Absolutely Yorkshire Magazine October 2025

NEW COLLECTION

Inspired by our heritage, designed for the modern bedroom. The Iconic Collection features floating beds with unparalleled comfort and exclusive fabrics. Handmade in Sweden

NEW ARRIVALS Bed: Sandö Iconic I Headboard: Otterö & Sälö I Fabric: Loop Oyster by The Romo Group I Rug: Hemsedal Taupe

Bed Linen: Vindstilla I Bedside table: Holme Chrome I Dog Bed: Hunnebo I Foot Stool: Kobbe Round MADE BESPOKE WITH FABRICS FROM DESIGNERS GUILD KVADRAT AND THE ROMO GROUP

Miracle, you performed; Enjoying life again; A huge Thank You for giving me my life back.

Alleviated All Pain; Take no pain killers; Over the Moon; A New Woman now.

Immeasurable gratitude & so fortunate; Fantastic Care of the Highest Calibre.

Excellent Service; Trust entirely Mr Kalyan; Caring & Compassionate; Open & Honest.

Highly recommend; Master of his Craft & Very Professional; Provides Good Explanations.

*Patient outcome could vary according to their pathologies and other factors.

EDITOR

MARK KEBBLE

ART DIRECTOR

PAWEL KUBA

SENIOR DESIGNER

SUZETTE SCOBLE

MIDWEIGHT DESIGNER

CARMEN GRAHAM

MAGAZINE DESIGNER

MARIANA SUZUKI

DESIGNER

PAMELLA MORENO

PRODUCTION MANAGER

DANICA BRODIE

MAGAZINE MANAGER

MARTIN CUNNINGHAM

FINANCIAL DIRECTOR

JERRIE KOLECI

CREDIT CONTROL MANAGER

ALEXANDRA HVID

DIRECTORS

CRAIG DAVIES

JAMES FUSCHILLO

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ALEXANDRA HUNTER

MANAGING DIRECTOR

SHERIF SHALTOUT

024 or email: martin@zest-media.com

Wesleyan Chapel, Bolton Abbey

www.raby.co.uk/high-force

YORKSHIRE YATTER

Chill in the air? There will be after reading Lisa Byrne’s introduction to this most spooky of months

Do you believe in ghosts? I most certainly do, because I have seen, heard, smelt and felt them! I grew up in a historic house in York and experienced many unexplained phenomena. Our home was up a small laneway o the main road, and I remember walking up the hill and seeing a man standing by our art deco-style entrance porch wearing tweeds and looking like an extra in Downton Abbey o to join a shooting party. This well-heeled gentleman disappeared in front of my eyes, so I rushed to the back entrance to tell my mother. She admitted that our old Edwardian servants’ bell kept ringing, showing there was someone pressing the buzzer at the front door, but when she went to open it there was no one there.

Shortly afterwards, I was lying on my front in bed revising for A levels, when my door slowly creaked open. Feeling instinctively on edge, I tried to turn my head to see who was there when someone or rather something sat on my bed. A hand grabbed me round the back of my neck and started violently pushing my face into the pillow. After what seemed like eternity I screamed an expletive, and it immediately disappeared. I lay there frozen until dawn, before running downstairs to tell my parents. My mother called our local priest to bless our house, which brought little comfort, and from then on, I always slept with my bedroom light on.

Staying at an old hotel on the day we were engaged, my husband and I woke at 3am to someone breathing heavily in our faces. This ‘gentleman’, who reeked of pipe smoke and brandy, walked slowly from one side of the bed to the other before rambling up the steps into the bathroom and disappearing. When my husband explained our uninvited guest to the French hotel manager the following morning, he completely flew o the handle, saying he was leaving the hotel because he couldn’t handle all the ghosts! According to folklore our county is riddled with spectres and ghouls – with York being its capital for spooky sightings. So, on this All Hallow’s Eve, make sure you invest in lashings of holy water –and have a spooktacular time.

THIS MONTH I am...

Devouring modern British food with a delicious twist at MAE Café – a newly run mother/daughter venture in Holgate Road, York.

Throwing on my favourite New Romantic/Goth garb to see Duran Duran’s spectacular Danse Macabre show at Manchester’s Co-op Live. Haunting my favourite store NOX in York’s Goodramgate which boasts the best Hallowe’en display outside Salem.

LISA BYRNE

SPOOKY YORK

Wish LIST

GREEN PIECE

Head of Fashion at The Telegraph, Lisa Armstrong, has curated a capsule collection for Jigsaw. This is her Future Botanic linen two-piece, a breezy wear for early autumn days. jigsaw-online.com

LIGHT SHOW

A beautiful Parisian piece; great in a Wet Room refl ecting lots of light or a lovely addition as a Paperweight for the Offi ce or Media Unit. Pop into any Richard Gra on showrooms in Harrogate, Wetherby, or Ilkley to see a variety of colours and sizes. richardgraftoninteriors.com

BOWL OVER

The endlessly practical and stylish Hokan bowls have countless uses and are safe for oven, microwave and freezer too. Plus they stack for easy storage and the new Green Jade colourway is a delight. hokanbowls.com

home accessories and the new corkscrew is a fun addition to the

Is this raffi a bucket hat the cutest thing ever? We think so. Loeffl er Randall's Jocelyn hat comes in green or brown. net-a-porter.com

WHERE'S WALLY?

This shoe combines the must-have colour of the season with style and ultimate comfort. Featuring Easy-on laces and a cushioned ankle collar, the Wally in stretch canvas is the perfect shoe for any autumn day. heydude.co.uk

SHOE IN

DIAL IT UP

This Breitling Navitimer watch has a mint green sunray dial with polished hands and hour markers, with red tipped seconds hand. berrysjewellers.co.uk

Artist Takashi Murakami has launched a visionary new footwear brand. Ohana Hatake, meaning “fi eld of fl owers”, blends Murakami’s signature visual universe with Japanese tradition and experimental product design. ohanahatake.com

PERFECT CUT

This elegant 18ct white gold green tourmaline and diamond ring is truly a unique piece. Shaped into an oval cut, the central green tourmaline gemstone is held inside a classic four-claw setting and features marquise cut diamonds on either side and diamond set shoulders. berrysjewellers.co.uk

WRITE OFF

Wes Anderson has partnerd with luxury Maison Montblanc to create a limited writing instrument inspired by the Montblanc archive. montblanc.com

CULTURE

Sir GraysonPerry

7 OCTOBER, YORK OPERA HOUSE

Sir Grayson Perry will be embarking on a national tour, Are You Good?, a question that he thinks is fundamental to our humanity.

“I will be helping the audience find out if you really are thoroughly good or maybe quite evil, but in a fun way,” he says. “It’s time to update what is a virtue and what is a sin. No biggie.” yorktheatre.co.uk

The Agenda

Jordy Kerwick

UNTIL 22 FEBRUARY 2026, YORKSHIRE SCULPTURE PARK

Jordy Kerwick’s striking new solo exhibition One to Give. One to Take Away will be presented in Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s The Weston Gallery and outdoors this autumn, marking the first UK museum solo presentation of his work. One to Give. One to Take Away features dynamic sculptures and vibrant large-scale paintings, most of which were created especially for Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

ysp.org.uk

EVENT

Christmas at Harewood

8 November-11 November

HAREWOOD HOUSE

This year, interior designer Siobhan Murphy transforms Harewood with her signature maximalism to reimagine a glittering winter ball for Christmas 2025. From the first notes of music to the vibrant glow of Christmas trees, guests wander through rooms alive with colour, pattern and festive decadence, as Harewood’s Grand Christmas Ball whirls into full swing. harewood.org/christmas

25 October-2 November

KEIGHLEY STATION

The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway is inviting visitors to step inside the story of Britain's railways this autumn. The immersive experience forms part of the wider Railway 200 festival, which celebrates 200 years since the dawn of the modern railway in the UK. A specially adapted four-carriage train features a blend of interactive displays and historic milestones.

railway200.co.uk

THEATRE

MUSIC Route/Root

From 7 October

LEEDS CONSERVATOIRE

From her first visit to Leeds for the 2024 Leeds International Piano Competition to returning as curator of this season’s chamber series, Junyan Chen’s journey has come full circle. Through Route/Root, Junyan has selected six deeply personal and eclectic programmes, featuring ensembles that blend Baroque with Nordic folk, French modernism with contemporary spirituality, and much more. leedsconcertseason.co.uk

UNIQUE FINDS

The Northern Antiques Fair returns from 9-12 October

Dancing at Lughnasa

Until 4 October

CRUCIBLE THEATRE

Brian Friel's multi-award winning drama about the remarkable Mundy sisters heads to Sheffield. On the outskirts of Ballybeg, County Donegal, the five Mundy sisters’ lives are bound by responsibilities and social expectations. When influences from a wider, more modern world creep into their home, the sisters’ are swept along in a sea of change. sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

This Month’s Must See J

Meet the Hatter

oss Arnott Dance is delighted to announce tour dates and further details for the World Premiere of its major new production Meet the Hatter, inspired by the iconic character from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Combining dance, storytelling, original music, digital projection, lighting and animation, this imaginative new production o ers a retelling of the beloved story of the Hatter, that sees him embark on a journey of growth and self-discovery. barnsleycivic.co.uk

The Northern Antiques Fair is back again for its fi h year. Some 40 specialist dealers will converge on the pretty market town of Leyburn, in the heart of Wensleydale, from all parts of the UK and will present their stands in and around The Garden Rooms and Cloisters at Tennants. People come from far and wide and last year the fair clocked up an admirable following of around 2,200 visitors over the four days. A few highlights include an oil painting by Edward Seago (1910-1974) entitled ‘The Line of the Dunes’ (£68,500) from Burlington; an extremely rare 8-day mantel chronometer by Mercer dating from 1930, (£16,500) from Frodsham Clocks; and, possibly one of the oldest antiques in the fair, one of the earliest maps of the whole country of Ireland by the famous map maker Abraham Ortelius from a 1590 edition (£1,675) from J Dickinson Maps and Prints.

A new face at the fair is Jeroen Marques Art Deco, whose stand is designed as a room set cleverly capturing the Art Deco period, much sought a er today by interior decorators, bringing mid century armchairs, Waring and Gillows sideboards, sofas, sculpture, glass, mirrors, clocks and paintings. For collectors of work by Sir Kyffin Williams (1918-2006), Mark Rowles Fine Art is showing a delightful landscape watercolour of Anglesey (£9,500).

northernfair.com

EDWARD ATKINSON HORNELL BURNET ROSES, 1919

PHOTO: JOSH HAWKINS

PHOTO:

Young at HEART

As she launches her first ever children’s book, Amanda Owen reflects on a life spent in front of the cameras, crazy Christmases and surviving social media

By MARK KEBBLE

Anyone who has a couple of kids would probably appreciate a break every now and again from them, but that seemingly doesn’t cross the mind of mum-of-nine Amanda Owen. Throughout our chat, lots of her answers take a tangent towards her children – “I know it sounds like I worship the kids, but they can be little so and sos,” she laughs – and this has now even extended to her penning Christmas Tales from the Farm, her very first children’s book. Widely known as The Yorkshire Shepherdess, Amanda is a best-selling author, television personality, and hill farmer celebrated for her life on one of the most remote farms in England. Born and raised in Huddersfield, Amanda didn’t come from a farming family, but she was inspired to pursue shepherding after reading James Herriot’s classic veterinary tales. At the age of 21, while working as a trainee shepherdess, she met her future husband, Clive Owen, at

Ravenseat Farm in Swaledale. The couple went on to raise nine children while running the 2,000-acre sheep farm, which is home to around 1,000 Swaledale sheep.

The family rose to national fame through the Channel 5 series Our Yorkshire Farm, which documented life against the dramatic backdrop of Swaledale. It captivated over three million viewers in the UK and aired in over 20 countries around the world, from Australia to Iran and from Thailand to Turkey. In 2023, Amanda Owen’s Farming Lives launched on More4 and in October 2024 Amanda’s latest TV adventure, Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive and Kids, became the channel’s highest-rating series of the year and was also repeated on Channel 4.

We’re here to discuss Christmas Tales from The Farm, inspired by real-life family adventures on the farm. There are plenty of stories to tell. There’s the three little goats that think they live inside the house and are constantly eating the kids’ homework and socks. Or the runaway reindeer they found on the farm. The Christmas that the oven broke down and

Amanda had to cook the turkey over an open fire in the living room. Not forgetting the family tradition of “Winter Olympics” with skiing, snowboarding, ice skating and sledging when it snows on the farm.

“Having written five books for adults, and with nine kids, I had literally been told for years, ‘You should write children’s books’,” Amanda says. “When I was a kid, I loved books and I enjoyed reading, but there was one critical thing – it had to be real. I didn’t feel like I could invest time and enthusiasm into a story that wasn’t real. I wanted to know I could go to that place. I wanted to know that it actually happened. That was everything to me. And so when I sat down to write Christmas Tales from the Farm I wanted to base it on real life on the farm because that’s what inspired me as a child, and because I’m never short of material as there’s always something going on around here.”

It’s a riveting read, made all the better by illustrations from Becca Hall – who now understands Amanda’s determination to show reality. “Becca is an amazing illustrator, she just perfectly encapsulated

what I was looking for,” Amanda says. “But there were hilarious conversations, like ‘I really love your picture of the pony, but I have got to say that the gap you have done in that wall is not actually how you would get gaps in a dry stone wall’. Or ‘I need you to change those wattles on that chicken’. Does it matter? Yes it matters to me because I talk about reality. Ninety nine per cent wouldn’t know the di erence, but one per cent would.” How was Becca during all this? “Well she didn’t give up did she! I think it looks wonderful, and it makes my kids smile.”

