Absolutely Yorkshire February 2026

Yorkshire

FEBRUARY 2026 / £3.95

PLUS

JACK CARROLL

The Bradford comic on BGT and Corrie • LOVE ON A PLATE

The most romantic dining spots in Leeds • THE VIKINGS ARE COMING York celebrates its past

News and views from Yorkshire's best schools SPECIAL

Country LIFE

Rolling Hills - Planning Granted

Rolling Hills - Planning Granted

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NEW COLLECTION

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EDITOR

MARK KEBBLE

ART DIRECTOR

PAWEL KUBA

MAGAZINE DESIGNER

MARIANA SUZUKI

DESIGNER

BRUNA FACCIN

PRODUCTION MANAGER

DANICA BRODIE

MAGAZINE MANAGER

MARTIN CUNNINGHAM

FINANCIAL DIRECTOR

JERRIE KOLECI

CREDIT CONTROL MANAGER

ALEXANDRA HVID

DIRECTORS

CRAIG DAVIES

JAMES FUSCHILLO

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ALEXANDRA HUNTER

MANAGING DIRECTOR

SHERIF SHALTOUT

YORKSHIRE YATTER

Rather apt for this month, Lisa Byrne taps into primal feelings as a new version of Wuthering Heights hits the big screen

This month the entire globe will be embracing the gothic horror of my favourite book and going Wuthering Heights bonkers crazy. After lashings of hype, encouraged by the release of an array of glamorous and rather erotic mini clips, we will finally be able to watch Oscar winner Emerald Fennell’s version of one of the greatest novels in English literature. Audiences are set to devour the manipulative characters of Heathcli e and Cathy, driven by themes of possession, revenge and su ocating love. Part of its genius is that this masterpiece, written by Emily Brontë in 1845 and sadly her only novel, was penned by a 27-year-old who’d lived a relatively sheltered life.

Last September, I was extremely lucky to be invited to the headline event at the Brontë Women’s Writing Festival, held at Emily’s hometown of Haworth, where Fennell spoke to an enraptured audience about why she decided to make a film of what is a notoriously di cult book to portray on screen. Speaking about her adaptation for the first time, a radiant looking Fennell explained that she was keen on making her version convey the primal feelings she had when she first discovered the book as a 14-year-old. “I wanted to make something that made me feel like I felt when I first read it, which means that it’s an emotional response to something. It’s like, primal, sexual.”

The buzz around the film is sure to bring even more tourism to our beautiful county as many parts of Yorkshire feature in the movie including the valleys of Arkengarthdale and Swaledale, Surrender Bridge near Reeth, the atmospheric ruins of the 19th-century mill, Old Gang Smelt Mill, and the stunning village, Low Row.

“I’m obsessed. I’ve been driven mad by this book,” Emerald told the Haworth audience. “And of course now I’m madder than I was before because I’ve thought of little else now for two years.” Debate has raged about the new movie starring Australian actors Margot Robbie as Cathy and Jacob Elordi playing Heathcli e, but from the mini snippets that I’ve seen, it appears that Fennell has made it her own. And I for one will be first in the queue.

THIS MONTH

I will be...

Visiting the much-lauded hottest newly opened York restaurant, the Black Wheat Club in Fossgate.

Channelling my inner Freya Norse goddess by joining the epic JORVIK Viking Festival (16th-22nd February).

Slathering on my favourite new cleanser, Wakefield brand Dalia Botanique cleansing oil.

Wish LIST

STAR GIRL

Celia B's Resort 26 collection is titled Stardust and Moonbeam –and it delivers the joyful, maximalist blend of colours, ruffles, embroidery and fun that we expect from the Spanish designer. celiab.com

LIPS INC

A new formula for NARS' A erglow Lip Balm features a nourishing blend of ingredients to hydrate while helping to smooth and so en lips. This sheer tint can be worn alone or layered with other lip formulas, £28.50. narscosmetics.co.uk

EDITOR’S PICK

HEARTS OF GOLD

Après Youth is introducing a new gold-focused collection, expanding its jewellery offering with a warmer, elevated edge. The new pieces explore gold tones through bold forms and sculptural detailing, designed to feel expressive, modern and versatile. apresyouth.com

GLOW UP

Kulfi is a make-up brand with a dual focus: fun and performance, plus a commitment to ethical practice. We love the Zari Eyes eyeshadow in Disco Dreams, £30. spacenk.com

PINK LADY

This OPEIA pendant has been cra ed from 18ct rose gold and features a open circular shaped pendant. The design showcases fi ve claw set round brilliant cut pink sapphires positioned across the surface of the pendant. berrysjewellers.co.uk

HANDS ON

The TAG Heuer Aquaracer 36mm

Pink Diamond Dial & Ceramic Bezel Ladies Automatic Watch has an intense pink waved dial with 8 diamond set hour markers, and date display at the 6 o'clock position. berrysjewellers.co.uk

PULL UP

Ski socks might not be a huge part of the look, but we do want them to be pretty as well as warm –which Sealskinz's Northwold socks defi nitely are. Especially in this pink colourway, £35. sealskinz.com

CIRCLE BACK

The best scrunchies come courtesy of Good Squish, whose vast range of hair accesssories made from deadstock fabric are designed to suit all tastes and whims. goodsquish.com

ENGLISH ROSE

Pioneers of exceptional English sparkling wines, Nyetimber offers a great range to celebrate with this year including Nyetimber Rosé Multi-Vintage. nyetimber.com

IN THE HOOD

K-Way®, known for its colourful, practical, and playful designs, has teamed up with Disney for a collection of rainwear. We love this pink Mickey Mouse windbreaker. k-way.co.uk

A garden adventure

Half Term Fun, 14-22 Feb

Join Mr Toad, Ratty, Mole and Badger for an unforgettable family day out! Step into the world of The Wind in the Willows with a brand-new garden trail and hands-on activities, brought to life by EH Shepard’s enchanting original illustrations. The adventure begins this February – and the trail continues all year!

CULTURE

MAN/WOMAN/CHAINSAW

18 FEBRUARY, THE TRADES CLUB HEBDEN BRIDGE Man/Woman/Chainsaw bring their electrifying art-punk chaos back to the stage for a new run of headline shows. Fresh from signing to Fiction Records and releasing their explosive single Only Girl, the six-piece are revered for their visceral performances, wry lyricism and genre-shapeshifting sound. thetradesclub.com

The Agenda

Bridget Christie

26 FEBRUARY, HARROGATE THEATRE

Little Wander in association with PBJ Management presents Bridget Christie: Jacket Potato Pizza. A kidney stone. A stray cat. An eyethemed fetish. Bridget Christie hits the road again with a brand new show. Bridget is the creator and star of Channel 4’s The Change, Taskmaster S13 legend, and Annie in BBC’s Ghosts - and this is a great opportunity to see what the fuss about her stand-up is all about.

harrogatetheatre.co.uk

Glow Nocturnal

14-21 February

CARLTON TOWERS

Carlton Towers will be illuminating its grounds with a stunning light show featuring giant inflatable birds and mammals that come alive after dark in a fun experience for the whole family. The spectacular installations of Nocturn Fox, Owl, Mouse and Hog, feature Mandala geometric designs with each creature bringing their own mystique and symbolism. carltontowers.co.uk

17-21 February

ALHAMBRA THEATRE, BRADFORD

The National Theatre has announced casting for its national tour of Dear England. Leading the cast will be David Sturzaker as England manager Gareth Southgate, with EastEnders and Mount Pleasant actress Samantha Womack playing the role of team psychologist Pippa Grange. Football and non-football fans alike will be brought to their feet for this inspiring, uplifting story. bradford-theatres.co.uk

Charlotte Verity

Until 7 June

HAREWOOD HOUSE

Renowned for her meticulously observed paintings of plants and flowers, The Season Following by Charlotte Verity will mark the first time the artist has exhibited within a historic country house as well as the first time the artist has exhibited extensively in the north of England, with prints and paintings spanning the past 20 years to the present and including several being shown for the first time. harewood.org ART

The Dark Skies Festival returns from 13th February, which is what nights are made for in Yorkshire

18 February UNIVERSITY STYLUS, LEEDS

Big Special’s rise has been rapid. In August 2023, the Walsall duo – Joe Hicklin and Callum Moloney – played their first London headline show at Camden’s Dublin Castle with only one release to their name. Their recent new album National Average charts their journey since then. stylus.events

This Month’s Must See

isa Faulkner will be returning to the stage for the first time in 21 years, starring alongside Kym Marsh in this bold and modern reimagining of the hit 1992 movie. Allie is a recently divorced mum, balancing being a single parent with the launch of her tech start up. When she decides to advertise for a lodger to help make ends meet, the seemingly delightful Hedy o ers her a lifeline... atgtickets.com

The annual Dark Skies Festival returns to Yorkshire this February. The festival is a great opportunity to explore the beauty of the night sky and learn more about the universe we live in. With its stunning landscapes and clear skies, the Yorkshire Dales is the perfect place to celebrate dark skies and appreciate the wonders of the universe. The stunning dark sky of the National Park, free from light pollution, is one of its very special qualities. And they are thrilled to have been designated a Dark Sky Reserve by DarkSky International (formerly International Dark-Sky Association). Each year they also host a free Planet and Constellation Trail in the woodland at Aysgarth Falls (launching on 13th February). These self-guided trails offer a unique experience where you can walk among models of the planets, learn fascinating facts, and even take part in a quiz to test your dark skies knowledge. Local businesses in and around the Yorkshire Dales National Park are hosting various events to help visitors get under the starry skies and experience the best of the Yorkshire Dales by night. Events and activities include stargazing talks with expert astronomers at some of the best locations in the Park, night-time fell running, astro-photography and canoeing in the dark. There is also plenty of family friendly fun such as rocket making, nocturnal wildlife talks, planet trails and dark skies cra s. nationalparks.uk/dark-skies

“If I can make people really tense, you get to pop the balloon and the laugh is a lot bigger”

FALL'S GOLD

Bradford comedian Jack Carroll is heading out on tour this month, with cerebral palsy, Coronation Street and Britain’s Got Talent all on the agenda

By MARK KEBBLE

Iwas never really an avid viewer of Britain’s Got Talent, the often schmaltzy undertones to many of the acts became rather too saccharine over time. And then Jack Carroll came along in 2013. He inched himself on stage with a walking aid due to his cerebral palsy and, after introducing himself, his first gag in reply to Simon Cowell asking what he does was: “I am a professional gymnast.” Unsurprisingly, the then 14-year-old wowed all the judges and the crowd and went on to make that year’s final, finishing runnerup (which was a travesty in my eyes).

I actually preferred his act when he made a return to the BGT stage in 2019 for The Champions series. Then 20, Jack’s act was far more cutting and none of the judges were spared his biting wit – some of the awkward responses were truly magical. It’s probably closer to what the Jack Carroll act of today is like, which everyone up and down the country will get to find out when The Fall Guy tour kicks o this month. “I like working in those kinds of grey areas,” he says when we catch up at the tail end of 2025, “because I think if you can make people

really tense, you get to pop the balloon and then the laugh is a lot bigger. It’s like a jump scare in a horror movie, it’s the same sort of dynamic really. That’s fun as a performer, seeing how far you can push that.”

In the 12 years since that first memorable TV performance, Bradford-born Jack has gone on to win a BAFTA and took to the cobbles in Coronation Street, as well as starring in a host of other shows (while, of course, continuing his stand-up), so in a way it feels a little odd to discuss BGT. “It’s always nice to refresh your memory in a way because it is a huge part of my story,” he insists. “But it also kind of feels like it happened to someone else. The only time I watch my comedy is if I’m in a taxi and a driver asks me what I do and then I have to explain, and then they’ll get me up on YouTube usually while they’re driving, which is, you know, very worrying indeed! So that’s the only time really that I watch any of those old performances. The great thing about those Britain's Got Talent performances is that there’s an energy there, just going out and doing it – and there’s some good stu in it too. That’s not to say that I peaked early, by the way!”

Being 12 years older, his act has obviously evolved – “Going back to those early sets, they’re quite frantic and quite quick, so the pacing of my show is slightly more relaxed,” Jack says – but does he think that his humour has helped challenge people’s perceptions of cerebral palsy? “I think about it consciously a lot more now,” he says. “At the start you just kind of don’t know any di erent and you’re going out and doing what you think you know, there’s no kind of grand plan or social messaging behind it. But then the more I’ve done, the more I’ve got people coming up to me in the street saying, ‘Oh, I’ve got this thing or my sister’s got this thing and she loved your comedy’, so then you see that it’s reaching people who have that experience of disability in a slightly di erent way than it maybe would reach other people. So that’s something I am thinking about when creating my material.”

The Fall Guy tour opens in Bradford on 13th February, something that brings a big smile to Jack’s face. “I was born in Bradford, so it’s a nice hometown show to kick o the tour and then we’re over to She eld after that, then Leeds Varieties in October, so

that’ll be a big one as well. It’s nice when you don’t have to travel too far from your house. That’s the nice bit. But the audiences are really good in Yorkshire, so it’s a win-win.”

Talking about his early years in Yorkshire, when did he discover that he had a bit of a knack for comedy? “I think I have always been funny and kind of been rewarded in my family setting for being funny. So I thought it was something that kind of got you on socially, you know. Then I watched quite a lot of comedy as a young kid and decided pretty early on that that’s what I wanted to do. Your relationship to that changes and your reasons for wanting to do it change, but the basic love for comedy as a fan and then wanting to see whether you can kind of number yourself among those people that you know and respect, that becomes the driving force really.”

