Old York Tea Room sign on Our Ladies Row, Goodramgate

The Old York Tea Room opened in February last year in one of York's oldest buildings on Our Lady's Row, Goodramgate.

Run by husband and wife team Tony and Thomas Vickers, the duo have transformed a former candle shop into a cozy tea room with space for 14 people on the ground floor.

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Tony Vickers outside the Old York Tea Rooms However, as reported by The Press, a seemingly innocuous sign on the front of the building caused controversy, with York City Council continuing to refuse the retrospective planning application.

The Ghost of William Etty (GWE), a group formed in the 1990s to prevent York's cobblestones from being removed from city streets, initially objected to the signs on the grounds that they were vandalizing Grade I listed buildings. was.

The Old York Tea Rooms form part of Lady Row, a Grade I listed building built as early as 1317, according to the Government's Planning Inspectorate.

Flashback of Gordon Campbell-Thomas outside the Old York Tea Rooms (Image: Supplied) The company appealed it but lost and now it must be removed.

However, the pair have lodged an application with York City Council seeking consent to display the advertisement in the upper window sill of the shop's bay window.

GWE said it now wholeheartedly supports new applications submitted through appropriate channels.

The new 1.65-meter-long plywood sign will be painted primarily black and gold, using the same font as the previous store sign, according to the draft plan.

Gordon Campbell-Thomas, GWE Project Advisor, said: “We had no personal animosity towards the applicant and this matter was based solely on the principle that Grade 1 (and 2) listed buildings are protected and therefore should not be defaced. ” This principle is maintained.

“The ghost of William Etty can now be laid to rest. However, we call on the City Council to strengthen its policy on enforcement of planning regulations.”

“For example, if Edinburgh City Council had taken any steps away from its policies, it could have threatened businesses that breached the rules with potential fines of up to £20,000.”

Meals served at Old York Tea Room Consultation on the proposals closes on 6 February and application 25/00001/ADV can be viewed on York City Council's planning portal.