of Baxtergate. North Yorkshire Council says pedestrians can still cross and all other roads stay open. Halloween in Whitby: about as on-brand as it gets.

👉 Read the full story at York Press

🗓️ WHAT'S ON IN YORK THIS WEEKEND

🕷️ Giant Inflatable Spider scuttles around Little Stonegate, Back Swinegate, Swinegate and Grape Lane today at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm.

🔮 The Mystic Market at The Crescent, today 12–4pm, with tarot readings and free mystery bags for the first 20 people in fancy dress.

🧙 The Concert That Must Not Be Named: Harry Potter music and more on York Minster's Grand Organ, tonight at 7.30pm.

🎆 Selby Bonfire at Scott Road Community Field, today 6–9pm, with fireworks at 7pm and 7.45pm.

😂 Russell Howard at York Barbican, today and Sunday at 3.30pm and 7.30pm.

🎶 York Record Fair fills two floors of the Knavesmire Stand at York Racecourse on Sunday, 10am–5pm: around 200,000 records, £3 on the door and under-16s free.

🎖️ York RBL Festival of Remembrance at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, Sunday at 3pm, with the York RI Band, York Musical Theatre Company and the York Garrison Kids Choir.

Sources: YorkMix: what's on this weekend, YorkMix: York Record Fair

👉 Read the full guide at YorkMix

🗣️ AND FINALLY...

Do you say "Bishy Road"? Of course you do. A question in The Press's Why We Love York Memories Facebook group has turned up dozens of York nicknames that would baffle any newcomer. There's "Leemo" for Leeman Road, "Wiggy" for Wigginton, "Molly Road" for Malton Road and "LA" for Lindsey Avenue. Schools got the treatment too: "Archie's" for Archbishop Holgate's, "JoRo" for Joseph Rowntree, "Weggy" and "Nunny" for Westfield and Nunthorpe. And old Bootham Crescent regulars will remember "The Shippo". Hit reply and tell us yours.

👉 Read the full story at York Press