What did the children think of the book? “I don’t know, they haven’t blooming read it have they!” Amanda jokes. “They look at the pictures and they laugh. I mean who wouldn’t like cartoon pictures of themselves and the animals? They know all the stories in the book already of course because they’ve lived it. The one that has a special place in all our hearts is the story of Little Joe – the Shetland Pony. We all shed a tear when he died as he’d taught all the kids to ride and was a real character. My stories are about real life on the farm, and the kids don’t see anything about their lives as being out of the ordinary or di erent.”

Considering the huge success of the TV shows Amanda and her family have

"THIS IS MY REALITY. THE TRUTH IS STRANGER THAN FICTION"

appeared in, that must be pretty di cult? “The kids don’t notice it at all, they don’t feel any di erent for being on TV, because what’s being filmed is them going on with their everyday lives. Sometimes I can feel overwhelmed by it all, but I can be distinctly underwhelmed at the same time,” she shrugs. “Being on TV – it’s such an oddity, because you don’t ever think you’re that interesting. Here on the farm we’re so remote, we’re just getting on with things and often you forget that out there somewhere people are watching the show, because you’re busy chasing after sheep or rebuilding a stone wall. We started the TV as a farm diversification. It’s ironic that you can make a better living being filmed farming, writing books about farming or talking about farming, than actually farming. So we see the TV as an opportunity to keep doing what we love – and that’s farming.”

What about the world of social media these days, where everyone is quick to have an opinion? “Like anybody you have those days where you have got the fighting spirit on, where it’s like come on, we are going to do this! And then on another day, I think if I post on social media there will be hell on and you end up overthinking everything.

“But on balance I would say that for us as a family social media has been

overwhelmingly positive. Opportunities would never have happened without being able to share what we do here on the farm on social media. For the children, they’re not just learning life lessons from the farm, but also from how to navigate social media and the internet – we don’t live in a bubble – and I hope they can look at what I have done and learn something from that.

“That doesn’t mean I’ve always done the right thing, far from it. What it’s showing the kids is, how did you get through that? How did you cope with that? With nine children of di erent demeanours and di erent characters, they are all going to head o into life, some of them will stay put, some of them will have an adventure, but I hope that life on the farm will have taught them the resilience to weather what life throws at them.

“At this very moment the kids are up at Anty Jon’s with a film crew. Just being asked questions for the TV, they are learning some life skills. It teaches them their opinion matters, that they are an intrinsic part of how everything works on the farm, and feeling valued is something I think is inherently good for children. I want them to get that fire in their belly. I don’t want them to be lucky, I want them to have opportunities.”

WITH HER LATE SHEEPDOG, KATE

Does Amanda ever watch back the TV shows? “I don’t watch any of it. There is nothing that makes me cringe more than hearing the children watching it, and even then they only watch it to laugh at it. They watched one the other day, only because there was no electric and it was all they could find on the computer that had been saved. The little cheeky so and sos said they were going to watch Jurassic Park, but obviously they meant dinosaurs as in me and Clive!

“Of course you don’t [watch the shows]. Who likes the sound of their own voice? Nobody. Also, it’s just life as it is. Who finds themselves incredibly fascinating? You just don’t. The fact the children aren’t interested delights me. Because that’s absolutely how it should be. That’s why we remain unchanged and untouched.”

With a seven-book deal signed with Penguin, there’s plenty more children’s

stories to come from Ravenseat and Amanda. So turning back to Christmas Tales on the Farm, what does Christmas 2025 look like for Amanda and the family? “I am o on a cruise ship, going all around the Caribbean… No! It’s the same as bloody normal! Course it is! The children are absolutely brilliant, their expectations of what Christmas is, is pretty low. Actually it’s rock bottom. They don’t really ask for presents. Because it’s our Christmas, made to suit us, we are not competing, we are not trying to make it look like the perfect Christmas o the John Lewis advert. It won’t look like that.

“We’ll wake up in the morning and everyone will get to their jobs on the farm, feeding the animals and that. Presents won’t be opened until after 3pm and Christmas dinner even later. There will be two tables, none of the cutlery will match, somebody will be sitting on an upside down washing

up basket, that is how it will be. Things will get dropped, things will get spilt, I will forget to buy crackers. There’ll be a towering inferno as someone will have tipped too much brandy over the Christmas pudding, the chocolate will be eaten by the dog and everyone will wonder how it’s not dead when chocolate is supposed to kill them. We will run out of diesel, a farm machine will break, something will get ill and we will end up having to ring the vet. The food will be great, the ambience will be interesting, but it will be very much balance your plate on your knee. Which fork can I use for that? If you can find a fork you are on to a winner!”

Christmas Tales from the Farm by Amanda Owen, illustrated by Becca Hall, is out now (Pu n, £14.99). Amanda Owen is on tour from 5th Nov-7th Dec. Tickets available at nothird.co.uk

"THE ILLUSTRATIONS PERFECTLY ECAPSULATED WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR"

PAGE

Yorkshire has quite the literary past - and this month highlights why the stories will continue on and on

TURNER

Yorkshire’s literary past is as varied as its landscapes: moor and mill town, coast and cathedral city. The county has produced – and inspired – writers whose voices shaped English letters, from metaphysical wit to modern grit. In the West Riding, the Brontë sisters turned Haworth’s heathered heights into an imaginative country of fierce passion and moral weather. Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre carry the moor’s raw energy, their settings inseparable from the ridgelines and sudden squalls that still sweep over the Pennines. A century later, another West Yorkshire native, Ted Hughes of Mytholmroyd, channelled similar elemental force into animal poems

and mythic sequences; nearby Heptonstall holds the grave of Sylvia Plath, binding transatlantic modernism to Yorkshire stone. Bradford-born J. B. Priestley wrote shrewdly about class and conscience; his time-bending An Inspector Calls remains a staple of British stages. Hull became a second capital of poetry through Philip Larkin, whose cool precision and melancholy humour were honed during his librarianship at the university there. To the north, the seaside town of Whitby lent its abbey ruins and storm-lashed harbour to Bram Stoker’s Dracula, giving world literature one of its most indelible entries from the English coast. And in the Dales, the veterinary tales of James Herriot turned everyday farm rounds into gentle comic art, exporting Yorkshire warmth and weather to readers far beyond Thirsk’s market square.

FERN RIDDELL

ILKLEY AND HARROGATE ARE LIVING HUBS FOR THIS LEGACY

Two towns in particular – Ilkley and Harrogate – have become living hubs for this legacy. Ilkley, on the edge of Rombalds Moor, hosts one of the country’s leading literature festivals each autumn. Since the 1970s, the Ilkley Literature Festival has welcomed major poets, novelists, and playwrights alongside school groups and emerging writers.

Harrogate, the elegant spa town, adds a di erent flavour. The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival has turned Harrogate into a summer pilgrimage site for crime aficionados.

With both areas announcing details of their new literature festivals, Absolutely takes a closer look at what to expect.

ILKLEY LITERATURE FESTIVAL 2025

3-19 October

ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk

The north’s longest-running literary festival, Ilkley Literature Festival, has announced its 2025 line-up. A host of household names including politicians, national treasures, journalists, novelists, historians, comedians, and academics will head to the spa town in October.

Nick Clegg, the former Deputy Prime Minister and President, Global A airs, at

Meta, opens the festival with an urgent look at the state of the internet, taking us behind the scenes of Meta and exploring where Big Tech has gone wrong – and right – with his book, How to Save the Internet

A star of the global literary scene, Wild Swans author Jung Chang brings the follow-up to her epic personal history that defined a generation. Half a century on, she brings the story of her family, and of China, up to date in what promises to be a moving and unforgettable evening.

Audiences can spend an evening with the Poet laureate, Simon Armitage, as he reads from his two new poetry books, Dwell and New Cemetery. Festival favourite Gyles Brandreth discusses his book Somewhere, A Boy and A Bear marking the centenary of the publication of Winnie-the-Pooh. Lady Hale, the former President of the Supreme Court, brings an eye-opening event on the British justice system. Hot topics also include a fascinating insight into the Post O ce scandal with sub-postmaster, Jo Hamilton, whose story was immortalised in the ITV drama, Mr Bates vs The Post O ce Comedian Alan Davies shares his journey into the world of stand-up comedy, with his latest memoir, White Male Stand-Up. Queen of retail, Mary Portas takes us behind the shop

THE 1992 SCREEN ADAPTATION OF WUTHERING HEIGHTS

IRVINE WELSH, PHOTO BY ZOE LAW

A STELLAR LINE-UP OF ACCLAIMED WRITERS AND JOURNALISTS

window with I Shop, Therefore I Am, and audiences are invited to an evening with the Paddington and Downton Abbey star and bestselling memoirist, Hugh Bonneville.

Other well-known faces include Sir Tony Robinson introducing his fiction debut, one of the best-known names in British broadcasting Edward Stourton, and BBC radio presenters Mark Radcli e and Stuart Maconie.

The festival will explore a series of themes for 2025. Jo Hamilton and Lady Hale’s events are under the theme Doing Justice, in which Lee Lawrence also investigates the scale of racial injustice in the UK.

Novel Ideas celebrates novels and the craft of storytelling, with bestselling authors Rachel Joyce, Esther Freud, and the Women’s Prize-shortlisted Nussaibah Younis and Sanam Mahloudji discussing their latest novels. Irvine Welsh also discusses the sequel to the million-copy bestseller Trainspotting Men in Love picks up the story Renton, Spud, Sick Boy, and Begbie in a new era as they head into rave and romance in the late 1980s.

For The Dark Side of the Internet theme, journalist James Bloodworth shares his experiences investigating the toxic subcultures of the ‘manosphere’

and Dr Kaitlyn Regehr explains why screen addiction is on the rise, and how we can quit our phones.

The theme Talking Politics delves into UK politics with former Chief Whip and Conservative MP, Simon Hart, and political columnist, Steve Richards, with his book, Tony Blair, as well as geopolitics and globalisation with Vince Cable and BBC Verify correspondent Ben Chu.

A Food for Thought strand features Jay Rayner who recounts his 25-year career as a restaurant critic. Ruby Tandoh explores how food has become a national obsession, Tim Spector OBE shares the life changing power of microbes, and Sabrina Ghayour makes Middle Eastern recipes easy.

Soft Power re-examines overlooked historical figures and events, including forgotten women. Biographer Sonia Purnell discusses Pamela Churchill Harriman – one of the most powerful women of the 20th century, influencing Winston Churchill, the Kennedys to Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela. Valerie Waterhouse also puts the life of an exceptional and overlooked Bradford-born Malachi Whitaker on the literary map – born in 1895 in Bradford, the BBC aired over 50 broadcasts of her stories yet she is largely overlooked today.

And Explore Moor will look at how our connections with the earth and our landscape shape us and includes appearances from Mike Berners-Lee, TV presenter and earth scientist Anjana Khatwa and T.S. Eliot Prize-winning, Leeds-based poet Jason Allen-Paisant.

RAWORTHS HARROGATE LITERATURE FESTIVAL 2025

9-19 October

harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

The renowned Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival is back with a bang this autumn with a stellar line-up of acclaimed writers and journalists, TV presenters, politicians and sport stars. The festival once again features an exciting and diverse programme of authors and special guests across 10 days.

This year’s speakers include former Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, whose new memoir Frankly is published in August, along with Conservative MP and former chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

Joining the line-up is broadcaster and TV personality Chris Tarrant, along with author and presenter John Suchet, comedian, actress and author Helen Lederer and England cricketing legend Graham Gooch. Also appearing is author and journalist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, as well as Chris and Jen Sugden, creators of the hugely popular audio drama podcast Victoriocity, and author and historian Kate Vigurs, with more special guests to be announced.

The festival, hailed as “One of the UK’s best Literary Festivals” by Harper’s Bazaar and “One of the Top 3 Literary Festivals in the UK” by the Guardian, has long been at the forefront of the literary scene thanks to its stellar line-up of big names in relaxed and intimate settings.

Held in the famous North Yorkshire spa town, Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival is recognised for championing up-and-coming talent as well as attracting best-selling authors, politicians, historians, broadcasters, actors and sporting stars.

JEREMY HUNT, PHOTO BY JOHNNY PIPER

NICOLA STURGEON

PHOTO BY CHARLOTTE HADDEN

Christmas

Hamper & Pamper Christmas Market

Beat the Christmas rush and browse a carefully curated selection of local artisans. 10am - 4pm.

Elemis Sparkle & Save Event

Pre-register to discover luxurious Elemis products, with mini facials and exclusive discounts! 2 - 6pm.

Christmas Lights Switch On

Join us for an an evening full of holiday cheer, with music and a visit from Father Christmas. From 5pm.

Christmas Wreath Making

Book your place and enjoy some festive crafting. Lunch is included! £60 per person, 11am - 1pm.

Children’s Christmas Party

Enjoy a children’s buffet, disco and a visit from Father Christmas himself! £9.95 per child, 4 - 7pm.

New Year’s Eve Elvis Party

Experience a lively start to the New Year, with a live Elvis tribute and a late night snack. Tickets £29.95.

PICKERING Why we love…

Absolutely visits the town to explore a colourful past and buoyant present

Sitting at the southern edge of the North York Moors, Pickering is one of Yorkshire’s classic market towns: old stone, big skies and a history that’s far longer than the railway whistles and tea-room chatter that most visitors first notice. Archaeology suggests people were drawn here by a handy mix of moorland, water and fertile soils after the last Ice

Age, with the settlement continuing into the Anglo-Saxon period and beyond. The town grew under Norman rule in the lee of its new fortress, Pickering Castle.

The castle itself is a superb example of an early motte-and-bailey fortification evolving into a stone stronghold. Raised soon after the Conquest, it guarded routes between coast and vale and served as a royal hunting base for the Forest of Pickering. Today you can still walk the shell keep, peer over the curtain walls and trace the plan of the inner

and outer baileys. English Heritage manages the site and gives a clear sense of how the castle changed across the medieval period.

