Ironmongers to become Viking pub and holiday let
BBCA former ironmongers will be converted into a pub and holiday flats after a Viking-themed bar operator's plans were approved.
Valhalla York applied to North Yorkshire Council to convert the building in Grape Lane, Whitby, for leisure and residential use.
The decision came despite objections from residents, who said the Grade II-listed property should not be altered because of an "over-proliferation of pubs in Whitby".
The first and second floors will become three one-bedroom flats while a two-bedroom holiday apartment will be created on the third floor.
Seven public comments were submitted, all of which objected to the proposal.
One resident said the pub would have a "detrimental impact on the amenity of neighbours and the capacity of services and infrastructure".
Another objector said: "Whitby has a large number of pubs and bars, and the addition of another one is unnecessary – this could exacerbate issues with public safety and anti-social behaviour."
A council report stated: "Grape Lane is ultimately a public street, where pedestrians can freely pass – and do so already to a high level, and the licensing team would require assurances that patrons congregating outside the premises is discouraged."
As a result a condition was set that there can be no use or access of the external seating area by customers at any time, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The council said the pub would be permitted to open from 11:00 to 23:00 Sunday to Friday, and from 11:00 to 23.30 on Saturdays.
Vincent Roberts and Matthew Beddingham, co-owners and founders of Valhalla York, said: "Valhalla York has been a real success story and we always dreamed of one day having another venue.
"We love the town, its people, its history and feel of the place and it'll be a very similar recipe to what makes Valhalla York tick but not quite the same."
They said they had "every hope to be opening the doors for summer 2026".
Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.