York’s tastiest festival returns – with ten days of foodie fun.
Back for its 26th year, the York Food & Drink Festival will take place from Friday 23 September to Sunday 2 October.
The programme will feature an exciting mix of demonstrations, hands-on participation, taste trails, street food, live music and more.
Centred mostly on Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square, this year events will extend across the city and into some of York’s iconic buildings.
We’ve picked out some highlights and put them into a handy guide for you – including an epic cook off between YorkMix Radio and BBC Radio York. Who do you think will come out on top?
There will also be appearances from 2019 Bake Off winner David Atherton, as well as renowned chef Steph Moon.
The music charity event Live for St Leonard’s will also be returning, with performances across eight days from York-based musicians.
There are fun foodie events such as a Pork Pie Competition, York Gin Tasting, and much more.
For more information and to see the full festival programme, please visit the York Food & Drink Festival website.
Shambles Plates
Grab a plate of meats, cheeses, or cured fish to eat at St Sampson’s Square. All sourced from the neighbouring Shambles area.
Treat yourself to a platter of delicious fish, meat or cheese (with vegan option available) to enjoy in at the counter, in the York Gin and Fizz Bar enclosure or while taking in one of our chef demonstrations. Sourced from Shambles Market (or alongside) all this produce has great provenance and we’ve been sure to choose the best.
- Demonstration Theatre, St Sampson’s Square
- 23 Sep – 2 Oct
- All day
Hidden Gems Food Tour of York
Tours in a Dish are passionate about food, people and stories. Their food tours and experiences take you off the beaten path and into the culinary heart of York.
- Various locations
- 23, 30 Sep
- 11:30am – 2:30pm
- £55 per person. Booking essential
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!
- Coppergate Centre and Museum Gardens
- 23 Sep – 2 Oct
- 1-4pm
- Free
Trending
Live for St Leonard’s
Live For St Leonard’s’ is returning as part of York Food & Drink Festival 2022! This local music charity event, taking place across eight days, is in aid of St Leonard’s Hospice, featuring live performances from musicians based in York and the surrounding area.
- Entertainment Marquee, Parliament Street
- 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30 Sep, 1 Oct
- 5-9pm
- Free
Book Signing with David Atherton
Meet 2019 Bake Off winner David Atherton and get your copy of his book signed!
- Waterstones, 15 Coney Street York YO1 9QL
- 24 Sep
- 12-1pm
Yorkshire International Tea Festival
The Yorkshire International Tea Festival will feature an exhibition of the history of tea-making in both China and in Yorkshire.
- York Mansion House, St Helen’s Square, York, YO1 9QL
- 25 Sep – 2 Oct
- All day
Skosh
Neil Bentinck, the head chef and owner of Skosh is always unmissable in our Demonstration Theatre. Skosh has won rave reviews from the likes of Jay Rayner and holds a Michelin Bib-Gourmand. Join Neil to see the attention to detail and commitment this success demands.
- Demonstration Theatre, St Sampson’s Square
- 25 Sep
- 12-1pm
- Free
Junior Chef Contest Finals
The finalists in our Junior Chef competition will be competing to take home the top prize! Cheer on the future of York hospitality.
- Demonstration Theatre, St Sampson’s Square
- 26 Sep
- 1-4pm
- Free
YorkMix Radio vs BBC Radio York Cook Off
Presenters from YorkMix Radio and BBC Radio York will be joining us on stage for an epic battle to see which of them employs the best cook. Chef Tutor Marc Williams from The Cookery School at The Grand will be setting the task and judging the winner.
- Demonstration Theatre, St Sampson’s Square
- 27 Sep
- 3-5pm
- Free
Steph Moon
Yorkshire Chef Consultant for all things food and regional evangelist Steph joins us to represent Forest at Galtres Lodge.
- Demonstration Theatre, St Sampson’s Square
- 28 Sep
- 1-2pm
- Free
Ukrainian cooking demonstration
Olga who came to York as a refugee recently will be making borscht and explaining about why this soup is so much more that just a meal and how it is part of Ukrainian culture.
- Demonstration Theatre, St Sampson’s Square
- 28 Sep
- 3-4pm
- Free
York Gin Tasting
Join an exclusive hour-long gin tasting with the York Gin experts. Learn to drink gin like a pro, find out how gin is made, enjoy a range of tasters, and more.
- Demonstration Theatre, St Sampson’s Square
- 28 Sep
- 4-5pm
- £5 per person. Booking essential
Syrian Pop-Up Restaurant
Join Yahala Mataam for an Arabic Feast! Yahala Restaurant is a Pop-up restaurant, opening up for one night a month. It started as a partnership project between the Refugee Council, York City Church and a group of gifted chefs from Syria.
- The Citadel, Gillygate York YO31 7EA
- 29 Sep
- 7-10pm
- Suggested donation of £16-22 per person. Booking essential
Sushi Demonstration with Sora
A chef from York’s Sky Bar Sora will be joining us to explain the intricacies of making Sushi.
- Demonstration Theatre, St Sampson’s Square
- 30 Sep
- 2-3pm
- Free
Pork Pie Competition
Take on the arduous task of assessing the best Pork Pies in York in stunning Bedern Hall. Did you know that before restoration Bedern Hall was part of William Wright’s Pork Butchers, famed across the City for their pies? In search of the perfect pie, we’ve invited local pie makers to enter their very best pies for you to judge and vote for your favourites.
- Bedern Hall, Bartle Garth, St Andrewgate, York, YO1 7AL
- 30 Sep
- 4-7pm
- £7.50 per person. Booking essential
Brew York Beer Tasting Session
Join the experts from Brew York to hear about, and more importantly sample, some of their incredible beer range.
- Demonstration Theatre, St Sampson’s Square
- 1 Oct
- 4-5pm
- £10 per person. Booking essential
Rafi’s Spicebox
Kevin Fernandez joins us from York stalwart Rafi’s Spicebox.
- Demonstration Theatre, St Sampson’s Square
- 2 Oct
- 3-4pm
- Free