Pickering’s medieval parish church of St Peter and St Paul crowns the town above the Market Place. It’s famous for an almost uniquely complete run of late-medieval wall paintings – vivid cycles of saints, the life of Christ and the Seven Corporal Works of Mercy –painted around the 1470s, whitewashed at the Reformation, rediscovered in 1852

NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS RAILWAY

and painstakingly revealed again in the 1870s. Standing below them you get an unusually direct sense of a medieval interior in colour rather than bare stone. The church is Grade I listed and open daily.

The Victorian period brought the railway, weaving Pickering into a wider network and, by a quirk of later heritage, left the town with one of Britain’s best-loved preserved lines, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR).

CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS

NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS RAILWAY

Pickering Station is the southern hub of this 24-mile heritage line across heather moors to Whitby. Regular services run March–November, with visiting locomotives, special galas and themed trains adding theatre. If you’re here in autumn, look for the Ghost Train and Light Spectacular evenings; in the run-up to Christmas the Santa Express takes over. Even on a quiet weekday, the station’s period fixtures, footbridge and tearooms make a lovely hour’s linger.

PICKERING CASTLE

Compact, green with tumbling earthworks and full of sightlines, the castle repays an unhurried wander. Families love the

freedom of the outer bailey and the simple drama of climbing to the shell keep; historyminded visitors get good interpretive boards and a clear sense of how the site functioned.

ST PETER AND ST PAUL’S CHURCH

Don’t dash: the paintings reward slow looking. The north wall sequence alone moves from St George and the Dragon to St Christopher to the Beheading of John the Baptist; on the south wall the Works of Mercy march alongside Passion scenes. It’s one of those rare places where art history, liturgy and local story meet in one room.

BECK ISLE MUSEUM

Across the beck from the Market Place, this volunteer-run museum fills a Georgian building and outbuildings with 25+ galleries: recreated shops, rural crafts, farming life and a wonderful local photography collection. It’s deeply rooted in Pickering’s social history and a gentle, hands-on way to understand the town beyond the postcard.

EAT & DRINK

Pickering’s food scene is quietly good rather than flashy – classic coaching-inn dining rooms, independent bistros and a crop of cafés and farm-shop kitchens that make the most of Ryedale produce.

THE WHITE SWAN INN (MARKET PLACE)

A long-standing coaching inn with a cosy bar and dining room; think local meat, fish from the coast and Yorkshire puds where they belong. It’s a reliable, central choice after a day on the railway or castle hill.

WILLOWGATE BISTRO (WILLOWGATE)

Small, chef-led and popular with locals for seasonal menus in an intimate setting – book ahead at weekends.

THE BLACK SWAN (BIRDGATE)

Not to be confused with the famed Helmsley spot, this coaching inn o ers hearty pub classics, cask ales and a relaxed dining room right in the old streets.

SPICE 4 U (HUNGATE)

Award-winning Indian restaurant and takeaway, family-run since 2002, well-liked for generous, spice-balanced cooking; handy for an evening sit-down after the trains.

BOTHAM’S OF WHITBY - PICKERING TEA ROOM (MARKET PLACE)

A branch of the classic Whitby bakery, great for a light lunch.

FAMILY FUN

Pickering is built for family days: distances are short, attractions are tactile, and there’s always a plan B if it rains.

PICKERING CASTLE

RIDE STEAM TO THE MOORS

Even an out-and-back hour on the NYMR is a memory maker. Kids love counting carriages and spotting the “Hogsmeade” bridge at Goathland (aka Aidensfield in Heartbeat); parents love the gentle pace and café pit-stops at stations along the way. In late October, the NYMR traditionally runs spooky evening services (2025 has a “Mad Alice’s Ghost Train”).

EXPLORE A REAL CASTLE

Pickering Castle’s grassy banks are perfect for a run-about with a side-order of history. Pack a picnic: there’s space to sprawl and the views down over the rooftops help young imaginations along.

FOREST ADVENTURES

Nearby Dalby Forest o ers waymarked family cycle loops, play areas and the Go Ape tree-top course for older children and teens. It’s an easy half-day and a nice contrast to town sights.

WHAT’S ON

Pickering’s autumn into winter is anchored by the heritage railway and town festivities. Here are the headline dates to help you plan – always check organisers’ sites before you travel.

OCTOBER 2025

“Mad Alice’s Ghost Train”, North Yorkshire Moors Railway, 19th October-2nd November. Spine-tingling evening departures, storytelling and moorland darkness from Pickering Station. If your crew loves Halloween, this is the one to book.

Pickering 1940s Wartime Weekend, 10th-12th October. The town dresses up,

swing bands strike up and the railway’s platforms fill with uniforms, vintage vehicles and displays. It’s one of the North’s biggest 1940s reenactment weekends; accommodation books out early.

NOVEMBER 2025

Pickering Festive Lights Switch-On, 22nd November. Community stalls, lateopening shops and the big countdown in the Market Place: a cheery way to start the season if you’re in Ryedale.

Light Spectacular / Autumn Evenings on the NYMR. The railway has run illuminated evening services in late October/early November in recent years; keep an eye on the NYMR site and local listings for 2025’s exact plans.

DECEMBER 2025

NYMR Santa Express (Pickering Station), 29th-30th November; 6th, 7th, 13th, 14th, and 20th-24th December. An interactive, family-friendly steam trip with singing, jokes, elves and a meetand-greet with the big man himself. All services depart from Pickering; book ahead as popular slots go fast.

Christmas on the Railway. Look out for Pullman dining, afternoon teas and station-house stays wrapped into the NYMR’s festive o ering; these addons make a lovely treat for couples or multigenerational groups.

THE WHITE SWAN

HERE AND LEFT, 1940S WEEKEND IN PICKERING PHOTOS BY JOHN CLIFTON

TIM HOGARTH

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“We’re looking for antique jewellery in any condition, especially quality diamond pieces. Amber, coral beads, and vintage watches (Rolex, Cartier, Omega, Patek Philippe) are in high demand. We offer top cash prices for valuable items.”

Visit Tim every Tuesday and Wednesday at The Red House.

1 Duncombe Place, York, YO1 7ED 07970 818866

timhogarth@me.com

It’s almost here...

Order your Booths Christmas online from 9 th October. From tasty treats to festive feasts, scan the QR code below to discover more

Scan me for a sneak peek

FOOD & DRINK

Many

FISH&FOREST

WHAT TO DRINK GRAPE news

Wine recommendations for the month

By BOOTHS

Bird in Hand Sparkling 75cl, Australia, ■ £16

Delicate sparkling wine with hints of fleshy strawberries and citrus blossom. The lively palate has a refreshing acidity.

Villa Wolf Pinot Noir Rosé 75cl, Germany, ■ £11

Vibrant summer berries, delicate floral notes and a touch of sunshine really make this German rosé an elegant and indulgent stand out.

Louis Jadot Côte D’or Pinot Noir 75cl, France, ■ £25

Harmonious and well balanced, with a plump fruitiness and a silky texture. A wine of medium body and elegant structure.

Booths has been importing quality wines since 1870, and the current curators of their award-winning selection are Victoria and Rachael. Both use their expertise to offer Booths’ customers a wide, eclectic range, value for money, and uncompromising quality. In 2025, they were voted Regional/Specialist Supermarket of the Year at the International Wine & Spirits Competition, where they were complimented on the curated drinks selection and delightful shopping experience they create for their customers. orders.booths.co.uk

TASTING

NOTES

Food news and the most exciting openings across Yorkshire

By MARK KEBBLE

In the spirit

THE ALCHEMIST

In September, we forgot Negroni week and joined The Alchemist Leeds for Negroni month. The Alchemist raised a glass to one of the world’s most iconic and beloved cocktails with a month-long celebration. During this The Alchemist unveiled a nationwide exclusive: the Negroni Paradiso, featuring Campari, Coconut Washed Miller's Gin, Tropical Vermouth, Pineapple & Coconut. Cheers! thealchemistbars.com

Festive feeling

The season’s approaching, a festive feast to cook, Christmas from Booths, scan to take a look! Booths Christmas range is available to pre-order from 9th October. Discover magnificent mains with the Farmison & Co King Arthur Beef Roast, 100% grass fed and free range, it’s perfectly tender and rich in flavour. Scan the QR code above to discover more. orders.booths.co.uk

Sophisticated twist

THE IVY LEEDS

This autumn, The Ivy Collection is inviting guests to step into a world of elegance, refinement and culinary splendour with the launch of its new Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale at The Ivy Leeds, crafted to celebrate the cinematic release of the new Downton Abbey. The menu channels the classic sophistication of 1930s dining. ivycollection.com

TOP THREE

CHUBBY DUMPLING

Father-daughter dumpling duo Chubby Dumpling are known for dishing out Hong Kong-style streetfood. Sweet, tangy, and finished with a fiery kick, The Hot One is one of their most popular sauces, bottled. £6.80, delli.com

NIMI NOSH

Founded by Jamaican-born Nicole Michael (‘Nimi’) and inspired by her mother’s flavour-packed sauce recipes (‘Nosh’), Nimi Nosh brings her family’s Caribbean sauce recipes from the food markets of Jamaica to UK kitchens.

Poon's Extraordinary Chilli Oil is an aromatic chilli oil infused with the intense flavours of salted black beans. Add it to almost anything. £6.80, poons-pantry.com

HEAVENLEY DESSERTS

Heavenly Desserts York has been crowned North Yorkshire’s Best Dessert Shop at the prestigious England Business Awards, a recognition that acknowledges both its exceptional creations and its dedication to the local community. Renowned for its freshly baked wa es, crepes, pancakes and patisserie-style tarts, the restaurant has developed a loyal following. heavenlydesserts.co.uk

TASTE OF HEAVEN FINE FUSION

Habbibi, Leeds’ Arabic and Mediterranean fusion restaurant, has unveiled its new menu. Since its opening last year, Habbibi has quickly established itself as a celeb favourite thanks to its glamourous interiors, show-stopping cocktails and delectable dishes. Now its new menu is set to bring a further taste of luxury to Leeds’ foodie scene, with dishes including Tru e Tagliatelle. habbibi.co.uk/leeds

HABBIBI

TO BOLDLY GO

The Banksia is the latest launch in Leeds’ burgeoning food scene. Head Chef Craig Rogan explains why he is so fired up to oversee the restaurant

Recently opening on the corner of Lower Briggate and Swinegate, The Banksia bar and restaurant blends old-world Mediterranean flavours with a modern, vibrant dining experience, o ering a small plate concept, ideal for sharing or simply sampling a varied selection of dishes.

Head Chef Craig Rogan is a distinguished award-winning chef renowned for his innovative style of cooking, combining local produce with influences from around the world. Craig has trained and worked in some of the UK’s best restaurants and hotels, earning multiple accolades and recognition for his creative approach to modern cooking, commitment to working with local producers and championing young talent within his kitchens.

For the last six years, Craig has been a prominent figure in the Leeds food scene, winning awards including ‘Chef of the Year’ and ‘Best Restaurant’. “Being a chef for me has never felt like a job, and that excitement of a high-pressure environment has always been one that I thrive in,” Craig says. “We want The Banksia to be a welcoming experience for everyone the minute they walk through the door, with a few additional touches along the way.”

Absolutely visited The Banksia a month after opening and chatted to Craig about his background, ambitions and his approach to a menu that is already garnering rave reviews.

Q Where did your culinary journey begin and how do you look back on your early days in a professional kitchen?

A At a young age it all began in my dad’s restaurants – this is where I found the love for it and everything progressed from there.

Q Which restaurants or chefs you worked for do you feel really shaped the chef you are today?

A There’s not just one that I can pull out, because every single kitchen you work in and chef that you work with teaches you something and shapes your career. Without each of them, I wouldn’t have gotten to where I have and developed in the same way.

Q How would you describe your cooking style?

A I’m all about bringing fresh, innovative, exciting food. Local produce will always be a core feature as it’s something that I’m proud to champion, but with an international influence. Ultimately, I just love to cook the things that I love to eat and what brings me joy.

Q Before The Banksia, you had already immersed yourself in the Leeds food and drink scene. How would you rate what Leeds has to o er?

A Leeds has been a great foodie destination for a while now, with a wide range of great restaurants and di erent cuisines to o er – you really are spoilt for choice in the city. There are some great local

chefs in the city and of course chefs that have moved to the area from other places, all because it’s become such a fantastic place on the culinary scene.

Q What enticed you to The Banksia role?

A Brand-new ventures are always enticing – it gives you the chance to create something special, build a new, passionate team that you can learn from and mentor, and ultimately shape and grow Leeds as a foodie destination.

Q How exciting is it to create menus at a new launch?

A I’d actually say that this is the best part of the job – it’s incredibly exciting. Everything is fresh and new and it’s a real chance to create something special from scratch. As a chef I love to bring some creative flair and getting the opportunity to trial new dishes and flavours that fit within the wider restaurant concept is what makes me tick. People around you seem to enjoy it just as much!

Q How crucial are Yorkshire suppliers to what you want to o er?

A Yorkshire is known as God’s Own County

for a reason – from a produce perspective, the region has so much to o er, and it would be a waste to not access this and make the most of it. It’s important to me to celebrate this through our food –bringing eastern Mediterranean flavours, but the quality that the surrounding area o ers with local suppliers.

Q Why have you gone down the small plate route?

A It’s much more of a relaxed dining experience – it encourages sharing and for people to come together over food that everyone can enjoy. It’s also an excuse to try a range of the dishes on o er, so you don’t have to be confined to just a meat or fish dish for example – you can try a bit of everything without having to steal it from other people’s plates.

Q Could you give us an overview of the kind of dishes we can enjoy?

