York Guided Historic Pub Walks

York Guided Historic Pub Walks are back on Saturday 12 September, with the tour starting outside the National Trust shop at the junction of College Street and Goodramgate. It's a guided walk through some of the city's oldest pubs, and the whole thing runs for about two hours.

The walk works an alternative history of York through its pubs, playing on the city's reputation for having one for every day of the year, with some dating back to the 16th century. The route runs against the backdrop of Georgian York, a period of great change, building and drama, and the guide threads in the people and events attached to the buildings: inquests, riots, politics, plagues, religious influence, strange auctions and bizarre entertainments. It's less about the drinks and more about the stories that cling to the walls.

Leading the way is Keith Martin, an experienced volunteer city guide. He's the one who ties the pubs into that wider Georgian picture, so you'll get the history of the buildings alongside the oddities that happened inside them. A reviewer, Fiona Laing, noted that the walk traces the history of some of York's oldest pubs, and one visitor, Laura, called it the best city tour she'd ever been on.

Every pound raised goes to Keep Your Pet, a project run by Age UK York that helps older people look after their pets when health or other difficulties make it hard. It's a free reservation, with a donation of £8.00 per person requested on attendance — that drops to a minimum of £7.00 per person for groups of four or more. The walk starts at 7:00pm and finishes around 9:00pm, so you'll be done in time for a proper drink of your own.