"Somewhere its ATE O'CLOCK" - newly refurbished restaurant in High Ousegate looking stunning!

Last Thursday saw the official relaunch of ATE O’CLOCK situated in High Ousegate.  Oh what a night! You can’t miss it!  Unmistakeable glitzy and glamourous not only on the inside but the outside as well.

Last Thursday saw the official relaunch of ATE O’CLOCK situated in High Ousegate.  Oh what a night! The atmosphere was great with superb food and drinks. The place was buzzing and everyone so complementary about the transformation.

You can’t miss it!  Unmistakeable glitzy and glamourous not only on the inside but the outside as well.

The smiles and happiness etched on the owners, management and staffs faces relayed how pleased they are with the result of the restaurant’s makeover and the response of their guests.  Jonathan Morgan Design from Skipwith was commissioned for the design makeover.  Emily, who is involved in the management of the business (HR and Finance Manager but I'm sure she does lots more!) and married to one of the partners told me "We genuinely love the business so much and we hope that shows to guests. It is very much a family feel and we are so excited to be moving forward with the new design and new menus”.  

A very happy waitress

The Restaurant menu is "British with a mediterranean and modern twist" and the ethos of the management is that "everybody has a good time - a good lunch or evening". 

In 2017 the restaurant was made larger and more accessible but they they still wanted to expand - to provide more space due to demand and create space for a drink, relax and some music - Social 8 was born!

The addition of Social 8 Lounge & Cocktail bar with a bar menu has improved the dynamics of the family run business (in the adjacent premises which used to be Joy Store).  Open everyday from 12pm until late with a choice of brunch and lunch served 12 -5pm as well as small plates/sharers from 12 –10pm and a Bottomless Brunch menu.  The drinks menus is extensive with signature cocktails as well as the traditional ones (a mixologist help create the cocktails).

 Ate O'Clock | York Restaurant, Bistro & Lounge Bar (ateoclock.co.uk) Ate O'Clock | York | Facebook

You can meander in through Social 8 have drinks in the plush pink themed bar and order the bar menu or work your way down the back to the various restaurant areas including the original arched alleyway (covered and heated) and end up back again in Social 8 after! Its all connected and they are dog friendly. Private dining is also offered upstairs.

                Social 8 Lounge entrance                                                  Photograph: Ate O'Clock | York | Facebook

Social8 | York's premier Lounge Bar | Cocktails, beers, food & more (social8bar.co.uk)

Restaurant

All the areas are distinctive but flow from one to the other - opulent but cosy, warm and inviting.

Restaurant - Alley area and bar

I spoke to Emily who is part of the management and is married to Ahmet one of the three brothers (Ahmet, Savas and Ali Adiguzel) who own the business and asked her about the background to acquiring ATE O'CLOCK which has been in High Ousegate since early 2000.  

Can you give me some background on how you came to acquire ATE O’CLOCK?

Emily said “ we have always been keen on the concept of hospitality venues with outside areas. Maybe it is to do with the directors’ Mediterranean heritage, or our love of that “holiday” feeling? I’m not sure why - but outside space just always seemed important to us. We came across Ate O’Clock some years ago and Ahmet (the director that is my husband) took me on what he told me was a “date night” there (which was true, but also because he wanted to check the place out!)”.

It just so happened it came up for sale (the business) soon after but we unfortunately missed out on that opportunity and instead opened another business (more on that in a minute). However, many months later, whatever deal had been made with someone else for the purchase of Ate O’Clock, it fell through, and we finally got the chance to take over the “one that almost got away”. 

What is the brothers background?

“The brothers are Kurdish from Turkey. They all grew up in Turkey and then Ahmet moved here in 2005. We met as teenagers (we have been married 17 years). His brothers joined in the years that followed.  Ahmet is primarily a barber but all 3 brothers have worked in numerous hospitality jobs over the years. Ali more so in bars/mixology.  Savas is a trained chef and worked in restaurants. Hospitality was always what we wanted to do”.

When we thought we missed out on Ate O’Clock we leased a property on Stonebow that was a cafe. The brothers ran it as a cafe/cocktail bar called Havana. It did very well, especially among the younger crowd back then with it being in the same area as Fibbers. Unfortunately (or maybe not) the whole Stonebow building was sold on and all tenants were asked to leave for the major refurbishments that have since taken place there. It was just after this, Ate O’Clock come back on the market - it was really meant to be!”.

Have you always been involved in the business? 

“I have always been involved, albeit in the beginning I was more supporting it from home (emails, bookings, Christmas events, etc) as I had 3 young children. The children are now 9, 12 & 16 so this has allowed me to get involved in the day to day running of the restaurant on a permanent basis a few years back (and then Covid hit!). 

ATE O'CLOCK is Jorvik Radio's Business of the Week this week and Emily visited the studios on Monday morning for an interview with Nick Love on "Love in the Morning".  You can listen to the interview using the "LISTEN AGAIN" feature: Listen Again - Jorvik Radio

Emily announced the winner of Jorvik Radios competition:  "Dinner for two with wine and cocktails" at ATE O'CLOCK.  Congratulations to Antonia Claire!#

All photographs: Jorvik Radio unless indicated