A Made up of four core sections, the AllDay Menu comprises a mix of seafood, meat, soil and grill options. Guests can expect a host of Mediterranean staples, in addition to some tasty showstoppers sure to ignite the tastebuds. From Beef

Brisket Pachanga and Hummus Kavurma, to King Scallops and Beetroot Tarator, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Diners can also choose from classic Mediterranean nibbles, or tuck into some traditional mezze options, including the signature Banksia Hummus, which provides the perfect spectacle for guests to enjoy as it is prepared at the table. For those with a sweet tooth, guests can finish their visit with a choice of delicious desserts – from spiced doughnuts soaked in honey and topped with pistachios, traditionally known as Lokma, to the Banksia adaptation of a refreshing Citrus Cheesecake with rose syrup and almond crumble. No Mediterranean menu would be complete without authentic favourites such as Baklava and Traditional Tiramisu.

Q Do you have a favourite dish right now?

A It’s di cult to choose just one, but if I had to, currently I would go for the Kavurma – an authentic Mediterranean dish that packs flavour. If I was choosing something sweet, I’d have to go for the rose and citrus cheesecake.

Q What has the response been like since opening?

A We’ve had a really positive response since opening – we’ve had some amazing reviews and we just want to continue to build on that.

Q What are you looking forward to as we head into the autumn and winter months?

A For us, it’s all about continuing to build on the success of the launch. Seeing the restaurant gain a reputation in the city as a great place for food, drinks and service is exactly where we want to get to, which we’re confident will come with time as we really establish ourselves.

banksialeeds.co.uk

DRINKS

What to drink this month CABINET

By NATALIA SUTA @_winerocks_ winerocks.co.uk

Just JO IT

Created by Jo Malone in collaboration with master distiller Joanne Moore, Jo Vodka is as sleek and stylish as you'd expect. It lands in three personalities – The Purist, The Bohemian, and The Artist – each bringing a di erent twist to your glass. Clean, crisp, and e ortlessly elegant, it turns even the simplest serve into a statement. jovodka.com

PRETTY IN PORT

Port, but make it pink. Baronesa de Vilar Rosé Porto is a new arrival that brings a juicy twist to the classic with its bold berry flavours and a fragrant floral edge. Chill it down and pour it with pudding, serve it with cheese, or shake it into something sparkly – this one’s here to have fun. laithwaites.co.uk

Glow Up

Some rosés are blushing – this one is glowing. The newly released 2023 vintage of Yotes Court’s ‘Best Turned Out’ Pinot Meunier Rosé is a sunsoaked stunner bursting with rose petals, raspberries, and a whisper of rhubarb. Born from a standout vintage, it’s Provence in spirit, Kent at heart, and perfect for prolonging that golden-hour feeling. yotescourt.co.uk

Helme Edge Vineyard

Yorkshire's newest winemaking gem

Tucked into the dramatic slopes of the Pennines near Huddersfield, Helme Edge Vineyard is writing Yorkshire's next great chapter in English winemaking. This exciting new venture brings together three generations of the Calder-Smith family, from grandfather Alan's decades of winemaking wisdom to grandson Tom's fresh perspective from Australian vineyards.

What makes Helme Edge special? Location, location, location. Those south-facing slopes catch every precious ray of Yorkshire sunshine, while the elevation keeps things crisp and fresh. And the proof is in the tasting. Their debut range includes a vibrant Sparkling Solaris with its lively green apple zing and delicate elderflower notes. The still Solaris o ers a sunnier personality, with ripe peach and citrus peel flavours, while their Rosé (a blend of Rondo and Cabernet Cortis) brings juicy red berries and a refreshing finish.

The vineyard's panoramic tasting room o ers views that stretch across the Pennines – perfect for sampling wines that truly taste of their place.

helmeedgevineyard.co.uk

Natalia Suta is a WSET-certified wine writer and educator with a knack for making wine accessible and fun. When she is not writing, she’s busy curating wine experiences and offering consultancy to help others discover the joy of wine. Follow Natalia on Instagram @_winerocks_

14 / 16 CORN MARKET HALIFAX, HX1 1TH

HALIFAX

ILKLEY 2 THE GROVE

ILKLEY, LS29 9EG

FASHION

BERRY’S JEWELLERS

Some pieces never go out of style. With its delicate brilliance and refined silhouette, the diamond line necklace balances chic minimalism with eye-catching sparkle – elegant on its own and dazzling in a layered look. Discover the range at your nearest Berry’s Boutique or berrysjewellers.co.uk

The Shoot: Barber Modern Heritage 44

HEALTH & BEAUTY

CLIFTON PARK HOSPITAL

Clifton Park Hospital in York has enhanced its Specialist Pain Management Service, offering rapid access to expert consultants. Bringing together a team of highly experienced consultants in pain medicine, this service supports back, neck, joint, nerve and post-surgical pain with advanced, personalised care. With short wait times and flexible self-pay or insured options, patients can start their journey to better quality of life sooner.. cliftonparkhospital.co.uk

DE JANEIRO Cheirosa 48 Perfume Mist, £24 johnlewis.com

SISLEY Sunleÿa AntiAgeing Sun Care SPF50+, £223 sisley-paris.com

TOO FACED

Crush Lip and Cheek Colour, £22 toofaced.co.uk

Prodigieuse Boost SelfTanning Serum, 30ml, £38 johnlewis.com

By PENDLE HARTE

FORD Soleil Lip Balm, £37 tomfordbeauty.co.uk

High Shine Gloss Mask, £28 moroccanoil.com

BECKHAM BEAUTY Colour Wash, £44 victoriabeckhambeauty.com

Body Tan Activator SPF 50 Spray, £32 johnlewis.com

Laguna Bronzer & Lip Oil Duo Makeup Gi Set, £30 narscosmetics.co.uk

strain Ease the

Dr Dan Fagan FRCS, specialist consultant spinal surgeon, answers questions that many people have about back pain and sciatica

Q What causes lower back pain?

A Lower back pain can result from muscle strain, herniated discs, arthritis, poor posture, spinal stenosis, or underlying conditions like osteoporosis.

Q Is lower back pain a sign of a serious condition?

A While most cases are not serious, persistent or severe pain, especially with additional symptoms like loss of balance, numbness, or leg weakness, should be evaluated by a specialist.

Q What does a pinched nerve in the lower back feel like?

A A pinched nerve in the lower back can cause sharp aching or shooting pain that may radiate down the leg (sciatica). Other symptoms include numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness in the a ected area. This kind of pain can be severe and needs specialist treatment.

Q How long does a pinched nerve last in the lower back?

A The duration varies depending on the severity. Mild cases may improve within a few days to weeks with rest and treatment; 90% settle within six weeks – any longer you should seek medical intervention.

Q When should I see a spine specialist for my back pain?

A There are five things to look out for. Your back pain lasts more than six weeks despite community treatments. The pain is severe and radiates to your legs, or from the neck down the arms. You experience numbness, tingling, or weakness in your limbs or hands. Your pain worsens with movement or disrupts your daily activities. You have progressive di culty standing, walking, or maintaining balance.

Q How do we treat most cases in the first instance?

“While most cases are not serious, persistent pain should be evaluated by a specialist”

DAN FAGAN

A Spinal injections are considered a safe and e ective treatment for back pain or sciatica. They provide relief by reducing inflammation and nerve irritation. This reduction in inflammation is what happens naturally in the 90% of patients that get better themselves. A disc protrusion never goes back in – that is a myth. It is the inflammation of the nerve that gets better that leads to the relief of symptoms, either naturally or with some help from a spinal injection. Performed by an expert, most people find the experience almost painless with plenty of local anaesthetic. The injection itself only takes me about two minutes under x-ray guidance in the operating theatre with a tiny (0.7mm diameter) needle. It is not at all like an epidural injection for childbirth or anaesthesia for surgery! If you are experiencing chronic spinerelated pain that has not improved with conservative treatments such as physical therapy or medication, spinal injections may o er a simple, safe and e ective solution. A consultation with me will allow for a comprehensive assessment of your condition and help determine the most appropriate treatment plan tailored to your needs.

Find out more at spineart.org or call 07539 330360 to make an appointment

You don’t have to come alone –bring a friend!

Available in Headingley and Roundhay.

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Meet our friendly team, explore the wonderful surroundings of our retirement apartments and find out more about your options in later life.

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TOP PICKS

HOKA HAS A SHOE FOR EVERY SURFACE

EVOLVE JOURNEY

The Evolve Journey Wellness Journal is a beautifully designed tool for setting intentions and tracking progress: both physical and mental, £34.99. evolvejourney.co.uk

HEULOG ACTIVE

Heulog Active’s The Tenby leggings are a stylish workout win. The wide waistband stays put mid-squat, and the fabric feels silky but supportive, £85. heulogactive.com

CATALYSE

When I need an energy kick before a heavy li , Catalyse’s Mayi The Energy Blend is a game-changer. Packed with botanical infusions, it delivers a noticeable boost without the caffeine crash, £29.99 (for 12 servings). catalyselifedrinks.com

FITNESS NOTES

By CARLY GLENDINNING

LIFT OFF

Carly Glendinning gets serious about weight lifting with personal trainer, Charlotte Dunn

The weights area in my gym is definitely no longer a totally male-dominated area, but for some reason I still felt intimidated. Blame it on being a Millenial (yawn!), but the mere thought of being 'mansplained' or o ered help to move the bench was enough to put me o . The time had come, however, to take my weight lifting to the next level, so I decided to enlist personal trainer Charlotte Dunn to work with me on my confidence. Super warm and genuinely lovely to work with, Charlotte specialises in creating 1:1 training programmes. She blends a variety of methods including strength training,

cardiovascular work, and Pilates, working with her clients face-to-face in her luxurious fitness studio in London or virtually.

We started with a video consultation where I explained my goals and we chatted through my existing routine. Charlotte came back with a smart, glute-focused plan.

As my strength built, we took things up a notch. I took Charlotte on-camera with me to the gym, where she virtually held my hand through my first barbell lifts and laid the groundwork for pull-up training, something I’d always wanted to do. Charlotte encouraged me to lift heavier, train with intention,

and own my space on the gym floor. Her ultra-approachable coaching style made every session feel empowering. But what really stood out was how she gave me the tools (and belief!) to level up.

coachedbycharlotte.com

WORK OF ART

By Haleys creates exquisite handpainted panoramic wall murals.

Inspired by the landscapes of West Yorkshire, their murals bring the beauty of nature into your space. We meet the family behind them on page 68.

inside this section

IONA CRAWFORD-TOPP p60

TOP 5: KITCHEN KIT p85

THE LATEST BATHROOM TRENDS p64

POOKY AND THE LIGHTING MUST-HAVE p74

“The new space finally lets me share what I love with others”

Topp of the Pots

An acclaimed potter is bringing heritage craft to Helmsley with a new studio opening. Absolutely takes a look around

Anew ceramic studio, shop and teaching space was all set to open its doors in the heart of Helmsley just as this Absolutely Home special was heading to the printers. Studio 573 is a new venture led by professional potter Iona Crawford-Topp, who has been producing handcrafted ceramics under the name Iona Ceramics for the past five years, from her late father’s former blacksmith workshop in Carlton Husthwaite.

Her signature work is already used by celebrated venues including Michelinstarred restaurants and award-winning bakeries across the UK and Ireland,

including Legacy at The Grand, York, the luxury Cliff House Hotel, and York’s artisan Heppni Bakeri.

Now, Iona is bringing the joy of wheel throwing to Helmsley with her new studio. It will offer pottery classes, a shop selling her contemporary, designer tableware and serve as her working studio for commissions and one-off pieces.

“The new space fi nally lets me share what I love with others. From the calm of the wheel to the alchemy of glaze-making, I want people to experience the joy and history of working with clay,” says Iona, who is opening Studio 573 with her partner and business partner, Aaron Hedgecock.

Iona, who completed a two-year intensive ceramic skills course – specialising in wheel thrown tableware – with the prestigious

Design Crafts Council of Ireland, says she’s extremely looking forward to running her own classes. “I've always had a big respect for historical techniques, the way things have been done for hundreds of years, such as making a bowl. Very little in the world remains unchanged in that sense anymore. To have studied at such a prestigious place and now be able to pass on my knowledge and skills is a dream come true.”

Classes will specialise in the art of wheel throwing, and Iona will teach trimming, pulled handles, surface techniques and glazing. All skill levels will be welcomed –from 2.5-hour taster sessions, for those who want to try a new experience, are just starting out or need a refresher, to 'Introduction to the Wheel' – perfect for anyone who wants a comprehensive

IONA

“It's rooted in centuries of tradition”

overview of the wheel-throwing process. “Guests will learn everything they need to create a finished mug, bowl or any small vessel. Whether they’re just catching the clay bug or ready to develop their own style and tackle more advanced techniques, the course will give people the solid foundation they need to grow their pottery skills,” says Iona.

ClaySocial Memberships will be available to those who know how to handle the clay without guidance and want to meet other like-minded creatives. Iona and Aaron will also launch Weekend Masterclass Workshops, covering glaze development, large-form throwing, teapot making and more, once they have settled into the new studio.

“There’s something incredibly grounding about working with clay,” says Iona. “It’s physical, tactile and rooted in centuries of tradition – and in a world that’s more digital by the day, it’s a beautiful way to reconnect,” added Iona.

Studio 573 will be situated at 12 Bridge Street, the former home of Pignut restaurant, which Iona has previously

supplied tableware to. Iona, who originally studied Marine Biology at Newcastle University, before relocating to Ireland to follow her dream of becoming a professional potter, takes her inspiration for her collections from the North East and Yorkshire coastlines.

The shop will sell her Coastal Classics range, with plates, bowls, jugs, vases and teapots, as well as Iona’s porcelain range of bowls and teacups. “I love geological textures and the coastal range is made up of four different colours which can be mixed and matched yet still work beautifully together,” says the 30-year-old.

Iona believes in the power of making. Studio 573 is a celebration of craftsmanship, where clay, creativity, and community come together. In an age dominated by screens and speed, this is a space to pause, connect, and create with intention. Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned maker, this is your space to explore, learn, and grow – one piece at a time.

studio573.co.uk

IONA AND AARON

Hot tubs

The CEO of Yarm-based Haddon on the crown jewel of the bathroom - and what else to expect in autumn

By MIKE MANDERS

The bathtub is the crown jewel of the bathroom and probably the biggest investment when renovating the space, so this purchase should be very carefully considered.

