IL Spring 2023 (Mag 25)

Yasmin and Amber Le Bon wear Raindance

SPRING SALUTATIONS

As we enter the Spring, it is a time to rejuvenate, reinvigorate and revive. Light and warmth replace cold days and dark nights, and this issue of Independent Life is here to celebrate Yorkshire blooming into life for the season. The magazine features the finest food and drink across the county, reveals the best entertainment and culture in our cities and towns, and enjoys the most luxurious shopping and diverse lifestyles in Leeds, York and throughout Yorkshire. Released on International Women’s Day, there are also articles to showcase some of the many talented and inspirational women doing great things here. With all of this and more, you can leap into the season with a spring in your step.

John Barran - Editor: john@independentlife.co.uk Sarah Laycock - Sales: sarah@independentlife.co.uk

www.independentlife.co.uk

Leeds.independentlife | York.independentlife | Yorkshire.independentlife

COVER

Freedom of Kites by Sally Tebb: I love the Holderness landscape. Its big skies and wide-open spaces never fail to inspire me and it’s easy to see their influence in my work. But I am not a landscape painter and the physical world is only one of the starting points. Memory, emotion, and story are equally important. Of all my influences, colour is king. Sally Tebb is exhibiting at Morten Gallery, Bridlington. Thanks to Jenny Morten for her support.

Contents

FOOD & DRINK

FLOUR POWER - Celebrating talented female Yorkshire bakers. FINDING THEIR VOICE - The story of the empowering Wren Bakery.

SPRING FRESH - Seasonal produce from great greengrocers.

A LOAD OF RHUBARB - Visiting the unique Rhubarb Triangle.

BREAKING BREAD - The culture and cuisine of Syria at Bab Tooma.

DRINKING IN THE SPRING - Wine choices from The Wright Wine Company.

ITALIAN PASSION, NORTHERN SOUL - The journey of Devour at the Dyehouse.

THE EDIBLE OUTDOORS - Wild garlic foraging with Edible Leeds.

THE GOOD LANDLORD - Behind the scenes at brewery Timothy Taylor’s.

QUEENS OF THE VEGAN AGE - Plant based eating at The Nut and Nettle.

ECO EVOLUTIONARIES - Remedy and UYO on sustainable hospitality in York.

ENTERTAINMENT & CULTURE

WHAT’S ON - Our pick of events in Yorkshire for this season.

WOMEN IN MUSIC - Showcasing the diverse female talent in the local music scene.

CREATE IN LEEDS - The creative alumni of Leeds Arts University.

CARVING OUT A NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD - Inside York Minster Neighbourhood Plan.

SCULPTURE CULTURE - Sculptural creations in Yorkshire by Peter Coates.

LEEDS, HYDE PARK - Illustrations of Hyde Park in Leeds.

MY CITY - Musician Cole LC reveals his favourite pieces of Leeds.

THE ART OF MOVEMENT - The story of local legends Northern Ballet.

SHOPPING & LIFESTYLE

TAKE THE LONG ROAD AND WALK IT - Wonderful walks in the Yorkshire Dales.

LIVING FOR TODAY - Insight to the housing market from York’s Churchills.

FASHION INSPIRATION - Fabulous females creating waves in the fashion world.

CONEY STREET RENAISSANCE - The riverside revival of York’s Coney Street.

EVERY HEAD A BED - How Zarach are on a mission to leave no child without.

SARTORIAL CITY - The stylish story of Yorkshire tailors Carl Stuart.

YORKSHIRE TRIPPING - Visiting the handsome towns of Knaresborough and Halifax.

FLOUR POWER

A baker’s dozen of the talented female bakers from all over Yorkshire.

Caroline Sellers, Side Oven Bakery, Foston on the Wolds @sideoven

I have always had an interest in baking. Then in 2003 I founded the Side Oven Bakery from our farmhouse kitchenwe grow high quality milling wheat on the farm and the idea was to be able to mill and bake with what we grow. Since moving to our custom built bakery we now make a wide range of artisan breads and croissants for our Farm & Bakery Open Days, made with Primitive and Ancient grains both grown and milled here on our family farm. And this summer we are also planning to open our pop up cafe on the farm!

Sally Cunningham, Forge Bakehouse, Sheffield @something_to_proof

For me there’s always been a sense of nostalgia attached to baking. I’d help my mum and dad bake, decorate cakes with my grandma and make my own gingerbread houses for Christmas. I worked photographing food and at home would bake for my family and friends - this made me realise I much prefer making food than taking photos of it! I found out about the Advanced Diploma course at The School of Artisan Food and discovered the wonderful world of sourdough - it’s healthier for your gut and full of flavour. Baking evolved into something I became completely immersed in. I found my current job, a Senior Sourdough Baker at a lovely little bakery called Forge Bakehouse - it’s all about Sourdough!

Megan McSharry, Haxby Bakehouse, Haxby @yorkshire_loaf

Around 5 years ago I was feeling unfulfilled in my career, quit my job and enrolled at Le Cordon Bleu on the Boulangerie diploma. I caught the bread bug and went on to study at The School of Artisan Food. I managed to walk straight into a head bakers position at Marmadukes in Sheffield and have now relocated back to York where I am at Haxby Bakehouse. It has always been a dream of mine to work here with Phil and the team - we work hard and make great bread, it’s the best job I’ve ever had. Baking makes me happy and I want the bread to make others happy - there’s nothing nicer than a freshly baked loaf of sourdough with loads of butter!

Maddie Reynolds, Namasdough, York @namasdough

Being diagnosed with a chronic illness drove me further into baking as it became a necessity to be able to eat. I have absorbed as much information as I can since then to carry over in allergen free baking. I began Namasdough just before lockdown - people would order through my Instagram and many a stressful evening was had throwing things into my uneven tiny kitchen oven. I moved to completely gluten free at the beginning of 2022 and finally got a proper bread oven. Everything I bake is small batch, individual, vegan, NGCI and top allergen free - and it’s baked with calm and peace from my yogi heart. The community of York have been so kind, loving and understanding.

Lisa Fraser, Edward St Bakery, Saltaire @edwardstbakery

I did a degree in fashion and went to work in London but was more interested in the world of food. I came home and took a job at Salts Diner in Saltaire - once I arrived at the pizza section it clicked. There’s just something magical about hot ovens and dough. After moving around a couple of restaurants in Leeds, a little start up bakery in Shipley, and Lishmans Butchers in Ilkley, I started Edward St Bakery as a pop up from my house. Now we’ve got a shop on Bingley Road! The products we make are based on my favourite foods and childhood memories - I don’t worry about food being authentic, it’s just got to be delicious. All I care about in the world of food is making people smile.

Lydia Brown, Nova Bakehouse, Leeds @lydiamarnebakes

I have always been a keen baker, then when the world went into lockdown I was one of the many who started making sourdough bread - a lot of trial and error but very much a labour of love. I started working at Nova Bakehouse last year, my first professional baking job and I couldn’t love it more. I have learnt so much in such a short time. They have strong ethics at the heart of the business, a focus on fresh flour and good quality produce. I have also been plant based for 5 years, so I often try to adapt recipes into plant based ones.

Roxy Riley, Flour and Feast, Hull @roxyriley_flourandfeast

I did a part time course in patisserie at my local college then got my first baking job in a small local bakery. Looking for more advanced baking work took me to a few different kitchens, and then to London where I worked for Gail’s bakery, which was a real eye opener. Back in my home town of Hull, I opened my own bakery in a small unit with my partner Joe. We outgrew the space within a couple of years and now have our own bricks and mortar bakery where we are a team of 10! We bake a wide variety of Viennoiserie and breads and cakes which we make on site daily. We specialise in traditional artisan methods mixed with more modern techniques and believe in making as much as we can ourselves.

Jenny Bell, Leeds Bread Coop, Leeds @leedsbreadcoop

I first got into baking in my 20s when I started to struggle to digest supermarket bread and started baking my own sourdough at home. A few years later I wanted a change of career out of an office - a job at Leeds Bread Coop came up and I've been developing my baking skills here ever since - it was lucky as they couldn’t find a baker with experience at the time. My baking is mainly sourdough, with lots of different flours thrown in. I have always been obsessed with ethics in food supply chains, and for that reason I love finding locally produced food - nothing beats being able to see where something is grown.

Sophie Hutchinson, Leeds Bread Coop, Leeds @leedsbreadcoop

I baked with my mum and grandma a lot when I was very small and went on to do an apprenticeship with a wonderful French baker at The Wee Boulangerie in Edinburgh. She taught me so much, and instilled my love of making delicious things from scratch. I got a position at my sisters local bakery which specialised in sourdough, and I became obsessed with how to raise a loaf out of nothing. I’ve now been at Leeds Bread Coop for 4 years now and manage the business along with 10 other amazing colleagues. It is very empowering. My aim is to make delicious and nutritious bread with organic grains, grown locally while keeping it affordable. I’m also a strong believer that the occasional buttery, sugary thing is good for the soul

Ruth Diskin, Mill Kitchen, Farsley @rdiskin21

I’d been dabbling in some home baking and found it almost addictive so I signed up to do a baking course at Leeds City College. This really opened my eyes to the satisfaction found in the methodical nature of baking, whilst still being able to have fun with flavours and ingredients. My first baking job was making all the bread for Graze (now IF). I wanted to properly get to grips with sourdough so applied to work at Leeds Bread Coop - I stayed there for over 6 years and moved to Mill Kitchen last year, giving me the chance to work creatively on a smaller scale. The best part of being a baker is that I get to make (and eat) the most delicious food from the best ingredients - Yorkshire has some incredible food producers, from flour to forced rhubarb. Currently I’m working on setting up my own business, Fat Pigeon Bakery, from a building in my garden in Bramley which I’m hoping to open this Spring.

Alexandra Vaughan, The Crow’s Rest Bakehouse, Wakefield @crowsrestbake

I have been a keen homebaker my whole life but had not made bread until I moved from Portugal to London. I was not familiar with industrial prepacked loaves so decided to get a bread-making machine and attended an introduction class with Bread Angels. Later, I did a shift at my local bakery and that crystallised the dream for me, opening my microbakery as a side-hustle. Moving to Wakefield in 2018 led to me going full-time with The Crow’s Rest Bakehouse - with massive support from my community who helped me crowdfund for my Rofco oven. My goals are to deliver delicious breads that support our ecosystem, our local economy and our bodies. I work with millers who use stone-ground methods to produce organic and wholegrain flours made with diversed grains and am passionate about reducing the use of animal products. I feel a responsibility to feed people healthy, nutritious products.

Claire Baker, Baked, Todmorden @baked_todmorden

It all started when I went on an evening bread baking course at a local college - I loved it and set up a Facebook page called Baked with the dream of one day being able to somehow open a bakery. When I became very ill very quickly it was a huge wake up call - my husband Christian kept me positive, talking about when I got out of hospital we are going to live the dream and build a bakery. Bakers by name, bakers by nature. This saved my life. My aim was to open a bakery less than a year after I got out of hospital. 363 days later we opened the shutter door to Baked - it was the proudest moment of my life. Baked are a micro bakery creating 550 loaves of bread a week - we have two pieces of machinery and everything else is done by hand. We put our, love, heart and soul into making our food and we know that is tasted in the end product.

Lyndsey Mortin, Company, Halifax @companyhfx

Seven months ago I had a wonderful little boy, Sid - during my maternity leave I began to work on my own project, Company. Some would say I’m nuts launching a small business whilst having such a young one, I would say the same! The word Company derives from the Latin words ‘com’ and ‘pani’ which translates to ‘with bread’. For my first project, I did a small run of exclusive Valentine hampers with an array of homemade produce and sourdough bread cooked from my home in Halifax. Over the coming months I will be providing local bread subscriptions and attending local markets. I am super proud of where I have got myself to in such a short space of time - and Sid loves a good chunk of his mum’s sourdough!

Photos: cover and spot feature @esmemaiphotigraphy for @bluebirdbakery

LEEDS - 6 MILL HILL . LS1 5DQ

FINDING THEIR VOICE

The Wren Bakery was founded by two Leeds women, Emma Flint and Clare Sanderson. Clare tells us about their valuable venture to empower women here.

The Wren Bakery is a social enterprise offering training and employability skills to women in Leeds for whom the challenges they face have a devastating impact on their lives and their ability to work. Women who live with domestic violence, criminal records, addictions and poor mental health, everyday face barriers that exclude them from participating in society.

Here at Wren, we believe in second chances and see the potential in every one of the women we work with. We seek to empower and equip these women, giving them the tools they need to build a better future for themselves.

We’ve taken our name from a tiny bird, the wren. We love the image and personality of the wren. The wren is one of our smallest garden birds but has the loudest of songs. They are plucky, determined and brave birds that often go unseen. We can all identify with the little wren - our hope is that our training programme enables women to find their voice and confidently use it.

