Welcome to the award winning Ilkley Chat!

5000 ducks started the race at New Brook Street bridge After weeks of grey skies and persistent rain, which could have threatened the event, the clouds rolled back and the sun shone on another highly successful Great Ilkley Duck Race on Saturday 18 April 2026, raising £13,500. Organised by the Ilkley Wharfedale Rotary Club, the Yellow Duck Race was preceded by the Red Business Duck Race – both started from the New Brook Street bridge. Derek Richards, President of the Ilkley W

Ilkley Cinema is a finalist in the Best Arts, Culture & Theatre in Yorkshire award Ilkley is once again well represented in the Yorkshire Finals for the Muddy Stiletto Awards 2026. Covering 35 counties, Muddy Stilettos is the UK’s No1 women’s lifestyle website outside of London and its awards are now in their 13th year. For 2026, the awards have 21 lifestyle categories, including reader favourites Best Afternoon Tea, Fashion & Interiors, Artisan Food & Drink Producer, Most Lo

Ilkley Town Council’s Community Engagement and Partnerships Committee has agreed to award grants to two local organisations in support of important community improvements. A grant of £1,830 has been awarded to All Saints Pre-School to fund fencing for the outdoor play area, helping to improve the safety and usability of the space for local children. The Council has also resolved to award £2,846 to Ilkley Town AFC towards repairs to the walkway, subject to confirmation that th

Amblethorpe has a guide price of £2.5m Five of Ilkley’s finest homes, worth more than £9m combined, have been launched for sale this month. All being marketed by Ilkley estate agent Dacre, Son & Hartley, Amblethorpe is one of Ilkley’s most desirable Victorian homes. The sprawling seven-bedroom property is beautifully presented and offers spacious family accommodation, a separate coach house, garaging, and large south-facing gardens leading directly onto Ilkley Moor. The hous

Residents in the Ilkley area are invited to harness their inner strength this spring through a morning of movement and writing on Saturday 16 May. Led by Keeley Jean-Baptiste and Faye Knowles, the event is an opportunity for attendees to take time away from their everyday lives and reconnect with themselves in a supportive environment. The session combines physical movement and reflective writing as pathways to self‑awareness, self-confidence and personal growth. Keeley is a

Direct trains will run between Ilkley and Skipton this weekend Engineering works on the railway this weekend mean direct trains will run between Ilkley and Skipton - more than 60 years after the line closure. Direct trains between Ilkley and Skipton last ran regularly in 1965 when the line connecting the two towns via Addingham and Bolton Abbey was closed to passenger services. Northern say on its website : "Engineering works is taking place between Shipley and Bradford Forst

Train operator Northern is reminding customers about changes to train timetables next month. The update to timetables in May forms part of the national timetable change, which takes place each May and December. Most of Northern's services will see no change in May, with some targeted adjustments taking place to help with punctuality and reflecting feedback from customers. In the North East, more customers will be able to travel between Newcastle and Whitby on Sundays without

📋| ILKLEY CHAT JOBS BOARD |📋 21.04.26 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 ■■■ QUALIFIED DENTAL NURSE – U DENTISTRY, ILKLEY We are excited to offer an excellent oppor

Calendar Girls The Musical, 22 April - 2nd May The opening night of Calendar Girls The Musical is tomorrow, Wednesday, 22 April, at Ilkley Playhouse. Written by Tim Firth and Gary Barlow, the play is based on the true story that inspired the smash-hit 2003 film. When Annie loses her husband to leukaemia, her best friend Chris wants to honour his memory and raise money for a new settee on the ward where he was treated. In yet another dull WI meeting, she’s struck by a brillian

Thomas Black An 87-year-old Ilkley environmental campaigner has teamed up with local school pupils to film a new short aimed at encouraging cleaner streets and greener communities. Thomas Black, a retired West Yorkshire businessman and long-standing anti-litter advocate, has launched his fourth short film promoting community pride and responsible behaviour. This latest project was filmed in Otley and features Thomas alongside his granddaughter and pupils from a local school.

Drawing and Painting Exhibition 2nd to 4th May at Ilkley Manor House Over the May Day bank holiday weekend, Ilkley Manor House showcases two exhibitions across one creative weekend. The Ilkley Arts studio opens its doors for a free Drawing and Painting Exhibition , showcasing a wide selection of original works for sale by local artists. The exhibition brings together members working across drawing and painting practices, presenting a range of approaches from contemporary ab

Carnival Creative Competition winner Sasha Wilkinson with Burley Oaks head Emma Learmonth and committee member Colin Watson Four young people have been announced competition winners after creating artwork which reflects Ilkley Carnival’s 2026 Children’s Books theme! Burley Woodhead pupil Flora Steel (6), Saskia White (15) from Ilkley, Lily Cherrill (13) from Bradford Grammar and Sasha Wilkinson (11) from Burley Oaks Primary were voted category winners in this year’s Ilkley