A freestanding bath is the ultimate statement of luxurious design and relaxation, creating a tranquil focal point that invites quiet indulgence. If space allows, there is no better way to instantly elevate the entire room.

For smaller spaces, a compact bathtub offers comfort without sacrificing floor space. I’d recommend choosing the largest bathtub your space can accommodate without overcrowding the room. If you

have enough space, choose a freestanding bathtub. Not only will this look striking and serve as the centrepiece of the bathroom, but it also offers serene comfort and the ultimate in indulgence and relaxation.

The style of the bathtub should set the tone for the overall design of your bathroom and will ultimately depend on your personal taste. You may prefer a timeless, heritage-inspired design for classic charm or choose a sleek, curved and symmetrical form for contemporary sophistication. Either way, the bathtub will set the tone for the rest of the space and should feel in keeping with the style of the basins, fixtures and fittings within the space.

Consider materiality too. Stone baths offer a tactile warmth and durability that brings

a sense of grounded luxury, while marble provides refined elegance with its distinctive veining and smooth surface. Both materials age beautifully and enhance the sensory experience, while ease of maintenance ensures lasting enjoyment for years to come.

Ultimately, the right bathtub complements the room’s style and atmosphere and supports daily rituals, elevating the bathroom into a sanctuary of enduring beauty and calm.

FIVE BATHROOM TRENDS WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE IN AUTUMN

Chrome

Chrome is experiencing a notable resurgence in bathroom design. This material

“If you have enough space, choose a freestanding bathtub”

is appreciated for its timeless, clean, and polished finish. After several years where warmer metals like brass and bronze dominated bathrooms, chrome is making a strong comeback thanks to its versatility and ability to complement a wide range of styles. It offers a crisp contrast against natural materials such as stone and wood, enhancing both classic and contemporary interiors. Its reflective quality also helps to brighten spaces, making bathrooms feel fresh. For those seeking a finish that combines elegance with practicality, chrome remains a consistently reliable choice.

Marble

When it comes to bathroom surfaces, marble remains the quintessential choice for those seeking unmistakable luxury. Its distinctive veining and smooth finish evoke sophistication and grandeur. At Haddon, Arabescato and Viola marble

are firm favourites with customers. Arabescato, with its luminous white base and soft, silvery grey veining, evokes a sense of classic serenity, whilst Viola's rich plum and wine-toned marbling delivers a bold, artful statement, perfect for those who want drama and individuality in their bathroom.

Natural materials

Alongside marble, there’s a growing appreciation for other natural materials, especially for bathtubs and basins. Stone, which is proving especially popular, brings a quieter, more organic texture to bathrooms, offering warmth and fitting seamlessly into designs that blend classic style with contemporary functionality.

Japandi-inspired design

Japandi style perfectly blends the simplicity and functionality of Japanese design with the warmth and comfort of Scandinavian

style, creating spaces that feel serene, balanced, and effortlessly elegant. The ‘Japandi’ design philosophy – which emphasises clean lines, natural materials, and a muted colour palette – is particularly popular for bathrooms where people want to emulate a clean, fresh look that is calm and uncluttered and therefore perfect for creating a spa-like retreat at home. To achieve Japandi style in your bathroom, start with a neutral base of soft whites for the wall, bathtub and basin so that the space has a calming backdrop. Hardware should be minimalist, focusing on simple, refined shapes, rather than ornate or decorative designs. Plenty of storage is essential to keeping surfaces clear and maintaining a sense of order. Accessories should also be kept to a minimum and should serve a purpose – think a minimalist robe hook or a marble soap dish. The key to Japandi style is balance and mixing the refined feel of Japanese design with the cosy, inviting elements of Scandinavian interiors to create a timeless space that feels truly restorative.

Olive tones

Whilst avocado bathroom suites may be a thing of the past, olive continues to make waves as a key colour, infusing spaces with a natural and earthy feel. It pairs beautifully with stone and wood, adding a quiet sophistication that evokes a subtle connection to the natural world. Together, anthracite, cappuccino, and olive create a balanced palette that feels calm, relaxed and elegant, perfectly suited to today’s refined bathroom interiors.

Find out more by visiting haddon.co.uk

Time to transform...

From tiles and stone to bathrooms and radiators, The Tile Company offers endless ways to transform your home. With over 500 trusted brands and thousands of designs, we bring together the best in style and value — whether you’re looking for everyday practicality or luxury living.

Painting

A PICTURE

Absolutely

heads to Brighouse to discover more about By Haleys, a bona fide family business

“We have selffunded By Haleys, so it has grown steadily and organically”

From his eager beginnings as a design apprentice at 16, Geoff Haley has been prolifically designing for over 40 years, with best sellers in all areas of interiors. Recognising great mentors along the way, Geoff has risen to be a master in his field.

Soon after the testing times of the 2009 crash, Geoff’s son, Richard, joined him in business. Flickers of symbiosis began to ignite as father and son pushed forward with renewed vigour and complementary skills. Flourishing under Geoff’s tutorage, daughter Rebecca and daughter-in-law Anna joined the team in 2014 and 2016 respectively. The same core values transpired: fostering a deep and honest

understanding of design and aspiring to create beautiful work. Absolutely met the four of them to find out more.

Q In the early stages of your career Geoff, was handpainted wall murals already a specialty, or did that evolve over time?

A GEOFF: Not at all for me, I actually started as an apprentice carpet designer at the age of 16. I gravitated into fabrics and wallpaper design more in my 20s. But even then, hand-painted wall murals

REBECCA

were extremely exclusive and high-end. Digital printing wasn’t really a thing, so for wallpaper, everything at mural scale was either hand-painted or block printed.

REBECCA: Zuber is a great example, we all look up to them. Their panoramic scenic block-printed murals are just so beautiful.

RICHARD: They’ve always been one of the pin-ups for wallpaper murals in general. I’d go as far as to say they’re legendary!

ANNA : They’ve had a massive influence on the market, so many modern murals are inspired by the Zuber masterpieces.

Q What inspired the launch of By Haleys?

A REBECCA : It’s always been a pipedream to create our own brand, we’ve spoken about it for years. As a freelance surface design studio, who’s always creating for a portfolio, you end up being a bit of a hamster on a wheel.

GEOFF: And typically, we don’t get recognised for our work. The brands and manufacturers we sell to take the copyright when they buy our designs, so we often see them succeed in the marketplace without any external credit – but that’s the name of the game.

RICHARD : In 2023, after our yearly exhibit at Heimtextil, a conversation with a potential partner gave us the push we needed. We’d streamlined our current business, had the tools and capacity, and the timing in the market felt right. Murals were finally gaining traction in the UK, and our designs were performing well for our clients.

REBECCA : Ultimately, we wanted to reinvigorate ourselves. The highs of the studio were beginning to plateau. For us younger ones in the business, we wanted new challenges if we were going to keep doing this for the next 40 years!

Q Day to day, how do things work at By Haleys?

A RICHARD: By Haleys runs alongside our design studio, so we’re still creating daily. Dad, Rebecca, and Anna paint; I focus more on business and customers, but still design when I can. We’ve self-funded By Haleys, so it’s grown steadily and organically.

REBECCA : Balancing the two sides means being proactive with schedules and deadlines. It’s definitely been one of the more challenging aspects we couldn’t have fully anticipated.

ANNA : Even with everything going on, designing remains a priority.

REBECCA : A typical day could be sending samples, liaising with clients, prepping designs for print, or painting new artworks. Richard’s great at guiding customers through the process – our murals are bigticket items, so people value the care and attention we give them.

GEOFF: Marketing has also been another big change for us.

RICHARD: Yes, especially coming from a niche business-to-business where marketing wasn’t as necessary and is more based on word of mouth and return business.

REBECCA : Whereas By Haleys is completely the opposite, and content creation now takes up a lot of my time. It’s a whole new skillset I’ve had to develop.

RICHARD: Moving to selling direct to consumer was a steep learning curve. The first order we received had me so anxious! Being responsible for an individual’s hardearned cash instead of invoicing a large business felt utterly different. I wanted our service to be perfect and our customer to be delighted. In hindsight, it’s funny how much it caught me off guard!

Q What new collections have you recently launched?

RICHARD: We initially launched By Haleys with five designs, each in three colourways and on two substrates, including a

GEOFF

stunning hand-woven grasscloth. We wanted to go special from the start.

REBECCA : Our latest launch is Toothill - a Yorkshire-inspired panoramic mural. Toothill is the first time we’ve launched a standalone design. With this design being far more personal than anything we’d produced so far, we really wanted to build in the time to tell the story from the moment we began developing it. We documented the whole journey from idea to launched finished product, the ups and the downs!

ANNA : The inspiration began with a trend in wallpaper and wall murals for designs containing scenic layered gardens inspired from the far east. We sat on the idea while we developed other collections. Though, upon revisiting the theme, it hit us that Yorkshire’s rolling hills suited the format perfectly and introduced an original take on the trend. It also allowed us to weave in subtle features and personal anecdotes that all added to the storytelling theme of this design.

Q Do you sense most of us still have a yearning for hand-painted work in our homes?

A GEOFF: Definitely. Digital printing now lets us capture every nuance of brushwork. Typically, as a textile designer, you would be required to paint to limited colours for production processes. However, the technology with digital print frees us from these limitations and allows for far more creativity with a paint brush.

RICHARD: Since I’ve been in the industry, I’ve always felt there’s been a steady

kickback against the explosion of flat, computer-generated designs. People want to see the hallmark of the human behind the design, which is inherent in imperfect painted artwork. It’s akin to the resurgence of vinyl records in the face of digital music. Analogue processes like painting will never fade away for this reason, because we all yearn for human connection in what we interact with. With the explosion of AI generated imagery entering our lives ever more seamlessly, I think the same kickback will come even more sharply. That’s why we’re sharing and investing in our painting process so heavily, to celebrate the craftsmanship behind what we produce.

REBECCA : People also seem more confident with their interiors nowadays, taking bolder and more unique design choices, which are often synonymous with hand painted creations.

RICHARD : We see it on social media that trends have fragmented, making individuality more valuable than ever.

Find out more at byhaleys.com

“People want to see the hallmark of the human behind the design”

RICHARD

ANNA

TOOTHILL IN ALL ITS GLORY

SLEEP talk

Carpe Diem Beds is expanding The Iconic Collection and releasing new products for the bedroom sanctuary

IIn celebration of this year’s 30th anniversary, Carpe Diem Beds has expanded The Iconic Collection, an innovative series of floating luxury beds first released last May. The brand is adding their best-selling bed model, Sandö, to the collection and releasing a range of new products to help customers turn their bedrooms into sanctuaries. The Iconic Collection debuted with four innovative designs: Kungsö, Hällsö Walnut, Hällsö Upholstery, and Vindö. Known for their innovative style, these beds feature a distinctive centred leg design, creating an ethereal floating effect. With the addition of Sandö Iconic, the collection continues to set new standards for luxury and innovation in the world of sleep.

New standards for luxury and innovation in the world of sleep

REIMAGINING A CLASSIC

As Carpe Diem Beds’ most popular continental bed model, Sandö has been thoughtfully reimagined to align with the rest of The Iconic Collection. Its updated design incorporates the centred leg, giving it the ethereal floating appearance while maintaining the ergonomic excellence that has made it a customer favourite. Sandö Iconic stands out due to its unique combination of three patented spring systems. Like all beds in the collection, Sandö Iconic includes both the Contour Pocket System and Visco Elastic Bottom Layer. The third layer,

the X-pocket, is positioned between the top and bottom spring systems, providing exceptional suspension depth that creates an unparalleled sensation of weightlessnes and enhances the sleep experience, offering an ideal balance of support and relaxation.

ADDING TO THE BEDROOM SANCTUARY

Carpe Diem Beds offers more than just luxury beds; they provide a variety of bedroom furniture and accessories that inspire customers to create their own bedroom sanctuary. The

concept of a 360° view is central to the company’s philosophy, as they believe the bedroom should be the heart of the home – a space to truly unwind. Among the new releases are the Otterö Headboard, Holme Walnut Nightstand, Holme Walnut Top and Cylinder Bed Leg in Walnut, all crafted from walnut, highlighting a commitment to materials that embody beauty, tranquillity, and lasting quality. This aligns with one of the company’s primary sources of design inspiration: nature.

DISCOVER THE SENSATION OF QUALITY SLEEP

You can experience the craftsmanship and innovation behind Carpe Diem Beds first-hand by visiting the London flagship store in Wigmore Street or exploring the full range online at carpediembeds. co.uk. For those looking to design their dream bed themselves, the 3D bed configurator allows you to build a bed tailored to your exact specifications and design desires. Once you experience the unparalleled comfort of Carpe Diem Beds, no other bed will do.

15 Wigmore Street, W1; 020 3982 3252

carpediembeds.co.uk

Time to recharge

The experts at Pooky on a key trend in lighting that will help illuminate your home this autumn

“We all want that extra sense of warmth and atmosphere at home”

Rechargeable lighting has soared in popularity over the last couple of years, and it’s easy to see why. For too long, lighting was something that sat politely around the edges of a room or dangled from a fixed ceiling point. Rechargeable lighting breaks that mould. It gives you the freedom to place light exactly where you want it, without sockets, wiring, or calling in an electrician.

For us, it all started with the Phileas, designed by Matthew Williamson – the lamp that launched the cordless movement. It proved that beautiful, wireless lighting doesn’t have to be clunky or costly; it just needs to be well-designed and sensibly priced.

And the joy of rechargeable lighting is in the possibilities. Imagine a lamp casting a warm glow across the centre of your dining table, a little sparkle tucked between books on a shelf, a cosy reading corner lifted out of the shadows, or even a candlelike glow keeping you company in the bath. Our collection is designed to do exactly that – delivering atmosphere wherever you need it. And it’s not just lamps anymore. From pendants and picture lights to wall lamps, you can now enjoy truly beautiful lighting without the upheaval or cost of retrofitting traditional wired fittings.

