The Merchant Adventurers’ Charity Beer Festival

The Merchant Adventurers’ Charity Beer Festival will return to York this summer for the fourth consecutive year on Friday 3^rd and Saturday 4^th July. Celebrating the finest Yorkshire ales and the artistry of craft brewing, this year’s event is set to raise the bar with a stellar line-up of over 30 guest breweries.

The Merchant Adventurers’ Great Hall, which dates back to 1357, will take centre stage,                                                                                                                                                                                      transforming into a Keg Beer Hall that will showcase up to 30 different ales, beers and lagers while the atmospheric Undercroft of the Hall will become home to a 50-foot Cask Bar, with another 40 beers on offer. Street food, including pizzas and buritos will be available in the garden, alongside more traditional bar snacks.  YO1 Radio will provide the entertainment live from their stage, joined by local artists.  A gin and rum showcase from Hooting Owl will be repeated as well as a Champagne and Wine bar for those who might like the vibe but prefer wine to Ale.

Attendees can also take part in beer & cheese pairing sessions, with Jordan Thompson from Love Cheese or learn about the art of distilling from Hooting Owl Founder, Dom M’Benga.

Five year’s ago, Lee Grabham, Co-founder of Brew York and a Merchant Adventurer, had the idea of hosting a beer festival at the Hall. Lee said:

"2026 promises to be our most impressive festival yet with the addition or a new marquee and outdoor bar. This will help us meet the growing demand for the festival and will bring even greater variety and convenience to the beer offering. Don't miss out on the highlight of the York beer calendar, be sure to buy your ticket soon!”

The festival is a flagship public event that celebrates the city’s vibrant brewing scene, welcoming guests to the oldest building in York while raising vital funds for the Merchant Adventurers Charitable Trust.

Last year, the event attracted 1500 festivalgoers to the iconic Merchant Adventurers’ Hall and raised over £28,000 for the Education Trust that supports educational initiatives for young people across the region including:

• The Merchant Adventurers’ Experience – a project launched in 2022 that has provided free interactive educational visits to over 3400 Key Stage 2 children from primary schools across the county.
• The Merchant Adventurers’ Business and Enterprise Course, in collaboration with the York Independent and State School Partnership (York ISSP) and University of York, which has seen 100 year nine and ten pupils take part in a six-week course focusing on the skills needed to start a business from developing ideas, testing concepts, conducting market research to problem solving.

The charity also supports excellence awards in York College and Derwent Training in Malton as well as the business faculties of both of York’s Universities.

Jim Richardson, Clerk of The Company of Merchant Adventurers’, added: “We’re delighted to see such strong demand for this year’s festival. It’s a wonderful opportunity to welcome people into the Hall, celebrate Yorkshire’s outstanding brewing community and, most importantly, generate vital support for our charitable work with young people across the region.”

Tickets are on sale now for the following dates and time:

• Friday 3^rd July 12pm-4.30pm
• Friday 3^rd July 5.30pm-10pm
• Saturday 4^th July 12pm-4.30pm
• Saturday 4^th July 5.30pm-10pm

Supporters of the event include headline sponsors Brew York, Elvington Brewery and Tadweld and corporate sponsors, Industrial Textiles & Plastics Ltd, Autohorn, Fulprint, YO1 Radio and Yorkshire Mark.

Chris Houston, Tadweld Managing Director, explained: “As a welding and fabrication business supporting the food and drinks sector, Tadweld is absolutely delighted to be the headline sponsor for the Merchant Adventurer's Charity Beer Festival this year. The event supports a fantastic charitable cause, and it does so whilst showcasing the exceptional range of craft breweries we have here in Yorkshire and beyond.”

For further information and to book tickets visit:

Buy tickets – Merchant Adventurers' Charity Beer Festival – Merchant Adventurers' Hall

For further details visit our website: Beer Festival | Merchant Adventurers' Hall