“I went through a domestic violence relationship for years. I’d completely lost myself. I’ve found a love for baking again, something I used to have when I was younger. The baking part is fantastic but the support they provide is amazing.’’

‘’It’s been life-changing. I felt like I was just existing before, but now I feel like I’m living!”

Together we shared a vision and ambition to build something new for local women. Emma had worked for the Joanna Project for 8 years, and I was a trained mental health social worker. A weekend away provided the ideal opportunity to share our vision and what started as a small idea between friends soon grew into a bigger idea. An idea that we could combine our skills and experience to make a real difference to women’s lives. A trip to London to visit Luminary Bakery and chat with its founder, Alice, gave us the confidence to start writing a business plan and seek initial funding. A year later we were welcoming our first trainees to The Wren Bakery.

Starting out renting kitchen space in a local community centre and renovating a 1960’s Citroen H Van to take to local parks and markets with our trainees, the charity has grown rapidly in 3 years. It is now based in Mabgate Mills in Leeds, where we have opened a wonderful venue that serves as a thriving cafe and training base.

Our training provides a safe and supportive environment for women to make steps towards employment. We use baking and barista training as tools to develop opportunities for our women and to give them valuable transferable skills. We invest in their well-being, supporting them to be healthy in life and work. We are a fabulous community of women, journeying together, facing our fears and doing it anyway!

‘’I feel it’s given me the confidence to get through things I didn’t think I could before. I’ve been written off for years by people, and now I feel I have a good future ahead of me.’’

Words: www.thewrenbakery.com

SPRING FRESH

Great greengrocers George, Michael & Simon show us what’s fresh this season.

“You can’t beat a dirty carrot!”

George, George’s Greens, Haxby

In season right now is the fabulous rhubarb from the Yorkshire rhubarb triangle which is a taste sensation. New potatoes are on their way and we’ve got cauliflower and Yorkshire kale which is really popular with people juicing it for the health benefits. We also get fabulous carrots from Posketts in Goole.

Simon, Millie’s, Bishopthorpe Road

What’s in demand this season are rhubarb, artichokes, leeks and potatoes, which are all local. Carrots, parsnips, savoy cabbage, spring cabbage too - all from Yorkshire and always popular.

Michael, Paleys of Malton

We’ve got local sprouts, leaks, red cabbage, potatoes. Cauliflowers were local back in November but now come all the way from Cornwall. And fabulous dirty carrots from Cawood Bridge up the road - you can’t beat a dirty carrot!

A LOAD OF RHUBARB

Robert Tomlinson’s family have been growing rhubarb in Yorkshire for 140 years. He continues the family business into its fourth generation from the unique area of Yorkshire known as the Rhubarb Triangle. Rob describes the strong history here, what makes it so ideal for forcing rhubarb, and how the produce is loved both locally and globally.

We started forcing rhubarb here in Pudsey in the 1880’s, first by my great grandfather Robert, passed through my grandad Bernard, my dad David, and then me. They grew rhubarb as a summer crop before forcing came about, which as the story goes was discovered by accident. Down near London a worker dug a channel out for a drain and put the soil on top of some roots - when they filled it back in a few weeks later the rhubarb had started to grow. How true this is I’m not sure, but that’s the tale we’ve all been told!

My grandad built up the rhubarb side of the farm to 12 forcing sheds, producing hundreds of tonnes of rhubarb each winter. This all went to London on the rhubarb express train which left every day loaded with rhubarb from many growers - there used to be around 200 growers in the Leeds/Bradford/Wakefield area, which was nicknamed The Rhubarb Triangle.

Rhubarb is grown here in Yorkshire due to the climate and the woollen mills that used to be in Bradford. From the mills, we put waste wool called shoddy on the land, which is high in nutrients over a long period of time - as the roots are grown out they do well on it. Now, as many of the mills have gone, we have to rely more on manure.

The climate here in the shadow of the Pennines is the greatest place for the roots. At the end of summer, when the cold shorter days arrive, the roots go dormant and need a period of cold to turn the starch into sugar before they start to grow again. Further north it’s too cold and the land gets frozen, further south and it’s too mild.

A harvest comes at the end of two years of field growth. Then, in the forcing sheds we carefully pick the rhubarbthis is done in candlelight so that there’s no photosynthesis which stops chlorophyll, meaning there’s no sugar going into the leaf, it’s all in the stem. This creates the sweetest, brightest, highest quality rhubarb.

I remember helping in the sheds from being very little, when I could only just walk! But in the 1980’s the demand went into decline because imported fruits became easier to get hold of in the winter months - this caused most of the growers to give up as the price was below the cost of production. The sheds fell into disrepair and the land built on - my dad cut down to one shed but never gave up,

In the early 2000’s it started to gain a bit of momentum so we started to build up our stock of roots; we’re now back up to 4 sheds and have plans to rebuild another. The rhubarb we produce now is going all over the country to top hotels and Michelin star restaurants as well as shops around Leeds. It is with chefs within 24 hours of being picked. Unbelievably, it also goes out from this tiny part of Yorkshire across the world - to Paris, Copenhagen, Berlin, Zurich, and even as far New York USA!

Words: @rhubarbrobert

BREAKING BREAD

In recent years, the cultures and cuisines of other countries and continents have become increasingly accessible to the British palate. From Italy to India, some nations’ dishes have been adopted by the UK for decades, and now far flung flavours of less recognised regions can be experienced on the streets and in the restaurants of our local cities and towns.

In Yorkshire, the unfamiliar food of one such country has surprised and satisfied - all the while revealing the humanity and positivity of a place that has rarely been explored here beyond the news headlines. Now, the people of Leeds, Bradford and York get to enjoy the true taste of Syria.

Qusay Amer and Eyad Charbatji are the two Syrians who have brought the cuisine of their homeland to Yorkshire. Both were born in Syria in the 1980s, before separately moving to Leeds and studying at Leeds Met University. It wasn’t until after graduating with masters degrees that the duo met, as they explain.

“The journey started after we met working together in BP Garages. Our relationship that developed led to trust and harmony among us, and reinforced the teamwork spirit needed for every business vision. That’s when we joined forces to establish Bab Tooma Restaurant.”

Whilst Middle Eastern flavours were seeping into our consciousness, those specifically of Syria were still unknown. Bab Tooma set out to change that, starting with the name: “In Arabic, ‘Bab Tooma’ means the ‘Gate of Saint Thomas’. It is a borough of the old city of Damascus in Syria, which is one of the seven gates inside the historical walls of the city and a geographical landmark of early Christianity” they explain. “It represents unity for Syrian society where people from different backgrounds live and meet.”

Despite a unique idea, knowledge and passion, there remained a lot for Qusay and Eyad to overcome. Starting with a very low capital, finding a proper location, obtaining the required licenses and marketing were some of many challenges faced. “We had to come up with innovative solutions, learning new skills and doing everything ourselves” they continue. “With no previous background in building work or renovation, we started watching videos on YouTube and learned the DIY work to keep the cost down!” This wasn’t easy. Working 18 hour days to maintain two jobs - “until our dream was realised and the restaurant had been built.”

That dream became a reality at the end of 2016 when Qusay and Eyad opened their first ever restaurant, serving authentic traditional dishes of Syria. “We used our moms’ recipes” they say, and Yorkshire loved it. Since then, Bab Tooma has gradually grown, enabling more folk to experience Syrian cuisine at restaurants in Oakwood Leeds, on Leeds Road Bradford, and at Goodramgate York. All of these remain true to their original ethos.

“We take great pride in serving traditional dishes made with fresh, authentic ingredients that have deep cultural significance” they confirm. With savoury kabab, creamy hummus, tangy Fattoush salad, and aromatic spices and seasonings, diners get a real taste of the Middle East. The atmosphere too is homely and personal, warm and inviting, keen to evoke the country’s essence. “The traditional décor makes you feel like you are in the heart of Syria” they describe. “We strive to make every guest feel like they are dining in our own home.”

Much like their name, Bab Tooma have created a hub where people from different backgrounds can meet. Young and old, families, couples, foodies - “we welcome a diverse group with a mix of different societies.” And it is these human relationships and bonds which, through the power of food, have not only brought Qusay and Eyad together, but can help connect communities and cultures everywhere - or as they put it:

“Our restaurant is a place where people can come together, break bread, and celebrate life’s milestones and joys. Our food is not just about nourishment but about expressing cultures and connecting people. We strive to create an atmosphere that fosters connection and community.”

THAI FLAVOURS THAI COOKING THAI VIBES

See you at Rosa’s Thai York

We’re serving up all the best hits, from our famous Pad Thai to handmade Spring Rolls; crowd’s favourite, Chilli Basil Stir-Fry to Massaman Curry with our very own curry paste, and seasonal new specials all year round. There’s a bit of something for everyone at our cosy restaurant.

Come find us at the historic 1 Coney Street, York, YO1 9QL

Scan to book or follow this link: tinyurl.com/rosasthaibooking or give us a ring 01904 590046

For more info, visit rosasthai.com or follow us @rosasthai

DRINKING IN THE SPRING

The world of wine provides for every season - from warming winter reds to sunny summer sparkles - and in between, spring is perfect to ease out of the cold and renew. We asked Les Hall from The Wright Wine Company in Skipton to recommend a white, red, rosé and fizz fit for the season.

Georgia is frequently described as the cradle of wine. And rightly so, the vine has been cultivated here for over 8000 years and in this small but beautiful country, wine is produced almost everywhere except for the extreme highlands. Whilst famed for juicy reds and the now uber trendy amber (or orange) style of white wine I’ve decided to go for something a little different… The Teleda winery is located in the east of the country and sources grapes from vines of at least 50 years of age. Modern techniques are merged with those stretching back thousands of years. And so, my recommended white is this elegant, crisp and dry wine which is a blend of three native grapes ; Kisi, Mtsvane and Rkatisteli. You’ll find flavours of citrus, peach and pear, balanced with a hint of minerality. Enjoy entirely on its own or with grilled fish or chicken.

Red Winery On, Yecla, Murcia, Spain.

To many people Spanish red wine is Rioja, and that’s it. Isn’t it? Well, no. And here’s an example… Every so often a wine appears in the shop (seemingly from nowhere) with a serious ‘wow’ factor leading almost immediately to a strong following from both customers and staff alike. This is such a wine and is, without hesitation, my recommended red. Whilst the label is undeniably striking (it really does glow in the dark) the liquid is the real star of the show. The grape here is Monastrell (popular in this part of Spain) blended with a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon. So, you’re probably thinking this will be a pretty robust customer. Well, yes. But this wine is surprisingly soft and smooth too with elements of caramel, ripe red fruit and toasted spice. A seriously food friendly wine. Try it with anything from charcuterie and tapas style dishes right through to casseroles and your traditional Sunday roast.

White Teleda Winery, Kisiskhevi, Telavi, Georgia. Orgo Cuvee 2021

Demuerte One 2020

Rosé

Yes, I know. It’s another Provençal pink. And I make no apologies at all for this recommendation because, for me, this is a most beautiful example indeed. I’m very much in the ‘drink rosé all year round’ camp, but I know that for many, this is a style relied upon under bluer skies during warmer weather. So, as Spring shifts up a few gears why not give this wine a try.

Located in the green rolling hills of inland Provence, near the town of Brignoles, surrounded by wonderful scenery and wildlife, there are 100 hectares of organic vines here giving rise to some seriously good red, white and rose wine. Les Deux Anges is a Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah blend, all strawberry and citrus fruit aromas and super smooth on the palate with notes of mango and pomelo. Blimey, just typing this is making me want a glass! Totally delicious on its own, but equally at home on the table with typical Provencal dishes, fish, grilled meats and the like.

Fizz Ferghettina, Brescia, Italy. Franciacorta Brut

Picking a sparkling wine to recommend has proved difficult. On one hand I was thinking of something super traditional, whereas on the other I was flirting with something funky. In the end I think I’ve pitched it in the middle… From the north of Italy, south of Lake Iseo, comes this most wonderful sparkling wine, a ‘Champagne style’ blend (Chardonnay and Pinot Nero), which might still not be on everyone’s radar. Here we’ve got an instantly approachable wine, gentle enough, and with clear citrus and apple flavours. Soft and delicious. Enjoy on it’s own or with lighter mains such as shellfish or cold meats.

Chateau de l’Escarelle, La Celle, Brignoles, Provence, France. Les Deux Anges 2021

ITALIAN PASSION, NORTHERN SOUL

Liv Robinson describes her family journey between Italy and Yorkshire, and how that influenced the opening of her Italian Holmfirth restaurant Devour at the Dyehouse.

Italian Passion

My Grandparents on both sides were first generation Italian immigrants who settled in the UK in the late 1940’s. There was a great deal of poverty in post-war Italy and the UK offered hope and opportunity for a better life. Italian communities formed with a shared cultural background centred around family and friends, food and social interaction. Both sets of Grandparents created businesses in the food industry - one opened a Coffee bar in Huddersfield, the other importing food from Italy and distributing to restaurants and bars up and down the country, which is still running to this day.

