Independent brewery Northern Monk is to open a new taproom in York, further strengthening its presence across the north of England. Located at 2–4 Little Stonegate, the site is Northern Monk’s first venue in the city and follows the success of its established sites in Leeds and Manchester.

Built at the turn of the 20th century, the Grade II listed building was most recently home to Gusto and Forage restaurants. Owned by landlords Stonegate 1434, it occupies a prominent position just off Stonegate – one of York’s busiest and most characterful streets – and was originally built as Waddington & Sons’ Piano Factory. The historic space is now being sensitively transformed into a modern taproom while preserving its architectural features.

The new venue will showcase Northern Monk’s full range of core and seasonal beers, along with small-batch specials and a rotating street food offer. Plans have been approved for seating spread over three floors, including a basement bar and upstairs dining area.

Stonegate 1434’s legal advice on the letting of the premises was led by Robert Hill, commercial property partner at Andrew Jackson Solicitors; Jane Lockyer, consultant at Setfords Solicitors, acted for Northern Monk; and James Ratcliffe, partner and head of commercial agency at Colenso Property, acted as agent on the transaction.

Chris Harrison, chief finance officer at Northern Monk, said: – “York is a city full of culture, history, and a brilliant food and drink scene – it’s a perfect fit for us. Breathing new life into such a distinctive building, in one of our favourite cities, makes this a particularly special project as we continue to grow the business.”

Robert Hill added: – “It’s been a pleasure to support Stonegate 1434 on securing this fantastic letting to Northern Monk in the historic centre of York. It’s always rewarding to see an independent Yorkshire business expanding with such strong values around quality and heritage. We wish them every success with the new venue.”