York’s medieval ale tasting returns this September

York’s Assize of Ale and Bread returns on Saturday 26 September 2026, bringing a medieval tradition back into the city centre. The free event begins at York Mansion House in St Helen’s Square at 2pm, where the Town Crier will introduce the Sheriff of York for the traditional proclamation. YO1 Radio will provide a fanfare, and owls will also be part of the opening ceremony.

From there, participants will visit several city-centre pubs serving historic-style and local ales. There is a simple costume detail that should appeal to anyone who enjoys York’s medieval atmosphere: visitors wearing medieval or ancient dress receive 10% off drinks at participating pubs. Festival of Fun on Goodramgate is also offering 10% off costume purchases when customers mention “Assize of Ale”. The route finishes at the York Food and Drink Festival Marquee in Parliament Street, where the closing declaration will take place.

The event is based on the old Assize of Bread and Ale, a thirteenth-century law intended to protect customers from poor-quality bread, weak ale and short measures. Officials known as ale-tasters checked what was being sold, while those who failed to meet the rules could face fines or harsher punishment. The tradition is now presented as a family-friendly celebration of York’s brewing history, rather than a formal inspection of the city’s pubs.

York’s historic pub setting gives the afternoon plenty of context. Possible stops sit among some of the city’s oldest licensed premises, including Ye Olde Starre Inn on Stonegate, licensed since 1644, The Golden Fleece on Pavement, dating from 1503, and The Black Swan on Peasholme Green, whose history reaches back to 1417. Other old pubs around the centre include The Royal Oak on Goodramgate, the Snickleway Inn and The Guy Fawkes Inn on High Petergate. The event information does not set out a full pub-by-pub route, so it is worth treating these as part of York’s wider historic pub landscape rather than assuming every one is included.

The day ends with a fish and chip supper at St Sampson’s Centre on Church Street. Tickets for the supper are available through Eventbrite, while joining the ale tasting itself is free. Pre-registration is requested by emailing civicyorkfundraising@yahoo.com; the organisers ask people to include any access needs. Proceeds go to the Lord Mayor’s Charity Fund, supporting York Cares and Shared York.

For anyone interested in the local beer behind York’s pub culture, the timing also sits alongside York CAMRA’s Beer and Cider Festival, running from 16 to 19 September at St Lawrence Parish Church. That event will feature more than 200 beers and ciders, while the Assize of Ale offers a more historical, pub-based way to explore the city’s drinking traditions. Together, they show two different sides of York’s brewing scene: one focused on current producers and one built around a custom that began centuries ago.