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OTB members at The Dine-in event Guests at the recent Dine-In event at Outside the Box in Ilkley enjoyed a very special Christmas dining experience. Delighting everyone involved, the festive evening was a showcasing and celebration of the talents of the many young people and adults with learning disabilities supported by the charity.      Event guests were treated to a delicious three-course meal, seasonal drinks and mince pie canapés, all prepared and served by the inclusive

Churches Together in Ilkley and local reading groups are supporting 'Buy a Book for Bradford', a community drive asking Ilkley residents to donate new or nearly new children’s story books this December. The initiative aims to get books into the hands of children in Bradford with limited access to reading materials as the UK marks 2026 as the Year of Reading. Organisers encourage people to buy one or two story books while preparing for the festive season. Donations for babies

BT artist impression of the Street Hub Plans to replace the phone box at the west end of The Grove with a 'street hub' featuring two large 75" screens has been refused by Bradford Council planners. BT currently have over 950 street hubs across the UK and submitted plans in September to place one on The Grove in Ilkley. With large advertising screens both sides, the company says it would offer Wi-Fi and free phone calls, and promote community events and activities. Ilkley Town

Christmas is all about giving back and this Saturday The Ticket Office bar will hold its annual Charity Food Bank Drive with Your Ilkley Radio. Donations to Ilkley Food Bank can be dropped off at the bar on Saturday, 6th December, between 10am and 12 noon. Stuart Clarkson from Your Ilkley Radio will be broadcasting from the event and giving mentions to businesses and individuals on Ilkley's local radio station. A spokesperson for The Ticket Office bar said: "We’re proudly tea

As the final weekend Ilkley Manor House is open to the public in 2025 approaches it seems fitting to reflect on the past year.  The final opening day is Sunday 14 December from 11am – 4pm.   As with all organisations it has been a challenging year financially for the Trust but the programmes the House has delivered have delighted more than 11,000 visitors over the past 10 months.    Sarah Thomas, outgoing chair commented: "We have been thrilled to showcase a wide range of art

One of the area’s most treasured festive traditions returns this weekend as the Ilkley & District Round Table Santa Float begins its annual tour of Addingham, Ilkley and Ben Rhydding. Loved by generations, the Santa Float spreads Christmas cheer across local streets while raising vital funds for community causes. Thanks to the generosity of residents, the Round Table raises over £100,000 every year, supporting dozens of charities, grassroots organisations and community groups

📋| ILKLEY CHAT JOBS BOARD |📋 02.12.25 every Tuesday with Right at Home Ilkley, Keighley & Skipton  - recruiting CareGivers to provide quality care in a client’s home: www.rightathome.co.uk/ilkley-jobs 🖱 To add a vacancy next week or view the Jobs Board on our website visit ilkleychat.co.uk/jobs-board There are three sections - main jobs, apprenticeships and volunteers. ■■■ MAIN JOBS ■■■ SOLAR INSTALLER [WITH ROOFLING EXPERIENCE PREFERRED] – P4 SOLAR LTD, ILKLEY/KEIGHLEY Ar

National healthcare and bereavement charity Sue Ryder is calling on residents in the Ilkley area to ‘branch out’ and recycle their real Christmas tree this January.   Covering Airedale, Wharfedale and the Dales, the scheme has limited capacity available and the charity is encouraging early reservations to secure a collection.     The festive season is always busy, and while the decorations may not yet be up, you can make life easier by signing up early for Sue Ryder’s...

Richard Bell with some of his new team of u3a trustees Ilkley & District u3a held its Annual General Meeting at the Clarke Foley Community Hub on Saturday 22nd November and it was reported that the average age of the membership is creeping up towards the upper 70s. The group has over 2,100 members and attracts new sign-ups almost daily, over 300 have joined in 2025. The Chairman of the Ilkley & District u3a has issued an appeal for younger members of the organisation to take

Rehearsal of It's a Wonderful Life opening on Thursday 4 th  December.  Caroline Mutton takes a look at what's on at Ilkley Playhouse - next is the festive favourite, It’s a Wonderful Life. It’s a Wonderful Life opens in the Wharfeside Theatre on Thursday 4 th December. This play, by Mary Elliott Nelson, is based on the wonderful classic film directed by Frank Capra and follows the story of George Bailey, a down-on-his-luck banker who believes life has left him behind. On C

