If you’re settling into your first term at the University of York or York St. John, you may not yet have discovered one of the city’s coolest spots to eat, socialise and relax. Conveniently located near stops on bus routes U1 and U2, SPARK* brings together some of York’s most exciting burgeoning businesses – giving you the chance to try them first.
This community initiative was born in 2016 as part of a plan to revitalise an uninspiring part of the city centre. It was hoped that the long-unused site on Piccadilly could ‘create space for positive things to happen’ by offering an incubator in which local entrepreneurs could safely launch their start-ups. A village of upcycled shipping containers provided a versatile and affordable way to achieve this. SPARK*’s containers are brightly painted, giving it a unique, arty feel, and the site is covered in the winter months, so you can have fun whatever the weather.
Among SPARK*’s success stories are Vi Coffee, Frango Eduardo, Sasa Greek Street Food and vintage interiors shop Helston Street, who have all gone on to open bricks-and-mortar stores. Visit today and you’ll find tasty cuisine from all around the world – from juicy Argentinian-style steak strips from Vovo Cantina to authentic Gujarati street food from Sarras. Other current highlights include Clucking Oinks’ epic buttermilk-fried chicken burgers, vegan comfort food from Herbivorous and RAD’s delicious wood fired pizzas. There really is something for everyone, and if you and your friends don’t share the same tastes you can order from different stalls but eat together.
SPARK* isn’t just about the food, though. If you’re struggling to get your head down back at halls, you’ll find a range of work, meeting and creative studio spaces here, all of which can be booked by the day or month. It’s also home to Reiki and sound bathing studio All the Aces, and you can take part in fitness classes and painting workshops, or play ping pong, with multiple weekly sessions to suit your schedule.
In the evening, SPARK* comes alive with people calling in for dinner after a busy day of work or study. It’s also the perfect place to go for a drink with bars including The Outpost, Piccadilly Tap, Boho and cocktail bar Spritz. The site is open from Tuesday-Sunday with closing times varying from 9pm-11pm. So, whether you’re planning brunch with friends or a big night out, it’s time to visit this York gem.
Images- @sparkyork