Has Yorkshire itself influenced him as a comedian? “It’s not every influence, but it’s very very close, especially the delivery of stu . I tend to get away with a lot more I

think in a northern accent,” he laughs. “Some of the material could be seen as harsher than it probably sounds when I say it. So even the friendliness of the accent seems to help me get away with a lot more stu on stage. Then I think Yorkshire does have its own particular sense of humour as well, which I would say I probably fall into.”

He’s only in his mid-20s, but he has already ticked o some big career milestones, including winning one of the UK’s most prestigious awards. In 2024 Jack won the BAFTA for Best Short Form along with the team behind short film Mobility Mobility is a nine-minute comedy short co-written by and starring Jack that follows three disabled teenagers from Huddersfield on the first day of sixth form as they travel to school together on the mobility bus. Mike (played by Jack), who has cerebral palsy, is keen for a bit of “social mobility” and hopes to break free

“I tend to get away with a lot more I think in a northern accent”

of his current friends – but he finds himself stuck with two very di erent companions: Sunny, an upbeat wheelchair user, and Dan, a blunt, sharp-tongued lad with Down’s syndrome. The film uses their shared bus journey as a setting for humour, character interactions and a fresh, irreverent look at friendship and identity. It is truly fabulous.

“I’ve had a lot of good nights and I’ve been very lucky in that respect, but I think there’s something about the BAFTA in terms of the fact that it’s voted for by a group of your peers, and that recognition from people who know how hard it is to do anything in the business, is a really nice thing,” he smiles.

“I’d say it’s one of my proudest achievements and that’s why it’s one of the first things you see when you come into my house because, you know, it’s there to show o !”

And then, of course, there was soap stardom, playing Carla Connor’s nephew on

beloved ITV soap Coronation Street. “I think particularly in the north of England, it’s a huge thing to be able to say you have done Corrie. So I was really pleased to kind of do my own thing on there. You are in people’s living rooms five nights a week, and there’s definitely been a di erent audience that have come to see me at shows and stu . So, I’ve got a little bit about it in the new show because I think it’s a bit like the disability thing – if you don’t mention it, people wonder why you aren’t mentioning it!”

So audiences can expect jokes about the broken promises of modern life, internet rabbit holes, Coronation Street and his disability, obviously. The Fall Guy? Ever since his early inroads into comedy stardom, Jack Carroll has been anything but.

Visit jackcarroll.co.uk for details about The Fall Guy tour

Touching experience

Why Beyond the Visual at the Henry Moore Institute, Leeds, will change the way you think about how an exhibition is staged

The exhibition asked us to listen, touch, move, smell and linger

When Absolutely visited Beyond the Visual at the Henry Moore Institute, it was immediately apparent that this was not simply an exhibition to be looked at. From the moment we crossed the threshold, the familiar codes of gallery-going – hands behind backs, eyes doing all the work –were quietly but decisively dismantled. Instead, the exhibition asked us to listen, touch, move, smell and linger, reorienting the body as much as the mind.

Conceived as the culmination of a threeyear research project led in partnership with University of the Arts London and Shape Arts, Beyond the Visual positioned blind and partially blind practitioners not at the margins, but at the centre of its curatorial logic. This shift was felt not as a theoretical

premise but as an embodied experience. The galleries did not instruct us how to behave so much as invite us to reconsider how sculpture might be encountered if vision were no longer the dominant sense.

Rather than a single aesthetic style, the exhibition unfolded as a constellation of approaches, materials and tempos.

Sixteen international artists were represented, spanning historical works, contemporary pieces and seven new commissions. What unified them was not form but intent: a commitment to multisensory engagement and a refusal of access as an afterthought. In practice, this meant that many works were designed to be touched, heard or navigated through sound, while others deliberately withheld visual access altogether.

One of the first works we encountered was Lenka Clayton’s Sculpture for the Blind, By the Blind (2017), a collaborative installation that set the tone for the exhibition as a whole. Responding to Constantin Brâncusi’s Sculpture for the Blind (1920) – a work now

encased in glass and rendered untouchable – Clayton had invited blind and partially blind participants in Philadelphia to create their own sculptural interpretations based solely on an audio description. The resulting forms were idiosyncratic, intimate and resolutely tactile. Running our hands across their surfaces, it became clear that the work was less about replicating an original than about exposing the authority of description itself. Who gets to define an artwork, and through which senses?

That question echoed throughout the galleries. Jennifer Justice’s Bucket of Rain (2017) o ered a quietly poetic meditation on material, gravity and repetition. Suspended from the rim of a corroded iron bucket, wooden “raindrops” carved from cherry, pecan, walnut, maple and elm hung at varying lengths. As we moved through the installation, the subtle shifts in temperature and grain beneath our fingertips created a rhythm that was felt rather than seen. The work resisted a single viewpoint, instead rewarding slow, exploratory movement.

Sound, too, played a crucial role. Aaron McPeake’s Rings (2025), a newly commissioned bronze bell sculpture, invited physical interaction. As visitors gently touched or nudged the rings, low resonant tones filled the space, overlapping and fading. The sculpture was not activated by spectacle but by care; its sonic range depended on proximity, patience and restraint. Nearby, Ken Wilder’s Pendulum (2025) explored similar themes through motion, with a suspended plywood structure that responded to touch with subtle kinetic and auditory feedback. Both works foregrounded duration and attention, drawing listeners into a heightened awareness of their own presence.

Perhaps one of the most a ecting encounters was with Emilie Louise Gossiaux’s Doggirl (2025), shown in the UK for the first time. Based on the artist’s guide dog and long-term companion, the anthropomorphised ceramic sculpture carried an emotional charge that was di cult to articulate but impossible to ignore. Its surface bore the marks of hands returning again and again, shaping memory through touch. The sculpture did not sentimentalise companionship; instead, it articulated interdependence as a lived, bodily condition.

Historical context was woven carefully into the exhibition rather than presented as an aside. The inclusion of works associated with Tate’s landmark 1981 exhibition Sculpture for the Blind – including Barry Flanagan’s Elephant (1981) – served as a

reminder that the conversation around touch and access has a lineage, even if it has often been sidelined. The opportunity to touch Henry Moore’s Mother and Child: Arch (1959) was especially resonant. Moore’s advocacy for tactile engagement has long been cited, but here it was realised fully, allowing visitors to experience the work as volume, weight and curvature rather than image.

One of the exhibition’s most conceptually rigorous gestures came from Serafina Min, who placed her sculptural work inside an opaque acrylic vitrine, rendering it entirely inaccessible to sight. The only way to engage was through audio description. In doing so, Min inverted the usual hierarchy of access, privileging language and listening over looking. The

e ect was disarming. Deprived of visual confirmation, we were forced to confront how much of our understanding of art relies on assumption rather than experience. Audio description was not supplementary here; it was foundational. Working in close collaboration with partially blind writer Joseph Rizzo Naudi, the curators ensured that every work was described with care and specificity. These descriptions did not merely translate visual information but o ered alternative interpretative frameworks, often foregrounding texture, spatial relation or emotional resonance. Listening became an act of attention rather than accommodation. The newly commissioned collaborative installation Wayfinding ‘Sequence’/Vibrational Re-Call (2025), created by Fayen d’Evie, Hillary Goidell and Georgina Kleege with sound artist Bryan Phillips, exemplified this approach. Centred on Kleege’s interaction with Richard Serra’s Sequence (2006), the work translated a monumental steel sculpture into an immersive multisensory environment. Sound, vibration and narrative combined to create a sense of scale without relying on sight. The installation did not attempt to replicate Serra’s work so much

Henry Moore's advocacy for tactile engagement has long

been cited

“The exhibition is exemplary of a new multisensory approach where access is integral to the creative process”

as reimagine how monumentality itself might be apprehended.

Throughout the exhibition, moments of play and provocation punctured any lingering solemnity. David Johnson’s Inhibition: Beyond the doubt of a shadow (2025) concealed oversized Braille texts made from silicone “chewing gum” beneath café tables, transforming an everyday gesture – reaching for a seat – into a tactile encounter. Nearby, Nuggets of embodiment (2024/25), a series of cast digestive biscuits embedded with Braille messages, blended humour with critique, inviting reflection on consumption, translation and access.

What made Beyond the Visual so compelling was not simply its subject matter, but its refusal to o er easy resolutions. The exhibition did not present blindness as a deficit to be compensated for, nor did it frame multisensory engagement as a novelty. Instead, it articulated what the curators referred to as “blindness gain”: the idea that rethinking access can expand aesthetic possibility for everyone.

Leaving the galleries, it was di cult to return immediately to the habits of

conventional looking. The exhibition lingered in the body – in the memory of textures, in the echo of sounds, in the awareness of movement. Beyond the Visual did not ask us to abandon sight, but to recognise it as one sense among many. In doing so, it o ered a compelling vision – ironically – of what sculpture, and institutions more broadly, might become if access were treated not as an obligation, but as a generative force.

Speaking about the unique exhibition, Principal Investigator for Beyond the Visual, Professor Ken Wilder, says: “The exhibition at Henry Moore Institute is exemplary of a new multisensory approach where access is integral to the creative and curatorial process. This integrated approach will influence institutional policy about how we all interact with sculpture.”

Co-Investigator for Beyond the Visual and co-curator of the exhibition, Dr Aaron McPeake, adds: “Most exhibitions routinely exclude blind or partially blind people with instructions to not touch the artwork. Beyond the Visual, by contrast, celebrates the work of blind artists and non-blind artists who make multisensory work. There is a history of such exhibitions – but they were often curated by sighted people, whereas

now blind artists and curators are at the forefront, moving the agenda forward.”

Head of Henry Moore Institute, Laurence Sillars, concludes: “Beyond the Visual transforms how we think about sculpture. It invites all of us to engage through touch, sound and movement. This remarkable exhibition reshapes our understanding of access, not as an afterthought, but as a starting point for creativity, marking a turning point for the Institute as we commit to embedding these principles in everything we do.”

Beyond the Visual is open at the Henry Moore Institute until 19th April 2026. Discover more at henry-moore.org/hmi

Why we love… YORK

As

the JORVIK Viking Festival

returns this month, we take a trip to the historic city to see what modern day delights lie in store

York wears its history right on the surface. You see it in the stone of the city walls, hear it in the clatter of footsteps on cobbled lanes, and smell it in the chocolate drifting from factory chimneys. Nowhere does that past feel more alive than during the JORVIK Viking Festival each February – and 2026 is set to be a particularly epic year to visit.

THE JORVIK VIKING FESTIVAL HISTORY, STORY, SPECTACLE

The JORVIK Viking Festival began in the 1980s as a way to celebrate and share the discoveries made during archaeological excavations beneath Coppergate, the street now home to the JORVIK Viking Centre. Those digs uncovered remarkably well-preserved remains of Viking-age York – or Jórvík, as it was known when Norse settlers seized the city in 866. What started as a small living-history celebration has grown into Europe’s largest Viking festival, drawing reenactors, historians and families from across the world. Over more than 40 years, it has featured longship races on the River Ouse, dramatic battle recreations, torchlit parades and immersive experiences that bring 10th-century York roaring back to life.

In 2026, the JORVIK Viking Festival runs from Monday 16th to Sunday 22nd February, taking over locations across the city centre.

The programme is still evolving, but some key highlights are already confirmed:

Living history encampments: Wander among Viking tents, weapons racks and cooking fires as costumed interpreters demonstrate crafts, trade, storytelling and everyday life.

A Winter Adventure at JORVIK Viking Centre: Running until 22nd February, this familyfriendly experience layers seasonal Norse stories and activities onto the famous ride through Viking-age York.

Viking Feast: A raucous evening on 18th February at the historic Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, pairing hearty food with mead, sagas and plenty of dark humour.

Barbaric Battle & Viking Games: Daytime crowd-pleasers at the Eye of York on 21st February, where warriors clash in choreographed combat, then challenge each other (and sometimes volunteers) to physical contests.

The Battle for York (21st February): A largescale outdoor finale recreating the struggle for control of the city, complete with shield walls, war cries and smoke e ects.

Expect the whole city to lean into the theme: Shops dressed with dragon heads and shields, special menus, and plenty of braided beards – real and fake – in the streets.

It

has grown into Europe's largest viking festival

York Minster rises around 235 feet above the city

WHILE IN YORK…

You could come just for the Vikings and still leave with a long list of “next time” spots. York is compact enough to explore on foot, but dense with landmarks.

YORK MINSTER

York Minster dominates the skyline – a vast Gothic cathedral whose central tower rises around 235 feet above the city. Built over centuries atop earlier Roman and Anglo-Saxon sites, it’s famed for its medieval stained glass, including the Great East Window, often called the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the world. Climb the tower on a clear day for sweeping views over rooftops, snickleways and the distant Yorkshire countryside.

CITY WALLS AND GATES

York’s medieval city walls form the longest intact stretch in England, running for roughly 3.4 km around the historic centre. You can walk large sections for free, entering via the four major “bars” (gates) including Micklegate Bar, once adorned with the severed heads of traitors as a warning.

In February, wrapping up for a circuit of the walls is a brilliant way to get your bearings, watch festival preparations and spot the Minster from every angle.

THE SHAMBLES, CLIFFORD’S TOWER & MORE

The Shambles is a famously narrow medieval street, once home to butchers’ shops, now filled with independent stores and cafés. Its overhanging timbered

buildings look almost too crooked to be real. Cli ord’s Tower is the surviving keep of York Castle, perched atop a grassy mound with panoramic views. Its history encompasses royal power, rebellion and tragedy, including a devastating anti-Jewish pogrom in 1190, explored in on-site displays.

