TOURIST attractions across York are preparing to throw open their doors to food festival visitors in a variety of fringe events.

The York Festival of Food & Drink, this year from next Friday until September 22, has become an established date in the city's tourism diary and provides a welcome boost to the industry at the end of the summer season.

So it is not surprising that museums, tourism businesses and shops in the city are getting involved with the annual event, holding events as part of the fringe festival.

York Hospitality Association has decided to use the festival to promote its hospitality and tourism job and careers campaign at the Festival Food Theatre in St Sampson's Square.

Around 9,000 people are employed in the tourism industry in York, and there will be training companies on hand at the theatre on Saturday and Sunday, 14 and 15 September and Jobcentre Plus advisers on September 21.

Among the fringe events being held by visitor attractions will be barbecue cruises being run up the Ouse by YorkBoat, accompanied by disco or Caribbean music.

The National Railway Museum will be running railway catering tours during the festival and Clifford's Tower will be hosting a medieval food event with the Countess of Strathearn on the weekend of September 13 to 15. There will alsobe Viking food "to die for" on offer at the Jorvik Centre on the evening of September 19.

The Treasurers' House is holding several events, including two during the afternoon of September 15 - a tasting of Yorkshire cheese and fruit wine, and All Sconed Out! when visitors can sample a plate of different kinds of scones with a pot of tea in the tea room.

There will also be butler's tours operating on September 22 giving visitors the chance to find out how staff lived and worked in the 1920s. The same day will see several Edwardian puddings on offer in the tea room.

To find out more, visit www.yorkfestivaloffoodanddrink.com or telephone 01904 554430. To buy a ticket telephone 0113 384 3808.

Updated: 09:33 Saturday, September 07, 2002