Assize of Ale and Bread

The Assize of Ale and Bread returns to York on Saturday 26 September, running from 14:00 to 17:00. It's one of the city's older traditions, and this year it's part of the York Food and Drink Festival, which runs from 18 to 27 September.

If you've never come across it, the Assize grew out of the medieval market for brewing equipment, which was expensive and needed quality and price controls. Back then, the Sheriff of York would summon sergeants to test the ale in the city's alehouses; any sergeant who failed to answer the summons faced fines or time in the pillory. The Sheriff still takes the tasting very seriously.

These days, it's staged as a pub crawl. The Town Crier introduces the Sheriff of York, who performs the traditional proclamation to fanfare in St Helen's Square, and from there the group works its way through several city-centre pubs. All proceeds go to the Lord Mayor's Charity Fund, which this year supports the local charity York Cares and the community group Shared York.

It starts at York Mansion House in St Helen's Square, visits several pubs across the city centre, and finishes at the York Food and Drink Festival Marquee in Parliament Street. The Fish and Chip Supper follows at St Sampson's Centre on Church Street. Tickets are £20, and the supper is a separate purchase.