My Dad was born here, and my Mum came over from Le Marche in the late 60’s; they too made Yorkshire their home and created a successful business around another inherent Italian cultural element - family. Although the UK was home, Italy was always in their heart. My sister and I were born and raised in Huddersfield – but we’d spend every summer with either of my Grandparents in Emiglia Romana and in Le Marche. I’d soak up the nuances of each region.

If you’re born into a large multi-generational Italian family, your day revolves around food; when you’re eating your breakfast, you’re debating what’s for lunch, when you’re eating your lunch, you’re deciding what’s for dinner and on it goes. There’s a lot of discussion about what tastes good, where do you get the best fresh produce, who makes the best pasta…..

When given the opportunity to move to Italy to study Graphic Design in my late teens I jumped at the opportunity to immerse myself in the culture, the people, the landscape - after all, it was in my blood. I spent six years in Italy until I moved to London with Paul - ironically, a Yorkshireman!

Professionally, I’ve always worked in the creative side for businesses that have enabled me to travel the world - from Africa to Asia, from Europe to North & South America, and I’d take the time to experience new foods. When I look back at the times, places and influences through my formative years, the one inherent constant has always been food. Each time you travel somewhere new you can see globally how food brings people together and creates an authentic warmth to human interaction – that’s what makes life worth living for me.

Northern Soul

Le Marche and our part of Yorkshire share certain similarity in landscape – both have similar terrains of valleys and hills, hiding little spots of beauty just waiting to be discovered. Both have long histories of farming, living off the land, harnessing nature, the coastline and all that brings to shape the people that inhabit both places. The biggest similarity is the people – stubborn, opinionated, unconventional – I like that, and once you get past it there’s a loyalty, warmth, authenticity, generosity and humour – you can’t take yourself too seriously in these places.

We moved back to West Yorkshire and I started a small business with my uncle Joe called Delivita where we’d designed a small outdoor Pizza Oven. Paul & I had often discussed about me opening a bar, a restaurant, a farm shop - nothing tangible at that time. We’d regularly driven past the Woodland Mills site for several years –from the outside it was another run-down industrial mill in the area. Then one day I got a call from Paul – he’d noticed a For Sale sign and taken a closer look – “you need to come and see this!”

That was it! I fell in love with this historic building, left resting from two centuries of industrial decline – the river, the ancient beams, they were just begging to come alive again. That was the spark.

It had to be food related, that was my passion and everything that had influenced me growing up in the UK and in Italy. What if we could recreate a place full of warmth and generosity, like the family run trattorias, the small bustling coffee shops, the artisan street food vendors, the secret places that only locals know. That unique atmosphere, blending the warmth of a family get together with the sparkle of a bustling city - uncompromising, individual and unique. Now, I hadn’t ever worked in hospitality or run a restaurant – I blindly jumped in – it was now or never.

We opened in December 2018 and it’s been a whirlwind. It’s so much a team effort, from the Kitchen Porters to Lucy our GM to Robin who takes care of the grounds. Carl Frost, our Head Chef, comes from a Rosette background and his culinary experience together with my passion for authentic Italian recipes combine into a unique menu of seasonal dishes which is constantly evolving, not necessarily what people would expect from traditional Italian cuisine.

We are fortunate to have so many small individual producers in the Yorkshire region, all supplying great fresh seasonal produce: Sykes House Farm who supply beef for our signature Beef Carpaccio; Samuel Briggs for milk and dairy products for our homemade Gelato; local brewers Three Fiends and Zapato who supply beers for our bar; Darkwoods Coffee who roast our ‘La De Da’ blend… the list goes on.

And let’s not forget our guests – the ‘Devourees’ - who have really made us feel like we’ve become an intrinsic part of the wider Holme Valley community. Our ethos from the start was clear and simple and is something we always refer back to: “Good Food, Great Music, Family and Friends”.

“ O l d S c h o o l I t a l i a w i t h a l i t t l e D e v o u r T w i s t ”

N e s t l e d i n t h e p i c t u r e s q u e a n d h i s t o r i c H o l m e

V a l l e y ; t u c k e d a w a y b e t w e e n a n c i e n t w o o d l a n d a n d

t h e g e n t l e e b b a n d f l o w o f t h e w i n d i n g R i v e r

H o l m e l i e s D e v o u r , a s t o n e ’ s t h r o w a w a y f r o m t h e

c o b b l e d s t r e e t s o f H o l m f i r t h .

THE EDIBLE OUTDOORS

Craig Worrall helps people forage for natural foods in the Yorkshire outdoors on his Edible Leeds tours. This Spring, he’s wild about alliums, and heres why…

Spring heralds the return of the Wild Alliums, a flavoursome family of herbs that includes the likes of Wild Garlic, 3 Cornered & Few Flowered Leek, Rosy Garlic, Crow Garlic and Chives. These wild and ancient herbs are the ancestral, genetic backbone that - after some clever, creative and crafty crossbreeding - became the multiple varieties of onions, garlics and leeks commonly found in grocery stores today.

Wild Alliums, in particular the first 3 species from the above list, receive plenty of time and attention from myself due to them being super-prolific in all areas of West Yorkshire and the UK that I frequently find myself foraging and teaching about wild foods in. Not only are these delightful herbs, super-abundant, they are supertasty and super-versatile, providing ample opportunities for creating or simply adding to a wide range of dishes, ferments and preserves.

Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum), also commonly referred to as Ramson, Bear Garlic and Wood Garlic, is one of spring’s earliest wild green visitors and one of my alltime favourites: it is also a firm favourite with thousands of hobby-foragers up and down the country. It favours deciduous woodlands and the banks of fresh water courses, especially those of a more ancient specification. The young shoots appear as early as mid-December, though more often than not it doesn’t get into full swing until March/April, prior to the emerging foliage of deciduous trees, thus enabling this clever, adaptive plant to take full advantage of early Spring sunshine.

Wild Garlic is one of the easiest wild plants to identify, while offering us a lengthy period of time with regards to picking, processing and eating. Awareness and focus, pre-requisites when foraging for wild foods, are required at all times, as there are a couple of toxic plants that share similarities with wild garlic - namely Lily of the Valley (Convallaria Majalis) and Arum Lily (Arum Maculatum). Both plants can cause serious adverse reactions if accidently consumed, however both lack the distinctive and powerful aroma of garlic and onion - therefore, if in doubt, give leaves a gentle crush, rub and sniff prior to picking.

As is often the case, the tell-tale aroma of wild garlic, dancing on the woodland breeze, is detected long before laying eyes upon it. Once in full, flowering phase, the delicate, pure white, star-like flowers make its whereabouts much more obvious, as the woodland floor shimmers with a white hue.

Another reason for it being a firm favourite with foragers and chefs is that all parts of this plant are edible; leaf, flowering stalks, flowers, seeds and bulbs (but check local byelaws regarding the uprooting of wild plants/ bulbs). The leaves, flowers and seeds are excellent for adding to salads, butters and oils, or making pestos, lacto-fermentations, pickles, ketchups and sauces.

If you love onions, garlic, leeks, cooking and eating, I heartily recommend exploring your local woodlands and parks this Spring to get yourselves familiar with this wonderful plant.

Craig’s Wild Garlic Pesto (serves 4)

The following recipe has numerous kitchen applications and once prepared, it can be mixed with freshly cooked pasta or gnocchi, used as a filling for chicken kiev, added to mashed potato, used as a dip like you would a salsa, added to oven baked oysters, cheese and cold meats, or even spread on toast. The pesto can also be kept in a clean container in the fridge for up to one week. Ensure the wild garlic is young, fresh, vibrant, blemish free and preferably picked the same day.

Ingredients:

100g Wild Garlic

100g Toasted Hazels

100ml Smoked Rapeseed Oil

50g Parmesan

10-15ml Lemon Juice

Sea Salt

Black Pepper

Method: Wash the wild garlic to remove any dust or woodland debris and then pat dry on kitchen roll.

Tear the leaves and pop them into a food processor along with the toasted hazel nuts, parmesan, lemon juice and oil, and blitz into a paste. Taste and then season with the sea salt and black pepper to your liking.

Instead of toasted hazels you can use toasted pine nuts, walnuts or pumpkin seeds, use olive oil instead of rapeseed oil and, replace the parmesan with a hard goat’s cheese. It really is down to your personal preference.

For more information about safe identification, wild food, recipe ideas and foraging courses, visit https://edible-leeds.blogspot.com/

THE GOOD LANDLORD

In the market town of Keighley, one resident has continued going about his business here for 160 years. Proudly Yorkshire and steeped in these traditional surroundings, Timothy Taylor has been serving up a taste of Keighley to locals and the wider world ever since setting up a brewery here. Having expanded and evolved through modern trends, Timothy Taylor remains true to his roots, and we visited the longstanding site to discover how it’s done.

“The brewery was founded in 1858 by Timothy Taylor on Cook Lane in Keighley. In 1863 a parcel of land in the town, known as Knowle Spring, was put up for sale and Timothy bought it and moved his brewery there. We’ve been here ever since”. Tim Dewey reveals the origins.

The reason Timothy began brewing isn’t definitively known - he had originally trained as a tailor - but it was a popular pastime at the time and Keighley was home to several beer houses. As well as building the brewery, Timothy also built a house for himself and his in-laws. It was clear from the start that this was the place that would remain home for Timothy Taylor.

“In the early years, Timothy’s main business was malting barley and selling it to the large numbers of breweries in the surrounding area” Tim continues. “Over time, the focus moved from malting to brewing.” Eventually, that approach produced Timothy Taylor’s most iconic brew; “In the middle of the 20th century Landlord was developed and became a key focus for the brewery into the 21st” Tim confirms.

Landlord is a Yorkshire classic, described as ‘the burgundy of ales’, rich, full and smooth. Tim explains why he thinks its popularity has endured; “We have very much kept to our original values of no compromise over the process and quality of ingredients - we still use Golden Promise barley, Knowle Spring water, whole leaf hops, a hop back, open square fermenters and our proprietary yeast. Whereas so many craft beers have a niche taste profile, Landlord is just eminently drinkable. This quality never goes out of fashion.”

It is perhaps the fact that Timothy Taylor are still family owned that they are able to take this long term perspective on the business and its development. Only descendants of Timothy Taylor or Sir Donald Horsfall, a friend of the family who invested in the brewery, are allowed to hold shares - which is not to say that the brewery has not evolved or innovated. But, Tim clarifies, the reason for change must only be to get better; “We are open to new ways of doing things if it will improve the beer.”

This includes embracing technology where it provides greater precision and efficiency in a brewing process that otherwise remains full of human craft. The business model too has expanded, with 19 Timothy Taylor pubs alongside the brewery. But, Tim states, “while many long-standing brewers have moved to a prime focus on pub retailing, we very much focus on brewing as our core activity.”

That means a skilled workforce - the brewers all have degrees in brewing from Heriot-Watt University and the sales team are Cask Marque trained - and a passion and pride for what they do. The beers Timothy Taylor produce have conversely grown in popularity in a declining cask market, increasing in the last decade from a 2% share of all cask ale sold to 5% currently. But, Tim accepts that “we can’t go on defying gravity forever. It is vital that we also enter the growing keg market.” And they’re doing just that with the release of the unsurprisingly quaffable Hopical Storm.

By looking back at their traditions and moving forward with the times, Timothy Taylor have kept both their heritage and their relevance - as a local icon with a richly preserved history and an exciting evolving future.

QUEENS OF THE VEGAN AGE

In the seaside town of Bridlington on Yorkshire’s east coast, two sisters have been cooking up something a little different to the fish and chip traditions here. Owner Katie opened The Nut and Nettle at the Queens two years ago, and since then have introduced locals and visitors to just how great plantbased food can be. Chef Beth tells us all about it.

Cooking and Creativity

I came to cooking from a creative arts background, live performance and gallery curation. I ended up working and training in vegan cooking across the UK, France, Italy, India and Spain, honing my skills and developing my personal style. I find a real sense of expression through food - of my creativity in experimenting with flavours, textures and plating aesthetics, but also my personal ethics and food philosophy.

The Taste of Plant-based

With every mouthful I hope to show just how tasty and exciting vegan food can be. Through the elements of my seasonal dishes I hope to honour and reflect the bounty and generosity of the land with the changing seasons. For example, one of my latest seasonal dishes is beetroot and stinging nettle arancini, served with a butterbean-beetroot dip, rosemary-smoked almonds and crispy wild nettles I foraged from the local woods. Another seasonal dish we created for our last tasting menu was smoked carrot ‘salmon’, whereby we marinated locally-grown carrots in fresh seaweed foraged from Flamborough Head. The carrots were then slowly roasted for two hours in the seaweed and smoked spices, then thinly sliced and placed atop a buckwheat and black pepper blini, with hemp seed ‘creme fraiche’, candied pecans and more crispy wild seaweed.

