The first Triple Crown event of the season is just a few weeks away as the York Barbican will host the MrQ UK Championship from November 25 to December 3.
By Tomos Wyn Jones
Mark Allen will be defending the title against the world’s finest. Tickets and VIP packages for certain sessions are still available – for details click here. If you’ve got seats booked already, or if you’re thinking of making the trip, here’s some more information about one of the UK’s finest cities…
Getting to York
Travelling by car, from the A1(M) take either the A59 or A64 and head for York centre, as the Barbican is right in the heart of the city. York has fantastic train links, with London just two hours away, and Edinburgh just two and half hours. The train station is 15 minutes walk from the venue. The closest airport to York is Leeds-Bradford, an hour away. Click here for more travel information.
The Venue
The Barbican is widely renowned as one of snooker’s best venues. Last year, the format was changed so that only two tables are in play in the arena, adding to the atmosphere. There will also be plenty to do for fans around the venue, with details to be announced soon. The Barbican first staged this historic event from 2001 to 2006, and after a brief hiatus when the event was played in Telford, it has been ever present in York since 2011.
What is there to do in the city?
Located on the rivers of Ouse and Foss, York is the 12th most populous area in Yorkshire, with a population of nearly 210,000. There are a wide range of activities to explore the remarkable history of a city founded by the Romans in 71AD.
National Railway Museum
If you love trains and the railways, then this is the place to immerse yourself at the home of iconic locomotives and collections of engineering brilliance. It’s open seven days a week and admission is free.
York Minster
Dating back to medieval times, this Church of England Cathedral features 14th and 15th century-stained glass, stonework and tombs. Since the start of the seventh century, it has been the home of Christianity in the North of England, establishing itself as one of the world’s most recognisable cathedrals. There is access to the public daily between 9:30am – 3:30pm, with adult tickets for £16, and children under 17 free (when accompanied by an adult).
York City Walls
A visit to York is not complete without strolling the circumference of the city along the two miles of walls that have guarded the centre for the last 2,000 years. There are bespoke guided tours available if you want to delve deeper into the stories of the past.
For more information on these attractions and much more, click here or here.
Local Food and Drink
The greatest local delicacy of course is Yorkshire pudding, which can be enjoyed with a roast dinner or as the foundation for ‘Toad-in-the-Hole’. Enjoy either of those dishes with a pint of Old Peculier from the famous Theakston Brewery in North Yorkshire. And if you have a sweet tooth, try the Yorkshire Curd Tart, made with shortcrust pastry, curd cheese, eggs, lemon, butter, currants and nutmeg. For a list of restaurants in York, click here.
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