Don’t miss the sparkle of Ilkley’s much-loved Christmas Tree Festival which opens on Friday 5 December, at St Margaret’s Church, Queen’s Road, Ilkley. From 10am. The church provides a stunning space for 30 beautifully decorated trees from local charities, community groups, and every primary school in Ilkley, Addingham, and Ben Rhydding. Also open on Saturday from 10.00 am when the festivities continue through to 5.00 pm.   Enjoy Christmas music throughout the weekend, includi

Ilkley Manor House is hosting Colour of Dreams, a new group exhibition curated by Andreea Chitan, bringing together a vibrant selection of painters, makers, and textile artists whose work celebrates the emotional and sensory language of colour. Gentle yet radiant, Colour of Dreams explores how artists use hue, tone, and texture to hold memory, mood, and meaning. The exhibition invites visitors to slow down and experience colour as something lived and felt, a quiet conversatio

The Holly Ball 2024 at the King's Hall Organisers of the annual Holly Ball are getting ready for the biggest and best yet next month, which is set to raise vital funds for two local charities.   The black tie event, organised by The Rotary Club of Ilkley, will take place at The King’s Hall in Ilkley on Saturday 13 December, with an evening of good food, drink and entertainment.   The nominated charity this year is Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope, who will receive mos

Temporary Banking Hub in Ilkley Library [Photo: cashaccess.co.uk ] Cash Access UK, the organisation set up to protect access to cash across the UK, has opened a temporary home for the banking hub in Ilkley at the Library on Station Road.   Customers of all major banks can visit any weekday between 9am-5pm to carry out regular cash transactions including cash withdrawals and deposits as well as checking balances or paying bills. Additionally, the hub also offers a community ba

Two Rivers Concert Band will unpack a treasure trove of Christmas delights at its Christmas Concert at Ilkley Baptist Church on Sunday 7 December. The concert will start at 3pm at the church on King's Road and tickets cost £10, under 16s go free, Kate Plant from the Two Rivers Concert Band said: "Every Christmas schedule needs a rousing musical, and this year we open our concert with a selection of anthems from The Greatest Showman. Staying in film mode, we move on to Paul Du

L-R: Laura Fletcher, Rachel Parker, Sophie Martin, Vicki Bradley and Patrick McCutcheon from Dacres A brand-new apartment development in Ilkley town centre which has seen the upper floors of a landmark building on The Grove converted into 10 magnificent apartments, has been presented with a conservation award in recognition of its high quality and sympathetic transformation. The furnished show apartments at Langbar House, which are being marketed by Dacre, Son & Hartley’s suc

Leeds Hospitals Charity joined Ilkley town centre this week with the opening of its biggest store yet. The charity now has five shops across the region, following the opening of charity shops in Horsforth and Guiseley earlier this year. The shop, next to Bettys on The Grove, will be open seven days a week, thanks to the support of dedicated volunteers and staff. It has a modern feel and is set over two floors, selling a wide range of items, from pre-loved fashion to homeware

Roof repairs needed at Ilkley Manor House start in the new year Work to restore the roof of Ilkley’s 12 century manor house will start in the new year Bradford Council has confirmed. Ilkley Manor House which dates from 1390 is an important, historic Grade I-listed building that stands on the remains of a Roman fort. With its busy programme of cultural events and activities, as well as being a museum and permanent art gallery, Ilkley Manor House is open every weekend and is fr

📋| ILKLEY CHAT JOBS BOARD |📋 25.11.25 every Tuesday with Right at Home Ilkley, Keighley & Skipton  - recruiting CareGivers to provide quality care in a client’s home: www.rightathome.co.uk/ilkley-jobs 🖱 To add a vacancy next week or view the Jobs Board on our website visit ilkleychat.co.uk/jobs-board There are three sections - main jobs, apprenticeships and volunteers. ■■■ MAIN JOBS ■■■ BAR PERSON – HOLLYGARTH SOCIAL CLUB, ILKLEY We’re looking for an enthusiastic Bar Perso

The second Art In The Kitchen event is this weekend Ilkley artists Helen Brayshaw and Lucia Smith are coming together for a second Art in the Kitchen event this weekend. Both artists love the Yorkshire moors and portray them often in their work. For both, colour is pivotal. So it is surprising how very different their approach to colour is!   Helen pours her paint onto canvas; an intriguing, unique approach where colour accuracy is crucial. It is our recognition of her carefu