If you’re hungry for something new, this Bank Holiday weekend will satisfy all your cravings.
York Railway Institute, Queen Street
Fri Apr 29 @ 4pm to Mon May 2 @ 7pm
£5
Craftworks is a four-day festival of street food, drink and music. And organisers the New Ebor Feast are serving up enough of all three to slake the heartiest appetite.
“Its the biggest collection of street food vendors ever brought to the city,” said John Drysdale of New Ebor Feast.
“Likewise with the bars the choice is huge. Due to the length of the event we have really tried to mix things up with the music and entertainment – there should be something for everyone.”
Held in the York Railway Institute, the choice on offer is enough to boggle the tastebuds. Here’s a quick guide…
Street food
Some of the region’s best street food vendors will be here dishing out the flavours of the world. These include…
Smokin Blues BBQ – where you can try their Yorkshire BBQ pork ribs, smoked for five hours over hickory wood
Shambles Kitchen – including their renowned pulled pork bap, made from a secret rub and served with zingy slaw and a choice of sauces
Tikk’s Thai Kitchen – authentic southern Thai street food by chef Tikk, now based in Appleton Roebuck. Try their grilled turmeric chicken skewers – free range chicken thighs marinated in coriander root, turmeric, and thai herbs and lightly chargrilled
Cantina Burrito – try a chicken chilli verde burrito with rice, beans, cheese, sour cream, pico de galo, jalapeños and hot sauce
Fat Annies – you won’t want to miss their bestselling big smoke hot dog, with secret sauce, chipotle ketchup and crispy onions
And many more including: The Mussel Pot, The Donut Kitchen, Kerb Edge, Meltdown Kitchen, Wino, Amos and Welsh, Crepe Lucette and The Reggea Kitchen.
Craft ale
In order to wash down some of that tasty grub, look out for the craft ale stalls. Here are some of the brewers represented:
Beavertown Brewery – “hand crafters of intoxicated alchemistry”, they hail from East London
Mad Hatter Brewing Company – they bring together different brewing styles and techniques “to conjure up toothsome, alchemic, beers and ales for your delectation”. Beers include Penny Lane Pale and Manchester Tart
Evil Twin Brewing – from New York City, they come with intriguing names like Joey F**ing Pepper and Pappy’s Imperial Biscotti Break stout
Northern Monk Brew Co – look out for the classic British pale ale True North and the chocolatey porter Northern Star.
Ainsty Ales and Orchards of Husthwaite Cider will also have their own bar serving artisan ciders, craft beers and locally crafted liquors.
Other beers are available from the likes of Anarchy, Brew By Numbers, Beer Cat and Tiny Rebel Brewery among others.
Scores of spirits
There may never have been so many different rums gathered together in York before.
Here are just a selection…
Golden rum
Ron Barcelo
Brugal
Ron Arehucas
Santa Teresa
Dark Rum
O.V.D Demera rum
Gosling Black Seal
Premium rum
White Rum
Cacique
Diplomatico Reserva
Matusalem Platino
Golden rum
Matusalem 15 y.o
Legendario 7 y.o
Santa Teresa Gran Reserva
Legado Caribeno
Local spirit-crafters Orillo Vodka will have their own bar serving ‘Not so mainstream’ vodka created with Yorkshire water.
Look out too for a cocktail bar and Gatto Bianco Prosecco bar.
Feast of entertainment
Two stages of music accompany the food and drink. Talented DJs involved include Upside Your Mind, Alex T and Harkirit Boparai.
Friday
Described by the Independent as “one of the UK’s top five live bands” – and by Fibbers legend Tim Hornsby as “possibly the most complete band ever” – Hope&Social are a hugely popular Leeds band.
They will play live on Friday night. Entry is £7 – pay on the door post 7pm.
Saturday
Look out for local sounds from Access to Music, and a set from newcomers Bramble Napskins.
Shed Seven’s Alan Leach will host a bout of his popular SpeedQuizzing, where it’s all done via an app on your phone.
There will also be two competitions: Man Vs. Ale and Man Vs. Food with free entry for teams and cash prizes.
Sunday
DJ Yoda takes to the stage bringing a mix of hip hop funk and Eighties vibes. Entry is £10 – pay on the door post 7pm.
And more local talent will be performing until the close of play on Monday.
After four days of feasting on food, drink and entertainment we can all return to work for a rest.
The good news is that the creative folk at New Ebor Feast have more planned, said John:
Over the last year we have created a bit of a collective with food and bar folk and again with the music.
As a group we hope to continue putting similar events on around the city.