Nestled in the Old School House (and backed by a crowdfunding campaign that clearly tapped into the city's nostalgia), the Centre aims to revive York’s centuries-old printing heritage - now open to anyone curious about the magic of getting ink onto paper.

With workshops, events, and even business away days (for those who fancy a more creative break from the office), Thin Ice Press is where history and hands-on printing collide. Plus, it’s all happening in a space packed with vintage presses that are as old as some of your great-great-grandparents - including a Columbian press from 1845 and an Albion press from 1853. Not your average office printer!

The Centre’s origins lie in the University of York’s StreetLife project, which injected some culture back into Coney Street post-pandemic. During the project, the star attraction was an iron handpress that once clanked away in York’s old newspaper industry. Now it’s found a permanent home among other presses, ready to dazzle visitors with a taste of old-school printing.

And here’s a fun fact: Thin Ice Press gets its quirky name from York’s very own Thomas Gent, the printer who boldly set up shop on the frozen River Ouse during the 1740 freeze, printing souvenirs for curious onlookers. Talk about dedication!

Professor Helen Smith, co-director of the Centre, said, “We’ve had an amazing response from visitors and businesses alike. The Centre isn’t just about learning how to operate these beautiful machines; it’s also about celebrating the creativity involved in printing - and keeping alive a craft that’s rapidly disappearing.”

Thin Ice Press will be showing off its skills at the York Book Fair on 13th September, with a grand opening shortly after at its home on St Anthony's Gardens. If you love the smell of ink and the satisfying clunk of a press in action, this is the place for you!