Local Seasonal Ethical Exquisite

In this part of Yorkshire we are blessed with an abundance of locally-grown vegetables, but also wild foraged edibles, such as mushrooms, seaweed, berries and herbs. At The Nut and Nettle we strive to create exquisite handmade food from unique ingredients, connecting back to our local land by shortening the distance between ingredient and plate; ultimately challenging the perception that vegan food is unexciting or bland.

I am particularly enamoured by the possibilities of vegan patisserie, after being inspired by visits to many beautiful boulangeries whilst working in Paris. I love to weave in traditional French patisserie techniques into my sweet dishes, creating vegan versions of classics such as macarons, meringues, eclairs and viennoiserie that people would never guess were plant-based. We aim to create an inclusive space with creative and tasty food that can be enjoyed by everyone.

From Paris to Brid

ECO EVOLUTIONARIES

Known for its architecture, history and its generous welcome to visitors, York is big hearted, wholesome England at its best. And now something else is growing here – a movement sprouting from York’s hospitality industry that is capable of changing and enhancing our relationship with food, with our environment, with our waste and with each other. Hospitality is evolving.

The word ‘sustainability’ used to be considered a ‘hippy’ thing. But we are learning rapidly that sustainability is actually a survival thing - and that it can be tasty! Here we shine the light on some local businesses, all owner operated, who have put sustainability at the core of their work. Through collective collaboration, they are co-creating systems that minimise waste, maximise community spirit and create healthier business models (environmentally, socially and economically) that others can follow.

Remedy Coffee Shop opened its doors on Fossgate at the end of last year - a plant based café seeking to do all it can to minimise its mark on the planet. It’s owned and operated by Chris, a Yorkshireman with a passion and enthusiasm for the challenges he’s taking on. Remedy has a ‘pro planet’ approach to hospitality - they fill your plates with local organic fresh veggies and they work hard to omit their waste.

And they have a fun initiative with vital environmental gains that is expanding across York. The Mug Library allows coffee lovers on the move to select their favourite mug over a takeaway cup and return it at their convenience. Chris has reached out to cafes across York to join forces and create a roundabout mug exchange to make life even easier; the hope is to be “almost as easy to seek out a mug library as it would be a bin”. The concept is one which could transform the city’s cup waste and see York leading a scheme which can be replicated everywhere.

Indeed, the idea has been brought to York by Laura of UYO (Use Your Own) who pioneered it in New Zealand, where various businesses joined in with much success. Here, Chris has already expanded the mug exchange from Remedy to include North & South, Angel on the Green, 2manywines, Partisan and Goji Cafe, with lots more expressing interest. Also playing an important part are St Leonard’s Hospice, whose charity shops are selling mugs for the initiative for 10p each.

Chris: “It’s been warming to see so many already ensuring that they do little to tarnish the planet, and all the more encouraging to see people so willing to work at making changes here and there to do their bit and help me to do my bit - and in turn help the customers here to do theirs.”

The coffee at Remedy is by Maude Coffee Roasters, whose expertly roasted single origins and comforting blends can be collected in large refillable containers. And they’re soon to install a UK first - a hydrogen powered roaster, reducing their roasting emission to zero! Remedy’s Chris and Maude’s Ben have a plan to sail their green coffee across the world and ensure, where possible, that the rest of its journey is all electric.

Words: @uyo.forever.ok @remedycoffeeshop

Cat at the Little Green Wood is a wealth of knowledge on all things zero waste and spoke about some of the challenges. “It’s not just the end product that’s the issue, it’s the whole chain of supply. We’ve had to work very closely with our suppliers to ensure that everything is not only ethical, but also taking steps to reduce waste. Then there’s trying to ‘change’ people’s habits. The easiest way is to make the service as simple as possible, as accessible and similar to the ways people currently shop. It’s not been easy, but the positive is that we’ve managed to reach an entire new audience who previously wouldn’t have considered the eco option.”

Cat also praised how receptive the York community have been. “The response from thousands of customers across the city and suppliers who make wonderful ethical products has been amazing. Altogether we’ve been able to save over 100,000 pieces of plastic waste, donate to local causes and support other local businesses.”

As well as working with people who are already taking huge steps to reduce their impact on the planet, Remedy are encouraging other suppliers to adjust the way they deliver and package items to help keep the collective waste down. Freddie and his team at the Organic Pantry are a fantastic example. Over time they’ve managed to consistently remove all packaging from Remedy’s deliveries, simply placing veg in box. Such a simple change removes 624 plastic bags a year.

Organic Pantry, as the name suggests, have already made their own commitments to the planet. Organic means no pesticides nor herbicides which in turn means healthier soils, more active bio diversity and a happy planet and happy stomachs. Freddie also put Chris in touch with Sown, an all organic cold pressed juice, much of which is sourced in the UK. They even take their glass bottles back, wash them and reuse them - a simple and effective system for omitting single use waste.

Sustainable action can take multiple forms - reducing the distance that our food travels before it reaches our plates, operating ‘mug libraries’ to minimise single use take-out waste, engaging in conversation with customers about the positive changes we can all be a part of, ensuring surplus food is distributed to those who can make use of it, requesting that ingredients arrive from local suppliers in reusable, returnable and refillable containers. Through each action a truly circular economy can emerge.

By supporting York’s hospitality evolutionaries - pro-planet businesses engaged in such initiatives to make York an example of sustainable hospitality - you play a role. York’s locals are coming together, engaging in collective collaboration to help work towards improving our relationship with food, each other, waste and the planet. It’s all our future, and together we can make it tasty!

Words: @uyo.forever.ok @remedycoffeeshop

WHAT’S ON

Our eight picks of the many eclectic events happening across Leeds, York and Yorkshire this season.

Overlooked - Leeds City Museum

10th February - 25th June

At the always interesting City Museum, this exhibition reveals the untold stories of Leeds. Discover these often overlooked people of the past at a fascinating exploration of history, diversity and inclusivity. As the tagline says: People of Leeds as you’ve never seen them.

Leeds Artists Show - Leeds Art Gallery

15th February - 30th April

Showcasing the array of amazing art in the city, Leeds art gallery exhibits 90 local artists at Leeds Artists Show. The first of its kind for over a decade, it reveals the depth and breadth of talent here; there’s drawing, painting, photography, performance, sculpture, textiles, film and video, plus 21 pieces created by Leeds primary schools.

York International Women’s Week - various

4th - 12th March & 22nd April

Extending on from International Women’s Day on the 8th March, York comes together for a week of eclectic events under the theme of solidarity. There are fun gatherings and vital discussions, all progressing towards a more equal future. And the inspiring event returns in April for a one-off concert Music Can Do This.

Discover National Parks Fortnight - Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors

4th - 18th April

York Chocolate Festival

6th - 10th April

Easter arrives with the usual festivities for all the familyand York is the perfect city to celebrate it in style. With a rich history of chocolate making here, it excels over the Easter weekend with workshops, tasting sessions and demonstrations - all topped off with a taste of the finest local chocolate to indulge in.

York Open Studios - various

15th & 16th & 22nd & 23rd April

For two weekends in April, York goes behind the scenes of its creative practices. Over 150 artist studios open up to the public who can visit, meet and chat, whilst their artwork is displayed for an opportunity to buy local pieces by an array of exceptional talent.

Whitby Goth Weekend - Whitby Pavillion

28th - 30th April

This biannual weekend is a spectacular sight unlike any other. Thousands of goths dress up and come down to the evocative east coast resort of Whitby, where dark music and fashion light up the town. This gathering of such a unique and alternative subculture makes for an impressive and immersive weekend of gothic fun.

Leeds Sausage & Cider Festival - Royal Armouries

6th May

This annual spotlight on the country’s glorious National Parks returns in April and reminds us of the wondrous nature here in Yorkshire. Down to the Peak District, up to the North York Moors or across to the Yorkshire Dales, there are walks to ramble, views to take in and events to enjoy within this special fortnight - and of course all year long! Photos:

Returning to the Royal Armouries this May is the happy gathering of sausage and cider - together at last. At either the afternoon or the evening session, eat and drink your way around a huge selection of - you guessed it - sausages and ciders. What’s not to love?

www.sausageandciderfest.co.uk/leeds

Lins Wilson

WOMEN IN MUSIC

Emily Pilbeam is the presenter of BBC Introducing in West Yorkshire, playing the best new music in the area. As a rising female in a male-heavy industry and a leading light in the Leeds music scene, we asked Emily to showcase the diverse talent of women in music here.

Launchpad / GREAAT / Music:Leeds / Lord Whitney / Magick Mountain Lins Wilson is an absolute force of nature! Lins has been working across the Leeds music scene, constantly looking for ways to improve the lives of artists across the region. Lins has years of experience of working as a touring musician as well as working behind the scenes in the music industry. If you’ve got any questions about the music industry, I’m sure Lins would be able to answer them! I’m also in awe of Lins’ honesty when it comes to talking about the barriers faced for working class people, mothers in music and those struggling with chronic illness. Absolute legend.

Creative Coordinator, Music:Leeds

It’s hard to think of Music:Leeds without thinking of Emily Marlow! Emily has been instrumental working alongside with Whiskas to make Music:Leeds what it is now. She is so supportive of all artists across the sector, and the support she has dedicated to women and people of marginalised genres is inspiring. She’s also class at talking on panels.

Emily Marlow

Photo: Instagram @linnwilsonhq

Photo: Instagram @girlgangleeds

Eva Davies

Label Manager, Come Play With Me

Working as the label manager for Come Play With Me, Eva Davies has been nailing it for quite some time. I’m pretty sure I remember when Eva was working with CPWM as an apprentice a couple of years back (or something like that) and to see her step up to become label manager within just a couple of years is amazing! With Come Play With Me now working with EMI North, I can only see Eva becoming an even more influential figure within the West Yorkshire music scene.

Jenessa Williams

Journalist, DIY /FortyFive / Guardian / NME

Watching Jenessa’s growth as a music journalist over the past few years has been an absolute pleasure. Jenessa and I first met a few years back when she interviewed me for a Come Play With Me magazine. Since then I’ve seen her shine as a writer on various different established music magazines & websites and I am honestly so happy that she is where she is. Jenessa is such a talented writer and is clued up on everything…

I also adore when Jenessa writes about Paramore and Hayley Williams.

Photo: Launchpad.com

Photo: Instagram @evaseivad

Emily Ingham

Promoter, Bodys

Emily Ingham is a DIY gig promoter based in Wakefield. We’ve been championing Emily’s night, Bodys, on my BBC Introducing show for quite some time now and it’s been so amazing seeing the talent that Emily is bringing to Wakefield. All of the artists have such nice things to say about the night too. Long Live Bodys.

Lily Fontaine

Musician, English Teacher

Lily is best known for fronting English Teacher, but Lily is so much more than that. She’s a poet, a writer, a video editor and just an all round legend. I’ve been on panels with Lily a couple of times over the years and I’ve always been so impressed by all of her talents and how much she grafts. Lily is a legend and her band are sick as well.

Katy Noone

Producer, BBC Introducing on Radio Humberside

I had to absolutely give Katy Noone a shout out in this piece. I’ve worked alongside Katy Noone for about five years… probably longer… and her commitment to supporting the grassroot music sector in East Yorkshire & Northern Lincolnshire is unparalleled. I’ve learnt so much working from Katy over the years, everything from editorial guidelines at the BBC to general life skills like patience and kindness. I’m so grateful to have worked with Katy over the past few years… the music scene in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire will always be indebted to her!

Photo: Instagram @bodyswakefield

Photo: Launchpad.com

Photo: BBC

CREATE IN LEEDS

Showcasing talented artists who have graduated from Leeds Arts University and now create in Leeds.

Connor Shields, artist.

BA (Hons) Fine Art at Leeds Arts University, 2018.

It feels cliché to say that art was the only subject I was interested in at school, but it was. I knew I wanted to continue to study art in the future, but I didn’t really understand what it was to be an artist, or that being an artist was even a career path, until studying Fine Art at college.

I moved from Middlesbrough to Leeds Arts University in 2015. During my first two years studying at undergraduate I would overthink everything that I made. I wasn’t fully happy with any of the work that I made during this time. In my final year I moved pathways into sculpture and it just suddenly made a lot more sense for me. Sculpture has a totally different language to other mediums, and I learned to experiment and make without overthinking. I think that is something that I still have with me years later. I try not to label myself as a sculptor, but the work I make is predominantly sculptural.

When I graduated I was awarded the Yorkshire Sculpture Park Graduate Award. This was of great support for my art practice in the beginning stage of my career after leaving education. It gave me the time and space to think about what it was I wanted to make work about, whilst also surrounded by the work of great artists and sculptors all around the park.

My work is concerned with ideas of working-class masculinity, industrial heritage and industrial landscapes. I’m interested in the visual language that materials have, and our perceptions that we have of the materials I use. The process of making is explorative, combining often contrasting objects which develop a sense of tension within the work.

