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Cllr Jane Gibson and Cllr Damian Kearns Ilkley Town Council elected a new Town Mayor at its Annual Meeting on Monday, 11 May 2026. Cllr Damian Kearns, who was previously Mayor during 2024–25, will chair the Council for the forthcoming municipal year alongside newly re-elected Deputy Mayor, Cllr Jane Gibson, Cllr Gibson was Deputy Mayor during 2024–25 and Mayor during 2025–26. The ordinary monthly Full Council meeting followed the Annual Meeting where the Council, along with e

📋| ILKLEY CHAT JOBS BOARD |📋 12.05.26 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 ■■■ STYLE ADVISOR – MINT VELVET, ILKLEY 8 hours- must be flexible includes weekends. You’ll

Pat's Party, the annual Ben Rhydding family summer music festival will return on Saturday 27 June and tickets are on sale now. Generations of local families have laughed and danced at the event over the years and raised £187,000 for good causes. This year's gold sponsor is local estate agent, Harrison Robinson. The volunteer fundraising group have confirmed the afternoon line-up full of live music from local bands including, Route 65, Man Cave, Manic Calm, Ten Fields, Reef Ho

From scenic backdrops with unparalleled views, to laid-back, intimate getaways – the top-ranked dog-friendly pub hotels in the UK have been revealed and The Cow & Calf in Ilkley is included. Eat Drink Meet – the website and app that helps people discover the best pubs, bars, and restaurants near them and provides definitive rankings of Britain’s best pubs – has revealed its 2026 list of the top ten venues in the UK for super dog-friendly staycations from Chester and St Albans

Following its success last year, Ilkley BID is this running another Health & Wellbeing campaign throughout May with prizes to be won. This initiative highlights the BID’s ongoing commitment to supporting local businesses and positioning Ilkley as a premier destination for health, wellness, and self-care. Health & Wellbeing Month celebrates the diverse range of wellness services in the town and showcases businesses that contribute to the physical and mental wellbeing of both r

A new fundraiser on Friday 5 June will bring together live DJs, percussion, coffee, breakfast, and classic house music for an early-morning celebration in the heart of Ilkley. The 'Breakfast Rave' hosted jointly between La Stazione and The Ticket Office in the Station Plaza is inspired by the growing trend of 'morning raves', and will offer a high-energy alternative to traditional nightlife, all before the working day begins. The event will have a relaxed, community focused a

Members of Ilkley Round Table at the AGM in Sheffield Members of Ilkley & District Round Table spent the weekend in Sheffield attending the Round Table Britain & Ireland AGM. The team who organise annual events including the Ilkley Half Marathon and Ilkley Beer Festival joined Tablers from across the country for a packed programme of networking, celebrations, and national decision-making. The annual AGM brings together Round Table members from across Britain and Ireland to re

Jane Sellers, Richard Downey and Andrew Loy have all be elected Andrew Loy, Richard Downey and Jane Sellers have all elected to represent the Ilkley and Addingham ward on Bradford Council. Boundary changes across the Bradford district meant all ninety seats on the council were up for election. [Ilkley and Addingham results - Bradford Council graphic] MP Robbie Moore commented on social media after the Ilkley results were announced: "An absolutely brilliant result in Ilkley &

Yorkshire Water have postponed roadworks due to start on Monday on Skipton Road in Ilkley. Yorkshire Water had been due to start major mains water connection works on 11 May, which were expected to take five to six weeks. Concerns had been raised by residents and MP Robbie Moore that the disruption would impact students at local schools due to start their exams. The company will now work with Bradford Council to agree new dates and apply for a new permit.

