LAURA CONNOR finds out how to use the York Passport to pick up a range of great discounts.

BEFORE setting off on my trip round York to see what bargains I could pick up with my York Passport, I dropped in to quirky delicatessen The Hairy Fig, in Fossgate.

I was treated to a free cappuccino after buying items valued at more than £5 from their wide range of wines, cheeses, chocolates, vinegars and oils.

It was served in the new cosy café section of the shop by owner Sue Hardie. Sue said: “The passport will definitely help business over the summer.”

Thoughts of summer in mind, I strolled to Colliergate to browse garden furniture in Barnitts.

With the passport, I was able to get 15 per cent off outdoor benches, tables and chairs. Chris Snowden, the shop’s manager, said: “Anything that encourages more residents to visit the store is a great idea.”

After a quick walk through the city centre I dropped in at Banks’s Music store, in Lendal, to see which CDs I could get a discount on. Using the passport, which is valid until September 30, I managed to get £1 off any CD in their extensive range of classical, blues and jazz music.

The store has recently expanded its musicals section, and introduced a country and folk section.

Melanie Cole, manager of the store’s CD department, seemed to see the benefits of the scheme.

“It will definitely boost sales,”

Melanie said. “I’m sure a lot of people will use it.”

Bumping into a friend after my afternoon of shopping, I was drawn to the benefits of the scheme for hard-up students in the area.

Commenting on the ten per cent discount available on products purchased from Fulford’s popular York Designer Outlet, University of York student Sam Newsome, 19, said: “For a student, this is a godsend.”

• Readers of The Press can win an overnight stay at the new fivestar Cedar Court Grand Hotel in Station Rise, York by sending passports with at least five stamps to Visit York, 1 Museum Street, YO1 7DT before the deadline of September 30.