Harkers, York

Harkers is a pub in the city centre of York, in England.

The pub, in 2010

The building was designed by George Townsend Andrews as the headquarters of the Yorkshire Insurance Company.[1] It was completed in 1847, and lies on St Helen's Square, at its corner with Lendal. It was grade II listed in 1968.[2] In the 1990s, it was converted into a pub.[3] The pub is owned by the Mitchells & Butlers group. It was renovated in 2022.[4]

The design of the building is inspired by the Palazzo Farnese in Rome. It is a sandstone building of two storeys, plus a basement and attic. Its front to St Helen's Square is five bays wide, with an additional bay being an entrance arch to Breary's Court. The main entrance has a Doric order porch, up five stone steps, with double doors. There is a prominent frieze under the cornice, reading "YORKSHIRE INSURANCE COMPANY ESTABLISHED MDCCXXIIII". The Lendal front is also of five bays and of similar design, but all the windows are blocked.[1][2]

Inside, the original interior survives, including a staircase with a cast iron balustrade, a mahogany counter, doors and panelling, and plasterwork including a cornice. The boardroom on the first floor has a fireplace in the 18th century style. The railings in front of the building are also original and form part of the listing.[1][2]