The designs themselves have come a long way too. Gone are the bulky bases and awkward battery packs you’d rather hide. With no cords or clutter, we can now celebrate the joy of the materials themselves: colourful resins, translucent glass, delicate metals. The result is lighting that feels every bit as sophisticated as its hardwired cousins. Even the simplest

reading nook is transformed by the magic of “no wires, no mess”!

Today, our collection includes more than 160 rechargeable designs, each one created to be just as beautiful as our corded range. Powered either by integrated LED or our clever Genesis rechargeable cell, a single charge gives you up to 15 hours of light. That’s enough to see you through countless chapters, a couple of dinners, and even an autumn evening or two outdoors.

Rechargeables are also a dream for renters or anyone living in period properties, where drilling holes or rewiring isn’t always an option. And the flexibility is unbeatable: you can move them from room to room as the mood takes you, or carry them out into the garden to extend summer evenings. It’s stylish, practical lighting that moves with you.

And with autumn upon us, they feel especially timely. As the nights draw in, we all want that extra sense of warmth and atmosphere at home. A soft pool of light on a side table makes evenings instantly more inviting, while a glow across a man-

telpiece or bookshelf brings depth and drama to darker corners. For entertaining, rechargeable table lamps make a chic alternative to candles, casting flattering light across the table, without the smoke or wax. And when Halloween parties or early festive gatherings roll around, these portable beauties transition seamlessly outdoors, lighting patios, paths, and porches with a welcoming glow.

Every one of our rechargeables comes with a remote control, giving you dimmable settings and timer options at the touch of a button. So whether you want to soften the atmosphere for an intimate dinner or wind the lights down gently at bedtime, you’re in complete control. And if, like us, you never want to be without your favourite glow, we’d suggest keeping an extra Genesis cell to hand. Having a spare fully charged and ready to swap in means your light is always there when you need it. It’s the easiest way to guarantee uninterrupted style, comfort, and atmosphere.

pooky.com

A Season of CHANGE

The perfect time to upgrade your kitchen

Autumn marks a shift – in pace, in routines, and in how we use our homes. As the days grow shorter and we spend more time indoors, the kitchen becomes more than a place to cook. It’s where life happens, where muddy boots are dropped, meals are shared, and quiet moments unfold. That makes this the perfect time to rethink how your kitchen and utility spaces work for you.

At Kitchen Warehouse, they help you upgrade your home with high-quality, manufacturer-direct kitchens, utility rooms and boot rooms at prices that make sense. No inflated markups. Just smart design, built to last.

LUXURY LOOKS, WITHOUT THE PRICE TAG

By cutting out middlemen Kitchen Warehouse offers premium craftsmanship and elegant finishes for less than you might expect. Whether you’re dreaming of a classic shaker kitchen or a sleek, modern design, their wide range of styles and finishes means you don’t have to compromise.

And because you’re buying direct, there’s room in your budget for the extras – underfloor heating, statement lighting, or even that built-in coffee machine you’ve had your eye on.

MADE FOR REAL LIFE

Their kitchens are built for how people actually live – with generous prep space, softclose drawers, and clever storage options that make day-to-day life easier. And when the season calls for muddy walks and wet coats, a well-planned utility or boot room becomes a game changer.

Kitchen Warehouse crafts these hardworking spaces to keep your home organised, clean and clutter-free – perfect for families, pet owners, or anyone who appreciates a tidy transition between outdoors and in.

STORAGE THAT WORKS HARDER IN COLDER MONTHS

Autumn and winter are all about food – roasting, baking, batch cooking and entertaining. Kitchen Warehouse’s storage solutions make it easier to stay organised through the busiest cooking months of the year.

Think deep drawers for pans, pull-out spice racks, pantry-style cupboards and hidden recycling systems – all designed to keep your kitchen as functional as it is beautiful.

START NOW, BE READY FOR WINTER

With short lead times and a brand new click to buy website, your new kitchen or utility room could be ready before winter truly sets in. Visit kitchenwarehouseltd.com or book your free consultation today. Because true luxury isn’t just about looks – it’s about living well, all year round.

kitckenwarehouseltd.com contact@kitchenwarehouseltd.com 01765 640 000

COOL & COOKING

It’s all in the title and this is what established North East Company

Walter Dix & Co

are all about

Walter Dix & Co have been supplying and installing Range Cookers into the homes of Northumberland, Durham, Teesside and North Yorkshire since 1931. This small family business is proud of its roots and progression from steam engineering in late 1800s, then as one of the first AGA dealers, through to the present day supplying a full portfolio of quality Range Cookers and Refrigeration Appliances. Anyone visiting their specialist AGA team at their Gateshead showroom will receive a well-educated introduction and demonstration of all the attributes an AGA Cooker can bring to your kitchen and home. Other heat storage brands such

They will provide the best unbiased advice on which cooker is right for you

as Rayburn and Everhot also have a dedicated area in the showroom. Walter Dix & Co also provide full servicing on existing Aga cookers and have a well-stocked Cook shop. Their reinvent service is very popular and customers are refurbishing their existing cookers to breathe new life into their existing AGA or even converting oil and gas cookers to Electric.

Major brands of cooking ranges in their portfolio and on display include Wolf, Lacanche and LaCornue, through to mid brands of Falcon, Mercury, Aga MasterChef, Ilve and Bertazzoni, to their more mainstream brands of Rangemaster and Smeg. A selection of appliances from each brand are on show in the showroom and Walter Dix welcomes all to see their cookers, and they will provide the best unbiased advice and provide customers with competitive prices and finance options. Premium refrigeration products from Sub Zero are displayed in the showroom, with other refrigeration appliances from Fisher & Paykel and Bertazzoni.

Whether you are planning a new kitchen and want some professional advice on cookers, refrigeration products, extraction hoods and cookware, Walter Dix & Co is the place to visit.

1 Stirling Court, Eleventh Avenue North, Team Valley, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear NE11 0JF. 0191 4820033. wdix.co.uk

Attention to detail is at the heart of every Longden project. We specialise in bespoke doors, taking great pride in that every door is hand-made in the UK and finished by artisans devoted to their trade. A Longden door is a statement piece that elevates any space, using the finest quality solid timber to ensure exceptional durability and timeless beauty, an investment that will grace your home for generations. For more information call Longden on 01325 582583 or visit us at www.longdendoors.co.uk

When it comes to transforming a space, few things make as lasting an impression as the floor beneath your feet. At JS Woodcraft Flooring, they believe that a floor is more than just a surface – it’s the foundation of a home’s character, warmth, and style. From their factory in Yorkshire, they specialise in crafting premium engineered oak flooring that brings together tradition, innovation, and timeless design.

Their story is one rooted in craftsmanship and family heritage. With over three generations in the wood industry, they’ve grown from a small family business to one of the UK’s leading names in bespoke oak flooring. Yet, despite their scale, their ethos remains simple: to provide exceptional flooring, finished with care, which reflects the individuality of every client.

What sets JS Woodcraft apart is their commitment to choice. Unlike mass-pro-

The Beauty of Bespoke

Exploring the Yorkshire-made oak flooring by JS Woodcraft

duced flooring, every board they supply can be tailored to suit a client’s vision. Whether it’s a wide-plank rustic oak for a country kitchen, a crisp prime-grade herringbone for a contemporary townhouse, or something entirely unique, they give their customers the freedom to design without compromise. Their collections – ranging from the understated elegance of the Elite range to the reclaimed charm of the Old English collection – offer over 700 shades and countless textures. And if a client has a specific look in mind, their team can colour match and finish boards to exact specifications.

Sustainability is at the core of what they do. All of their oak is responsibly sourced from European suppliers, and every plank is finished at their Yorkshire factory. With over 20,000m² of unfinished wood kept in stock, they are able to ensure the highest standards of quality and durability while also keeping their lead times short – a major advantage for homeowners and designers alike.

Innovation plays an equally important role. Their finishing methods include bandsawn textures that emphasise the natural saw marks of oak, tumbled surfaces that replicate the authenticity of reclaimed boards, and burnt finishes that achieve striking, dramatic effects. Each process combines traditional craftsmanship with advanced technology to deliver flooring that is visually unique, highly durable, and suitable for a wide range of interiors.

Ultimately, their aim is to create floors that last a lifetime. Engineered oak is durable, repairable, and versatile, making it a sound investment for both residential and commercial projects.

So, whether you’re restoring a period property, designing a contemporary space, or simply seeking a floor that tells a story, JS Woodcraft’s Yorkshire-made oak floors are ready to lay the foundation. JS Woodcraft Flooring: crafted in Yorkshire, made for life.

jswoodcraftflooring.co.uk

Craftsmanship that endures

The experts at Longden Doors on why their designs are built to last

At Longden Doors, attention to detail is more than just a guiding principle; it is the foundation of everything we do. With a proud heritage that spans generations, we have built a reputation as specialists in crafting bespoke doors that combine timeless elegance with uncompromising quality. Every Longden door is meticulously hand-made in the UK by skilled artisans who are deeply passionate about their craft. We work exclusively with the finest sustainably sourced solid timber to ensure that each door is as durable and environmentally responsible as it is beautiful.

want it. Every door we produce represents a perfect balance between time-honoured craftsmanship, enduring materials and contemporary design sensibilities.

What sets a Longden door apart is not only its functionality, but also its ability to make a lasting impression. More than just a practical necessity, our doors have distinctive design features that bring a unique sense of character and sophistication to any interior. Whether you live in a traditional country home, a period property, or a sleek modern apartment, a Longden door adds warmth, texture and authenticity to the space it inhabits. Each design is created with purpose and individuality, reflecting the desired purpose. Our extensive range includes both classic and custom styles, each tailored with precision to meet the individual requirements of your project. We understand that no two spaces are the same, which is why we offer a fully bespoke service. Whether you’re looking to replicate an historic design with defined accuracy or wish to create something entirely new, our team will work closely with you to bring your vision to life exactly the way that you

Our commitment to quality and longevity ensures that a Longden door is more than just a beautiful addition to your property, it’s an investment that will stand the test of time. Doors are among the most frequently used elements in any interior, and we take great care to ensure that each one we make is not only visually stunning but also robust, reliable and built to withstand daily use for generations. This attention to structural integrity ensures peace of mind and lasting value for people who demand the very best.

We are proud to uphold traditional British joinery techniques, while also incorporating modern finishing methods to guarantee a flawless result. From the natural grain of the wood to the rich tones of our handapplied finishes, every detail is thoughtfully considered. The outcome is a door that feels as good to the touch as it looks to the eye.

For those who value authentic British craftsmanship, exceptional personal service and timeless design, Longden remains the natural choice.

For more information, call Longden on 01325582583 or visit longdendoors.co.uk

GRATE STUFF MICROPLANE

TOOLS FOR COOKS

2

GOLD STANDARD GREENPAN

The excellent Padova Reserve collection of pans with a healthy ceramic non-stick coating and comfortable gold-coated stainless steel handles now includes stylish blue and cream pieces. Set of two, £95. greenpan.co.uk

The new rotary fine blade grater – grates more, in less time, quickly, cleanly and effortlessly. Its lightweight yet robust construction makes it quick to assemble, easy to clean, and reliable for everyday use, £39.95. johnlewis.com 1 3

SILVER SERVICE PROCOOK

The new Elite Tri-Ply Signature comprises 14 separate pieces of cookware, from frying pans to stock pots, and casserole dishes to sauté pans. The range showcases modern design and advanced culinary engineering. From £50. procook.co.uk

STACK UP STAUB

Staub's stackable cocottes are a clever storage solution, making these substantial cast iron casserole dishes an option for even the smallest kitchens. Cocotte, saute pan and frying pan plus lid, £379. boroughkitchen.com

BOX FRESH ZWILLING

These vacuum storage boxes, bowls and bags can be used for everything from packed lunches, picnics to barbecues and le overs thanks to the vacuum sealed storage that keeps food fresh and flavourful for up to five times longer. zwilling.com

TRAVEL

SUN AND SEA

H HOTELS

On Rhodes' scenic southeast coast, H Hotels' Mayia Exclusive Resort & Spa is a thoroughly modern take on Greek hospitality. It's cleverly designed to catch the sun and sea breezes and deliver stunning views of the Mediterranean from almost every location. hhotels.gr/mayia

ROOMS WITH A VIEW

With stunning sea views and superb dining options, Mayia Exclusive Resort & Spa o ers Rhodes hospitality and high style, as Libby Norman discovers

“WE LEAN IN TO THE STRESS-FREE LIFE. THERE'S EVERYTHING YOU COULD WANT HERE ON RESORT”

Tucked away on Rhodes’ scenic southeast coast, H Hotels’ Mayia Exclusive Resort & Spa is a thoroughly modern take on Greek hospitality. It’s cleverly designed to catch the sun and sea breezes and deliver stunning views of the Mediterranean from almost every location. The resort sweeps down the hill to the sea in a bold and futuristic design, although with clever nods to classical Greek architecture. As soon as we arrive in the lofty lobby with shimmering marble floor and lavish arches framing the blue sky and

even bluer ocean we can see the attention to detail. It’s cool, calm and incredibly restful. Our Deluxe Room is designed on similar lines, with a muted palate, large and comfortable bed, luxurious bathroom and soft drapes to provide shade from the dazzling sun. Step outside and we are on our own sundeck with views down to the ocean below and a long pool – shared with a select group of neighbours – where we can start the day with an invigorating lap or sip sundowners after a hard day’s sunbathing. While our private spot is delightful, the enormous freshwater twin pools a level below are something else. There’s plenty of space if you’re a serious swimmer, and with no shortage of loungers and umbrellas if your style is more sedentary. You can walk all the way down the hill

to the ocean and private beach from here or ride the super-e cient lift. This is an adults (16+) super all-inclusive resort, and that means minimal stress and maximum temptation to indulge. And we do. Daytimes are spent lounging by the pool with lunches at either the pool restaurant (superb pizza) or Street Food Corner. There, we tuck in to healthy sandwiches, delicious kebabs and sweet treats from the gelateria and patisserie. It’s hard to resist popping back for a mid-afternoon snack. The pool bar is a popular spot for lunchtime drinks and sundowners, but then there are nine watering holes to choose from – ranging from the laidback beach bar to the fantastic Del Mar with its panoramic views of sea and sky – so you will find more than one favourite spot. The bar sta here are fantastic and no cocktail, however obscure, seems too big an ask.

