A self-guided walking trail around the city of York and an opportunity to try samples from some of the best York’s food scene by visiting a range of deli’s, restaurants and suppliers.
We have two Taste Trails for you to enjoy, with each trail featuring around 20 stops to sample the best of York’s food and drink scene as well as a tasting hub with more samples to enjoy.
Participants are to be confirmed but here is last year’s leaflet for your information: East Trail 25 and West Trail 25
You will receive the map and guide outlining the various participating businesses, along with a schedule of when each business is open and offering samples.
The samples provided on the taste trail vary widely depending on the participating businesses, but may include small bites of food, such as cheeses, meats, breads, and desserts, as well as drinks, such as wine or beer.
Overall, the Taste Trail is a fun and engaging way for visitors to sample a wide variety of local food and drink offerings and experience the unique flavours and culture of a particular York.
Tickets are limited to 100 per day – You can either pre-book online or purchase your booklet at the information point while stocks last
Collection of the trail booklet is from the Information Point any day between 10am to 4pm, located on Parliament Street – In front of Claire’s (37 Parliament Street, YO1 8RU)
*Please note:
– Some samples will involve alcohol and therefore under 18s will not be able to participate with all of the stops on the trail.
– While you can collect the booklet between 10am to 4pm, each business has different opening times and some will close as early as 3pm
– Some businesses are closed on specific days.
Did you know that the York Food Festival is a not-for-profit organisation?
Any money generated (from trader fees to ticket sales) goes back into the festival to improve it year after year.
During the festivals we run this demonstration programme for all visitors to the festival to attend.
Please consider making a donation to support this programme and keep it running.
A self-guided walking trail around the city of York, with some of York’s food establishments offering a vegan alternative to their non-vegan samples.
Details are still being confirmed but last year’s participants were: Vegan Trail 25
You will receive a guide map listing the various participating businesses, along with a schedule of when each business is open and offering samples.
The trail features around 20 stops to sample – small bites of food or drink samples – which will vary depending on the participating businesses.
Overall, the Taste Trail is a fun and engaging way for visitors to sample a wide variety of local food and drink offerings and experience the unique flavours and culture of a particular York.
Tickets are very limited – You can either pre-book online or purchase your booklet at the information point while stocks last.
Collection of the trail booklet is from the Information Point any day between 10am to 4pm, located on Parliament Street – In front of Claire’s (37 Parliament Street, YO1 8RU)
*Please note:
– Some samples will involve alcohol and therefore under 18s will not be able to participate with all of the stops on the trail.
– While you can collect the booklet between 10am to 4pm, each business has different opening times and some will close as early as 3pm
– Some businesses are closed on specific days.
Explore York on a Kid Friendly Walking Tour
Explore York finding hidden letters to spell a secret word and finish by tasting some yummy treats at the St Sampson’s Centre Tasting Hub.
A FREE walking tour orientated towards pre-schoolers.
Immerse yourself in hands on kitchen learning
Have you ever wondered how basic ingredients become the foods we love? Get to grips with the processes involved in the Food Factory!
The Food Factory takes you on a hands-on tour exploring the production of several well known food items and York itself. It’s a great opportunity to get your hands dirty (if you want to) making some of these foods yourselves and at each station you’ll get something to try or takeaway!
Times: Fri 18th- Sun 20th 10:30-5pm (last entry at 4pm). Mon 21st-Thurs 24th 3:30-4:30pm (last entry at 4pm). Fri 25th 12pm-2pm (Last entry 1:30). Sat 26th and Sun 27th 10:30-5pm (last entry at 4pm)
Price: FREE. If you can, we kindly ask for donations to cover food costs. Walk-in oriented NO BOOKING REQUIRED
Activity: Bread making, pasta making, dairy (including, butter, ice cream and cheese) and preserving (smoking and salting and fermentation and bottling)
Due to the technical nature of some of the workshops this activity is most suitable to Adults and Family groups with children over 5, but if you want to bring your little one along there’s still plenty for them to do!
For groups of 10 and more, please email admin@yorkfoodfestival.com
Each day of the festival at Noon, we will stage a demonstration in our theatre at the St Sampson’s Center – details to follow.
Explore York Food Festival’s Offers with the famous York on a Fork’s Ben!
