Now that York council has voted to ban A-boards from the city’s streets (except, peculiarly, the street of Micklegate) we must mourn the loss of a creative industry.
For years, small business owners have been amusing and entertaining passers-by with their slogans, puns and observations set out in chalk on these pavement promotions.
Here’s a few we have spotted. If your favourite isn’t here, drop us a line with a pic and we’ll add it in.
A tale of two streets
Gibson’s Bar on Micklegate defines the differences between two of York’s indie streets.
Monday blues
From the Beliebers at Cut And Chase on Goodramgate.
God’s own A-board
Fossgate’s Blue Bell on regional pride.
Otterly silly
The first of our dairy-based puns from Love Cheese on Gillygate.
What every girl wants
An entirely innocent suggestion for Valentine’s Day from Shambles Kitchen.
Dead good
There’s never too much of a good thing at Christmas, suggests Mannions on Blake Street.
Double the fun
Another cheesy joke. Be warned, it’s not the last one.
Safety first
Some security advice from Newgate Coffee Bar.
To brie or not to brie
This time Love Cheese has gone all Lionel Ritchie…
Romance isn’t dead
Gibson’s Bar goes heavy on the romance.
TV treat
Honesty is the best policy at the Pig & Pastry on Bishopthorpe Road.
Note perfect
Love Cheese channels Mariah for Christmas.
Horror story
The Fossgate Social knows its movies.
Rootin’ tootin’
If that doesn’t make you thirsty…
Rhyme time
Bennett’s Cafe on High Petergate readies the mint sauce.
On a winner
Who needs Michelin stars? Not Café 68 on Gillygate.
Morning after
A sign for sore eyes at the Pig & Pastry.
Chemical reaction
The Fossgate Social goes all Breaking Bad on your ass.
Viral hamster
When Jerry Ibbotson tweeted out this Pig & Pastry sign, it was re-tweeted 3,000 times.
Better than a brolly
Before this Love Cheese sign was washed away it read ‘Eating cheese keeps you dry in the rain’ (with the rider ‘may not be scientifically accurate’).
Hair raising
And this is how Albert became a genius. True story, according to Belle’s Bouffe on Bootham.
Getting your oats
The Pig & Pastry’s take on the battle of the sexes.
Summer celebration
Some wonderful chalk work at City Screen.
Spooky verse
Circles Café on Lendal Bridge gets poetic for Halloween.
As a man who can’t see so well ( Yes…I’m blind) I’ll be glad to see the back of them. As humorous as I’m told they are I’m forever sick of tripping over them. Along with the bikes tied to railings, punnets of oranges, and tables and chairs left outside coffee shops occupied by somebody having a leisurely sunday morning latte whilst reading the observer and thinking they embodiment of an episode of friends…A boards are one of the bains of my life!