1331, York

Owned by Sam and Jan Robinson

By Fenella O’Brien

York has more bars than days of the year, so for most it’s hard to make an impression. That isn’t the case for the bar and restaurant 1331 (pronounced Thirteen Thirty-one). When you walk into 1331 through a small nook on Grape Lane, you are met with a long bar with friendly staff. Their ‘secret garden’ is a local favourite, providing alfresco dining as well as outdoor heating and Bluetooth speakers; you control the atmosphere. In the morning, with their extensive breakfast menu, you can sit in their courtyard bar, watch the BBC with a coffee, with an easy-going café-style vibe. In the afternoon, there is almost always a football game showing in their bar, lounge, or cinema room. And in the evening, 1331 is often the host to many functions, as well as running their own events like their live DJ every Friday night or bank holiday Sunday Soul evenings.

The creation of 1331 was “accidental” says Sam Robinson, who owns the bar with his wife Jan. They had a “dream of a small guest house or a little bistro…. A pipe dream…in the back of your head that never happens.” What they were initially offered was a much smaller version of the 1331 you might find today; the bar was half the size and there was no dining area next to the street, as well as not having their ‘secret garden’ out the back. Jan remembered how initially “nobody used to come in here.” Apart from Wilde’s at the end of the street, there was none of the now lively restaurants and bars that make Grape Lane such a go-to location. “It was hard” Jan told me, to which Sam joked “be careful what you wish for. When it happens, you say hang on, it’s not the same as the dream!”

The two took a leap of faith, without knowing how to do most of the fundamentals. Jan used to waitress and Sam had once worked in a bar, but “we had to learn everything” said Jan. “It was a massive learning curve. Luckily, we had friends in the industry we could call on, every day at about eight o’clock when nothing was working” Sam laughed. “But we have seen big changes over the 15 years.”

From the tough moments to the great successes, Sam and Jan told me all about how they took this little bar from a humble beginning into a lively, welcoming, and most importantly busy place. And, indeed, 1331 has seen many changes.

What is now a pool-room was once a fine-dining restaurant. The restaurant had been running for 20 years before Sam and Jan intertied it, and was well known on the York food scene “but everything changed in a couple of years” said Sam “when more and more restaurants turned up, a lot more chains, and kind of became hard work because its on the third story, it’s got a horrible entrance to be fair…it’s difficult to get people up. And when we extended downstairs and the British people got into al fresco everything, basically if they can be outside that’s all they want to be, we found it quite difficult to get people upstairs, so we converted it into the pool room.”

“Well we closed it for a year just because we didn’t know what we were going to do with it” Jan added. “We thought about doing more Air BnB but realised we couldn’t cope with that.”

The pair also commented that running two cuisines made for a difficult dining experience, especially with the increasing importance of Trip Advisor. “We had two faces. We had the fine dining on the top floor and we had the more casual dining downstairs.” But, that history in fine dining can be seen in their new, creative “After 6” menu, featuring dishes such as the duck orange soup, beef wellington, and the brownie trifle with Bailey’s cream.

Both Sam and Jan were adamant that being adaptable to change was what continued to make 1331 such a success, as Sam remarked that “it’s about always keeping yourself current. Keeping ourselves looking independent, because it’s quite a big unit so you could kind of easily be seen as a chain because of the size of the rooms. So, that’s the thing we will always try to do is to keep that independent feel. And we do this by being completely amateur all the time” Sam ended jokingly. “And changing things as we need to” Jan added. Sam concluded that “You’ve got to not be too proud about things. If a thing not working, the best thing to do is to get rid of it, but you have to be tough on yourself to create something else.”

To be able to change has allowed 1331 to keep itself current, appealing to families and many different generations. Currently, 1331 has just under 350 members (those who buy a membership card which gives them 10% off food and drink and access to the pool room for the year). On how they achieved this, Jan laughed that “it’s us being out a lot.”

“In the early stages it’s about us being very social. We do have loads of regulars, but it has taken years.” Sam added. To create this independent feel to 1331, Sam and Jan have created a bar that feels as though you are going round to their place for a drink. Relaxing, easy-going, and fun. “Creating that environment where people come in, the customer recognizes the bar staff, and the bar staff recognizes the customer. We like to think that we are a place where if you were out on your own, you would be comfortable coming here and sitting with a drink at the bar. And I think we have achieved that.”

It’s not just talk, they really have built this sense of independence that draws people in. Half way through out interview, a large group came into the bar whom happened to be old friends of Sam and Jan’s. The pair spent a few moments catching up and having a laugh, and not many places you will walk in and be so easily remembered, nor so immediately at ease with the owners. This is the charm of 1331.

“It was fifteen-years ago, so we didn’t mind being out and social” Jan added. Over the years they feel confident enough in the environment they have created and a confidence in their front of house and bar staff to carry on this social and welcoming atmosphere.

The bar and restaurant has been undergoing a large refurbishment since the start of the year, changing the location of the bar from the left hand side to now face the entrance, greeting customers as they come in, and also changing the décor of the restaurant. Included in these recent changes is a collaboration with Heavy Elephant to create “The Cheese Trader”, an eye-catching bright yellow cheese shop next to the pub, which serves hot cheese on toast as well as a rich array of gourmet cheese.

1331 over the years has also been heavily influenced by Sam and Jan’s own passions. From their 2-4-1 cocktails like “Mrs Robinson’s Punch”, their Hitchcock inspired AirBnB names with “39 steps” and “Vertigo”, as well as the bright posters that wrap around the bar and restaurant of their favourite bands and singers. Even a painting by Sam of him and his brother is hanging on the walls. They listed places around the whole building where these influences have been added over the years, intentionally and by chance, and it’s all part, again, of what makes 1331 so wholly independent.

“We don’t want to be on trend, we just want to carry on being an independent bar which people feel safe coming to.” The couple also commented on York’s affinity to draw large amounts of stag-dos and hen parties, which while can be great when trying to get people through the door, they will always prefer locals and hosting functions and events. “They are drunk before they even get here” Jan said, “I’d rather have a function than the race-goers.”

“You’re just another bar to them, were not 1331” Sam added. The pair want to focus on making sure customers can make the best memories from 1331, and their functions are a great way they do so. 1331 is also a popular wedding venue, a testament to the respect the bar has among locals.

1331 holds amazing memories for so many; from the great functions the establishment has seen over the years, to the great Saturday nights and Sunday morning brunches. However, it’s not just the nostalgia that brings people to 1331, it’s knowing they are going to make new memories every time they come.

Follow 1331 on:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/1331york

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1331york

And see their website: http://www.1331-york.co.uk/