Take a guided tour of York Food and Drink Festival’s offers, sampling tasty treats. Learn a new skill at a demonstration in St Sampson’s Centre and try an array of food from local producers.
More information (current timings provisional) and a booking link to follow
Each day of the festival at 1pm, we will stage a demonstration in our theatre at the St Sampson’s Center – details to follow.
Join the Medieval custom of trying the cities Ale Houses
The Assize of Ale and Bread is a medieval tradition that requires the Sheriff of York to visit local pubs, tasting the ale to ensure it is of good quality.
The expensive equipment required for brewing led to a commercial market for these goods, and so a need for regulations to control quality and pricing, therefore the Sheriff summoned their sergeants to visit the city’s ale houses to test the quality of the ale. Any sergeant who failed to answer the summons was guilty of an offence and liable to fines or time in the pillory, so be warned !
Starting at York Mansion House, the event involves participants visiting several pubs in the city centre with the final stop at the York Food and Drink Festival Marquee in Parliament Street for the closing declaration.
Guests are then invited for a Fish and Chip Supper and an ale sponsored and supported by ‘Mr Chippy’, ‘Brew York’ ‘Dough’ and ‘The Potions Cauldron Group’. All this fun, excitement and tradition for only £20, with all proceeds going to the Lord Mayor’s Charity Fund which this year is local charity ‘York Cares’ and community group ‘Shared York’. The event is held at St Sampson’s Centre, York.
Participants wearing medieval or ancient costumes will be eligible to 10% discount off drinks in all the participating pubs. Should you need inspiration, Festival of Fun on Goodramgate is offering 10% off purchases if you quote “Assize of Ale” !
The events starts at 2pm at York Mansion House where the Town Crier will start proceedings by introducing The Sheriff of York to perform the traditional proclamation. There will also be fanfare in St Helen’s Square provided by YO1 Radio with Owls also in attendance.
Please book the Fish and Chips Dinner separately!
EMAIL civicyorkfundraising@yahoo.com TO BOOK
Each day of the festival at 2pm, we will stage a demonstration in our theatre at the St Sampson’s Center – details to follow.
Each day of the festival at 3pm, we will stage a demonstration in our theatre at the St Sampson’s Center – details to follow.
Sample and try different freshly made bread and pastries.
Meet the York based producer Matthew from Dough in York. Sample the different kinds of bread he has to offer and learn something new.
Live For St Leonard’s will return between 18th and 26th September. This live music event is organised by York BID, as part of the York Food & Drink Festival, and all charitable funds raised are donated in aid of St Leonard’s Hospice. Over the last 2 years the initiative has raised nearly £9,000 for the charity. The events is free for the public to attend and St Leonard’s volunteers will be on-site collecting cash and card donations.
This year’s event will feature two separate stage areas with performances running in parallel. The main stage can be found in the marquee on Parliament Street, and the acoustic stage on St Sampsons Square.
Patrons can expect performances from great local talent, every evening from 5pm!
The line up will be published shortly
Join the Assize of Ale for a Fish and Chips and Ale dinner in St Sampson’s Centre
Guests are then invited for a Fish and Chip Supper and an ale sponsored and supported by ‘Mr Chippy’, ‘Brew York’ ‘Dough’ and ‘The Potions Cauldron Group’. All this fun, excitement and tradition for only £20, with all proceeds going to the Lord Mayor’s Charity Fund which this year is local charity ‘York Cares’ and community group ‘Shared York’. The event is held at St Sampson’s Centre, York.
If you are interested in the Assize of Ale Pub Crawl see the separate page or email civicyorkfundraising@yahoo.com
An evening tasting Yorkshire Wines, Beers and Spirits.
A selection of Yorkshire producers will be showcasing some of their finest products, for you to taste and discuss with them. The wine area is co-ordinated by the Festival and hosted on the night by Lucy Hjort from Melton’s restaurant – Lucy has raised awareness of the quality of Yorkshire wines for many years featuring them on her renowned wine flights.
Yorkshire Breweries and Distillers will take a range of stands and offer you the opportunity to meet the makers.
Love Cheese? Love Whisky? Then this is for you.
A collaboration between Jordan at Love Cheese and the team at York Whisky Club pairing 4x Whiskies and 4x generous helpings Cheese.
