GOODRAMGATE is the best beer street in York. I've said it before but it's worth saying again.

It has something for everyone: classic traditional pubs such as The Snickleway and The Golden Slipper; modern craft beer bars such as Vahe Bar; half-way houses such as The Cross Keys and plenty of choices in between. From Monk Bar through to King's Square, you're spoilt rotten.

York Press: The Snickleway Inn in Goodramgate

The Snickleway, one of the participating pubs

If you don't believe me, then head along next weekend and see for yourself.

Six of the street's landlords and landladies have teamed up to run a three-day charity event, The Goodramgate Ale Trail, for a bit of self-promotion but also for a very good cause, York Against Cancer.

The six hosts are

  • The Old White Swan
  • The Snickleway
  • The Habit
  • The Cross Keys
  • The Golden Slipper
  • The Royal Oak

Participants are asked to pay £1 for a festival postcard, and if they collect a stamp from all six pubs over the three days, they can enter the prize draw, with the pubs and brewers among those donating prizes.

There will be around 70 beers over the three days, says Sarah Skrzypiec from the Royal Oak, from breweries from all over Yorkshire. Each pub has been allocated three breweries, with a range of ales from each.

Confirmed supporters so far include local favourites Half Moon, Brass Castle, Hop Studio, Yorkshire Heart and Treboom, as well as well-known producers from further afield in Yorkshire, such as Acorn, Great Newsome, Hambleton, Revolutions, Salamander and Theakston's.

"We've been talking on and off for about a year about promoting Goodramgate and raising its profile," says Sarah. "And this has just come together quite naturally. We have posters up now in all the pubs promoting it."

Tom Kitt, from the Golden Slipper, says if the event is a success it may be repeated in the summer, to become a twice-a-year festival, potentially involving restaurants in due course as well and with a road closure in summer to make the event more spectacular.

Tom, whose pub will be serving beers from Brass Castle, Timothy Taylor's and Hambleton, said: "Goodramgate has a range of pubs and a real diversity. It's a lovely part of the city and hopefully people will come to see the beers and the Yorkshire breweries and also the pubs."


• PUB chain Nicholson's has launched its "Hop Circle" app. Anyone who downloads it can claim 25p off a cask in the firm's pubs. Its four York venues are Harkers, The Punch Bowl in Stonegate, and The Cross Keys and Old White Swan, both in Goodramgate.