'Well-known' York bar acquired by pop-up hospitalility business

Innovative York hospitality company, Fabler Bars Ltd, which runs Thor’s Tipi, has extended its portfolio with a York acquisition advised on by North and East Yorkshire law firm, Harrowells. Fabler Bars, run by husband-and-wife directors, Richard and Amanda Monaghan, has bought Dusk Bar, New Street, in a six figure deal, advised by Harrowells’ commercial team, led by partner, Susie Mortonson.

Dusk owner, Andy Knights, who, between 2004 and 2022, developed Dusk to being one of York city centre’s best-known bars put it on the market while he planned a career change and the acquisition, which includes the transfer of 12 bar workers, takes Fabler Bars Ltd full time staff to 20, including Thor’s Tipi, and a multi million pound turnover.

Amanda and Richard Monaghan, who have more than 30 years combined events and hospitality experience, launched pop-up hospitality venture, Thor’s Tipi in 2015 and use Scandinavian-style Tipi’s to run restaurant-bars during summer and Christmas in York, Leeds, Lincoln and Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, London.

The company has worked alongside development organisations including York BID, The Principal York, York City Council, Make It York, Brighton Council, Leeds Council, Lincoln BIG, Nottingham Council, Edinburgh Waverley Mall, and Sheffield City Council as well as supporting many UK events, including major festivals including Wilderness, Download, Leeds Festival and V-Fest.

Amanda Monaghan says: “Dusk Bar popped onto our radar when we were looking to develop our Thor’s business with a bricks and mortar establishment to which we could bring the values of Thor’s and benefit from all-year-round opening. Dusk complements Thor’s and, as well as becoming a valuable part of our business, will be used to train staff and aid our development by adding expertise from mainstream hospitality.

“We will keep the Dusk name, clientele and style but aim to re-brand, refresh and renovate early in 2023. We’ll also bring our ‘pop-up event’ knowledge to Dusk to keep it fresh but this is not a takeover as Dusk is a York institution and we will enhance what makes it special.

“We have been delighted with Harrowells’. Susie Mortonson and her team are always readily available and speak in a straightforward way we understand. They helped to push things through in what was a long-winded process with lots of stakeholders and we appreciated their tenacity and patience.”

Susie Mortonson says: “It was a pleasure to advise Richard and Amanda in broadening the Fabler portfolio. Helping them acquire their first ‘bricks and mortar’ bar is hugely satisfying.

“I am sure that, with their drive and passion for hospitality and the York marketplace, they will make a great success of this venture. It is pleasing to see that businesses are keen to invest in and grow the booming York commercial market. It is testament to the popularity of the city’s hospitality scene that so many businesses want to put down roots here.”

Andy Knights, who plans to volunteer and travel overseas, says: “Richard and Amanda are great people. We had a good relationship throughout the process and I doubt I would have sold it to anyone that I felt would have not looked after Dusk. It still means a lot to me and I’m intrigued by what I will find when I return as a customer in 2023!”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily