A York pub has changed hands again – but its new publican has pledged to make it a success after a period of turbulence.
The Museum Street Tavern has seen three new operators since it changed from Thomas’s in March 2022, a venue that had been a York staple since 1861.
While the pub is owned by the Stonegate Group, it is leased out to independent operators. The most recent were Doug Smith and Oli Calveley of the Liquid Art Group, who took over in December 2024 following a sudden closure.
They ran it alongside their other eight venues across the country, including the Gillygate Bar and Rooms and the Saddle Inn in Fulford.
On Tuesday (15 April), Doug and Oli shared a Facebook post announcing they were leaving the Museum Street Tavern with immediate effect.
The pair, clearly unhappy with the arrangement, wrote: “It appears we’ve become a victim of our own success, and the pub company has decided to put their own manager on the site.”
They continued, “We opened a business which had been closed for months, then toiled away creating a really cool and decent late night hang out for hospitality staff on an evening, offered fantastic food during the day, we are now in a position where we’re having to relocate the business, and let a corporation enjoy the benefits of our hard work.”
They assured customers that their late-night quizzes, open mic nights and live music events would continue at the Gillygate Bar and Rooms, just a stone’s throw away from the Museum Street Tavern.
New beginnings
Despite the claim in this post, the newest operator insists that the site has not been taken over by a Stonegate manager.
Tom Bamber and his family have taken over the pub as an independent operator under a Free of Tie (FOT) lease, and will reopen the doors tomorrow (18 April).
A lifelong York resident, Tom hopes to work alongside local suppliers to provide customers with a fairly priced, community-focused venue.
His wife, Romina, has lived in the city for 12 years and works as a nurse at York Hospital, which she will continue to do alongside helping out at the pub.
The new landlord had always envisioned running his very own establishment in the city, ever since working in various pubs and hotels, including the Lowther, during his younger years.
The most important factor for Tom was ensuring the long term viability of the Museum Street Tavern which is why he delayed committing to something until he could afford to take on a FOT lease.
“I didn’t want to do it in conjunction with a brewery, I didn’t want to be tied into anything. So it’s taken me a lot of my life to save up to be able to actually do it on my own terms,” he told YorkMix.
While the building will still belong to Stonegate, the FOT lease allows Tom full control over the food and drink served, and where its supplied from.
“It gives me total freedom. And what it means is, if a distillery was set up around the corner for example, I could buy the product and see how it goes. I don’t have to run it by anyone.
“It is really important to me, because if I’m speaking to people making connections, I can sell their products,” he added.
Thanks to the flexibility of the agreement, the publican says he’ll be able to keep drinks prices low, with a standard double spirit and mixer priced around £5.
“That was a big part of why I wanted to do it on my own terms, because it allows me to buy at the right price, so I can sell it at that price. And we can still make the money, but also I can give better value to people in York.
“It’s appalling, to be honest, when you go out and buy three doubles and you get a bill for 30 quid. It’s mental, but it’s just normal now,” he explained.
Tom has big plans for the venue, and hopes to create a warm, welcoming ‘proper pub’ that attracts both locals and tourists heading into the centre.
Addressing the Facebook post from the previous occupants, he felt it was slightly unfair.
He hopes customers understand that he’s not a “big faceless enemy”, and rather a “small, independent business owner”, looking to work with the community.
The Stonegate Group response
YorkMix contacted the Stonegate Group, owners of the Museum Street Tavern.
They confirmed that the pub had been operating under a short-term, flexible agreement with no notice period required on either side.
They also confirmed that Tom Bamber is an independent operator, rather than a Stonegate-appointed manager.
Their full statement reads: “The Museum Street Tavern had been operating under a Tenancy at Will, which is a short-term, flexible agreement with no notice required on either side within our leased and tenanted business.
“While a longer-term tenancy was offered to the current publicans earlier this year, this was not taken forward. In the meantime, a long-term Free of Tie lease has been secured with an independent operator.
“Notice was served on the current publicans last week in line with the TAW terms. They ceased trading earlier this week, and the site will soon be in the hands of the new publican.
“To clarify, this is not a managed site the incoming leaseholder will be an independent operator running the pub under a Free of Tie agreement.”