The Ilkley Grammar School [IGS] 'Auction of Promises', raising money for the school Enrichment Fund, is now live and open to all. There are a great selection of promises volunteered, including rare Kaiser Chiefs’ merchandise, a limited-edition Damien Hurst umbrella, a bookable show choir performance for an event of your choice, a Manchester City shirt (2025-26 season) signed by the whole team, four ball at Ilkley Golf Club and Afternoon Tea at Grantley Hall to name just a few

Reiki Ramble 4 Val A group of Ilkley friends have completed a fundraising walk, Reiki Ramble 4 Val, to support a friend who was paralysed after a terrible car crash. Physiotherapist Val Jones has resided in hospital since June 2025 when she was the victim of a terrible car crash and paralysed from the neck down. Val is awaiting the adaptation of her home so that she can finally leave the spinal injuries unit after 11 months and return home with all the care and equipment that

Leeds United fans are invited to a special live event at King’s Hall, Ilkley on Tuesday 29 September, as former strikers Jermaine Beckford and Michael Bridges take the stage for an evening of memories, laughter and football insight. Hosted by ex-Premiership player Andy Couzens, An Evening with Beckford & Bridges will revisit iconic moments from Elland Road, including Beckford’s famous Old Trafford winner and Bridges’ role in Leeds United’s early 2000s Champions League run. Th

Ilkley Pride socials will take place on Sunday’s throughout the summer Ilkley Pride & Diversity Group have announced a new series of monthly Coffee and Cake Socials at Vitello Lounge. The socials offer a welcoming, relaxed, and inclusive space for members of the local LGBTQ+ community and allies to come together, and will take place at 2pm on the following Sunday’s throughout the summer: 17th May 21st June 19th July 16th August Held in the comfortable surroundings of Vitello

The owners of Clayful in the Moors Shopping Centre have announced their decision to close the shop. Clayful was the brainchild of mother and daughter team, Jacqui and Fran Brett, and opened in 2024. In a statement on Facebook the pair say the closure is 'Due to lots of different reasons', but they have 'loved every minute of running Clayful in Ilkley and are so grateful to all our wonderful customers for your support and we are so grateful for all the wonderful people we’ve m

A group of friends get ready to take on 300-mile Highlands to Hadrian's Wall charity ride A group of eight friends from Ilkley are preparing to take on an extraordinary endurance challenge this spring — cycling over 300 miles, on and off road, across some of the UK’s toughest terrain to raise vital funds for two deeply personal causes. Setting off from Aviemore on Saturday 16 May, the team will ride 300 miles over 7 days, tackling an incredible 5,710 metres of climbing befo

Ilkley Town’s Over-55s face Republic of Ireland Over-55s [pictured] on Sunday Ilkley Towns AFC's Super Vets are back in international action this weekend when its Over-55s face Republic of Ireland Over-55s on Sunday, 10 May, kicking off at 2pm. Players from both squads met earlier this year when the teams faced each other in an Over-60s fixture, Ilkley came out victorious on that occasion winning 3-2. The Baht’atters will be keen to remain undefeated to RoI with the lowe

Bradford Libraries has said Ilkley Library will close later this month so improvements can be made - making it a better experience for everyone. The library will temporary relocate next door, into Ilkley Town Hall, from Monday 18 May 2026. Along with general maintenance, the makeover will include the installation of a new accessible toilet downstairs and a kitchenette, enabling groups and meetings using the library to 'grab a cuppa'. A spokesperson said: "We appreciate every

After ten weeks of delays on Skipton Road in Ilkley already this year, motorists face further disruption from Monday as Yorkshire Water start new 'major water work' on the same stretch of the A65. **Unconfirmed reports suggest Yorkshire Water have postponed these works [08/05] The works, which are expected to take five to six weeks, are to connect the new housing development to its network. During this time two-way temporary lights will be in use and the Victoria Avenue junct

Siena with the rest of the band Phantom Bagman A singer songwriter from Ilkley, Siena Anderson, has launched a new album with her indie jazz band, ‘Phantom Bagman’ - and they are preparing for a gig in Leeds. Siena has had success recently with a BBC Introducing selection performing at ‘The Glasshouse’ in Gateshead, formerly known as ‘The Sage’. Phantom Bagman were described by The Glasshouse as “artists who are quietly gearing up to be something big”. Their new album av

The stark reality of what’s happening to the climate and natural world is the focus of a film to be shown to local VIPs and residents in Ilkley next week. This public event, known as the People’s Emergency Briefing, is to be held at Ilkley Grammar School on the evening of Friday 15 May and is one of hundreds scheduled across the country over coming months. It features warnings from scientists and other experts about the severe potential consequences of these crises including