The National Railway Museum is a free, award-winning museum exploring the past, present and future of the railways, home to iconic locomotives such as the Flying Scotsman and Japanese Shinkansen models. By 2026 the museum’s multi-millionpound redevelopment – including the refreshed Station Hall – will be in full swing, with new displays and family activities marking its 50th anniversary.

ARTS AND CULTURE IN YORK

York isn’t just about ancient stone; it has a lively contemporary arts scene that bubbles away year-round and adds an extra dimension to a winter visit.

York Art Gallery sits by the Museum Gardens and houses collections ranging from Old Masters to modern ceramics. Recent and upcoming exhibitions include Future Tense: Art in the Age of Transformation and the longrunning Aesthetica Art Prize show.

Alongside big exhibitions, the gallery runs events like life-drawing classes, “Art for Wellbeing” sessions and sketchbook circles – ideal if you fancy a quieter cultural interlude between Viking battles.

York’s venues range from the Theatre Royal, staging classic plays and touring productions, to smaller

SetwithinsixteenacresofgardensandmeadowlandintheheartoftheWildEastYorkshire Triangle,fourmilesfromthehistoricmarkettownofBeverleyandastone’sthrowfromthe coast.StrollamongstourprettyEnglishgardensandrewildedmeadowlands,sinkintothe sumptuousinteriorsofoursharingspaces,dineinourelegantrestauranttheBloomsburyRoom; ladenwithconsummatedelights,beforebedinoneofourtwentyonecharmingrooms,cloaked inthesoftestofYorkshireyarns.

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TicktonGrange,Tickton,Beverley,EastYorkshire,HU179SHT:01964543666

An unforgettable journey of incredible food and drink at the heart of the Swinton Estate. Combining intimate fine dining with exceptional seasonal produce grown, reared or foraged across Swinton Estate, Yorkshire and the North-East. Each dish reflects a profound respect for provenance, seasonality and sustainability. Proudly featured in the MICHELIN Guide. Seating up to only twelve guests, book now for an intimate evening of gastronomy.

performance spaces and comedy nights listed on the city’s events calendar. Expect comedy clubs and spoken word evenings, classical and choral concerts, often in atmospheric churches, and seasonal events like themed dinners in historic settings – think candlelight, fine dining and stories of past residents.

In 2026, the JORVIK Viking Festival dovetails neatly with this wider cultural landscape. You could spend your day watching axe-wielding warriors at the Eye of York, then swap chainmail for a theatre ticket or a concert in the evening.

FOOD AND DRINK: FROM VIKING FEASTS TO CHOCOLATE CITY

If you like to explore a place through your tastebuds, York is very kind indeed.

York has been a centre of chocolate and confectionery since the 18th-century, home to household names like Terry’s and Rowntree’s. Factories still operate today, and on some days the smell of cocoa floats over parts of the city.

For an indulgent deep-dive, York’s Chocolate Story in the city centre o ers an interactive museum experience tracing how these brands shaped local life, complete with tastings and demonstrations.

In February, hot chocolate becomes practically a survival skill – you’ll find excellent versions in cafés around the Shambles, Fossgate and Gillygate.

York punches above its weight for eating and drinking. There are plenty of historic pubs – timbered inns like those o Stonegate and around the Minster o er open fires, cask ales and hearty classics, perfect after a chilly day enjoying some of the exciting festival events.

There are plenty of fantastic independent restaurants – from modern British to Indian, Italian, vegan and beyond, the city’s dining scene is varied; many places use Yorkshire produce, from Dales cheeses to local game.

Tucked behind the famous street, the bustling Shambles Market mixes local crafts with food stalls selling everything from loaded Yorkshire puddings to international street food.

Add in the Viking Feast during the JORVIK Festival – long tables, platters of meat and fish, mead, ale and lively storytelling – and you’ve got a trip where every day can end with something comforting and convivial.

Even if you’ve visited before, York has layers of stories that don’t always make the postcards

1. YORK HAS HAD THREE NAMES – AND THREE EMPIRES

The city’s Roman name was Eboracum, when it served as a key military base and even as the deathbed home of the emperor Septimius Severus. Later, under Anglo-Saxon rule, it was Eoforwic, before Viking settlers captured it and renamed it Jórvík – the origin of today’s “York”.

2. EUROPE’S BIGGEST VIKING FESTIVAL IS ONLY PART OF THE STORY

The JORVIK Viking Festival is billed as Europe’s largest Viking festival, but it’s also just the most visible piece of a much wider Norse presence in the city – from the archaeological collections at JORVIK and its sister attraction DIG, to street names, museum exhibits and ongoing research projects.

3. YORK IS A CITY OF “SNICKELWAYS”

Locals sometimes talk about “snickelways” – a nickname for the tiny, twisting alleys that thread between buildings, o en connecting main streets in surprising ways. While not an official term on maps, it perfectly captures the feeling of slipping down a passage and suddenly finding yourself in a quiet courtyard or by an ancient church.

4. IT’S A RAILWAY CAPITAL AS WELL AS A VIKING ONE

For all the horned helmets (inaccurate, but fun) and swords, York is just as important to the history of modern transport. The National Railway Museum is not only one of the UK’s top free attractions, it’s widely considered one of the best railway museums in the world.

5. IT’S A GHOSTWALK PIONEER

York o en claims to be one of the most haunted cities in Europe, and it was an early adopter of guided ghost walks. Some routes have been running for decades, storytelling their way around dark corners, graveyards and old inns. While tales vary from eerie to tongue-in-cheek, they’re a memorable way to spend a winter evening.

TIM HOGARTH

from ITV 1 Dickinsons real deal invite you to sell your unwanted gold & silver antiques & jewellery

A GREAT TIME TO SELL YOUR GOLD

Tim Hogarth – Trusted Expert in Diamonds, Jewellery & Watches

Tim Hogarth, a well-known TV personality and trusted expert, specialises in valuing diamonds, precious stones, gold, silver, medals, and vintage watches.

“We’re looking for antique jewellery in any condition, especially quality diamond pieces. Amber, coral beads, and vintage watches (Rolex, Cartier, Omega, Patek Philippe) are in high demand. We offer top cash prices for valuable items.”

Visit Tim every Tuesday and Wednesday at The Red House.

1 Duncombe Place, York, YO1 7ED 07970 818866

timhogarth@me.com

IN GOOD

HANDS

Stars of The Bodyguard stage musical, Sidonie Smith and Adam Garcia, on what She eld audiences can expect to see this month

The award-winning smash hit musical The Bodyguard is coming to She eld’s Lyceum from 10th14th February as part of its UK and Europe tour. We caught up with leading lady Sidonie Smith and Australian heartthrob Adam Garcia to chat about taking on the iconic roles of Rachel Marron and Frank Farmer, the enduring appeal of the story, and life on the road.

Q How would you describe this version of The Bodyguard?

SIDONIE: This show is pure joy. If you love this music, it’s going to be just the most incredible night you’ve had in a theatre in a long, long time. Witnessing it going from screen to stage in such a fantastic show is an amazing experience for audiences, as is getting to perform in it. On top of all that fantastic music is the drama and the love story. It’s funny, it’s edgy, it’s dramatic and it’s heart-breaking.

ADAM: I remember seeing opening night when it first played the Adelphi in London and I loved it. I was intrigued. I enjoyed the film so much because it’s about relationships, plus of course it’s got that legendary soundtrack. The choreography is amazing, as is the way it’s staged and structured.

Q Sidonie, you previously played Rachel Marron in the German production of The Bodyguard. What are you most looking forward to about returning to the role and do you have anything in common with her?

SIDONIE: What I love about Rachel and what I have missed about playing her is the range of her emotions in the show. I mean, she is a diva, but she’s so much more than that. She’s a mum, she’s a sister, she is someone who is vulnerable and falls in love, and she’s not just the star that you see on television. Do I have anything in common with her? I love with reckless abandon, just as Rachel does. When she falls, she falls hard, as do I. She is someone who can maybe be a bit temperamental every now and again, but she loves her sister and she is absolutely head over heels in love with her son Fletcher. Like her, I feel very deeply and I love very deeply.

Q Adam, what's your take on Frank Farmer as a character and are you anything like him?

ADAM: Frank is resolute, loyal and honourable. He’s kind of quiet and speaks when he needs to. He’s e cient, welltrained and possibly slightly jaded, but

he’s a good man. Am I anything like him? [Laughs] Not at all! I was speaking to my wife about this and she was like 'Now, if you could just be like Frank...' The same thing happened when I did a show called If/Then and she said 'The guy you played was really lovely...' so maybe it’ll wash o .

Q The Bodyguard features an incredible soundtrack, with hits made famous by Whitney Houston. Do you have a favourite number in it?

SIDONIE: Hands down it has to be One Moment in Time. It’s my favourite song to sing in the show and every night I do it I get goosebumps. I think it’s because of the stillness of the moment. There are a lot of highs and lows and action in the musical, then during One Moment in Time everything kind of comes to a halt and there’s nothing but me and the music.

ADAM: I’ve always loved I Wanna Dance with Somebody. I grew up with that song and watching the dancers in the video. If I’m out somewhere and it comes on then I’m up and dancing, straight away, no problem, no questions asked.

Q What do you think makes this such a compelling story?

ADAM: Because it’s about heroes and villains, and it’s about how these two people are drawn to one another yet it’s forbidden love. There’s something about the need of these two people and yet they’re not meant to have this, which is quite a beautiful story. I guess you can go into tropes, but there’s a sort of fantasy element of a knight in shining armour or someone always there in the background to take care of you and your family. That’s got romantic overtones too.

SIDONIE: I think that we all just want to

see love win and when we see two people give it a try we’re automatically on their side. That’s what speaks to so many of us about Frank and Rachel’s story. It’s also a glimpse into another world. It’s a look behind the curtain. The glamour is still there in abundance, but it’s wonderful to get the chance to peel it all back and see the real people behind all of the glitz.

Q What do you enjoy about touring with a show?

ADAM: The real joy is getting to see the country and getting to see di erent audiences and how they respond. For me, it’s also about going to really lovely old theatres and phenomenal theatre towns where audiences love plays and musicals and the venues are packed every night, and it’s about visiting relatively new theatres. The theatre scene and the touring scene around the UK seem really healthy to me, with audiences who support their local theatres and go regularly, so I’m very grateful for that.

SIDONIE: I’ve only done concerts in the UK before, in London, so I’m thrilled that I’ll get to see so many towns and cities this time round. As a lot of people do, previously I’d come over to London, do the concert and go home. And yes, being in a show over here has always been on my wish list. UK theatre is so revered around the world and doing this tour means I not only get to explore all these beautiful venues, I also get to explore the country itself. When I’m somewhere new I tend to look up the reviews to see what people are saying about where to head and what not to miss. I’m especially excited about seeing the castles because I’m from the United States, so castles are not a thing where I’m from!

thebodyguardmusical.com

FOOD & DRINK

Dry MOUTHS

THE IVY ASIA

Trying to carry on the good work of Dry January? The Ivy Asia in Leeds has an amazing range of nonalcoholic and zero % drink options on their menu. We love the Rose of the Orient, with lychee, rose, raspberry & orange blossom soda, and the Dreams of Cherry Blossom with Tanqueray 0.0%, cherry blossom, grape juice, lychee, citric blend. theivyasia.com

WHAT TO DRINK

GRAPE news

Wine recommendations for the month

By THE WINE SOCIETY

The Society's Greek White 2024

 £9.50

Concentrated and intensely aromatic roditis and moschofilero. Both thrive leading to an equal blend of 50:50 of the two varieties, with moschofilero providing the characteristic citrus and Turkish delight with the roditis giving stone-fruit character.

Pinot Noir ‘Pure Vallée’, Vin de France, Famille Bougrier 2024

 £8.50

Popular well-rounded Loire pinot, light and fresh, with bright, red-berry and cherry fruit. Best served on the cooler side, this is an easy-drinking lunchtime red.

Château Mazails, Médoc 2022

£9.95



Outstanding value Cru Bourgeois from a property a stones throw from the Gironde river just north of Saint-Estèphe from the generous and rich 2022 vintage. A blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon and 40% merlot this o ers bags of blackberry and plum fruit with a full body and sweet tannins.

Since it was founded back in 1874, The Wine Society has dared to do business a little differently. Bringing together a community united by a shared love of wine, The Society is a co-operative and owned by its members. This means there is no requirement to pump profit into annual dividends or bonuses for shareholders – all profits go back into the business.