Creativity allows us to see the world in different lights, and from different perspectives. The world would be a much different place without creatives and artists. It is important for keeping all areas of life and cities vibrant.

Leeds and the wider Yorkshire area has lots of buzz about it. It’s gained itself a great reputation for sculpture, with 3 sculpture institutions in the area. There are so many amazing creatives here - Leeds Art Gallery have opened their ‘Leeds Artists Group Show’ from February to the end of April and I’m delighted to be a part of that show alongside lots of other Leeds based creatives. There is lots of support and a community feeling amongst artists working in the region.

Words: @connorshields

Music Tiamethakorn (pen name: musicgallery), Comic Artist, BA (Hons) Comic and Concept Art at Leeds Arts University, 2022.

Growing up in Thailand, I always loved drawing cartoon characters and creating my own original stories. In primary school, I told the class that I wanted to become a cartoonist when I grow up - however, I have been discouraged by many people that it was an impossible career, so I started branching out into fine art and graphic design. After attending a design school in Bangkok, I realised that my true calling remained in comic and character art, so I decided to enrol in Leeds Arts University’s Comic and Concept Art course, which allowed me to explore my passion until I was able to achieve my childhood dream career today.

I have self-published two original titles, ‘Vehanakarin’ and ‘Submerged Youth’. In many of my original works, my art is a way for me to appreciate and represent the culture that I know and love while at the same time expressing my feelings towards the injustice in the very society that I feel deeply connected to.

In my second year of university I was given the opportunity to focus on developing my personal branding as part of the course. With my own portfolio website, business cards and social media

platform, I started building more of an online presence and gaining connections by attending Thought Bubble Festival and talking to other creators in the comic field. Recently, I had the opportunity to showcase and sell my comics at Thought Bubble Festival 2022, which was a big step forward in my career.

At LAU I discovered that creativity is a problem-solving skill. A creative person is able to figure out a clever solution to a problem, big or small. By promoting creativity, individuals will be able to present better and easier solutions to the matter at hand, whether it be a problem in their personal life, in a business or in their community. And I learned the importance to engage with your community and support the other artists around you.

So many of the friends that I went to LAU with are extremely talented and hardworking and I really admire them. Leeds is a culturally diverse and queer-friendly city, which has made me feel very comfortable expressing my creativity as a POC and queer artist, knowing that the people in the art scene here are very accepting of a different culture and identity. The diversity of the city has given me the courage to bring my own culture forward and unapologetically show it to the world.

Words: @musicsgallery

Adam Allsuch Broadman, Freelance Illustrator, Foundation Diploma in Art & Design, BA (Hons) Illustration at Leeds Arts University, 2016

I come from a particularly creative family. My folks are artist-types, while both my siblings run their own creative businesses. A lot of my earliest memories involve wandering around art galleries or drawing pictures whilst watching Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Straight after school in 2012 I studied the Foundation Diploma over at Vernon Street. The Foundation was truly excellent, and I learned a great deal in a short amount of time. Whilst studying I became aware of the brand-new illustration degree, which tickled my interest. I was successful in my application to the course, and had a wonderful three years honing my craft.

I believe my time on the further education and higher education courses helped bring into focus my work ethic and raw output. I was given every opportunity to learn new skills and apply them to simulated and real briefs. Many of the lessons I learned in the studio I use on a daily basis when working with peers and clients. Most of my work appears in publishing, editorial and educational

contexts. Aesthetically, my illustration tends to follow the principals of ligne claire. This clean and stripped-back style was popularised by early 20th century illustrators like Hergé (you know, Tintin). I have a particular enthusiasm for interpreting subjects, data detail and then expressing as clear diagrams and straightforward illustration. I enjoy being direct, clear and a little playful.

My clients have included Apple, Deloitte, Facebook and The Cabinet Office. My largest investment of figurative sweat and tears tends to be the books I write and illustrate for Nobrow, including An Illustrated History of UFOs. Many of my oldest clients are Leeds-based. It is an accessible place to get started in, but not so huge that you get lost in the crowd. There always seems to be some creative event on somewhere, which makes the city feel like a writhing mass of happenings.

Creativity can mean a lot of different things, but for me it comes down to why I bother sitting down and drawing pictures in the first place. To me, creativity means play, and the amusing avenues of interest one can find yourself in.

Words: @aaab_illustration

CARVING OUT A NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD

York Minster has a plan. The stunning building and its surrounding neighbourhood are to be sustained and enhanced, ensuring the Minster and its Precinct continue to flourish. The proposals are to retain its deep heritage, celebrate its cultural significance, and create public spaces for future generations to embrace and enjoy. Within this, there will be a Centre of Excellence to teach ancient craft skills required to preserve the Minster’s architecture. We spoke to the Director of Works and Precinct, Alexander McCallion, to discover more about the York Minster Neighbourhood Plan.

To many people, York Minster is the symbol of this city. Over 800 years old, it towers above the skyline - but with a building like this that has been here for so long, it takes a huge amount of money and care to look after it.The Neighbourhood Plan is all about ensuring that future generations can enjoy York Minster as we do today.

The whole Precinct has evolved throughout its history. Originally much more enclosed, the biggest changes to the Precinct were created by Dean Duncan in the 1850s. It’s continually evolving and changing. That’s the narrative we’re trying to get across through the Neighbourhood Plan - that things cannot remain in aspic, they always have to change and evolve.

This is the first Neighbourhood Plan of its kind, as it’s the first time a cathedral or heritage estate has used this route to create a route map for its future. York hasn’t had an adopted local plan since 1956, so there was no planning policy within which to deliver these ambitious changes. It’s all very well having a vision, but if you can’t deliver and get planning permission, it won’t be realised. That’s why we put together the York Minster Neighbourhood Plan.

York Minster is held in a lot of people’s hearts, not just in this city, but nationally and internationally - so to bring people along with us for these changes has meant huge amounts of public consultation. This has been a community planwe’ve worked closely with City of York Council and Historic England and after each round of public consultation we’ve significantly changed the plan. It’s been a city partnership and that’s how it should be, because people here love the Minster.

As the Minster’s Department of Works and Precinct, we are first and foremost a maintenance department responsible for conservation and restoration of the cathedral. There are 42 members in the team, from gardeners and joiners, to the stonemasons whose heritage craft skills are necessary to care for a complex estate such as this. We also work closely with York Glaziers Trust, which specialises in stained glass restoration. A big part of the vision for the Neighbourhood Plan is the Centre of Excellence, which will create a world class campus facility for research, education and training in ancient craft skills.

We have a very strong apprenticeship programme and this city is expensive, so providing residential accommodation and creating new facilities were important parts of the vision. It is something I feel strongly about: the facilities haven’t had the investment needed for a long time because there hasn’t been the money to do it. While we’ve already made some progress,we have a huge amount of conservation and restoration ahead of us. The trajectory outlined in the Neighbourhood Plan is around 30 years, but the effects of its implementation will reverberate long after our lifetimes. The wonderful thing about our roles is that we are a little speck of dust in this long 2000-year history of this site.

With the York Minster Fund and Research Development Project we also started looking at how we could embrace modern technology. Our apprentices learn how to do everything the traditional way, but we will introduce them to new training elements such as the use of ComputerAided Design (CAD). York is renowned for being experts in the care of heritage, and we’re embracing modern technology as a tool to help care for the past.

The core thread of The Neighbourhood Plan is ensuring a sustainable future for the Minster in three main areas: environmental sustainability, financial sustainability, and heritage craft skills, so that we’ve always got a skilled workforce here to look after the building. We are really driving the net-zero agenda. There’s an application for solar panels on the roof of the Minster and the first solar slates in the Precinct are already generating 11,000 kilowatts of power a year on our new York Minster Refectory restaurant. Our journey to de-carbonisation has started at quite a pace, which then sets the standard for the rest of the city.

The Refectory will open this spring, with extensive public realm, and a new public park, Minster Gardens. Our new pocket park, College Green, will also open on PalmSunday. We are also looking to deliver further public realm through Queen Elizabeth Square, and the first piece of this jigsaw puzzle was the creation of the statue of the late Queen which was unveiled by the King in November.

The original idea in the Neighbourhood Plan was to erect the statue to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee. In the end, it was the first statue to be unveiled in the late Queen’s memory so it took on an increased poignancy. From the very beginning of the idea, the statue had to be created by one of the Minster’s stonemasons, and we are all very proud of what Richard Bossons achieved.

“The Church House project will convert one of our old offices into residential, and St. William’s College will become the Chapter’s hub, converted into offices, conference rooms and banqueting space. Any income generated will make sure our programme can continue on the ongoing restoration of the cathedral

The wider benefit of the Neighbourhood Plan and the Centre for Excellence is that both will continue to broaden our horizons as a city. At York Minster we’re embracing the future and preserving the past, and that can be seen in the essence of the design - it’s contemporary architecture brought to life using traditional skills, creating a unique and inspiring space.

Stonemason Harriet Place tells us about the traditional skills required to preserve York Minster’s vast and extraordinary architecture and how using modern technology wisely can complement these heritage crafts.

I’ve been a stonemason here for 12 years and at YorkMinster for 20 - I worked in the shop before deciding to make it! I now teach stonemasonry to the apprentices. We still teach the traditional wayby hand - so that everyone learns the original skills.

We’ve got a small team and a lot of stone! There are so many areas that have to be done at different times - I work on the Mason’s Lodge but am currently prolonging stone elsewhere (using a mortar mix called St.One which mixes sympathetically with the original stone), ready for two windows to go in.

We have 68 unprotected medieval stained-glass windows that date to the 1470s, and the same corrosion and erosion you get on stone you also get on glass - so we’re in a race against time to put this protection on. We also found some original medieval stone that had tooling marks where the Victorians had wanted it smooth and sanded - so we restore the medieval way, to the oldest point that we can - 800 years ago.

A few of the stonemasons are learning how to integrate technology with the traditional hand craft. Photogrammetry, digital scanning, and using state of the art, cutting edge bridge saws and CMC saws. An example of where this can be introduced is a stone I’m currently working on that weighs just under half a tonne- to mason it by hand would take a few months. Using a CMC saw on large stones like this will really reduce the time and it can still then be carved by hand. The result of the masonry is similar to that of other existing stones so we would not be losing any skills. It’s about doing more restoration for the same cost without diluting quality.

The history of this city is embedded in this building and we want to look after it. The amount of restoration can be overwhelming and we get no government funding, so the responsibility lies entirely with Chapter. Visitor income makes up half of our funding. When I’m working in the lodge, visitors often ask how it’s raised and we say “it’s from you”. Everything you donate goes to help us maintain this beloved building.

Photos: @thomholmes

SCULPTURE CULTURE

An inveterate scribbler of drawings and maker of things from an early age, I predictably went to art college straight from leaving school. Finding the experience somewhat unrewarding made me realise that I needed a rigorous training in the making of things - so, by a somewhat circuitous route, I enrolled on a City & Guilds course in carving, lettering and masonry and ended up as an improver architectural sculptor at English Heritages’ Stonecarving studio in Vauxhall, London.

Peter Coates is a sculptor whose work can be seen across Yorkshire. He talks through his life as a sculptor here.

I spent the following few years honing the skills whilst undertaking figure and ornament carving on historic buildings such as the Palace of Westminster, Hampton Court, Chichester Cathedral, York Minster, Howden Minster and Spencer House. I moved to Yorkshire in 1990 to work in the carving shop at York Minster and then at Dick Reid’s Workshop, before starting my own practice in the city. Setting up my own studio in 1994 enabled me to fulfil creative aspirations designing and making work to commission across the UK and Europe.

In the main I work in limestone, sandstone, slate and marble using a combination of hand tools (mallet, hammer, chisel, pneumatic tools) and dry cutting with diamond bladesstandard fare if you’re familiar with stone working techniques. The more significant element for me is the thinking and experiment processes involved in arriving at a piece of work, it’s often site specific and I try to incorporate layers of reference but in a relatively simple way - ironically, this can be complex and frustrating but extremely rewarding when things come together - especially so if there’s an element of accident or chance in arriving at the solution.

The thing about Yorkshire that I find most affecting is the rich diversity of its landscape, both natural and urban. The range and contrasts are dramatic, both culturally and spiritually - it’s very enriching. Just in the last week I’ve found myself in that truly stunning building that is The Hepworth in Wakefield, completely absorbed in the ceramics of John Ward and the photography of Hannah Starkey and then, raw and wind battered in the glorious North Dale, Rosedale following the Hanging Stones walk; the dun, sombre tones I find highly emotive.

I was fortunate enough to be awarded a NESTA (National Endowment For Science Technology and the Arts) Fellowship in 2005. Arup Leeds partnered me during this period and enabled the realisation of some experimental and collaborative work which broadened my scope considerably. I’ve only just completed a design proposal for a harbour based project in Northumberland which was commissioned by Arup Fellows. It’s due to go into development in due course and represents a new direction for me which is a genuinely exciting prospect.

