Victoria Vaults: Plans to convert empty music venue into cafe blocked

City of York Council planning officers refused an application from developer Nabeel Hanif to convert the ground floor of Victoria Vaults, in Nunnery Lane.

The developer’s application stated the venue had been closed for some time and the conversion would stop the building falling into disrepair.

But objectors including ward councillors, York’s Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and the Campaign for Pubs said the development would lead to the permanent loss of a much-loved venue.

Planning officers ruled the venue would have to stay on the market for another five months at £25,000-a-year to lease or for sale between £360,000 and £390,000.

Officers stated more time was needed to show reopening at as a venue was unviable.

An application to convert the building into three homes is yet to be decided.

It follows calls from the developer to rule on the plans after claiming there had been unnecessary delays since they were lodged following the venue’s closure in December 2024.

Mr Hanif added reopening the site as a community venue was unrealistic.

Victoria Vaults has hosted artists including Bez from The Happy Mondays and Blondie drummer Clem Burke, along with goth discos, poetry readings and several other rock, pop and reggae acts.

It closed after owing considerable sums of money, according to planning documents.

The council designated it as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) shortly after its closure in December 2024 but The Press reported it has since been removed for technical reasons.

The ground floor of Victoria Vaults remains listed to lease for £25,000-a-year with the Barry Crux commercial property estate agents.

Plans from developer and building owner Mr Hanif said a café would create six full-time jobs.

But six objections were lodged against the café conversion plans saying there was a need for cultural and community venues.

They added previous poor management of the venue did not justify the loss of the facility.

Labour Micklegate ward councillor Jonny Crawshaw said Victoria Vaults had been crucial in supporting up and coming bands and acts.

Coun Pete Kilbane, also a Labour Micklegate ward councillor, said there had been interest from people wanting to take the venue on but they had been waiting for a planning decision.

York CAMRA’s branch said the plans would lead to the permanent loss of the venue, which was hugely valued locally and further afield.

The Campaign For Pubs claimed the café application was a merely a step towards the developer’s ultimate aim of converting the whole building into homes.

Ahead of refusal of the plans, a café business from West Yorkshire said it would be interested in moving into the ground floor space.

Abbas Ahmed, of Rockello’s, said the development offered them an exceptional opportunity to expand their business to York.

They added in a letter lodged on the council’s planning portal their existing business in Castleford, near Wakefield, had turned a previously unviable pub into a thriving community café and eatery.