Plans are underway to reopen LGBT-friendly bar Little John’s next year. The bar shut down in October following a series of legal issues that culminated in the City Council removing the bar’s licence to sell alcohol.
On two occasions police found cocaine in the premises after tip-offs from customers, and noise complaints about the bar have been regularly made to the council since 2007.
In August more than 25 grams of cocaine was found, which police estimate would have a street value of £1,080. A police report stated that bags of the drug weighing around 400g had been seen in the flat above the bar.
Landlord Chris Ransome denied intending to sell the Class A drug, and maintained that it was for personal use only.
After his arrest, councillors decided to revoke the bar’s licence. This came into effect on Monday 26 September, and the bar closed on Thursday 13 October.
Enterprise Inns, the brewery that owns Little John’s, has now announced plans to reopen the bar next year after refurbishment, but could not comment on whether it will actively maintain its status as an LGBT-friendly establishment.
Baxter Willis, the LGBT Welfare Officer for Derwent College, commented: “I would be very surprised if Little John’s gave up its LGBT status – it would be a shame, and it had a monopoly on the LGBT market.”
He went on: “I’m told it’s not actually the only gay bar in York and that there is another, but its whereabouts is a secret and the whole thing is shrouded in mystery.”
Since Little John’s closure, weekly gay night ‘OUTrageous’ has been set up at Blue Fly Bar, which “softens the blow,” according to Willis, but “is very different to the community a pub can build.”
The extent of the refurbishment was not made clear, but Ellis German, supervisor of the bar before its closure, said that “quite a bit of work…needs doing.
“The basement area was never really used and if refurbed properly would be a lovely area, and the main bar needed quite a bit of work doing… I think [Enterprise] will be giving it a proper look at.”