MY CITY

Cole LC is a musician whose sounds are rising out of Leeds and into the wider music world. He visits the Leeds places that got him here and tells us what the city means to him.

I’m born and raised in Leeds and the city’s been good to me. I grew up in Roundhay, and spending a lot of time there and in local areas really shaped me. My grandma lived in Chapeltown so the tight knit community gave me a good sense of family and loyalty with my people.

My mum from a young age had gotten me involved in the culture and arts of Leeds (thanks mum) - I grew up around live music and theatre which influenced me to get involved in music. She always said it’ll do me well seeing real life creatives do their thing, which it did. Early memories in the city include Carnival, shows at Slung Low, The Wardrobe, basically anything under 18’s could attend. My dad’s always been a music man as well - growing up there’d be Michael Jackson playing, Aswad, Elvis, Bob Marley alsoso I got a good education of music until I formed my own opinions and taste.

I started busking at 13, inspired by my favourite rapper at the time, Leeds native Dialect. I always say that was the best decision I’ve ever made because singing is a very personal, exposing expression so when people are walking by or stopping and taking me in it gave me a taste of what’s to come. Some people care, some people don’t, but it doesn’t stop you doing your thing. It helped me network and meet some lifelong friends.

A few months later, BN and Gadget Boy, some old school Leeds rappers who I looked up to, took me to Studio 12 and really gave me some time to shine - I’ll always appreciate them giving me my first opportunity. I went on to do sessions with First Media TV which was a pro force in the Leeds Rap scene at the time and later brought eyes onto me from outside of the city. The support system I got here really gave me a foot up to reach the rest of the UK.

Corn Exchange

I spent a lot of my busking days behind the Corn Exchange with the mandem after sessions. A lot of things went on at The Wall, as we called it, many fond memories. The first time I heard the late great Gadget Boy spit a bar, a real Leeds rap legend in his own right and inspired me and many others to jump on music. The crew I was rolling with was WNV (if you know you know) - BN, CH, OZ, Heemz, Crawler, Nickz are a few of the rappers who were inspiring me at the time. After busking sessions I used to go back there with a bag of change, play closest to The Wall, and play beats on my speaker; it’d always turn into a cypher. It was a place I felt appreciated for the work I was doing when it didn’t always feel that way.

Sekkle

I’m a big fan of vintage fashion and looking back on what big names in streetwear have rocked in the past, UK and overseas. Jay-Z, Biggie, Skepta, Pharrell, Kanye to name a few. Sekkle is a hub in the north that brings nostalgia to light. Run by Adam Dowdy, he’s been bringing heat to his archives for a few years now and is the man to get his hands on the pieces you couldn’t. He’s shown me brands I would’ve not known exist and expanded my knowledge on different aesthetics. If you’re trying to get fresh, Sekkle is where you need to be at.

Brigatte

Brigatte was the first place I got a girl’s number and the place I made my first hundred quid so it’s a special street for me. I first set up my busking gear outside Greggs 6 years ago when I was 13 and started singing. That was really the start of my journey, the love I was shown was the main reason I carried on; Leeds really let me know I was one of their own. I carried on every weekend until I was 16 and corona hit and stopped it - but many things came after so the universe did it’s thing. Brigatte was a vital part of my music.

Scotchies

Scotchies, Scotchies, Scotchies. When I say the baddest, I mean the baddest! In my opinion the best food spot in Leeds - based on Roundhay Road, go down and see for yourself. Run by the main man Zulu and his partner it brings the best in soul food, freshly cooked daily - it’s a weekly obsession I have if I’m being honest. And if you think I’m just saying this for this article, ask my peoples. Cheesecake on Tuesdays as well. You’re welcome.

Thirteen Barbers

From the pictures in this article, I know you’re probably all thinking ‘wow his trim is impeccable’. I’ll let you in on the secret: Thirteen Barbers. For me, Thirteen is like a social club where they make you look lenger. Full of talented barbers up for a laugh and very good at what they do. Mikey, Kuba, Charlie, Isaac, Lucas, Harry and Bailey are the guys who make it happen down there. It’s always good vibes in the shop and there’s a bar Hideout on the lower floor, so if you’re feeling a drink after the trim, a set of stairs is all that’s in your way. All hair types as well, so don’t think you need to look like me to get freshened up.

New Concept Studio

New Concept Studios in Lincoln Green is the first studio I properly sat down and wrote a song in, so it’s a special place to me. It’s also home to a load of creatives vital to the Leeds music scene. Motion is who I predominantly work with there and has been a pioneer in the scene for years, producing, engineering, and recording music himself. Big up him, he’s seen me go through all my stages of artistry and is a real guy to have in the studio with you. Mikey B is another resident who has been shelling it for yearsgarage, baseline, house, whatever you want to hear Mikey is covering. There’s way more to come out of the studio such as Luca Ray, Vital Techniques and Bastard Hand. A hotspot for Leeds music.

ART OF MOVEMENT

Leeds is home to some world class culture that both entertains the city and exports across the globe. Exceptional organisations have gained the finest reputations in their field that attract the best talent here and produce amazing art. Leading the way are proud Leeds residents Northern Ballet, who have grown for over 50 years into an iconic dance company in their industry and in their city. Jessica Forrest tells us how Northern Ballet got here.

Northern Ballet began its life as Northern Dance Theatre and gave its first performance at the University Theatre, Manchester in 1969. Established by Canadian choreographer Laverne Meyer, the Company has since gone on to carve out a national and international reputation of creating world class ballet here in the North and bringing it to audiences across the UK and beyond.

The Company began with 11 dancers and an emphasis on small-scale classical and modern works, thriving due to its inventiveness, hard work and sheer determination.

Over the years the Company has been led by a number of industry titans including Robert de Warren, Christopher Gable, Stefano Gianetti and David Nixon CBE. Each grew the Company in size and scope as well as shaping its unique specialty of emotional and dramatic narrative ballet that is accessible to all.

In 2010 as well as changing its name to ‘Northern Ballet’ as we know it today, the Company moved to new purposebuilt facilities in Leeds’ Quarry Hill, which also houses the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, a 230 seat theatre that plays host to a diverse range of smallscale dance works.

Outside of their productions, Northern Ballet creates work for the small and large screen, boasts a professional training academy and an extensive program of school and community outreach work, as well as hosting open and inclusive dance classes.

In the last year the Company have welcomed former Royal Ballet Principal Federico Bonelli as Artistic Director as well as appointing a new Executive Director David Collins (formerly of Opera North) promising a new era for the northern cultural powerhouse.

See Northern Ballet in action this month as their ballet The Great Gatsby celebrates its 10-year anniversary at Leeds Grand Theatre from the 8-18 March.

TAKE THE LONG ROAD AND WALK IT

Mark Sadler takes us on four great walks in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Spending time in the countryside can benefit both physical and mental wellbeing, and - post-pandemic - more people than ever are visiting the Yorkshire Dales National Park to enjoy a walk and to socialise, taking the opportunity to reconnect with family and friends while enjoying the stunning landscape and scenery.

The Dales is a great place to enjoy a hike, a walk or a gentle stroll, and to spend quality time in friendly local shops, pubs and cafés. There are walks to suit all ages and abilities, including ‘miles without stiles’ routes that are perfect for people who find walking a challenge or whose group includes wheelchair or pushchairs users.

It would be impossible to pick a favourite walk, they’re all loved for many different reasons, but here are four classic walks in the Yorkshire Dales for you to explore.

Malham Circular Walk (Janet’s Foss & Malham Cove)

This is simply one of the most popular walks in the National Park and was recently voted #3 in ITV’s all-time top 100 walks. The route begins in the beautiful village of Malham before heading out through the magical woodland that is home to Janet’s Foss waterfall, named after the queen of the fairies.

There is then the option to extend the walk into Gordale Scar, a hidden gorge that has been carved deeper and deeper by the meltwater of successive Ice Ages. It’s a popular location in film and TV, having recently featured in the Netflix hit The Witcher. Finally, the walk takes in Malham Cove, a giant 230ft high cliff of white limestone that curves to form a natural amphitheatre below.

This 4.5mile walk will take around 3hours to complete, or there’s the option to visit each landmark separately.

Muker Circular Walk (Hay Meadows & Kisdon Force)

Muker is one of the best places to see upland hay meadows in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, with a footpath that runs through the heart of this stunning habitat.The species-rich wildflower meadows are at their best between late May and early July.

The walk begins in Muker village following a flagstoned footpath through the hay meadows and onto the waymarked route upriver alongside the Swale. Along the way there are several disused farmhouses, one of which is Hartlakes, reputedly one of the most haunted places in the country. Once at Keld there’s a chance to view Catrake Force and Kisdon Force waterfalls before heading back down the valley, offering extensive views down Swaledale. This 5.5 mile walk will take around 2½ hours to complete.

Aysgarth Circular Walk (Freeholders’ Wood & Aysgarth Falls)

There are three walks to choose from at Aysgarth Falls, a popular location with first time visitors. The main waterfall walk takes in the mighty upper, middle and lower falls, spread over a mile of the river Ure, and which feature in the movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, where Robin fights with Little John in the river.

The woodland walk wends its way through Freeholders’ Wood, a local nature reserve comprising ancient woodland and an abundance of wildlife. You may see or hear the birdsong of nuthatch, chaffinch, warblers and more, and in a very quiet moment you may see roe deer, woodmice, shrews or even red squirrels.

Finally, there’s the option of a gentle countryside walk which takes in the middle and lower falls before heading out into the Wensleydale countryside towards the village of Carperby. This 2.7mile walk will take around 1½ to complete.

Grassington Circular Walk (Grassington & Hebden)

The wonderful Grassington circular walk offers fine views of Wharfedale without straying far from the nearest facilities. Quickly and gently rising above Grassington, it passes over stiles through woodland and hay meadows across farmland to the pretty village of Hebden. The walk affords impressive views across the valley and the distinctive pattern of earthwork lynchets – terraces for growing crops – as well as the patchwork of drystone walls, a classic feature of the Yorkshire Dales.

Look out for the low, odd, conical-shaped limestone hills across the Wharfedale valleywhich are reef knolls - geological remnants of an ancient coral reef which formed in a shallow prehistoric sea around 300 million years ago.

The route is easy to access and has refreshment breaks at either end, with options to return the same way, continue on a higher level path to make the trail circular, or even do a short segment from Grassington before turning back. This 4 mile walk will take around 2-3 hours to complete.

Download the maps and route details of these and many other walksand discover more about the history, landscape, wildlife and culture of the Yorkshire Dales National Park: www.yorkshiredales.org.uk

Image Credits

1. Classic Dales landscape of walls and barns by Stephen Garnett

2. Gordale Scar by Andy Kay

3. Catrake Force by Mark Sadler

4. View down Swaledale by Mark Sadler

5. The Muker hay meadows by Andy Kay

6. Swaledale barn in a hay meadow by Wendy McDonnell

7. Aysgarth Falls Middle Falls by Andy Kay

8. Aysgarth Falls Lower Falls by Mark Sadler

9. Aysgarth Falls Upper Falls by Mark Sadler

10. Aysgarth Falls countryside walk by Mark Sadler

11. Signpost on Grassington walk by Stephen Garnett

12. Along the Grassington walk to Hebden Bridge by Stephen Garnett

LIVING FOR TODAY

The housing market is an evolving conundrum which affects everybody immensely. Whether you're a tenant, a buyer or a seller, the place you live and its perceived value is imperative to the quality of life. Whilst we all have our own experiences, it can still be a daunting prospect that requires expert assistance. Amongst the global websites and national estate agents, it is reassuring to find a personal firm with local knowledge - so, we asked Ashley Mehr of Churchills in York for some insight into the area's housing market and how to navigate it.

Churchills was formed in 1985 and has always been a family run business - from Robert and Sheila Webb previously to Kevin Webb today. At Bishopthorpe Road and Gillygate, their ethos is indicative of their family background, to provide a more personal service around the properties of York. Ashley Mehr explains the importance; “I think it’s absolutely crucial that agents operate locally and have an understanding of the community. To really be able to speak confidently about the local market you need to know the different micro-markets of a city such as York and its surrounding areas.”

When asked how the property market has evolved in almost forty years of Churchills’ existence, Ash replies; “Well, that’s a fully loaded question! There have been two property market crashes in that time and we’ve weathered both of them. But even in times of turmoil, it’s a market that is always in demand.” The reason for this emphasises the size and continuity of housing in the UK; “Partly, that it represents around 15% of GDP, and also consumers move every 5-7 years” he continues. For almost all of these moves, an Estate Agent is required to assist in the sales or letting process.