Indulgence continues at evening meals, with five restaurants (three à la carte) to choose from. We love the herb-rich Greek dishes at Thymari and the classic trattoria fare at Al Dente. While we don’t get round to making a reservation to the highly rated Wasabi, we do sample the chefs’ prowess at the Waterfront main restaurant, where sushi and sashimi are perfectly presented. Far Eastern sits alongside a tempting range of other culinary specialities – from hearty Greek-style roast lamb to pasta and the catch of the day. There’s also an excellent selection of international cheeses and a dizzying display of pastries and puddings – including my favourite, morsels of honeyed Baklava. We lean in to the stress-free life. There’s everything you could want here on resort, including a superb spa, and plenty to do in the local area. You can snorkel straight o the beach or book a boat trip from there to the rugged island of Symi. Mayia is within

OUR ROOM HAS ITS OWN POOL

THE MAIN POOL IS VAST

“THERE ARE NINE WATERING HOLES – FROM THE LAIDBACK BEACH BAR TO THE DEL MAR WITH ITS PANORAMIC VIEWS”

walking distance of Kiotari’s main resort area and larger beach and a short taxi ride from the island’s most celebrated village, Lindos. Its hilltop acropolis is a climb best done early or late in the day, but you are rewarded with superb views. Lindos’ maze of narrow streets are perfect for browsing for crafts and souvenirs and with delightful rooftop cafés and restaurants.

We love our evenings alfresco on resort, enjoying cooling sea breezes and excellent service and entertainment.

Forget cheesy resort singers, we’re treated to great sets by young artists in both the main bar and pool bar – one band plays to us and a loyal local following. There’s also live entertainment in an open-air amphitheatre and a nightclub if you want to keep partying into the small hours. Towards the end of our trip, we’re treated to a VIP floating tray breakfast in our room. A tray of table-like proportions is set sail in our pool. Bathers and shades on, and still groggy from sleep, we slide into the water to feast on fresh pastries, local honey, strong Greek co ee, yoghurt and fruit. With the thoughtfully provided champagne, we make a toast to marvellous Mayia – our utterly indulgent Rhodes retreat guaranteed to restore both body and soul.

Mayia Exclusive Resort & Spa hhotels.gr/mayia

ROOMS HAVE VIEWS DOWN TO THE OCEAN

MAYIA'S WATERFRONT RESTAURANT

THERE ARE FIVE RESTAURANTS

THE POOL BAR

If distance were no object...

be reliving our honeymoon in Hong Kong

- Tom and Gwen

Travel far, from where you are.

Fly from Humberside or Leeds Bradford Airport to over 160 worldwide destinations via Amsterdam.

Find out more at klm.co.uk

“The Solstice has long been known as a happy place at sea”

Setting SAIL

Why a special relaunch from Celebrity Cruises can o er you the holiday of your dreams

In May 2026, Celebrity Cruises will unveil the fully renewed Celebrity Solstice®, o ering travellers an entirely reimagined experience at sea. From dining and entertainment to accommodation and outdoor escapes, every corner of this beloved ship has been redesigned to deliver fresh luxury with a sense of familiar comfort. Guests can expect new outdoor escapes, new entertainment, new dining, new rooms – new everything. The Solstice has long been known as a happy place at sea, and now it’s set to become even more extraordinary with carefully curated spaces and experiences designed to delight every guest.

A FEAST FOR FOOD LOVERS

The Solstice is raising the bar on dining, starting with Trattoria Romana. This glamorous new venue recalls the golden age of dining, complete with tableside

preparations and indulgent touches that make every meal feel like an event.

For lovers of premium cuts and seafood, the Fine Cut Steakhouse takes centre stage. Featuring 30-day dry-aged steaks, marketfresh seafood, and impeccable service, this restaurant has already earned glowing recognition from Forbes Travel Guide.

Meanwhile, Luminae, the exclusive restaurant for guests of The Retreat, will debut a new menu crafted by Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud, an indulgence not to be missed.

EVENINGS COME ALIVE

Entertainment has been completely reimagined. The Boulevard Lounge delivers cabaret-inspired glamour, transforming from interactive daytime hub to an elegant nighttime escape. For a more playful vibe, the Celebrity Barcade o ers retro-cool gaming with a chic lounge atmosphere, blending competition and camaraderie in equal measure.

ROOMS MADE FOR REJUVENATION

Every stateroom and suite on board has been refreshed, with a particular focus on enhancing relaxation. The expanded AquaClass® accommodation now feature spa-inspired details such as massaging shower heads, aromatherapy di users, yoga mats, luxurious robes, slippers, and even a pillow menu to ensure the perfect night’s sleep.

For the ultimate indulgence, The Retreat® has been elevated with redesigned suites, a serene new sundeck, and an oversized hot tub pool. Guests will also enjoy private dining at Luminae, where fine cuisine meets flawless service.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS, ELEVATED

The redesigned Sunset Park brings the spirit of an outdoor festival to sea days. Guests can enjoy live concerts, fresh cocktails, and elevated bites, all in an open-air setting where every hour feels like happy hour.

With its sweeping transformation, the Celebrity Solstice® is more than a ship – it’s a destination in itself. Sailing from May 2026, it promises a new standard of luxury cruising for guests seeking relaxation, entertainment, and unforgettable experiences at sea.

To find out more, contact Canada Travel Specialists on 0333 014 3608 or visit canadatravelspecialists.com

THE RETREAT SUNDECK

AQUACLASS STATEROOM

place to get away from it all. Situated on the outskirts of historic York, at the foot of the Yorkshire Wolds. We have seven individually themed lodges, o ering every amenity that you could require.

Adult only accommodation. Champagne and chocolates, robes and slippers, silk rose and petals, can be arranged for your arrival.

Superking four poster bed and your own private outdoor hot tub. Sit back and look up at the stars... Pull up and park by your lodge, nature and wildlife on your doorstep. Time to escape the stresses of the everyday.

Create lasting memories with that special person in your life. Lose yourself, discover yourself.

MELLOW YELLOW

Nature, peace and connection – where every stay becomes a story…

Welcome to Yellowtop Country Park, a collection of unique lodges where unforgettable experiences await, in the heart of the East Yorkshire Countryside. Whether you’re seeking an exclusive romantic retreat at Still Rabbit Lodges, a space for collaboration or creativity at Yellowrush Lodge or a family friendly escape by the fishing lake at Yellowtop, they o er something special for everyone. Their lodges are designed to help you relax, reconnect and create lasting memories. Sit back and look up at the stars in your own private outdoor hot tub. Discover your perfect getaway surrounded by nature and wildlife. Choose one of their multi award winning lodges. Yellowtop is a fantastic place to stay when seeking to immerse yourself in what the countryside has to o er.

Still Rabbit Lodges has seven boutique lodges for your perfect romantic break. Their adult only lodges o er a blend of

modern comfort and a peaceful, secluded atmosphere. Your stay promises pre relaxation and a chance to reconnect with the most important person in your life. Yellowrush Lodge is their retreat accommodation with five bedrooms sleeping up to ten guests. Yellowrush is a private, self-contained space ideal for family gatherings, business workshops and holistic and creative retreats. With generous open-plan living and a large outdoor space and a private outdoor hot tub, Yellowrush is a lodge that brings people together – whether to relax, reconnect or celebrate something special. Yellowtop Lodges is home to 20 lodges all surrounding their tranquil carp fishing lake. Whether you’re casting your line, enjoying a romantic escape or creating precious family memories, Yellowtop lodges are the perfect balance of relaxation and adventure. Unwind and reconnect with nature and loved ones. Relax: after all, you deserve it…

yellowtopcountry.co.uk

A commitment to SUSTAINABILITY

Yellowtop Lodges believe in harmonising luxury and environmental responsibility, creating unforgettable stays while minimising our ecological footprint.

1.Eco friendly practices

They prioritise energy efficiency and renewable energy. Their Solar Farm sustains Yellowtop Country Park.

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2.Supporting biodiversity

Their grounds are carefully maintained to encourage local wildlife, pollination, birds and small mammals to promote a balanced ecosystem. The fishing lake and waterway system sustains the Yorkshire wildlife.

• 3.Waste reduction

They are actively working to reduce single use plastics and encourage sustainable alternatives.

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4.Sourcing Locally

They collaborate with local suppliers reducing transportation emissions and supporting Yorkshire businesses.

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5.Guest Collaboration

They encourage guests to join them in their sustainable efforts, providing tips and opportunities to contribute during your stay.

WORLD Tomorrow’s

The Bradford Science Festival returns this October half-term, an eye-opening experience for all ages

Bradford Science Festival, produced by the National Science and Media Museum, will return to venues across the city over October half term (25th October-2nd November), with an enhanced programme to celebrate Bradford’s year as UK City of Culture. This year’s festival invites attendees to “step into the future”, with zones across Bradford exploring the future of technology, fashion, climate, sound and food.

Launching in time for the festival, headline exhibition Living Dots: Nature, People and Place will open on 24th October. Created by award-winning data visualisation studio Tekja, the exhibition transforms data taken from Born in Bradford research into an immersive and interactive experience. Visitors will be encouraged to take part in the experience, sharing their thoughts

on wellbeing and green spaces, with their responses represented in a glowing dot visualisation taking over the gallery space. The patterns created by the dots aim to show the power of simple data to help us understand one another and make positive change in the future.

In the first of the festival zones, Future Tech, visitors can take part in a series of free activities and events. Throughout the week, UK Antarctic Heritage Trust will take visitors on a journey to 1965 Antarctica with 30-minute Virtual Reality (VR) experience A Frozen Night. In Power to Shape Tomorrow, hosted by engineering company Cummins, visitors can explore the latest updates in immersive technologies, such as augmented reality, whilst also learning about clean energy.

The museum will also partner with Impact Gamers to present an interactive drone challenge set in the year 2125,

where participants can gain their ‘drone qualification’ and test their skills across tasks ranging from futuristic deliveries to space mining. Meanwhile, the National Physical Laboratory will invite visitors to discover more about metrology – the science of measurement. Families can meet scientists and engineers to learn how and why we measure, find out how standards of measurement are defined, and try their hand at becoming an SI Bots champion stacker. The museum’s Pictureville Cinema will also host interactive, smartphone powered comedy Robo Bingo, featuring Lloyd and Pete of Foxdog Studios and their robotic bingo mascot, Mr Bing. The event follows a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe and an award-winning run in Adelaide, this time personalised for Bradford to feature an exclusive local picture bingo round featuring famous faces and places around the city.

“THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL IS ALL ABOUT LOOKING TO THE FUTURE”

As part of the programme for 2025, the museum also collaborated with Bowling Park Primary School, exploring the future of exercise and technology in sport through a series of workshops with Year 5 students. As part of this, a short film documenting the project will be screened in the museum from Saturday 25th October.

Elsewhere in the city, The Broadway shopping centre becomes home to the Future Fashion zone, with events including Jeremy Hutchison’s live art piece Dead White Man, a radical performance highlighting the global impact of textile waste. Accompanying the performance, a series of workshops will also take place in The Broadway in which participants can learn more about clothing waste and produce their own miniature recycled clothes ‘zombie’.

The Natural History Museum will also host activities in The Broadway, with festivalgoers invited to discover the wonders of nature by getting up close with real museum specimens. Fast-fashion themed videogame My Favourite T-Shirt, created by NOVARS research centre at the University of Manchester will also be part of the festival. Additional dropin activities in The Broadway include sewing machine workshops with Stitch Society and hands-on Terrific Textiles activities with 50 Things to Do.

As part of this year’s festival, the museum also formed a dedicated Young People’s Panel to lead their own Future Fashion event. Ten young people from Manningham have been learning about the environmental impact of the fast

fashion industry, developing sustainable alternatives in collaboration with local designers and industry partners. Their final pieces will feature as part of a catwalk show in The Broadway on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th October.

Meanwhile, in the Future Food zone at Darley Street Market, festivalgoers will get the chance to taste, learn, and explore the food of tomorrow, showcasing innovations in sustainable ingredients and cooking that could transform how we eat in the years to come. Microbiologists and skin biologists from the University of Bradford will also be exploring the connections between gut, skin and health, showing microbes in action, as well as an interactive stall exploring the science of mouthfeel from the University of Leeds, including a curling-inspired board game.

Royal Institution will also present Explosive Food, a science show featuring demonstrations exploring the energy contained in the food we eat, in addition to University of Nottingham’s Food and Biomaterials research group demonstrating the innovative science behind rice cakes, bringing their ricepopping machine to Darley Street Market. The Thornbury Centre will host the Future Climate zone, exploring how local action is helping to fight climate change. This includes the opportunity to create your own seagrass seed bag with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, which will later be planted in the Humber Estuary to help bring life back to the Yorkshire coast. Additionally, visitors can play a bespoke climate game created with the local BD3 community, University of Bradford and Impact gamers, exploring how climate action a ects people di erently.