The Wine Society welcomes all wine lovers. Become a member today and receive £20 off toward your first order. thewinesociety.com

TASTING

Food news and the most exciting openings across Yorkshire

By MARK KEBBLE

Classic dishes

THE IVY

The Ivy Leeds is expanding its 1917 two-course set menu, priced at £19.17, celebrating the year the first Ivy restaurant opened in London. The menu now has an additional two dishes per course, o ering a curated selection of seasonal dishes that combine classic Ivy style with contemporary flavours.

ivycollection.com

Loving this

CARTWRIGHT & BUTLER

Is there anything more luxe than chocolate and hazelnut tru es on Valentine’s Day? Well, yes actually, but only when presented in a beautifully hand-illustrated heart-shaped tin. Cartwright & Butler have launched a range of irresistible tru es and biscuits in new iconic heart-shaped tins. We love! cartwrightandbutler.co.uk

Food of the soul

THE PLOUGH SCALBY

The Plough prides itself in showcasing true Yorkshire hospitality, serving up exceptional Sunday roasts, homemade pies and fresh market fish of the day. Enjoy their dinner, bed & breakfast package, completing your experience in one of their stunning boutique rooms. theploughscalby.co.uk

TREAT YOURSELF

Pantry essentials

APOSTLE

This Kimchi Ketchup combines the complex flavours of kimchi with the familiar comfort of tomato ketchup, for a savoury, sweet, and subtly spicy sauce with a kick, £13.99. selfridges.com

MALDON

The Maldon Salt Gi Pack contains a trio of exceptional salt flavours: original, garlic and chilli, ideal for foodies or aspiring chefs, £12.99. maldonsalt.com

STAYING THE COURSE

THE PLOUGH

One of North Yorkshire's most longstanding, independent hospitality husband and wife teams, Richard and Lindsey Johns, are celebrating their 21st year anniversary of being in business this week. They set out in 2004, and now they run The Plough at Wombleton, quietly putting their unique stamp on the venue. ploughwombleton.uk

GOOD PHATS

Spanish Virgin Avocado Oil gives a warm, rich, and nutty finish to any dish. Cold-pressed, this emeraldgreen oil is a versatile alternative to your classic Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Priced at £13.95. goodphats.com

THE SAVVY BAKER

The Savvy Baker has opened its new Trinity Leeds store. The opening marks a major milestone for the fast-growing Leeds-born brand, which began as a lockdown kitchen project and has since evolved into one of Yorkshire’s most recognisable independent bakeries. thesavvybaker.co.uk

For romance

Whether you like traditional or something unique, Leeds has plenty of foodie hotspots for those looking for a Valentine’s to remember

Ox Club

oxclub.co.uk

Ox Club inside Headrow House is a brilliant choice for couples who want something modern, stylish, and quietly sophisticated rather than traditionally romantic. The restaurant’s centrepiece is its solid-fuel grill, which gives its dishes a distinctive smoky finesse, from perfectly cooked steaks to creative seasonal vegetables and seafood. The ambience is low-key and warm, with soft lighting, wood detailing, and a buzz that feels lively without being intrusive. It appeals especially to food-loving couples who want to share an experience that feels a little special, a little elevated, and distinctly Leeds.

Shears Yard

shearsyard.com

Shears Yard blends industrial-chic style with soft, atmospheric lighting, giving it a uniquely romantic feel – cool but cosy, lively but intimate. Located near The Calls in a beautifully restored 19th-century building, it features exposed brick, high ceilings, and candlelit tables arranged to create a sense of privacy even on busy nights. The menu focuses on modern British cuisine with inventive yet accessible dishes that highlight seasonal produce.

Kendells Bistro

kendellsbistro.co.uk

Kendells Bistro has long been known as one of the most romantic restaurants in Leeds, thanks to its softly glowing candlelight, handwritten wall menus, rustic French décor, and intimate table layout. It feels like a hidden Parisian bistro, complete with tactile wooden furnishings and a sense of theatrical charm. Valentine’s Day here feels as though it was created for lovers – the lighting is flattering, the ambience low and warm, and the food indulgently French, from rich duck confit and buttery fish dishes to exquisite desserts that feel perfect for sharing.

The Tetley Bar & Kitchen

thetetley.pub

For couples who appreciate atmosphere, culture, and conversation, The Tetley Bar & Kitchen o ers something a little di erent: a dining experience woven into a former brewery headquarters turned contemporary art gallery. The building’s Art Deco architecture sets the stage for a date that feels stylish and creative, while the dining room o ers a blend of industrial character and warm touches that keep it inviting. The menu typically leans towards modern British comfort food with a fresh twist, making it

a lovely choice for couples who want good food without excessive formality. What makes The Tetley especially appealing on Valentine’s Day is the possibility of pairing dinner with a wander around the exhibitions.

The Midnight Bell

midnightbell.co.uk

Tucked away in Holbeck Urban Village, The Midnight Bell is one of Leeds’ most atmospheric pubs, o ering a perfect blend of rustic charm and modern comfort. With its exposed beams, stone walls, roaring fires, and intimate nooks, it’s an ideal setting for couples seeking a cosy, relaxed Valentine’s Day. The menu features elevated pub classics made with high-quality ingredients, providing hearty dishes that feel perfect for winter evenings. What truly makes The Midnight Bell romantic is its character – the sense of being tucked away in a historic part of the city, away from the crowds, enjoying the glow of soft lamplight and the comfort of good company.

The Ivy

ivycollection.com

The Ivy in Leeds is a natural choice for Valentine’s Day thanks to its glamorous interior, elegant service, and atmosphere that feels celebratory from the moment you step through the door. Situated in the Victoria Quarter, it o ers a setting that’s both luxurious and welcoming, with Art Deco touches, polished brass, jewel-toned seating, and the soft glow of carefully considered lighting. The ambience strikes a rare balance: lively enough to feel sociable and special, but calm enough to maintain intimacy for couples. The menu is broad and indulgent, o ering everything from classic comfort dishes like shepherd’s pie to beautifully prepared seafood, steaks, and inventive seasonal specials.

Habbibi

habbibi.co.uk

Habbibi brings something wonderfully vibrant and sensual to the Leeds dining scene, making it an unexpected but highly memorable choice for Valentine’s Day. This Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant and bar is filled with rich colours, warm lighting, plush seating, and intricate decorative details that immediately transport couples somewhere more exotic and atmospheric. The menu is built around bold flavours and sharingstyle dishes that heighten the sense of connection – think spiced meats, fragrant rice, colourful salads, creamy dips, and fresh-baked breads perfect for tearing and passing across the table. There’s an inherent romance in the sensory richness of the space: the scent of spices, the soft music, the cosy booths, and the theatrical presentation of several dishes. Habbibi’s cocktails are also a highlight, often infused with floral or aromatic ingredients.

CrowdedHouse

thecrowdedhouse.co.uk

For Valentine’s Day with a twist, CrowdedHouse in Leeds is a vibrant and stylish choice that breaks from the traditional candle-lit dinner. Set across two floors with a rooftop terrace, its relaxed yet refined atmosphere lets couples enjoy everything from creative small plates to hearty mains with a city backdrop. The imaginative menu and curated cocktails o er fun conversation starters, while the rooftop views add a sense of occasion and adventure to your evening. Its all-day

hospitality means you can begin with brunch or lunch, wander the city hand-in-hand, and return for a sunset drink before dinner.

Cinnamon Kitchen

cinnamon-kitchen.com

If you’re after a Valentine’s dinner with a flavourful twist, Cinnamon Kitchen brings modern British-Indian cuisine to the heart of Leeds. Housed in The Queens Hotel, its elegant dining room blends sumptuous décor with bold, spice-kissed dishes that make every course feel like a shared journey. The inventive menu showcases regional Indian flavours interpreted with seasonal

British produce, ideal for couples who love to explore new tastes together. Intimate enough for conversation yet vibrant enough to feel celebratory, this is a great pick for a date that’s both romantic and memorable.

The Banksia banksialeeds.co.uk

For couples seeking Mediterranean-inspired flavour and chic ambiance this Valentine’s Day, The Banksia in Leeds o ers a stylish sanctuary away from the city buzz. Nestled beneath Hotel Indigo, this restaurant serves shareable small plates with influences from Greek and Turkish cuisine, perfect for an interactive and social dining experience. The warm welcome, thoughtful service, and relaxed yet refined vibe make lingering over dishes and cocktails feel e ortless. Its emphasis on sharing and discovery gives your evening a playful edge, turning dinner into a delightful culinary adventure that’s both romantic and relaxed.

of the BEST 5

Irresistible bottles for Valentine’s Day sipping

By NATALIA SUTA

Soft Spot

Smooth, stylish, and sustainably made, Tread Softly’s range combines freshness, finesse and eco-cred, wrapped in beautifully eye-catching labels. Light on alcohol and gentle in feel, they’re spot-on for slow, romantic dinners without the heavy head, £10. waitrosecellar.com

Flirt Alert

If you want a wine that does some flirting for you, De Krans’ Pink Moscato is your best move. This South African rosé is lightly fizzy, delicately sweet, and bursting with strawberry, tropical fruit, and candy-floss charm, £15. acrmwineukltd. myshopify.com

Wild at heart

Newly launched and proudly wild-fermented, Vyn Dene’s low-intervention wines bring natural charm and a delicious hint of unpredictability. Fresh, textural, and full of character, they are guaranteed to spark curiosity, and possibly a second date, £24-£28. vyndene.com

Bad Romance

Bold, dark and rebellious, Orin Swift’s Advice From John is Merlot with attitude, packed with blackberry, espresso and plush texture. A perfect Valentine’s pick for rulebreakers, late nights, and dates that don’t play it safe, £35. vinvm.co.uk

Petite Amour

Tiny Wine’s miniature bottles of premium wine are tailor-made for intimate evenings – no commitment, no leftovers, just perfectly sized fine wine for two. Cute, classy, and ideal for bathtub bubbles or fireside flirting. From £18. tinywine.co.uk

Natalia Suta is a WSET-certified wine writer and educator with a knack for making wine accessible and fun. When she is not writing, she’s busy curating wine experiences and offering consultancy to help others discover the joy of wine. Follow Natalia on Instagram @_winerocks_

FASHION

Timeless ROMANCE

BERRY’S JEWELLERS

Elegant and timeless, an emerald cut diamond is love captured in perfect symmetry with graceful lines and luminous depth. Their refined sparkle symbolises clarity, trust and lasting love, making them the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day. Discover the stunning range at your nearest Berry’s Boutique or at berrysjewellers.co.uk

The Shoot: Barbour 50 • Jewellery 55

Face the ELEMENTS

Love token

By EVE HERBERT

ANITA KO

Diamond Oyster & Pearl Necklace, £7,263 anitako.com

REIS Strawberry Hoop Earrings, £850 reisjewellery.co.uk

YVONNE LEON

Coeur Pailletee 9-Karat Gold Diamond Ring, £1,930 net-a-porter.com

TISH LYON

Kira Gold Titanium Tiger's Eye Flat Back Stud Earrings, £30 tishlyon.com

BERRY'S JEWELLERS

Platinum Toi Et Moi Emerald Cut & Pear Cut Diamond Two Stone Ring, £17,995 berrysjewellers.co.uk

Swirly 24ct Yellow Gold-Plated Bronze Hoop Earrings, £215 selfridges.com

MARNI

Tulip Enamelled Drop Earrings, £450 selfridges.com

ANITA KO

Pearl & Diamond Lola Huggies, £5,658 anitako.com

BERRY'S JEWELLERS

18ct Yellow & White Gold Diamond Entwined Heart Pendant, £2,295 berrysjewellers.co.uk

Available in Headingley and Roundhay.

Interested in independent living with care and support onsite?

Meet our friendly team, explore the wonderful surroundings of our retirement apartments and find out more about your options in later life.

You don’t have to come alone – bring a friend!

Contact Catherine to arrange your visit: please email creuben@ westwardcare.co.uk or call 07834 804 186

Headingley Hall

Shire Oak Road

Headingley Leeds LS6 2DD Southlands Retirement Apartments Wetherby Road Roundhay Leeds LS8 2JU Follow for our latest news and activities

By PENDLE HARTE

The Feversham Arms Hotel & Verbena Spa is situated in the picturesque market town of Helmsley, set within the North York Moors. This bustling town is known for its rich history and postcard-worthy landscapes, making it a number one destination.

An unmissable

Keen on a romantic break this month? The Feversham Arms is just what you are looking for

A STAYCATION HERE IS THE PERFECT CHOICE FOR THOSE WANTING THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

Located just behind the well visited All Saints Church, the Feversham oozes country charm throughout, with their Verbena Spa adding a modern touch, featuring an outdoor heated swimming pool that serves as the centrepiece. The spa also features thermal suites including a sauna, steam room, aromatherapy room, foot spas and monsoon shower, as well as outdoor hot tub. Thirty-three individually decorated bedrooms (including an impressive 20 suites) surround the central Mediterranean-inspired poolside terrace.

The suites really are the feature here –specifically the six Poolside Suites that are located around the poolside; four have terraces directly onto the pool area, whilst two are ‘penthouse’ style suites which are at the top of the hotel with private staircases down to the pool.

A staycation here is the perfect choice for those wanting the best of both worlds – a relaxing stay in a spa hotel combined with exploring all that is on o er in the area. Whilst the hotel and surroundings are charming, you will find that the team at the Feversham are top notch, too.

The hotel’s 3 for 2 o er is superb value for money and includes overnight accommodation in one of their many suites. This stay allows a £60pp dinner allocation towards their delicious a la carte menu on two evenings, with a third night on a complimentary bed & breakfast basis, giving you free reign to try the foodie delights that Helmsley has to o er. Prices start at £598 for three nights in a Main House Suite (this overnight stay o ers a fantastic minimum saving of £199 and is valid until the end of April 2026).

The award-winning Weathervane Restaurant boasts 2AA rosettes and the menu features locally sourced, British produce. A favourite is the Lobster & Prawn Raviolo to start things o , followed by the deliciously tender Braised Beef Cheek. The meal ends with a sweet treat from the dessert menu; choices include their Vanilla Crème Brûlée, served with Raspberry Ripple Ice-Cream and Yorkshire Lavender Shortbread or Blackberry Parfait. Your trip to Helmsley will be sure to delight all your senses.

For more call 01439 770766 or visit fevershamarmshotel.com

NATURE

Absolutely explores a unique project in Haxby where wood takes centre stage

“We wanted to create a cosy cabin look with lots of wood throughout”

As wood kitchens continue to be a popular design trend into 2026, the newly branded Main’s most recent project in the village of Haxby is a stunning example of how to use this versatile material in the home – where simplicity, warmth and natural materials take centre-stage.

