Welcome to the award winning Ilkley Chat!

The view from the Ilkley Manor House cottages Ilkley Manor House has three individual offices available within a beautiful cottage setting in Central Ilkley! If you are looking for the perfect base for your small business, arts or creative agency, or festival team, the manor house has three, varied sized offices available. Renting one of these office spaces also support the Ilkley Manor House charity, as all money raised will be used to support the upkeep of the manor house,

This footpath off Denton Road has diverted permanently [Photo; Google Maps] A public footpath in Ilkley is to be diverted as Bradford Council issues order. Footpath No.9 off Denton Road has been re-routed permanently due to the construction of an Integrated Constructed Wetland. The modification, under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 - Section 257, became effective from 14 July, and will alter the path between specific points marked on the Order map below. Bradford Coun

Image from cyclist's video footage that showed the narrow gap he rode through (Image: WYP) A cyclist who submitted footage of bad driving to the West Yorkshire Police [WYP] 'Op Snap portal' has been fined after the very same footage went on to show his poor cycling in Menston. The Leeds-based cyclist uploaded a video showing a car passing too close to his pedal cycle, but later on in the same submission, he captured himself riding without due care and attention as he approach

Harry was in hospital after his fall A local family is thanking the community for the quick help and support after a serious fall at the Burley Pump Track left 14-year-old Harry Croft with a fractured jaw in three places, the loss of eight teeth, and various cuts. Doctors say it would have been a very different outcome if he didn’t have a helmet on, and Harry’s family is urging others to choose proper head protection moving forward. Clare Readshaw, Harry’s mother, shared that

The Lounge at ROH [Photo: Laura Slater] Luxury day spa ROH, has announced the second phase of its opening in Ilkley with the launch of The Lounge, created in partnership with renowned chef Michael O'Hare. ROH opened in Crescent Court earlier this month by entrepreneur Emily Slater, and is now introducing The Lounge - an elegant and sophisticated space at the heart of the spa for breakfast, brunch, lunch or a glass of wine. The Lounge has been designed as a destination in its

Laura [Lumiere Photographic] and Joanne [Tinker Gallery] Women from across Ilkley and beyond are invited to become part of 'Still Me', a moving portrait project, celebrating the strength, resilience and individuality of women who have experienced breast cancer. The project is being created by Ilkley photographer Laura Slater, and will form part of a collaborative exhibition at the Tinker Gallery in Ilkley this October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, bringing together a

Darwin Gardens is joining in the nationwide Love Parks Week campaign Darwin Gardens Millennium Green is joining in the nationwide Love Parks Week campaign from 24 July to 2 August 2026, celebrating the joy, wellbeing and community value of green spaces. The Darwin Gardens Trust is warmly inviting residents and visitors to enjoy Darwin Gardens over the course of the week, whether by exploring the maze, following the trails, enjoying a picnic, or simply spending time in the fre

Rizia’s Bottega will open in August on Bolling Road A new Italian deli and coffee house is opening next month in Ben Rhydding, Rizia’s Bottega. Next to Furniss Family Butchers on Bolling Road, Rizia’s Bottega will be run by Fabrizia, from the family behind the much loved Ilkley restaurant Emporio Italia. Fabrizia told us: "You can think of Rizia’s Bottega as a neighbourhood space to meet up with friends, enjoy a great coffee, share a bite to eat, or pop in to pick up some hig

Dalesway House in the South Hawksworth Street car park An application seeking permission to convert office space within Dalesway House in Ilkley town centre into residential apartments has been granted. Bradford Council, who owns Dalesway House on South Hawkesworth Street, made the Permission in Principle application in June, looking to covert the upper floors of the building into between six and nine apartments. A Permission in Principle [PIP] applications settles whether a

The Ilkley martial arts club, Evolution Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, is facing a financial crisis after Bradford Council increased its business rates from £0 to £755 per month! The club moved into new premises on East Parade in December 2025, paying an annual rent of £13,000, the property's rateable value was £13,500, meaning it qualified for Small Business Rates Relief and were not required to pay business rates. However this changed in April, after an increase in the property's rateab

The group meets each Tuesday at IG Medical There is a new weekly bereavement support group in Ilkley for young people who have experienced the loss of someone important to them. This gentle, supportive group is designed to help school‑aged children explore their feelings, build coping skills, and connect with others who understand what they are going through. The group is at IG Medical in the Springs Medical Centre in Ilkley each Tuesday afternoon between 4pm and 5.30pm. Peop

Ahead of the opening of her second bakery at the weekend on The Grove, Rebecca Severs (Bec), owner of Three Little Birds, tells Ilkley Chat about her journey over the last few years, from humble beginnings in her own kitchen. Bec started baking in her kitchen in 2015 when her three girls were very young. As her orders grew and grew, it became apparent that the kitchen was no longer big enough (even after renovations and knocking a wall down!) so premises were secured on Caven