After a beautiful summer of vibrant events, shared meals and fun at Spark, we are spending this week preparing for Rig Week: our one-week closure from 14 September to 18 September.
That’s right! Next week we will be closing our doors to the public for five days to re-install our roof ahead of the colder, wetter months.
So, consider this a reminder. Mark your calendar for not one night, or even one weekend, but two whole weekends of relaunch activities to mark the beginning of a wonderful autumn and winter at Spark.
On Friday, 14 September at 17:00, we will open our doors to you. We will have a tattoo airbrush station by FacePaint York ready to get you in the mood for a live set at PicTap with DJ Jonny Hooker. Get here before 20:30 to grab your headphones and a drink for some boogying.
Our bars will be launching their new menus on Friday evening as well, so come ready to try incredible seasonal cocktails, draught beers and a wide range of low and no alcohol bevvies.
On Saturday, we launch our Wellbeing Collective. As part of this, we are offering two free events (advance booking required): Yoga with Harriet and a Candlelit Sound Bath with Cultivate Kindness. Both Harriet and Cultivate Kindness, along with a handful of wellbeing event facilitators, are launching a lineup of incredible yoga classes, sound baths, breathwork and meditation events and more. This is just the beginning. If you are looking for a new home for your wellbeing and movement practices, check out our Wellbeing Page for the full lineup.
At 12pm, our new pop-up space opens for the weekend, featuring George Cares. They will be bringing elevated sharing plates to Spark through Sunday the 20th.
Starting at 1pm, stop by and chat with Molly Ovendon, a typewriting poet who will be here for a few hours to write you contemplative poetry as you cosy up in our revamped space.
As the evening progresses, Issy Green will take to the decks and play some tunes while you enjoy our new cocktail menu, including autumnal bevvies like the Spiced Apple High-Ball, Salted Caramel Espresso Martini and a local classic, the Yorkshire Bramble.
On Sunday, enjoy calming activities for all ages, including a free kids’ crafting workshop with Avocado events, a watercolour class upstairs and games and crafting around the venue.
The photobooth will be free for a few hours throughout our first relaunch weekend. Keep your eyes peeled for announcements regarding timing!
On the second weekend of relaunch programming, we are focusing on community and impact.
To kick things off, join local legend and DJ Jono for tunes at PicTap. Bee’s Khraw will be serving up authentic Thai dishes from our newly refurbed pop-up unit.
On Saturday the 27th, join us for a double film screening and Q&A fundraiser for The Hanoon Foundation. We will be screening two documentary films: No Other Land – West Bank (Oscar-winning film, 2025) and Gaza by Andrew McConnell (2019). The film will be followed by a brief Q&A with Manal Massalha, Urban Sociologist and Ethnographer, and Dr Khaled Dawas, Consultant Surgeon (UCLH) and Vice Chair of The Hanoon Foundation. Dr Khaled Dawas has been on emergency medical missions to Gaza.
To round out the weekend, join Teapot Solidarity Space on Sunday for a breathwork and meditation event, followed by a community meal by Waqif Arabian Kitchen. All proceeds will go to The Hanoon Foundation.
Expect another opportunity to connect, make new friends and get creative as the games and crafting materials will come back out on Sunday evening.
We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