An e ortless blend of bold aesthetics and considered functionality, Main worked with Hideaway Interiors to create this sleek, bespoke kitchen featuring a Scandiinspired palette including black wood cabinets and brushed oak cladding on the walls, ceiling and floors. The black cabinets are complemented with Japandistyle hardware and black worktops from Paperstone – a paper composite surface made from recycled paper and a natural resin. The green zellige tiled backsplash adds a beautiful contrast, blending perfectly with the abundance of greenery throughout the kitchen and living space. The small, personal touches are what makes this striking kitchen totally unique. The co ee station was integral to the homeowners’ everyday routine so an integrated co ee nook was created, alongside additional cubbyholes for the dog to help keep the kitchen sleek and uncluttered.

As a busy family home, Main designed a U-shaped layout with peninsula island, resulting in an e cient use of space for both preparing food and entertaining with plenty of space for additional bar stools. To help with the feeling of openness and clean lines, free-standing shelves were

added rather than wall cabinets plus a modern induction hob from Fisher & Paykel was installed, eliminating the need for a bulky cooker hood.

In addition, Main supplied high-end reclaimed oak cladding and flooring throughout the home. As part of the openplan kitchen-diner, the wood continues into the dining space and living area creating a

cocooning and cohesive feel. Reminiscent of a ski lodge in the Swiss Alps, one of the homeowners’ fondest memories as a child, they wanted to create that feeling of warmth and depth to be enjoyed all year round.

Homeowner Amelia Gordon invited Absolutely along to the beautiful Yorkshire village so we could uncover a little more.

Q What was the original brief for the kitchen before design work began, and how did it evolve during the process?

A The kitchen design process was very straight-forward as I knew what I wanted and where everything would go before I got in touch with Main to discuss the project.

I always loved the look of a wood-clad barn from ski holidays as a child, so we wanted to recreate a cosy cabin look in our home with lots of wood throughout. We had a few changes to the kitchen during the design process. With the space being used as a kitchen, diner and living area, and with entry to the utility room through the kitchen, it meant the fridge was going to have to be slightly separate from the rest of the kitchen – but in the end it was not enough that anyone would notice!

Q Were there any design ideas or materials you were initially unsure about but ultimately embraced?

A The boiler is in the large kitchen cupboard next to the ovens, which in an ideal world I would have preferred to move to somewhere else in the house. However, this would have cost us around £10k and just wasn’t worth it particularly when there was plenty of room in the kitchen for it already. The result of this means there is a pipe sticking out of the top of the cupboard, but we’ve managed to cover it with some well-placed hanging plants so it’s no problem.

Q How did you balance the dramatic, dark aesthetic with practical considerations such as light levels and day-to-day usability?

A At first, I wasn’t sure if I wanted the kitchen to be black, but given that the rest of the space has so much natural wood, it needed a contrast to break up the room. As the kitchen is north facing and quite a dark space anyway, we decided to embrace the cosy vibe and just make it feel warm and welcoming. I had a shiny black kitchen 20 years ago and was worried the black cabinets would show all the dirt, but the textured bandsaw matte finish

of the wood means this isn’t a problem. Also, the glaze on the zellige tiles helps to bounce light around the space, as does the over and under shelf lighting.

Q What storage solutions were most important to you, and how were these tailored to your specific routines?

A We had to create specific storage for the dog! One of the most important things I wanted was to hide the dog bowls and bed. I’ve spent many years in rented housing and was so excited to finally be able to have a tidy space where I could stop knocking over water bowls. We therefore designed two custom areas for this: a nook for the dog bed as part of the open co ee cabinet so it was tucked out of the way, as well as a floating shelf built into the outside of the island which houses the bowls.

Q Were there any bespoke details or craftsmanship elements in the kitchen that are easy to overlook but make a big di erence in use?

A The door that goes into the utility room is beautifully made and looks just like a cupboard when the door is closed so it’s really hidden away. I think this is a really nice and subtle design element.

Q How did your cooking, entertaining or family habits influence appliance choices and layout decisions?

A I saved up and bought my first Fisher & Paykel fridge when I was 20, so I’ve always loved the brand but haven’t been able to have all their appliances before – so this was a real treat. Initially I thought I would have a traditional island, but after many nights drawing it out I realised that a peninsula or U-shaped island would be a much better use of the space. We always knew we wanted to have the hob in the island/peninsula as we cook a lot (my partner Georgina is a professional chef), so it’s great having this in the centre of the room and being able to have the kids sat at the island as we cook so we can talk and do homework together.

Q Aside from the kitchen, which other areas of the home were renovated to complement the new space?

A As well as the kitchen, we also renovated the downstairs boot room, downstairs loo and two bedrooms. We also chose to have wood cladding installed in each of these spaces which brings the whole aesthetic of the house together nicely.

Q How did the kitchen design influence decisions made elsewhere in the house, in terms of materials, mood or overall cohesion, if at all?

A Although we love the black in the kitchen, we didn’t use the colour anywhere else in the house. Instead, we chose to incorporate the wood cladding and floors throughout to create a cosy and cocooning cabin feeling. Our bathrooms are yet to be done, but I’m sure I’ll find a place for cladding in there and they will also have the same green zellige tiles that are in our lounge!

Q Finally, what do you love best about your new kitchen?

A We love having a space where we can all be together. It feels very social and open, and with plenty of storage everything has its place so only the nice bits to look at can be on show.

Discover more at maincompany.co.uk

Feet FIRST

The most transformative design trend of 2026? Start with the floor

by LISA PROCTER

As 2026 arrives, the way we think about home design is changing. Interiors are moving beyond surface decoration toward spaces that feel restorative, purposeful and adaptable. Flooring, once a subtle backdrop, is increasingly seen as a key player in setting the tone for the home, linking aesthetics, function and lifestyle in a way that shapes how each room feels. Read on for the three key trends shaping homes in 2026.

Trend 1: Restorative, nature-inspired spaces

Next year, homes are becoming havens. Calm, grounding interiors that connect us with nature and each other are in demand, with earthy tones forming the foundation. Warm tones generally continue to be popular with Karndean customers. And, of those, growth is strongest in warm, neutral wood designs – reinforcing that this aesthetic will remain a defining trend into 2026.

Textures inspired by wood, stone and other natural materials are taking centre stage, encouraging a sense of comfort and continuity throughout living spaces. Even darker shades are seeing renewed interest, with Karndean’s dark wood designs showing early signs of a revival, as homeowners seek sophistication, stability and longevity.

Luxury LVT flooring fits e ortlessly into this trend. Its hyper-realistic wood and stone finishes mimic natural materials while o ering practicality for busy households. Beyond aesthetics, its durability and low-maintenance surface mean that everyday life, from children’s play to pets and spills, doesn’t compromise the look or feel of a space. In restorative interiors, LVT provides a tactile, inviting base that balances style with real-life usability.

Trend 2: Homes that take care of our wellbeing

As health-conscious design becomes a defining feature of modern living, every surface in the home is being re-evaluated for how it contributes to air quality, comfort and everyday ease. But when it comes to building a home that feels fresh and clean, flooring plays a bigger role than many realise. For families who su er from allergies or simply want a more breathable, lowmaintenance environment, the right floor can make all the di erence. While soft furnishings like carpets may o er warmth underfoot, they can also trap dust, pet hair and pollen deep within

their fibres – tiny irritants that no amount of vacuuming can fully remove.

Hard flooring, by contrast, o ers a far more hygienic alternative, and luxury vinyl tile (LVT) leads the way in striking the balance between beauty and wellbeing. Its smooth, non-porous surface doesn’t harbour allergens, making it easy to keep clean and comfortable with minimal e ort.

Trend 3: Adaptable floors for bold and eclectic homes

Designers are increasingly embracing bold, immersive interiors in 2026. Colourdrenched rooms, where walls, ceilings and floors share a cohesive palette, are gaining momentum. Global influences, from the serene calm of Japandi to the warm vibrancy of Mediterranean interiors, are inspiring eclectic, culturally rich spaces that feel curated yet lived-in.

Modern LVT is perfectly placed to meet this challenge. Available in a wide array of colours, textures and finishes,

it enables homeowners to experiment confidently, blending styles and trends while maintaining practicality. Even stoneinspired designs are shifting: warmer, organic tones are growing in popularity – Karndean’s Cotswold Stone, for example, is increasingly sought after. Meanwhile cooler, lighter stone designs are starting to lose traction – a reflection of how floors are becoming active, trend-setting elements. Floors are no longer passive. They shape the atmosphere, tie together disparate styles and evolve with lifestyle and taste.

As we move into 2026, one thing is clear: floors are more than functional surfaces –they set the tone, define flow and influence the mood of the home. By combining beauty, durability and versatility, materials like LVT are helping homeowners create interiors that are restorative and stylish –a foundation for life, not just design.

Lisa Procter is Product Insight Manager at Karndean. See more at karndean.com/FAR

5 OF the best

More

flooring trends to embrace in 2026, courtesy of Yorkshirebased JS Woodcraft Ltd

As we step into 2026, flooring continues to evolve – blending style with sustainability, comfort, and smart technology. Homeowners and designers are increasingly focused on materials that o er longevity, character, and environmental responsibility. Here are the standout trends shaping the floors of tomorrow.

1. SUSTAINABLE TIMBER TAKES CENTRE STAGE

Eco-friendly choices remain at the forefront. In 2026, sustainably sourced timber and reclaimed wood are no longer niche –they’re expected. Engineered hardwood with low-emission finishes and full chainof-custody certification (eg, FSC) appeals to conscious buyers who want warmth and durability without the environmental cost.

Why it’s trending

• Reduces impact on forests

• O ers unique, characterful grain patterns

• Engineered options perform better in moisture-prone spaces

2. WIDER PLANKS & NATURAL WOOD HUES

Designers are favouring wider planks and organic tones that enhance room scale and create seamless visual flow. Natural light woods like pale oak, maple and ash continue to dominate, while deeper charred and smoked finishes are popular for creating contrast and cosy interiors.

Key features

• Boards 220–300mm for a spacious look

• Brushed, matte surfaces highlighting grain

• Neutral hues matched with minimalist décor

3. TEXTURE & HAND-FINISHED DETAILING

In 2026, texture is everything. Smooth floors are giving way to hand-scraped, wire-brushed and distressed finishes that add depth and character. These tactile surfaces feel more organic underfoot and help hide wear in high-tra c areas.

Trend highlights

• Character knots and variation over uniformity

• Artisan finishes that complement rustic and modern spaces

• Durable UV-cured oils for longevity

4. HYBRID & PERFORMANCE FLOORS WITH WOOD LOOK

Not every space is suited to engineered wood, but homeowners still want the look. Waterproof luxury vinyl planks (LVP) and hybrid floors combine realistic wood visuals with practicality for kitchens, bathrooms and busy homes.

Benefits

• Water and scratch resistant

• Easier installation and maintenance

• Ideal for rentals and commercial use

• JS Woodcraft Ltd o ers a curated selection of premium performance options that don’t compromise on style.

5. SMART & HEATED FLOORING INTEGRATION

Towards the higher end of the market, integrated heating systems under hardwood and hybrid floors are gaining traction. These systems deliver consistent warmth and work seamlessly with modern thermostatic controls – especially in colder climates.

Why it matters in 2026

• Elevated comfort without bulky radiators

• Energy-e cient solutions paired with renewable energy sources

• Works under engineered timber and select hybrids

Flooring in 2026 is defined by sustainability, authenticity, practicality and comfort. Whether clients want the timeless beauty of natural wood, the resilience of a hybrid plank, or the modern convenience of heated floors, the trends ahead o er rich possibilities.

For more information, call 01904 479900, email info@jswoodcraft.co.uk or visit jswoodcraftflooring.co.uk

MINDTHEGAP

Suzani floral lampshade, £160 mindtheg.uk

HOUSE OF HACKNEY

Golden Lily Circus wallpaper, £195 per roll houseo ackney.com

CASA BY JJ

Beatrice dinner plates, set of six, £80 casabyjj.com

OKA

Zhenhua wall panels, £POA oka.com

COX & COX

Floral ceramic vase, £45 coxandcox.co.uk

SANDERSON Silver Lime Nymph wallpaper, £112 sanderson.design

LOUIS DE POORTERE

Suzani rug, £399-£1,555 heugahinteriors.com

DIVINE SAVAGES

Drunken Monkey wallpaper, £159 divinesavages.com

FLOWER POWER

Florals are set to be huge in 2026: here's why

By PENDLE HARTE

LITTLE GREENE

Rhododendron wallpaper in Hicks Blue, £POA littlegreene.com

PRETTY TIFFIN

Mess plate set of four, £52.99 prettytiffin.co.uk

markilux Designer Awnings. Made in Germany. Innovative technology and highest quality, outstanding when it comes to relaxing outdoors. Create the most alluring shade in the world.

markilux showroom at Business Design Centre London N1 0QH · 52 Upper Street · T: 020 72886810 · markilux.co.uk

IThe gazebos o er open-air luxury, with the option to enclose the space

TIMELESS LIVING

Crown Pavilions: luxury garden buildings for all seasons

n February, most gardens fall still. The grass frosts over, furniture is packed away, and outdoor spaces retreat behind walls and windows. But for those who value year-round use of their garden, winter doesn’t have to mean switching o , it can simply mean using the space di erently.

At Crown Pavilions, they design and build garden buildings intended for use and enjoyment throughout the year. Their range includes insulated garden rooms, gazebos, summerhouses, garden shelters, equestrian buildings and fully bespoke outdoor structures, all handcrafted in Oxfordshire and tailored to individual lifestyles and settings.

