Ilkley has around 15,000 people (Image: Martin Priestory via Getty Images)
There are around 15,000 people in the town, with “more billionaires than anywhere else.” There are also over 200 independent shops, cafes and restaurants, so there's plenty to keep you busy. Local businessman Keely Hall is proud of the charm of Ilkley and caters to both the influx of residents and visitors in the town of West Yorkshire.
“It's a lovely town with lots of independent shops and great places to get coffee. Most are dog-friendly,” she said. The longtime owner of the Keely shop on Church Street has been a community fixture for nearly 30 years, with plenty of clothing, gifts and accessories. She says Ilkley is a place full of wealth and upscale homes, but retains its typical Northern character.
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Georgina Richmond and Gareth Heaton from Community Cutlery (Image: Charlie Swinbone)
“They say there are more billionaires in Ilkley than anywhere else,” Keeley says, but the accuracy of the statement remains uncertain. “Ilkley is lovely, it has a really nice and chatty atmosphere. When you go to every store, people have a nutter.”
As Yorkshire found during their visit, locals are ready for an old, good old chinwag there.
Jeremy Bloomfield reiterated the sentiment that “quality independents” are the lifeline of Ilkley's bustling town centre, and that they thrive with visitors when the weather improves.
“Yes, there are coaches' trips and we have clients all over Yorkshire and Lancashire,” he says. “The big pull is Betty (glove's popular 'cafe tea room'). ”
Jeremy has his own favorite spots, including Raymond Town Men'swear. A heaven of grove shoes. Beaumonde, a perfume retailer on Church Street, and “Fantastic Butcher” Rishman in Ilkley, Leeds Road, are areas in towns that are said to be “meeting” with new businesses.
“Ilkley is a beautiful spa town,” he adds. “I love nature, countryside, White Wells and Ilcreamär. It's beautiful. Its wide paved groves are wonderful and safe.”
Shop Owner Keely Hall of Men's Wear and Gift Shop Time and Time (Image: Yorkshire Live)
Shoppers Colin and Julie, who were visiting Ilkley from their nearby Kayley home, said they loved the town's atmosphere and “the lovely atmosphere.”
“You don't get a store like this in Kayley,” they joked. “Ilkley is one of the most expensive places to live. It has a great atmosphere and is a bit like Harrogate.”
Colin added: “There are separate coffee shops and restaurants.”
Like many towns and cities, there is no shortage of charity shops popular with resellers and bargain hunters.
Range, age UK, Mind, Yorkshire Cancer Research, Martin House Children's Hospice, Shelter, Oxfam, Cancer Research UK, and the British Heart Foundation.
Leeds Road, a shopping district in Ilkley, Yorkshire, is experiencing a revival. Locals have even dubbed it “East Village” for its quirky shops, a lively art scene and a trendy cafe-style mix.
Gareth Heaton and Georgina Richmond, who run Community Cutlery, a kitchenware shop that offers knife sharpening services, are at the heart of this Leeds Road Renaissance.
The couple, who moved from Brighton, fell in love with Ilkley's thriving art scene, and Leeds Road boasts a unique atmosphere, boasting a rich cultural scene, great cafes and independent shops.
In February, highly acclaimed Yorkshire artist Claire Berkster opened a new gallery on Leeds Road.
“Local people call Lees Road East Village. Lees Road is an independent area and a small community,” says Georgina.
Ilkley continues to attract visitors from all over the UK and beyond. Christopher visited Middlesbrough for the first time in over 30 years and was hit by improvements made over the past 30 years.
Grove Bookshop is popular (Image: Yorkshire Live)
“It looks better. The building looks better and the pavement is wider. From what we've seen so far, the storefront looks better.”
But not everyone shares this optimism. Moira, 81, a resident of Ilkley for nearly 50 years, feels the town's retail scene has been declining slightly.
“Shopping? Not as good as before,” she said. “A lot of shops are closed.”
But she added the town: “I love it. I have a lovely neighbor and I love the shop, but I heard that the last bank is going to close,” she says. “I like the little tea house and the kitchen at 39. And look at the queue outside Betty – that's a good place.”
Betty is very popular (Image: Yorkshire Live)
Ilkley Business Improvement District manager Sarah Brookfield-Almond boasts a national average of 14% and a surprisingly low vacancy rate for 6% of shop units.
“Many new businesses have opened up over the last two years, primarily independents,” she explains, referring to “back streets” such as Courtyard, Backstreets, Skipton Road, Leeds Road, Crescent Courtyard, Railroad Road, Little Lane, and clusters of “hidden gems” on the boulevard.
Ilkley Bid has unveiled an epic plan to decorate the A65 with a flag, showing a warm welcome to visitors and sheds light on the vibrant business community there.
Meanwhile, returning to the Grove, praise for Ilkley continues to bloom among the locals, as crowds swell outside the popular Betty.
Shoppers love to flock to hundreds of stores (Image: Yorkshire Live)
Moira chatted for 10 minutes and said, “I like to stop at the bandstand and watch people sing and dancing. It's a great place. You can sit there and meet people.”
She said Ilkley was previously considered somewhat “snobby”, but such snobbery disappeared over time.
“I think people are kind these days, but Irklee has a lot of money,” she said. With a laugh, Moira waved goodbye and added, “I hope I've entertained you.”