At SHINE West Bowling, the Future Sounds zone will invite festival attendees to take part in an inclusive, multi-sensory music experience, bringing people together to explore future innovations in sound technology. Royal Society and DMLab will bring their smile powered musical instrument, PhotoSYNTH, to SHINE, inviting all visitors, regardless of musical ability, to create their own unique songs. This zone also includes Virtual Reality (VR) games created by University of Southampton and co-designed with young people who are deaf or hard of hearing, helping players explore how sound is experienced, recognised and understood in di erent environments. Visitors can also interact with accessible technology created by University of Bradford students, highlighting how gadgets can make everyday life easier for everyone, and explore the science of sound and inclusive music-making with Allstar, in partnership with a wellbeing group at SHINE West Bowling.

Christopher Whitby, Head of Public Programme, says: “This year’s festival looks to the future, exploring cutting-edge technology across tech, fashion, climate, sound, and food. This year’s headline exhibition, Living Dots, is a testament to that, transforming data taken from Born in Bradford research into an interactive experience that helps us imagine and shape the future of our city. As well as in the museum, we will be getting out with activities in The Broadway, Darley Street Market, Thornbury Centre and SHINE West Bowling.”

scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk

FEEL THE POWER

What an all-girls education means at Queen Mary’s School

HEADTEACHER FE BEADNELL WITH SOME OF HER PUPILS

In today’s world, where girls are expected to achieve more while facing growing social pressures, the value of an all-girls education has never been more evident. Built with girls’ futures in mind, all-girls schools consistently provide the space, structure, and support needed for them to thrive – not just academically, but socially, emotionally, and personally. With the curriculum, class structure, and teaching styles adapted to specifically suit how girls best learn and how they want to learn, girls outperform their peers in co-educational settings.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, TAILORED FOR GIRLS

At Queen Mary’s School, Baldersby Park, girls are doing just that. Ranked among the UK’s top 10 independent schools without a Sixth Form (The Times Parent Power 2025), Queen Mary’s blends academic excellence with individualised care and personal development, all within a nurturing, close-knit community that celebrates every girl for who she is. The results speak for themselves. Queen Mary’s girls achieve an average of a grade higher in each subject taken than they would have otherwise, regardless of their academic starting point. The school’s commitment to achieving beyond expectations for all abilities is something that they are particularly proud of.

This success is no accident. With a 1:7 sta to pupil ratio, the girls at Queen Mary’s enjoy more teacher one-to-one contact time, and build closer teacherstudent relationships than can be o ered by larger class settings. This personalised attention is a significant factor behind the school’s fantastic 2025 GCSE results, with 56% of grades awarded at 7-9.

LEADERSHIP

FOR LIFE

More than ever, young women need opportunities to lead, speak up and shape the world around them. Queen Mary’s does more than just talk about leadership – it actively cultivates it. Beyond traditional roles like Head Girl and Deputy Head Girl, pupils take on leadership positions in areas such as the Charity Committee, Marketing and Events, Academics, Sport, and the Arts.

The school’s dedicated leadership programme, HER VOICE: Leadership For Girls, ensures pupils lead with purpose. As Head, Fe Beadnell, explains: “Leadership is more than being in charge. It’s about the integrity and courage to speak up, the compassion and humility to listen, and the resilience to keep going. I believe in the power of giving girls space to grow their

voices and lead with authenticity – it’s the foundation of everything we do here.”

The programme includes development of real-world skills such as adaptability, emotional intelligence, teamwork, and ethical decision-making – the qualities any strong leader needs. A highlight of the programme is the full day of ‘Her Voice’ workshops for Year 5 students where interactive seminars are delivered by successful alumnae and business women.

Importantly, the initiative addresses a critical window in girls’ development, when, by the age of 10, many girls are beginning to doubt their abilities. By intervening early, Queen Mary’s helps its pupils to see themselves as capable, confident leaders.

SPORT AND ADVENTURE

Sport plays a vital role in helping girls stay active, confident, and resilient. At Queen Mary’s, levels of participation are high.

A stand out feature of Queen Mary’s is its award-winning riding school, where pupils from beginner level to national competitors take part in a wide range of equestrian disciplines. The school’s equestrian team were crowned the 2024 NSEA 80cm Show Jumping National Champions and they’ve qualified again this year as Northern Champions.

Adventure also plays a key role in developing confidence. Led by the school’s Head of Adventure, Colin Burn, girls enjoy everything from abseiling, mattress surfing and high rope courses to kayaking, paddleboarding, climbing and river swimming, all within the 40 acre site. The safe and supportive environment gives girls the freedom to push their boundaries without fear, empowering them to grow in confidence, courage and self-belief whilst building lifelong camaraderie with one another.

WHY IT MATTERS

Studies consistently show that girls in single-sex schools are more confident, more likely to pursue STEAM subjects, and more inclined to take on leadership roles. They’re also more financially aware and more likely to break gender stereotypes when it comes to career paths. An all-girls environment like Queen Mary’s allows them to focus fully on their development, free from many of the social pressures found in co-educational settings.

For more details about Queen Mary’s School or to book onto their 4th October Open Day, visit queenmarys.org, call 01845 575000 or email admissions@queenmarys.org

ALL-ROUND ACHIEVEMENT

Huddersfield Grammar School is celebrating exceptional exam results from students ready to face whatever comes next

The morning that Huddersfield Grammar School’s Year 11 pupils opened their GCSE results was filled with more than just relief and celebration. It was a moment that captured years of ambition, resilience, and shared e ort.

The statistics alone are striking. Nearly half of all exams sat by students were graded 9-7 (the equivalent of an A*-A), a figure more than twice the national average. Even more impressively, 61% of grades exceeded expectations, with over a third exceeding the school’s aspirational targets. But what really shines through is not the numbers themselves, but the journey behind them.

Headteacher, Stuart Rees, reflects on what makes these results so

meaningful: “Behind every grade is a story of determination, perseverance and the trust between pupils and their teachers. These results are remarkable, but the true measure of success is the confident, compassionate young people our pupils have become.”

Among the standout stories are those of Head Girl, Olivia, and Deputy Head Girl, Nidhi, who achieved top grades across every subject. Alongside them, classmates including Katherine, Archie, Teddy, Emily, Hari, Mollie, James, and George collected a remarkable 42 Grade 9s between them, proof of what is possible when talent meets dedication.

Deputy Head, Olivia Wareham, is quick to highlight the bigger picture: “Academic results are only one part of what we celebrate. This year group have grown into leaders, role models,

and problem-solvers. They have shown kindness, resilience and ambition in equal measure, and those qualities will serve them well, long into the future.”

For Huddersfield Grammar School, such achievements are not an endpoint, but a milestone in a broader journey. The school’s ethos is clear: education should develop the whole person, balancing academic excellence with sport, the arts, leadership, and enrichment. By nurturing curiosity and creativity alongside confidence, pupils are equipped not just for exams, but for life beyond them.

As the Class of 2025 step into their next chapter, the school community celebrates not only their extraordinary results, but the individuals they have become and the bright futures that lie ahead.

huddersfield-grammar.co.uk

EDUCATION NEWS

The latest from schools across the county

Skill sets

“Don’t underestimate the reach of good study skills,” writes Dr Canning, Deputy Head Pastoral at Aysgarth School. “We prepare all our children to sit the Common Entrance exam at the age of 13, a week of exams that many parents would find daunting, but our pupils repeatedly take these in their stride. Central to this is the steady development of study skills, but there is more to these than exam performance.

“As I sit with children setting goals at the start of the year, our discussions o en gravitate more to the ‘how’ than the ‘what’. Learning how to plan study time and stay organised teaches valuable life skills that extend beyond school. Yes, ultimately, as a school we are judged on how our pupils perform, but we would be a poor school if this was the only arbiter of success. Helping equip our pupils in terms of support and time to study a little each day helps them feel more in control and less overwhelmed. The habits your child builds now will follow them into adulthood; they’re learning how to be self-motivated and independent – two key ingredients for success. We are a non-selective school and over the years, our pupils learn

Write stuff

The shortlist of the BBC Young Writers’ Award with Cambridge University was announced on 14th September and 17-year-old Rebecca Smith from Sheffield has been shortlisted for her story ‘Scouse’s Run’. It tells the story of the titular boy, Scouse, who bets his friends that he can ride a shopping trolley down a hill without screaming or crying out, only to have the challenge go horribly wrong. Praised by the judges for its ‘strong voice’ and ‘tension’ of the fun with the ‘undercurrent of danger and

that progress comes from effort, not just ‘being clever’. We look past the moment a child leaves our care and through our Old Aysgarthian network, celebrate the many ways our alumni find to make their way through life. As a parent, you are integral to this journey, and remember that you’re not just helping your child thrive at school, you’re giving them skills for life.” aysgarthschool.com

violence’, the story explores peer pressure, toxic masculinity and the consequences of bullying and young men’s reactions to feeling powerless. The winner of the award was due to be announced at the time of going to print. Good luck Rebecca!

Good energy

The Good Schools Guide has praised Harrogate’s Ashville as a great school with “strong learning and high aspirations, tempered with holistic ambitions”.

Ashville achieved the best A level results in Harrogate again for 2025 with pupils going to destinations from Oxford and Cambridge to the Royal Northern College of Music and a prestigious apprenticeship with Ernst & Young. The review states: “The atmosphere is bubbly and exciting to experience. There is a new energy amongst the staff and parents, but most importantly from the children.”

The Head, Rhiannon Wilkinson, was described as ‘fantastic’ and making ‘a positive change’ with a ‘proactive’ approach and a ‘very visible’ and ‘clear ethos’.

Phase 2 of the Campus Masterplan at Ashville is now complete with the new Six@Ashville pre-university experience, a learning and social hub for Year 7 and Prep School playground renovations. Book an individual visit to discover the ‘new’ Ashville. Call 01423 724863 or email admissions@ashville.co.uk

MONEY CAN BUY…

A prime property in Worth Valley

WHERE

The property is perched in a commanding, elevated position on the edge of the picturesque village of Stanbury. From its setting, it enjoys sweeping panoramic views across the Worth Valley and provides peace and privacy while still being at the heart of one of Yorkshire’s most sought-after rural communities.

WHAT

Cold Knowle Farm is a detached farmhouse and barn conversion, regarded as one of the Worth Valley’s finest homes.

INSIDE

The main residence o ers four generously sized bedrooms, with the principal suite featuring an en-suite bath, separate shower, dressing room, and its own adjoining snug. A unique highlight is the self-contained integral cottage, adding further flexibility for family or guests. Living spaces are expansive and characterful, with no fewer than five reception rooms, including a striking 40-foot family room complete with a traditional Yorkshire Range. The superb breakfast kitchen is designed to suit both relaxed family living and entertaining on a larger scale. Throughout the home, original character features are carefully preserved, complemented by highquality fixtures and fittings, oil-fired central heating, and double glazing. The property also includes a large integral garage within the barn and a cellar for additional storage.

OUTSIDE

Surrounding the property are beautifully maintained gardens that frame the home and enhance its rural charm. Just across the lane lies a paddock of approximately 0.77 acres, o ering potential for smallholding or equestrian use. With its elevated position, Cold Knowle Farm enjoys unrivalled views, together with the privacy making it a truly special countryside residence.

PRICE

£895,000

SELLING AGENT

Fine & CountryRibble Valley 01200 420747

ribblevalley@fineandcountry.com

why everyone is talking about…

Bradford ARTS CENTRE

The renamed cultural centre is due to open on 8th October and has announced its opening artistic programme

Bradford Arts Centre, formerly known as Kala Sangam, is relaunching this October with its new name, building and brand after significant, in-depth consultation with local communities, artists and partners. Renamed to represent the city and be open to all, Bradford Arts Centre o ers a welcoming creative home for performance, artistic development, meetings, education and community workshops spotlighting the city’s brilliant culture and heritage. The opening programme includes premieres from Jaivant Patel Company, Mobius Dance, and Natalie Davies. This flagship £7.9million capital redevelopment project, opening during Bradford’s year as UK City of Culture 2025, is supported by DCMS through the Arts Council England administered Cultural Development Fund, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Garfield Weston Foundation, Foyle Foundation and Bradford Council.

The newly modernised building will o er state-of-the-art facilities, including a 170-seat theatre, five purpose-built rehearsal studios, four meeting rooms, a conference venue, o ce space for creative businesses, and a home for BCB Radio. Bradford Arts Centre’s unique model of providing artists with over 650 days of free, unconditional rehearsal space is subsidised through hiring high-quality meeting rooms and conference space. It will now have increased capacity and more flexible spaces to accommodate the multi-media and diverse art forms that many contemporary artists are employing. It is the only centre in the North of England o ering free performance studio space alongside tailored, one-to-one support for artists.

The autumn programme includes 17 events, six premieres, four building

takeovers, five City of Culture support programmes and 12 Bradford Arts Centre development-supported shows.

Spotlighting a broad range of work and events spanning all the programming strands, the season commences with the world premiere of ASTITVA from Jaivant Patel Company (JPCo), a Partner Company that Bradford Arts Centre has supported since 2016. Acting solely as choreographer for the first time, this new dance work explores Jaivant Patel’s experiences growing up as a queer Indian man. ASTITVA is told in four episodes: ‘Seeking, Desire, Acceptance, and Love’, exploring universal emotions and navigating sexuality under the weight of cultural expectations.

In the opening weekend, new Associate Company Bradford South Asian Festival

hosts a full building takeover with workshops and activities celebrating South Asian culture, including the popular ‘Little Foodies’ sessions, an exploration of wedding traditions and the return of Disco Dewanney. Supported by Bradford Arts Centre over four years, Deborah Pakkar Hull, Emma Adams and Old Bird Productions present a new theatre show Otherhood, exploring what it means to be child free, either by choice or circumstance. Associate Company Mobius Dance will perform its contemporary dance premiere, The Long Summer Day, a celebration of queer joy and experience with poetry from Andrew McMillan.

For more information and to see the full opening schedule, visit bdartscentre.co.uk

ARCHITECTS VISUALISATION OF BRADFORD ARTS CENTRE

PHOTO BY KAROL WYSZYNSKI

lacebymanor.co.uk/spa