Their insulated garden rooms are designed to provide a comfortable, enclosed space in all seasons. Built with high-quality insulation, double glazing and robust weatherproofing, they remain bright, warm and usable even during colder months.

These spaces are commonly used as home o ces, gyms, studios or quiet retreats – carefully designed to balance practicality with understated design. Interior options such as air conditioning, ambient lighting and bespoke layouts allow the space to be adapted for di erent uses across the year. If you intend to use your garden room as a residential, dwelling or living space, additional upgrades and specifications may be required. Their team of experts would be delighted to guide you through the available options to suit your intended use. Their gazebos o er open-air luxury, with the option to enclose the space using marine-grade canvas curtains and blinds. Crafted from European Redwood and finished with thatched or blue-label Western Red Cedar shingles – the highest quality available – they provide the perfect setting for alfresco dining, hot tub enclosures

or simply enjoying the garden, come rain or shine. With optional heating and integrated lighting, many clients enjoy their gazebo well into the cooler months. Each Crown Pavilion is carefully designed to suit its setting and purpose. As the seasons shift, your space adapts with you, welcoming spring mornings, summer soirées, autumn reflection and winter calm. Whether you’re seeking a practical space, a place to escape, or a structure that enhances your everyday, Crown Pavilions delivers luxury that lasts, garden buildings made for all seasons, and all lifestyles.

Visit

a Crown Pavilions Show Site

To truly appreciate the quality, atmosphere and design of a Crown structure, nothing compares to stepping inside. Visit show sites at: Chessington Garden Centre, London Longacres Garden Centre, Bagshot, Surrey Van Hage Garden Centre, Ware, Hertfordshire Alton Garden Centre, Essex Frosts Garden Centre, Woburn Sands, Milton Keynes Bridgemere Garden Centre, Cheshire

Exclusive Reader Offer For a limited time, Absolutely readers will receive an exclusive 10% OFF, applicable to all installations completed before March 2026. To invest in Crown Pavilions is to invest in a lifestyle, one defined by elegance, excellence and enduring luxury.

Discover more crownpavilions.com / crown-equestrian.com Call: 01491 612 820 Email: sales@crownpavilions.com

AGES 3-18

Another world awaits

A global community rooted in heritage

Academic rigour within a high-performing setting

A flexible boarding culture that adapts to each family’s needs

Secure, seamless and all-encompassing care

Days in February & March

Co-ed 3-18 | Boarding & Day | Jesuit, Catholic School

Head along to Huddersfield Grammar Open Day on Saturday 7th March to

huddersfield-grammar.co.uk

TALE TO TELL

A new way for Shakespeare to be taught in schools has been launched – with some star names throwing their weight behind it

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and Foyle Foundation have been joined by leading actors to launch the RSC Shakespeare Curriculum, a revolutionary new way of studying Shakespeare using the latest learning technology and innovation.

The Shakespeare Curriculum is the most important development in the teaching of Shakespeare in a generation and will radically change how Shakespeare is studied and taught in secondary schools across the UK and around the world. It responds to ongoing concerns from teachers and young people about the way in which Shakespeare is experienced by many in school, with the aim for 80% of all UK secondary schools to use the Shakespeare Curriculum by the academic year 2029/30.

The first resource of its kind and free to use for all state and SEND secondary schools, it distils the RSC’s award-winning teaching approaches into a digital platform that has everything teachers and students need to teach and learn about Shakespeare, immersing them in the creative world of

an RSC rehearsal room. Grounded in the techniques used by actors and directors, the Shakespeare Curriculum takes students beyond their desks, unlocking language, character and themes and fostering vital skills for school, life and work. The RSC Shakespeare Curriculum has been created with major investment from the Foyle Foundation as one of the key projects recently announced for the long-term legacy of the foundation.

David Hall, Chief Executive of the Foyle Foundation, says: “Our relationship with the RSC has extended over a period of more than 20 years, culminating in the development of the Shakespeare Curriculum. We are immensely proud that this will be

“The RSC has come up with a way for teachers to lead students to an appreciation of Shakespeare's plays”

a legacy for future generations of the work we have done together and honoured to be able to play a part in supporting the extraordinary achievements of the RSC.”

Big names from the acting world are also backing this new launch. Sir Ian McKellen is one and he says: “Actors, better than other Shakespeare lovers, know how di cult it is to transform his words on the page into living, breathing characters on the stage where they belong. To expect schoolchildren to grapple with such problems may well put them o Shakespeare for life. Ever since I was at school, reading a troublesome text around the classroom, I have wondered how professional theatre people might help English teachers who too often feel inadequate to the task.

Now the Royal Shakespeare Company has come up with an answer, a practical way for teachers to lead students to an appreciation of the plays, not just as written texts but as a starting place to explore the excitement of live theatre. A revolution is in the o ng!”

Approximately two million young people in the UK study Shakespeare in

any given year. From a 2012 study by the RSC and British Council, approximately 50% of schoolchildren in the world study Shakespeare and his plays each year. The Shakespeare Curriculum turns Shakespeare’s ten most studied plays into a 24-part creative learning adventure, bringing the RSC’s unique blend of theatre practice, research and digital innovation into schools. Drawing on thousands of unique archive resources, and decades of world-renowned productions featuring leading actors in defining performances, it will put young people in control of their Shakespeare learning.

Launching the RSC Shakespeare Curriculum, Jacqui O’Hanlon, RSC Director of Creative Learning, says: “The RSC has worked with thousands of teachers and young people over 20 years and we understand the challenges of teaching and learning about plays that were written over 400 years ago. The Shakespeare Curriculum responds to this challenge.

“Research shows that the combination of Shakespeare’s language and RSC

“This brings the energy of the rehearsal room into secondary schools across the country”

teaching approaches improve young people’s academic, social and emotional development. As well as improved language development, writing and oracy skills, this work improves communication, self-belief and well-being and develops creative problem-solving skills. Through the RSC Shakespeare Curriculum, all state secondary and SEND schools will have free access to this transformational way of teaching and learning about Shakespeare’s plays.”

The platform uses the rehearsal process as the framework for teaching and learning and creates opportunities for young people

our own experiences and interpretations to Shakespeare’s stories. That spirit of collaboration and creative enquiry sits at the very heart of the RSC’s new Shakespeare Curriculum: bringing the energy of the rehearsal room into secondary schools across the country, turning classrooms into places where inquiry, co-operation and creativity flourish.”

to experience first-hand some of the creative decisions made by actors, directors and creative teams working in theatre. The Shakespeare Curriculum has been developed in collaboration with Charanga, a specialist provider of digital platforms and technology for music and arts education.

Dame Helen Mirren, RSC Honorary Associate Artist, adds: “Rehearsal rooms are places where we explore possibilities; where we look at a play written 400 years ago as if it was new, with the ink still wet on the page. In a rehearsal room we are questioning, experimenting and bringing

Adjoa Andoh, RSC Associate Artist, also commented: “If you have found Shakespeare boring or confusing or not relevant, if you have been made to feel like you’re not smart enough, or you can’t concentrate enough, or people don’t think you’re worth bothering with, that’s other people’s fault not yours – with the Shakespeare Curriculum all this is about to change. It is about giving you the chance to get up on your feet and deep dive into the crazy, heartbreaking hilarious, thrilling world of Shakespeare’s stories –stories you will recognise as things you have experienced in your own lives, as things that are happening in the world around you today, and you’ll feel it, you’ll understand it and you’ll get to live it out in rehearsals.

“Shakespeare is relevant yesterday, today and tomorrow – and yours for the taking. Come join us, breathe out, dive in. Shakespeare can change your life – he did mine!”

The RSC Shakespeare Curriculum is now live at shakespearecurriculum.com

Great goals

Established in 2017, Premier League Primary Stars uses football to inspire academic engagement, wellbeing and positive values

The beautiful game is a powerful force for good in our schools, clubs and homes as it is wildly popular with the primary school age group

Let’s be honest, football doesn’t always get a good press. Over the years, columns have highlighted the tribalism and, from time to time, dreadful behaviour among fans and players. But the 'beautiful game' is, most certainly, a powerful force for good in our schools, clubs and homes through the work of Premier League Primary Stars. This programme has capitalised on a huge positive – football is wildly popular with this age group. That enthusiasm is used to engage boys and girls with sport, with academic subjects (especially all-important English and maths) and with life lessons about resilience, confidence, kindness and fairness. Premier League Primary Stars was first established in 2017 and has been a consistent resource ever since in delivering resources and ideas for primary education. It is accessible to everyone, and with particular focus on delivering age-appropriate, practical and curriculumaligned material. This is used by teachers,

educators in settings such as out-of-school clubs, and by home schoolers (parents are more than welcome on its website).

With football as the hook, subject specialists and heavyweight partners such as the National Literacy Trust have helped develop accessible and engaging resources that support children’s learning. There are great initiatives in areas that don’t instantly seem a natural match, such as poetry, to inspire creativity and help children get in touch with their feelings.

It’s now widely accessed – used in over 20,000 primary schools across England and Wales – and with some 18 million attendances at club-led sessions delivered by 103 professional football club community organisations. More than 70,000 teachers are registered for its free downloadable lesson plans. Premier League Primary Stars estimates it reaches 1.1 million children every year through digital resources.

The data is impressive, so too the fact that its resources are attuned to the issues of our time. For instance, there is a big bank of teaching resources supporting

children’s mental health, confidence and ability to bounce back from setbacks. For instance, this autumn term kicked o with an academic planner to highlight special events, including World Mindfulness Day. Similarly, after the great win in the Women’s World Cup, there was a Resilience Pack featuring stories and insights from Harry Kane and the Lionesses on themes such as learning from mistakes and adopting a can-do approach even when you fear failure.

There has been some especially timely material on allyship – called Active Allies – to help children overcome stereotypes and outdated attitudes and encourage girls to be more confident playing sport alongside boys. And there’s a wealth of material to keep playground play clean through the Play the Right Way theme. With many initiatives, downloadable material includes inspiring short films and assembly plans, as well as suggested classroom activities. There is also specific support for children facing di culties, such as fear around school attendance. This is supported through more than 100 professional football club charities – these span both the National and Premier leagues. Of course, nothing the greatest teacher prepares for a lesson plan could come close to beating a surprise school visit from a

Coming face to face with Theo Walcott is something that ensures lessons are taken to heart

hero of the game. Coming face to face with Theo Walcott and having his motivational support during a lesson is something that ensures lessons are taken to heart. Theo, who helped launch Premier League Primary Stars back in 2017, visited a primary school with his former club Arsenal in February for the launch of resources for Children’s Mental Health Week. There have been other similar club-led visits by great names –including Chloe Kelly, who visited schools to support the launch of allyship resources. Premier League Primary Stars is funded by its charitable arm, Premier League Charitable Fund, which is one of the largest sports charities in the world and works closely with professional football club charities. It’s good to see the Premier League and clubs at every level investing in young people. Even better is that their objective is not only to grow the next generation of players and fans, but also support their academic success, confidence and wellbeing.

plprimarystars.com

History in

THEIR HANDS

At Stonyhurst, rare, historic collections can be touched, examined and brought vividly to life during lessons, giving pupils the opportunity to learn from the past

Nestled within the historic halls of Stonyhurst College lies a museum and archive like no other. Spanning centuries and continents, the Stonyhurst Collections hold not only rare and priceless objects, but also the power to educate and inspire. Today, they are recognised as one of the most significant educational collections in the UK, beginning in 1609 with a single golden cope.

That object marked the beginning of a story shaped by upheaval, devotion and resilience. During the Reformation, when the school was based in the Spanish Netherlands, the parents of English boys entrusted precious Catholic artefacts to the Jesuits for safekeeping, saving them from destruction in England.

Four centuries later, the collection has grown into an extraordinary archive of around 100,000 books, 40,000 manuscripts and 70,000 artefacts –from a 4,000-year-old spearhead to the fossilised tooth of a woolly mammoth.

“The Jesuits have always recognised that objects have the power to illuminate and inspire,” explains Dr Jan Gra us, curator of the Stonyhurst Collections. To make history come alive for pupils, Dr Gra us established the Junior Curators Scheme for pupils aged nine and ten, teaching them to handle, interpret and communicate the stories behind objects. Children may find themselves holding a Greek drinking cup unearthed at Pompeii or examining the carefully engineered curve of a Neolithic spearhead. “The whole point of a Jesuit education is to observe, absorb and learn,” adds Dr Gra us. Learning extends far beyond history.

Stonyhurst houses part of the celebrated Waterton Collection, assembled by Victorian explorer Charles Waterton, whose preserved animals open conversations about natural history, preservation and global exploration. In lessons, a 50-million-year-old megalodon tooth sparks discussions about palaeontology, while Shakespeare’s First Folio, displayed prominently on campus, introduces pupils to the foundations of English literature.

Older pupils use the collections to deepen their studies. Sixth Formers studying the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme are required to curate exhibitions using artefacts, while A-level pupils in art and biology draw inspiration from the Waterton specimens. Recent displays, such as Womanuscripts, curated by pupils, have explored women’s roles in history through letters, recipes and theological manuscripts. Supporting Dr Gra us in this mission is Museum Education O cer Esther

Rollinson. Together they have developed hundreds of lessons, adapted for pupils as young as three, and frequently welcome local schools to share in the experience.