Going further back, Ash describes how generational trends are reflected in the way people live; “Over the last hundred years there has been a great paradigm shift in the tenure of households, whether it be Social Housing, Private Rental or Owner/Occupier. The Baby Boomer generation for instance staunchly believed in the concept of owning one’s home - private renting was seen as ‘dead money’. To some, that still is the case today - but there are benefits to renting.” Indeed, many other countries use the greater flexibilty and freedom it can offer to create a renting culture. Ash provides examples of why some prefer this; “Tenants are only tied to their property to the end of the tenancy period as opposed to a substantial financial obligation of a mortgage for a number of years. And they’re not responsible for the costs of maintenancereplacing a boiler or roof for instance costs into the thousands.”

However, for most, the aspiration is still to buy, and without support it has become increasingly difficult for first timers to do this. Ash offers up a more positive outlook; “For buyers, there is an opportunity with cooling property prices expected” he says, and encourages activity even if prices freeze or decline; “Bear in mind this is a long-term investment - according to the Land Registry House Price Index property prices in York have increased on average by 21.28% from November 2020 to November 2022. An owner/occupier home is an asset that can provide you a roof over your head and can appreciate in value.”

Locally, despite the current cost of living concerns, the property market is not static and continues to move; “Since the beginning of 2023, hundreds of properties have sold in the York area” Ash confirms, before explaining the challenge for buyers and sellers to meet each other’s expectations. “The most active price range at the moment is £200-250k which at the point of writing represents 16.2% of sales - yet the price range with most listings coming onto the market is £250-300k. This backs up the idea that the lower to middle of the York property market is where the sales are but the properties coming on to the market are slightly higher in price.” It’s one of the obstacles that for nearly forty years Churchills have had to navigate on the road to where you want to live - it might sometimes seem like a long journey, but York is worth the destination.

FASHION INSPIRATION

Sadia Gillen is a Leeds born Freelance Stylist and Creative in the fashion industry. @sadiag_ @sgstudios

Sadia has created iconic looks working with fashion brands, music artists and celebrities such as Kiss Beauty, Cernucci, 3 Mobile, Krept & Konan and Kaz Crossley. She has also worked with Leeds royalty, including Graft, Mya Craig, Sian Gabbidon and Temz, styling for music videos, events and photoshoots to bring their visions to life.

As a personal shopper in Leeds and other UK cities, Sadia also works with luxury retailers and independent brands to source apparel and host shopping appointmentsregularly shopping for clients at the likes of Louis Vuitton and Harvey Nichols in Leeds City Centre.

Although Sadia now works internationally, she built a solid network of creatives in Leeds which gave her the skills to get to where she is now. The power of collaboration within the city was key to this, and she continues to work with the Leeds community.

Surrounded by exceptional talent in the city, Sadia focuses on bringing them together. To create opportunities within Leeds, she hosts pop up and networking events, helping to showcase the city which she is proud of.

“My idea of success is doing what I love everyday and seeing everyone win together.”

With that in mind, we asked Sadia to showcase some inspiring women working in the fashion industry from Yorkshire.

Génie Studios, a clothing brand based in Leeds, is the brainchild of designer and owner Georgia Wilkinson. The line blends elements of streetwear, power dressing and androgynous styles to create a collection that is both alluring and unconventional. With a focus on premium textures, subtle hues and artful designs inspired by lingerie, Georgia has made Génie Studios a destination for those who dare to break away from the norm and set their own trends.

From studying Fashion Marketing and Business at Huddersfield University to go on and become a master in her field, Matchuela has 9 years experience of successfully running a freelance makeup business - actively learning to further enhance her skills, which she shares to her students through teaching. Running her own business has allowed Matchuela to work with with influencers, music artists and many celebrities such as Ashanti, Jordyn Woods and Mel B. She takes pride in adapting to the ever changing world of beauty everyday, from understanding skin tones to mastering makeup on aged skin. Matchuela hosted her first makeup masterclass back in 2022 at Koncept Studios where she also continues to teach and host one to one makeup appointments.

Georgia Wilkinson, Fashion Designer, Génie Studios. @georgiawilkinson / @genie__studios www.geniestudios.co.uk

Matchuela Mateus, Makeup Artist, MKM @mkm_xo

Georgina Tolson, Fashion Designer, GADO @gado.uk / @gina.gado www.gado.uk

GADO is a brand created by designer Georgina Tolson in 2016. Georgina combines effortless sophistication with undaunted edge to create individually tailored and hand finished garments that stand out and make an impression. Whilst studying a PR degree in New York, Georgina spent her spare time visiting the thrift stores, buying garments, deconstructing them and making them into something new. What started as a hobby quickly became a full time job as these pieces became a hit between friends and colleagues, so she decided to return to the UK to follow her dreams, where she studied fashion and clothing at Leeds Art University. Years later Georgina was able to have her own design studio in the heart of Leeds city centre. Leeds has such a fantastic network of creatives and she utilises that as much as possible, working with stylists, photographers, models and other designers in the area.

Jeàn Vintage is a UK based luxury vintage brand founded by Yorkshire born Casey Jean. Described as ‘addicted to all things aesthetic, sexy, nostalgia and high-fashion’, Casey takes pride in ‘originality, authenticity and affordability’ and the team source the most exclusive pieces from around the world with the aim of making high-fashion more accessible. Passionate about sustainable fashion, she encourages positively conscious shopping that can also make a return on your investment. Jean Vintage is now available to shop in Selfridges London.

Casey Jean, Owner, Jean Vintage @caseyxjean / @jeanvintage_ www.jeanvintage.co.uk

Vivienne Edge, Photographer, Vivienne Edge Photography @vivienneedgephotography www.vivienneedgephotography.co.uk

Vivienne from Leeds has what many people may call the dream job. She travels around the UK - and even the world - to photograph models and celebrities! She works with a whole bunch of well known names such as Bianca Gascoigne, Georgia Steel, Katie Price, Zara McDermott, Gemma Collins, Danielle Lloyd, Chloe Ferry and Kerry Katona. She has also photographed the front of Playboy, FHM, Closer and New Magazine. Having been working in the fashion industry for over 10 years, she has grown her brand Vivienne Edge Photography and also now teaches photography courses at the Harrogate studio to help new photographers build their brand. She absolutely loves her work, saying “there’s nothing better than making women feel confident and showing them how beautiful they are”

Alissa Eady,

Fashion Model

@justalissahere

Alissa’s modelling journey began at the start of lockdown when she was scouted on Instagram and went from working in retail in York to modelling full time. She has modelled with brands such as ASOS and is now a full time model travelling and working with some amazing brands. Alissa says she hasn’t felt joy like it since she has been part of the fashion world!

The only specialist arts university in the North of England.

Our students benefit from award winning specialist facilities, expert staff and an inspiring environment where anything feels possible.

Undergraduate

– BA (Hons) Animation

BA (Hons) Comic and Concept Art

– BA (Hons) Creative Advertising

BA (Hons) Creative Writing

– BA (Hons) Fashion Branding with Communication

– BA (Hons) Fashion Design

– BA (Hons) Fashion Photography

– BA (Hons) Filmmaking

– BA (Hons) Fine Art

– BA (Hons) Graphic Design

BA (Hons) Illustration

– BA (Hons) Photography

BMus (Hons) Popular Music Performance

– BA (Hons) Textile Design

– BA (Hons) Visual Communication

Further Education

– Foundation Diploma in Art and Design – Extended Diploma in Creative Practice

Postgraduate

– MA Animation

MA Creative Practice

– MA Digital Fashion

– MA Fine Art

– MA Graphic Design

– MA Illustration with Graphic Novel

– MA Photography

– MA Worldbuilding with Creature Design

www.leeds-art.ac.uk

CONEY STREET RENAISSANCE

Max Reeves of The Helmsley Group provides us with an insight into their proposed riverside revival of York’s Coney Street.

Coney Street has played an important part in York’s history since as far back as the Roman period. First recorded at the end of the Viking age as ‘Cuningstrete’, meaning the King’s Street, its close proximity to the River Ouse meant that it acted as an important trading post throughout this era.

In 1308, Coney Street was described as the most important street in York, and went on to be known for its supply and manufacture of luxury goods. In 1510, Coney Street was the site where the first ever book – Tristram Shandy - was printed in York, and fittingly, into the 18th century, it became known as a hub for newspaper printing, playing home to the York Courant, the Yorkshire Evening Post and the Yorkshire Herald.

In more recent years, the street has fallen into disrepair, with half of visitors to Coney Street saying that they use it as a through route, rather than viewing it as a destination in its own right. The intention of Coney Street Riverside is to remind people of the important role that the street has played across the centuries by sensitively regenerating it to create a vibrant destination for visitors and residents.

As Coney Street currently stands, its potential is underutilised and the street underappreciated. While it historically benefitted from a connection to the riverside through a series of water lanes, used to take people and goods to and from jetties on the river, the stretch of the river running parallel to Coney Street is currently inaccessible. We want to bring the riverfront to life and reconnect it with the street, creating new access points and introducing new public realm including green spaces and seating areas, as well as providing opportunities for public art and performance.

The initial idea for a riverside walkway was conceived 50 years ago in ‘The Esher Report: York – A study in conservation’. We already owned a number of buildings within the development zone, but site assembly began in earnest in 2019. We engaged with City of York Council around our pre-application in Spring 2022, and with local stakeholders and York residents to gather their thoughts and feedback on the plans. A full planning application was made in December 2022, with a second phase application expected to be submitted in Spring 2023. We hope that a decision will be made this year.

While Coney Street Riverside has been the passion project of the Helmsley Group, it has taken a large team of experts to get us to the planning stage. These include Vincent & Brown, O’Neill Associates, Montagu Evans, Aspect4, Gillespies, Troup Bywaters & Anders, Billinghurst George & Partners, Jane Simpson Access, Knight Frank, DS Emotion and Aberfield Communications. In addition, we frequently collaborate with key stakeholders including the York BID, York Retail Forum, City of York Council and various conservation bodies, to ensure that delivery of this ambitious project happens as smoothly as possible.

A key element of the scheme will be to sensitively redevelop Coney Street’s existing buildings, many of which are vacant or in states of disrepair. We hope that in doing so, we can attract independent retailers, as well as well-established food and beverage outlets, to reintroduce Coney Street as the social heart of York city centre. It will also boast circa 250,000 sq ft of mixed-use sustainable development, part of which will be created by repurposing currently underutilised upper floor space to create residential and student accommodation.

Coney Street, if approved, will allow us to reconnect this underloved area of the city with York’s riverfront, allowing the street’s rich heritage to complement its exciting future potential. Our ambition is for it to be an accessible and welcoming destination where residents and visitors alike can stay, dwell, eat, shop and enjoy. More widely, we hope that its transformation will be key for helping those further afield to recognise all that York has to offer, to help make this amazing city even better!

EVERY HEAD A BED

In a time when the cost of living is at the forefront of the news and impacting many people, it is reassuring to know that there are admirable organisations who are helping those most affected. Locally, there are various social enterprises who are supporting vulnerable people across Yorkshire, from the homeless to the elderly. One Leeds charity who focus on providing families with the essentials to survive are on a mission to leave no child without.

Founder Bex Wilson has spent 15 years teaching in Leeds - working her way from a two week trainee placement to now being Deputy Head Teacher at Shakespeare Primary School. Whilst on maternity leave with her first baby girl, she spoke to us about the altruism of Zarach and the ambition of their Every Head a Bed project.

The inspiration that sparked Zarach was a simple and revealing conversation, which Bex explains; “In 2017 a little boy I was teaching told me he didn’t have a bed. He was sharing a sofa cushion on the floor with his two siblings. His mum was a victim of crime and as a result had to move to an unfurnished house and couldn’t afford any beds.”

“After trying to source some help through our pastoral support network it became clear that whilst there was good provision for food and other help, there was no referral I could make that would mean these children could have a bed. With the permission of my head teacher, my dad and I went and bought 3 beds and delivered them to the family. A number of weeks later the mum tried to pay me back for the beds and asked me to use the money to buy beds for other families who find themselves in situations like her. After a bit of a delay due to feeling ill-equipped, Zarach was born!”

With a pure passion to make life better for these children and their families, and having discovered a gap in the support available, Bex began her pursuit to provide beds - and was met with immediate challenges; “When I first started Zarach, I wondered why no one else had set up a bed poverty charity. Well, I soon found out! Beds are large to store and difficult to transport. Also, due to hygiene issues, you can’t give away secondhand mattresses which makes it expensive.” She persevered and each success story has extended the vision to help children not only survive but also thrive - encapsulated by Zarach’s Every Head a Bed scheme.

“Every Head a Bed is one of our 5 projects and is our commitment to help ensure all children have somewhere safe and comfortable to sleep with consistent access to nutritious food in order for them to succeed at school. We work with schools to deliver bed bundles and other basics to children living without.”

“Zarach believes that well rested and well-fed children are increasingly ready to learn. Engaging in education gives children the tools they need to break the cycle of poverty, help their families out of crisis and improve the breadth of opportunities available to their future selves.”