The legacy of Stonyhurst’s collections extends beyond the artefacts themselves. Names carved into desks connect pupils to alumni such as Arthur Conan Doyle, whose school report – on display in the museum – memorably describes him as a “quarrelsome bu oon with dirty habits”. Behind such curiosities lies a profound purpose: to help pupils understand the world through the things people have left behind – their values, struggles and ideas. Whether handling the tools of a Neolithic hunter, the writings of Shakespeare or the explorations of Victorian naturalists, Stonyhurst pupils are given a rare opportunity to hold the past in their hands – and carry its lessons into the future.

STONYHURST COLLEGE

Clitheroe BB7 9PZ 01254 827073 stonyhurst.ac.uk ukadmissions@stonyhurst.ac.uk

TO GROW ROOM

Exploring the child-centred approach of Wharfedale Montessori School

AMontessori education o ers parents and children a thoughtful, child-centred approach to learning that nurtures independence, confidence, and a lifelong love of discovery. Developed by Dr Maria Montessori, it is based on careful observation of how children naturally learn best. Rather than viewing children as empty vessels to be filled with information, Montessori recognises them as capable, curious individuals with an innate drive to learn.

For children, Montessori environments are designed to support autonomy and competence. Classrooms are calm, orderly, and rich with hands-on materials that allow children to learn through movement, choice, and repetition. Children work at their own pace. This fosters deep concentration, intrinsic motivation, and genuine understanding, rather than surface learning. Mixed-age classrooms encourage collaboration, empathy, and leadership, allowing children to learn both from and with one another.

Emotionally and socially, Montessori supports the development of the whole child. Respectful communication, clear

boundaries, and meaningful responsibility help children develop self-regulation, resilience, and a strong sense of self. Children are trusted to make choices, solve problems, and contribute to their community.

For parents, Montessori o ers reassurance that their child is being seen and supported as an individual. It aligns education with values many families care deeply about: independence, kindness, responsibility, and respect. Montessori also provides a consistent philosophy that can extend into the home, helping parents support their child’s growing autonomy in everyday life.

Founded by Jane Lord in 1990, Wharfedale Montessori School has welcomed hundreds of students to its campus, o ering this child-centered approach to children from around the globe. The campus of the school, hidden away on the Bolton Abbey Estate in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, is the only Montessori primary school in the north of England. The woodland estate provides the perfect backdrop for a Montessori school. The campus is peaceful and completely encapsulated by nature. The children spend time outside building dens in the woodlands, and they enjoy regular walks along the banks of the River Wharfe. Whilst on these walks, the children sometimes visit Low House Farm,

also on the estate, where they learn about what life is like on a farm in the Yorkshire Dales. Because of this unique partnership, the primary children recently hatched chickens that were then returned to the farm, and they are hoping to make their next trip during lambing season. Each school day is an ideal blend between time spent on academics, practical life activities, and discussions and lessons around social and emotional growth, all of which allow the child to develop the skills necessary to succeed at whatever comes next.

The school has recently welcomed Kate Dickman and Tim Ryley as new proprietors. Kate, who taught at a Montessori school in the United States for 20 years before relocating to the UK, was thrilled to discover the Wharfedale Montessori community. Kate and Tim are grateful to the Lords for entrusting them with their life’s work. The school community is thriving, and Kate and Tim are excited for the opportunity to grow the school and to introduce more families to Montessori.

“Our students are happy to come to school,” says Kate. “They are challenged, loved and respected. They belong. And because of this they are excited to learn. It’s not dull. It’s not a one-size-fits-all experience. As we have the opportunity to work with the children for several years, we really know them, and there is an unspoken mutual respect between all members of our school community. Our children are confident and independent. They develop interests in the world around them. They are curious. A Montessori education is unique, it’s authentic, and it comes from a place rooted in a deep respect for the child.”

wharfedalemontessori.co.uk

Open Day

Saturday 7 March

Sixth Form Reimagined

Today’s fast-evolving world of employment and further education requires an equally innovative approach in schools. At Queen Ethelburga’s, we are at the forefront of providing a highly personalised and dynamic o ering that prioritises curriculum choice and wellbeing. We do this through our model of three schools on one campus. Our prep and middle schools lead to an array of flexible pathways through our senior school.

From September 2025 QE began the process of combining what were previously known as QE Faculty and QE College into one exceptional Year 10 to 13 senior school o ering an unprecedented range of academic, vocational, sport, performance, creative and co-curricular opportunities – and with a new name, Queen Ethelburga’s College. Our approach is to think of what is best for your child as they progress through sixth form.

Sixth form

SUCCESS

Lauren Blakeley, Head of Queen Ethelburga’s College, on key areas to consider when thinking about options for the final school years

Education doesn’t need to be a one size fits all. Depending on the strengths and interests of your child, you should consider whether a traditional academic route or a modern BTEC or mixed route would suit them best. At QE, we provide a variety of flexible pathways. Here, students can take the A-level route and choose traditional academic subjects. Alternatively, there is the opportunity to combine traditional and modern A-level subjects alongside BTECs. At QE, we are also able to facilitate extra time within the curriculum for performance sports and performing arts. Whatever direction they are considering, a strong careers department is vital for all students as they embark on their sixth form years. At QE, we provide each student with as much support as needed across areas such as career and subject choices, applications, interviews, work experience, entrance exams and auditions. Our advice considers the subject combinations and extra-curriculars that will be most useful in widening knowledge and boosting applications.

We know universities and companies are increasingly looking for a wide range of interests beyond academic grades. At QE, we are incredibly proud of the vast array of opportunities available. We have over 100 clubs and activities on site, ranging from CCF to Student Motorsport and Esports teams. We o er regular trips throughout the UK and overseas and have a Stretch and Challenge programme to specifically encourage students to go further via, for instance, national competitions and outside lecture attendance. The sixth form you choose is where your child will be for not just the next two years of their life, but the two most important years of their academic life. At QE, we know that the right sixth form environment has such a positive impact on outcomes, determining future destinations and ambitions. This makes it critical to find the experience that suits your child – ensuring their happiness and making sure they will thrive.

qe.org

Building BLOCKS

How Junior House at Ampleforth College is the perfect preparation for life in Senior School and beyond

Afun and happy community, Junior House is home for pupils in Years 7 and 8. It is a place where every girl and boy feels part of a family, loved and able to achieve their best.

Located in the centre of Ampleforth College, a boarding and day school for children aged 11-18, Junior House serves as an excellent stepping stone in preparation for the Senior School. It is self-contained while feeling part of the wider school and Junior pupils enjoy all

the benefits of specialist teachers, access to fantastic facilities in over 2,000 acres of beautiful Yorkshire countryside, and a huge range of activities and opportunities.

Ampleforth aims to challenge and stretch their Juniors and encourage the inherent sense of wonder that young learners find in the world around them.

A broad and ambitious curriculum designed to enthuse, inspire curiosity, and foster a love of learning, coupled with specialist teaching expertise, provides a platform for each child to excel.

In addition to a full programme of sport, music, art, and drama, Junior pupils can

choose from a great variety of extracurricular activities which help discover interests and talents, from kayaking to riding, textiles to clay pigeon shooting, Bridge to Junior Model United Nations.

Senior students support the Juniors, spending time helping them with prep and activities, building friendships and engraining a strong sense of community. These relationships greatly help the younger ones to make a smooth transition into the Senior School in Year 9.

Ampleforth is a very kind and nurturing community. Encouraging pupils to help others, and to recognise the positive contribution and impact they can make to the community, is a core part of life here. Their ethos is based on the tenets of the Benedictine monks who founded the school; being welcoming to all, caring for each other, and valuing inclusion, empathy and compassion.

At Ampleforth, every child is seen as a blessing who brings unique talents to the world. As Catholic educators, they believe it is their responsibility to help draw these out. Their mission is to educate the whole child, mind, body, and spirit, enabling them to flourish in all aspects of life. All can benefit from this rich, holistic education, not only Catholics. This is a perfect place to grow up, learn how to contribute positively to the world, and to become the best version of yourself.

Join them for their Open Day on Saturday 2 May to find out more. Visit the website to register at ampleforth.org.uk

Leading THE WAY

Inspiring female role models at The Mount School York

Aleading girls’ school since 1785, The Mount knows all-girls’ settings work best for teenage years in education. Simply put, they teach girls that there is enormous potential and power in being a girl. Their Head, and Head of Computing, both model female leadership in school, showing girls that they can be the change they wish to see.

Head, Anna Wilby, is a proud advocate of all-girls’ education in Senior School. Anna brings energy and drive to The Mount. Educated at University of Oxford before completing her master’s at Royal College of Music, Anna followed her dreams in Music while teaching in top London independent schools, becoming Director of Music at Harrow Hong Kong, and now leading at The Mount. It was Anna’s time at Woldingham (Girls’) School that cemented

her belief that girls excel best across academics, sport and creative pursuits in an all-girls’ educational environment.

She says: “In an all-girls’ setting, pupils feel more comfortable speaking up, trying new things and pushing themselves academically, especially in subjects where they are still underrepresented nationally, like Physics, Computer Science and Economics. At The Mount there is no pressure to hold back, no fear of judgement, just space to grow. Our teaching is tailored to how girls learn best, encouraging not only knowledge but independence and self-belief.

“We also believe in nurturing girls’ skills for the future: in critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, digital literacy and emotional intelligence, which are the keys to unlocking opportunity in a global, fastpaced and constantly evolving world.”

To align with these aims, Anna recently appointed AI expert, Dr Beth Lane, to lead Computer Science. Dr Beth previously

taught Computing in all-girls’ independent schools in London, and now teaches and runs her own digital enterprise, The Institute of AI Education. Dr Beth’s recent sell-out Mount public lecture ‘AI Literacy’ highlighted the school’s commitment to high-quality STEM teaching for girls.

The future is bright for girls at The Mount Senior School and Sixth Form. An extensive masterplanning programme is underway which will shortly see a new dance studio opening with a DT workshop amongst other exciting future developments.

The Good Schools Guide, 2025, says it best: “A parent spoke about being ‘sold straight away’ on the school by the ‘impressive’ sixth form guides. ‘If ours turn out like that, we’ll be happy.’ Students we met spoke eloquently… polite and deferential to a fault, it is hard not to be won over.”

Only five minutes’ walk from the station, The Mount has an enviable central York location and leafy 16 acres. Ranked in the Sunday Times’ Top 10 Northern Schools for Academic Performance 2025, The Mount is well worth a visit.

Sign up for the whole-school open day on Saturday 7 March 10am-1pm. Call Admissions on 01904 667500 or visit mountschoolyork.co.uk

ROOM TO GROW

ROOM TO GROW

Our Discovery Day shows how Aysgarth does things properly: exceptional teaching, extended childhood on your doorstep, all in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.

Our Discovery Day shows how Aysgarth does things properly: exceptional teaching, extended childhood on your doorstep, all in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.

WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2026 • SPACES ARE STRICTLY LIMITED

WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2026 • SPACES ARE STRICTLY LIMITED

Scan the QR Code to register your interest or call admissions on 01677 451021

Scan the QR Code to register your interest or call admissions on 01677 451021

Beyond the League Tables

Why She eld Girls ’ leads girls’ education in the North

By ALEX WILSON

In education, it is easy to be drawn to outcomes. League tables, grades and percentages dominate the conversation, and while they matter, they rarely tell the whole truth. In December, and for the second time in three years, She eld Girls’ was named Independent Secondary School of the Year in the North 2026 by The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide. We are incredibly proud of this accolade, not just because it confirms our results, but because it recognises our values and the extraordinary e orts of our pupils. Strong outcomes matter, they open doors. But as a Headteacher, I am far more interested in what happens between a girl’s first day at school and the moment she leaves us. The confidence she gains, the risks she learns to take, and the distance she travels from her own starting point tell a far richer story than any statistic.

She eld Girls’ is a greenhouse, not a hothouse: an all-girls environment uniquely positioned to nurture growth, to give girls the space to think boldly, speak freely and develop without comparison or constraint. Every student arrives with her own mix of strengths, experiences and ambitions. Our role is not to rank them against one another, but to know them well, challenge them appropriately and help them exceed what they believed possible.

This is why Value Added matters. It measures progress, not just outcomes. It allows us to understand how far a student has travelled academically, rather than focusing solely on where she finishes on results day. Our consistently strong Value Added outcomes at GCSE (+1.02) and A-level (+0.44) are significant not as statistics, but as evidence of thoughtful teaching, high expectations and intelligent use of assessment. Used well, data becomes a tool for insight, not judgement.

Of course, the most meaningful progress often resists measurement. It appears quietly: in a girl who finds her voice in debate, perseveres with a subject she once doubted, or begins to see herself as capable of leadership. Through our Girls of Steel character education programme and within a warm, supportive and nurturing environment, we develop resilience, curiosity and courage alongside academic success.

Education should expand horizons and, at She eld Girls’, we aim to provide floors to work up from, not glass ceilings to push against. We are, of course, delighted to be named the top school in the north once again, but the true measure of our success lies not only in the grades our students achieve, but in the confident, capable young women they become.

Alex Wilson is Headteacher of She eld Girls’ GDST, The Sunday Times Top Independent Secondary School in the North 2026. Book a visit at she eldhighschool.org.uk

HIGH AMBITION, LOW COST

Inside Tranby’s a ordable, high impact sixth form

At a time when outstanding independent sixth form education can cost tens of thousands of pounds a year, Tranby Sixth Form breaks the mould, o ering exceptional academic and professional preparation for £500 a month + VAT. This value opens the door to a transformative post-16 experience for more local young people seeking the best start on the path to university or the world of work. Tranby is built around a simple mission: “Shaping futures, building leaders.” Academic excellence is just the beginning. With expert teaching from subject specialists, tailored support, and a culture that nurtures confidence and ambition, students are encouraged to reach their highest personal and academic potential. What sets Tranby apart is its focus on real-world readiness. Every week, students take part in professional experiences and leadership roles, gaining skills that go beyond traditional classroom learning. Initiatives like The Thursday Project – a protected afternoon for volunteering at local businesses

or creating content for social media to support school marketing – bring learning to life and make it applicable in the real world.