Locally, the response has been heartwarming, with folk from differing sectors all joining in; “The people of Leeds are incredible!” Bex enthuses. “We’ve had amazing support from schools, businesses and families meaning we’ve been able to deliver over 3000 bed bundles to children in Leeds. The smiles on the faces of children we deliver beds to speak volumes and our inbox is regularly filled with lovely feedback from the schools we work with.”

Whilst the short term action is essential, it is the wider and longer aims that Bex is aware will have the vital impact. “This is about more than just a bed - we are here to bring lasting and positive change to those children growing up in the grips of poverty through bed bundle deliveries, tailored support packages, raising awareness, advocating policy change and by galvanising people and resources across the UK.”

This has already developed beyond Leeds and into other areas hoping to replicate their support there; “The benefits of the work Zarach does is far reaching. Now we’re working to eradicate bed poverty throughout the country through our hubs in Romford, Dewsbury, Calderdale, Stockport and Huddersfield.” And Bex is keen for this to expand further; “We are seeking partnership organisations up and down the country to collaborate with in planting new hubs.”

Since the idea for Zarach was first conceived, much has changed in the world, and the need for it has become more stark for many, including Bex; “The pandemic taught us that we are all only one bad day away from needing the kind of support that Zarach offers. We work with families experiencing domestic abuse, emergency house moves, bereavement and the list goes on.”

“Over the last four years I’ve held on to three things: 1Bed poverty exists everywhere. 2 - Bed poverty is limiting the educational potential of thousands of children in the UK. 3 - If enough people hear about the prevalence of bed poverty together we will be able to ensure those in power have to act.”

These realisations have magnified Bex’s vision and elevated Zarach’s ambition, as she concludes; “This year at Zarach we are working towards making Leeds the first bed poverty free city. We believe together, we can end bed poverty.”

You can get involved with Zarach by volunteering time, purchasing items from their wishlist or raising funds. To find out more visit zarach.org or email info@zarach.org

SARTORIAL CITY

Amongst the high streets and modern centres of Leeds shopping, there remains traditional trades which have a long history here. For over a century, the skill of tailoring has excelled in the city, and whilst trends have seen the once thriving industry diminish, there are talented tailors who are showing why sartorial style still has a place in modern Leeds and beyond.

Nestled in a suitably elegant spot at the County Arcade is a notable tailoring business who have a history of their own which has developed into a handsome success. Carl Stuart Tailors’ origins began in 1929 in a small Yorkshire town under a different company name, H Leighton. In 1963, Walter Grimes, who learned from Mr Leighton and became one of the most influential and talented tailors in Yorkshire - and perhaps the whole of the UK - took over the company. Never one to pursue the limelight, Walter took the unusual decision of naming the company after one of his closest friends, Carl Stuart - and that is how Carl Stuart Tailors was born.

Perhaps surprisingly, it is their insistence on retaining the original ethos and process of locality and quality that has allowed Carl Stuart to stand out and succeed today. Chris, the production director explains; “We are one of the few remaining tailoring businesses in the UK that does not outsource any part of the process outside of the UK. In fact, everything is done in West Yorkshire. All construction and alterations are performed in our factory and shops in Leeds and Ossett.”

The provenance of the cloth is equally traditional and with Yorkshire origins. Dugdale Bros & Co are a local Cloth Merchants designing and leveraging traditional skills. For this particular cloth of theirs, the spinning and weaving is taking place at Antich & Sons and the finishing at W.T. Johnson & Sons - both Huddersfield based companies.

At Carl Stuart, the process begins in Leeds, where an in-depth consultation covers everything from styling details to fabric selection. As Chris continues; “The intent is to make each piece unique to the customer and ensure the finished garment matches their vision. They want to look and feel good. We want the same.”

The customer is then measured to create a garment that will mould to their unique shape and size. Throughout the chain, traditional methods and personal skills are vital; “Our Made to Measure Specialist consults with our Pattern Cutters, Sewing Machinists and Garment Pressers. All of our cutting is done by hand to ensure accuracy and each piece of the garment is quality checked thoroughly” says Chris.

Whilst suits can be made ‘Straight to Finish’, taking the time of a ’First Basting’ ensures immaculate quality and impeccable fit. This means the garment is partially made, fitted, and then perfected with final alterations. The back and forth between the specialists in the Leeds shop and the tailoring experts in the Ossett factory creates a handmade, bespoke garment in the same skilled way as it would have been done decades ago.

As well as retaining a traditional process, Carl Stuart have embraced their local heritage to stay in their Yorkshire home; “Yorkshire is at the heart of everything we do” Chris enthuses. “We are extremely proud of our Yorkshire roots and endeavour to demonstrate this - from the cloth options that we carry, which given the water used in finishing the cloth gives them a distinctive handle from any other in the world, to offering some of Yorkshire’s finest beverages and refreshments in our shops.”

Conversely, this local approach has attracted clients from all over the globe. And their ongoing tailoring craft has built the brand a reputation for quality and excellence which has been repaid in loyalty. “Many of our customers have remained loyal to us throughout, and some team members have been with the company since its inception” Chris confirms.

Carl Stuart Tailors has evolved from a traditional tailoring shop for men to offering contemporary cuts and style options for both men and ladies. Chris explains that they have also moved with the times positively to be more environmentally conscious to produce their garments in the most responsible way possible. “Almost all of our raw materials are from local suppliers in a bid to minimise our carbon footprint and we use only the most ecofriendly components such as horn buttons instead of plastic and cotton or silk thread instead of polyester.”

Whilst they have modernised in sustainability, style and choice, it is comforting to know that Carl Stuart Tailors have no intention of changing the traditional Yorkshire tailoring that for 100 years has made them the perfect fit.

KNARESBOROUGH

In North Yorkshire and within the Borough of Harrogate is the beautiful and charming town of Knaresborough. Located just 3 miles east of Harrogate, Knaresborough lies on the River Nidd and officially became part of North Yorkshire only in 1974. With sights and attractions ranging from Knaresborough Castle and the railway viaduct to Mother Shipton’s Cave and canoeing on the river, this handsome town is positively unique and surprising.

The popular market town is known for being the home to one of the oldest tourist attractions in England, Mother Shipton’s Cave and the Petrifying Well. This beloved landmark has been open since 1630, which tells the story of Mother Shipton and the waters which turn objects to stone. Walking through the historic woodland here you can truly soak up some of Knaresborough’s enchanting heritage.

To take in more of Knaresborough’s breathtaking views, surrounding the town are a variety of scenic walks you can enjoy throughout the year. With natural trails including the Nidd Gorge Loop, Knaresborough Round and the River Nidd and Bilton Greenway Circular, you’ll be spoilt for choice on which area of beauty to explore first.

Indeed, Knaresborough is a beautiful place to visit everywhere you look. The distinctive railway viaduct welcomes visitors with a picture postcard view, and the town is filled with remarkable sights and sites. Knaresborough Castle is a ruined fortress that looks over the River Nidd, and here you can discover the dungeons and step into the museum to find tales of local characters, including Guy Fawkes. And on the outskirts of Knaresborough is Goldsborough Hall, a 400 year old stately home with luxurious rooms, fine dining restaurants and award winning gardens.

Although the town may seem relatively small in size, the businesses hidden away here are a treat to discover. There are so many characterful shops; The Crystal Buddha is an award-winning special holistic crystal store, stocked with globally inspired gifts and fair trade goods including sage bundles and gemstone pendants. On High Street is Twig&Ink, a lovely little shop selling all things gifts and clothing. Other charming little retailers include Castlegate Books, The Wine Shop, Knitting Pretty, PEAR and Northernline Antiques.

Whether you visit on a cold winter's day or during the height of summer, finding a friendly cafe is often the best way to start the day. The Ugly Duckling Tearoom is an idyllic riverside spot where visitors can pop in for a coffee and a slice of cake, it’s ideal for all the walkers and cyclists and they’re dog friendly too. If you’re looking for something a little bit different, Number Thirteen is a retro coffee house and cakery that pleases locals and tourists alike with savoury scones, homemade toasties and beautiful cakes. At Marigold’s Cafe & Boating you can relax and gaze onto the river, enjoy a lovely warm drink - and then perhaps go out for a row on the River Nidd yourself!

Whilst Knaresborough provides a lovely day out, it also serves up a proper meal and a decent drink. There’s Carriages, a cosy family-run gastropub and restaurant that cooks up locally sourced ingredients for delicious pub food with a twist. SO! Bar and Eats offers a tasty menu that caters to all needs, from a quick lunch to sharing feasts. And Drakes satisfies queues of eaters with Yorkshire fish and chips, to eat in or maybe take to the pretty market square.

Nearby, Six Poor Folk is a stylish bar, cafe and bistro set in one of the town's oldest buildings that dates back to 1480. Here you can enjoy great local beers, well chosen wines, a variety of cocktailsand even better, they’re dog friendly. Perfect during the summer months - when the town also hosts the unusual fun Knaresborough Bed Race - The Worlds End is a handsome waterside pub and beer garden and makes the ideal spot to watch the world go by. Located all around Knaresborough are friendly neighbourhood pubs, so for a crawl you’re in the right place. As if you haven’t got enough reasons to visit beautiful Knaresborough.

Image Credits: Knaresborough Viaduct @misshappywanderer

HALIFAX

In the Borough of Calderdale, Halifax is a commercial and cultural market town that was known for being a thriving woollen manufacturing location from the 15th century. Tucked between Hebden Bridge and Huddersfield, Halifax retains its traditional charm whilst evolving with modern attractions - a mix which visitors and locals explore to soak up some true Yorkshire culture.

Although most of the existing town was built in the 19th Century, modern day developments still showcase its popular industrial era through some of the remaining older buildings. In amongst these are the Town Hall which was built by Sir Charles Barry and opened in 1863, the Central Library, the Bankfield Museum that is set in a Grade II listed Victorian building, and Dean Clough Mills, a Grade II listed mixed-use mill complex.

In yet another Grade II listed building, Shibden Hall is a historic house that dates back to 1420 and allows visitors to take a journey through the lives of the people who lived and worked there, including Anne Lister, whose life was dramatised on TV series Gentleman Jack. In the 17th Century barn you can find collections and displays from blacksmiths to saddlers, all surrounded by the beautiful gardens and estate of Shibden Hall.

Beautiful nature is all around the town, which can be explored on a number of walking trails. With options including Beacon Hill and Shibden Park Circular, Claremont and Shibden Valley Circular or Anne Lister Way of the Setts, it’s a great way to view and appreciate this distinctive area of Yorkshire.

As well as these grown up attractions, Halifax is also a kids favourite as the home of the National Children’s Museum. Eureka! is an interactive, educational, informative and entertaining day out which welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors across the year.

Another of the town's popular attractions is The Piece Hall. This historical 18th-century cloth hall is a stunning site which is now filled with an array of independent shops, food and drink, as well being a thriving hot-spot for events such as food markets and live music, all enhanced by the unique backdrop.

At both Piece Hall and stylish centre Westgate Arcade, as well as places dotted around town, you’ll find a special selection of independent shops. The Handmade Gift Shop stocks unique handmade items from over 60 different crafters, artists and makers, showcasing Yorkshire talent through jewellery, art and textiles. Revo Records in Westgate Arcade sells new and secondhand vinyls in many genres.

Plastic free shop Just Gaia is an organic family-run business who provide loose ingredients at their refilling stations, fresh produce and more. And The Book Corner is a beautiful bookshop which sells a wide range of fiction and nonfiction books, as well as supporting local authors.

For a bite to eat and a warm drink whilst here, stop by Temperance who serve up specialty coffees, locally sourced brunch and baked goods, with both vegan and vegetarian options available. The Engine Room in Dean Clough is a lovely cafe and kitchen where you can enjoy breakfast, brunch or lunch to kickstart your day.

Nearby, for a leisurely lunch or something special in the evening, True North is the perfect neighbourhood style restaurant that’s ready to serve you some delicious dishes. Continuing into the evening, there are international eateries to choose between. Ricci’s Place is a true, family-run Italian restaurant that captures the essence of authentic, seasonal and homemade food. Whilst Seoul Food Korean Kitchen is a casual and cosy eatery that serves up traditional Korean dishes which are sure to warm you up.

With so many friendly bars and welcoming pubs, you won’t be short of drink choices on your journey around the town either. There are inclusive atmospheres, warm welcomes, stylish settings and impressive ranges of beers and wines at the likes of Meandering Bear, Dukes, Good Mood, The Wine Barrel and Kobenhaven. Add some excitement into your bar crawl and head over to Next Level, perhaps for a cocktail paired with their nostalgic collection of arcade games.

Whether it’s for the drink, the food, the shops, the architecture, the entertainment, the outdoors, the culture or the history, you’ll have every reason to be making a return to the traditional and modern piece of Yorkshire that is Halifax.