At Tranby, leadership isn’t something you study – it’s something you do. Personal growth is equally important. Small class sizes allow teachers to give individualised attention, helping each student thrive. Academic drop-in sessions and comprehensive SEN support ensure no one is left behind, and every student feels confident tackling challenges.

But the Tranby experience extends beyond the classroom. Weekly professional skills lessons and specialist enrichment programmes – including Oxbridge-style tutorials, the Flying Club, and the Medicine Academy – provide opportunities rarely matched by other providers, regardless of cost. As part of the United Learning group of schools, pupils benefit from a national network of like-minded peers, coming together at events such as the recent COP30 simulation, Russell Group university tours, and cultural experiences like last year’s performance of The Magic Flute. These opportunities broaden horizons and inspire ambition.

The results speak for themselves. In 2025, 90% of pupils secured their first-choice university, a testament to the strong academic programme and careers support that underpin it.

Chris Wainman, Head of Tranby, explains why now is the right time for this approach: “The post-16 landscape has shifted. Exam results alone won’t cut it anymore, yet families are paying ever-higher fees for what’s essentially the same independent education repackaged. We’ve deliberately evolved to break that pattern. With United Learning’s backing, we’ve created something distinct: genuine preparation for the real world, not just the exam hall. The bottom line? Cost should never limit ambition at this critical stage. We’re proving it doesn’t have to.”

By combining quality, opportunity, and accessibility, Tranby Sixth Form stands out as the clear choice for local families who want more than just qualifications; they want an education that prepares their child to succeed in a competitive world.

tranby.org.uk

SPIRIT

GUIDE

With a new book and hit stage show, Danny Robins believes today's children are every bit as keen on ghostly detective stories as he was

by LIBBY NORMAN

He’s been compared to Hitchcock and Van Helsing and called the UK’s ‘go-to spook guy’. But Danny Robins wears his o cial badge lightly and there’s not a hint of mystic aura about him. He never expected The Battersea Poltergeist and Uncanny to cause such a stir. “It happened in that strange, alien landscape of lockdown. I think it was a point where a lot of people were cooped up in their houses feeling slightly haunted by their houses,” he says. “I sometimes think I was the paranormal Joe Wicks. I was the beneficiary of that era, in that there were a lot of people who wanted to be entertained.”

The ripple spread way wider than he could have conceived. “I couldn’t in a million years have anticipated The Battersea Poltergeist being talked about on Australian breakfast television and fielding calls from Hollywood producers asking about film rights.” Looking back now, Danny wonders if he had stumbled across a collective desire to explore the out-ofbody world. “Those strange, chaotic, uncertain times spawned an interest in the paranormal.”

The Battersea Poltergeist – a podcast first aired in 2021 – retold the tale of the 1956 alleged haunting of 63 Wycli e Road in an utterly riveting way, while Uncanny, beginning later that year, delivered a rich brew of paranormal and haunting true-life tales examined in forensic depth through a believer’s and a sceptic’s lens. Uncanny passed to the other side, with a BBC Two series beginning in 2023 (we’re now two series in) and has also become a hit touring show. Somewhere in there, Danny also found time to write 2:22 A Ghost Story, which was one of the first plays to open on the London stage after lockdown. It picked up three Olivier nominations and won three WhatsOnStage Awards, including Best New Play.

It’s worth noting that Danny’s interest in the paranormal is not recent – among his many writing credits is Young Dracula, the comedy that ran for five seasons on CBBC from 2006. “This is the subject that keeps on giving. You can go anywhere in the world and ask that question, ‘do you think ghosts exist?’ and come up with a really exciting, colourful debate.” This, then, is the backdrop for Do You Believe in Ghosts?, his new book aimed squarely at curious young minds keen to find out more about the supernatural. In designing the book, Danny has drawn on his own childhood passion. He was, he says, that kid in the school library reading everything he could find on a subject that gripped him. He still recalls the Usborne World of the Unknown,

the Collins Gem Ghosts and even a Hamlyn guide. “There was an era of real fascination with this subject that spawned quite a lot of lurid books full of pictures of ghosts and monsters and demon dogs,” he says.

“Combined with the fact I was brought up as an atheist, and I didn’t have belief in my life, I think I was just really interested in the idea of what made people believe.” Or not, for in the introduction to Do You Believe in Ghosts? Danny nails his colours to the mast as ‘a sceptic who really wants to believe’. In similar vein, he invites readers to align themselves with either #TeamBeliever or #TeamSceptic, also voting on each of the accounts they read in the book to see if they’ve been swayed one way or the other.

“IT IS ALL ABOUT US TESTING THE PARAMETERS OF OUR WORLD AND BEING SCARED WITHIN SAFE

BOUNDARIES”

It’s an approach that gives children agency and also encourages them to get thinking behind the stories and listening to di erent theories. “If you are from #TeamSceptic you can look at it from a psychological, environmental, scientific perspective, and if you are #TeamBeliever you are digging into the history of the house, who might have lived there and who might be the ghost,” he says. “All the kids I meet, they are little detectives. They love exploring stu . They love trying to make sense of science and history – this is a subject that allows you to do that.”

Of course, ghost stories give children a thrill, a frisson, but this is as old as storytelling itself. “There’s something important for a kid – which is when you first come across this idea of ghosts – about being scared within very safe boundaries. It’s why we watch Dr Who or enjoy doing something like Go Ape. It’s us testing our world, testing the parameters of our world.”

Do You Believe in Ghosts? tests parameters but sits firmly on the side of spooky, rather than scary, with jokes and asides and plenty of comic illustrations. In fact, illustrator Ellen Walker wrote to him first as an Uncanny fan and plays a key role here as a part of the ghost hunting team. The tales cover familiar spooky ground to many adults. We read about the disturbances at 284 Green Street (aka The Enfield Poltergeist), the thrilling haunting of RAF Lossiemouth, a cellar in York where Roman Legionnaires were spotted by a hapless boiler fitter, and even head back to 19th-century New York State to meet the famous spiritualist Fox sisters. There’s plenty of history in the mix, but also clear and age-appropriate explanations of concepts such as Stone Tape Theory, telekinesis and cognitive bias – also, impressively, an evolutionary psychology explanation for why we humans are pre-programmed to be scared of the dark. “Explaining them in a kid-friendly way opens up this amazing debate they can have,” says Danny. He hopes that these explanations serve a useful purpose in helping children rationalise other fears. “Once you understand that you can start to feel, ‘well maybe some of

the other things I feel scared about I don’t need to feel scared about’. I think there's quite an empowering message behind all of this – that the world isn’t quite as scary a place as it might sometimes seem.”

Adults reading along with their children may expect more questions than they can answer. “I definitely think any sort of fear within a ghost story has in equal measures that dose of optimism. It suddenly opens up the possibility that people that we’ve loved and lost still might be out there,” he says. “That potential optimism is a really powerful thing in terms of processing those moments – whether it’s a pet that you’ve lost or a grandparent.”

One of the things that has struck Danny is that the audience for ghosts spans all ages. “What I’ve noticed a lot on my tour and just generally meeting people who listen to the show or watch the show is that there are loads of kids who are Uncanny fans,” he says. “It feels like a family-safe subject. You can approach it in di erent ways. You

have the adult level where you’re consuming stu that might make you feel a bit scared, or you can have the kids’ stu where you’re loving the fact that it’s a detective hunt and that you’re learning a bit about science and history and having a bit of fun.”

With the book, plus a season of Uncanny stage shows, Danny is looking forward to hearing from many more fans who share his enthusiasm for considering mysteries beyond our rational world. “Detective stories normally stop when you find out whodunnit, but ghost stories just keep on unfolding,” he says. “I really like the idea that we haven’t discovered everything there is to discover about our world. What’s not to love about the idea of hunting for that?”

Do You Believe in Ghosts? by Danny Robins, illustrated by Ellen Walker, is published by Pu n Books (£8.99). The 'Uncanny: Fear of the Dark' stage show is on tour now. For dates and venues, visit uncannylive.com

Talking HEAD

Absolutely interviews Simon Weale of Cundall Manor School

Q What do you believe are the key values and principles that sit at the heart of your educational approach?

A Cundall Manor School has built a reputation for nurturing confident, well-rounded pupils and has been committed to co-education for 40 years. The di erent sexes have to learn how to thrive in one another’s company. While we are rightly proud of our academic success, our core purpose is to develop confident, resilient young people with strong character, curiosity and kindness. Our size allows us to know every child as an individual and right from the start of their education in Nursery, pupils are encouraged to embrace challenges, work collaboratively and develop independence, all within a supportive and caring community. We place enormous value on interpersonal skills, good manners and a positive attitude – qualities that will serve our pupils for life. Our founder, Harry Beckhough, believed passionately in educating children to solve the problems of their generation, and that philosophy continues to underpin everything we do today. We want our pupils to leave Cundall not only well educated, but confident in who they are and excited about their futures.

Q How does Cundall Manor ensure that pupils are both academically challenged and personally supported, and what initiatives help every child reach their full potential?

A We are a non-selective school, yet our pupils consistently outperform national

expectations (as evidenced by being the top Independent School in North Yorkshire’s 2025 Attainment 8 League Table), typically achieving over one grade higher in each subject. Most pupils take nine GCSEs, and many go on to win scholarships to leading independent sixth forms. This success is underpinned by small class sizes, specialist teaching and a culture where every child is encouraged to aim high. Academic challenge is matched by a strong pastoral system: pupils are known individually, supported in their learning, and guided to build confidence and independence. Regular visits to galleries, museums and workshops, along with educational trips and visiting speakers, bring subjects to life and help pupils make meaningful connections between their studies and the world around them. These real-world experiences, alongside structured prep sessions and a rich co-curricular programme, all play a role in ensuring pupils are happy and engaged to learn.

“We want our pupils to leave Cundall not only well educated, but confident in who they are”

Q What opportunities beyond the classroom most strongly shape pupils during their time at Cundall Manor?

A Sport plays a central role, with pupils benefiting from excellent facilities across the 28-acre campus, specialist coaching and exposure to a wide range of team sports from an early age. We are delighted that many pupils go on to represent their county, region and even country in their chosen sports, but just as importantly, sport teaches discipline, resilience and camaraderie.

Pupils enjoy a rich programme of art and design, music, and drama, with opportunities to perform and exhibit their work regularly. Pupils are encouraged to express themselves, take pride in their talents and support one another.

Outdoor learning and challenges are another defining feature. From our Wild Wood and outdoor classroom to activities such as such as whole school triathlons, Go Kart Race, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, mountain climbs (Ben Nevis) and endurance challenges, such as the Yorkshire Three Peaks, pupils learn to push boundaries, solve problems and work as a team – experiences that stay with them long after they leave school.

Q Looking ahead, what developments or ambitions are you most

excited about, and how will these enhance the pupil experience?

A As many worry about the impact of digital technology and generative AI, the future of holistic schools like Cundall Manor is even more important to ensure that we continue to develop our children cognitively and do not create a generation who are ‘slaves to the machine’. Building on recent academic success and a strong foundation of values, the school continues to invest in broadening opportunities and enriching pupil experience. The development of new initiatives from o ering Computer Science at GCSE to such opportunities as our golf academy and the forthcoming angling club reflects our commitment to evolving co-curricular provision while remaining true to our ethos and spirit of adventure.

Cundall is a school with a strong sense of identity, a beautiful rural setting and a clear educational vision. My ambition is to ensure that every pupil who passes through our doors develops a lifelong love of learning, confidence in their abilities and the character to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Cundall Manor School’s next Open Morning is on 6th February. Contact admissions on 01423 360 200 or visit cundallmanorschool.com

EDUCATION NEWS

The latest from schools across the county

Top spot

Ashville has been recognised as one of the top ten independent schools across the whole of the North of England. This prestigious accolade is in The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026, a survey of over 2,000 schools. Achieving its best-ever A-level results in 2025, Ashville continues to be the top-performing school in Harrogate in public examinations and has been praised by the Good Schools’ Guide for its “strong learning and high aspirations tempered with holistic ambitions”. Teachers were applauded throughout the report which highlighted an “overwhelming sense of enthusiasm and community from every child”. Ashville offers more than 150 co-curricular clubs per week. In addition, the school has invested more than £1m in the last 12 months as part of the masterplan to reimagine the 70-acre campus including launching its new sixth form provision ‘Six @ Ashville’. A significant programme of investment is scheduled over the next five years and beyond. Book now for Open Day: Saturday 7 March. Visit ashville.co.uk, call 01423 724863 or email admissions@ashville.co.uk

New opportunity

Bootham School in York has launched a new Scholarship Programme for its Senior School (ages 11–18), recognising the talents and potential of students across Academics, Performing Arts, Music, Visual Arts and Sport. The programme reflects Bootham’s belief that achievement is best nurtured in an environment where young people are encouraged to develop as individuals, challenge themselves and contribute fully to school life. This balanced approach continues to deliver strong outcomes. Bootham’s most recent GCSE and A-level results secured the school a place in The Sunday Times Parent Power Schools Guide 2026 as one of the Top 10 Independent Secondary Schools in the North. Families are warmly invited to attend one of Bootham’s upcoming Open Days to find out more. Places can be booked at boothamschool.com/open-days

Extending childhood

In an age where children o en grow up too fast, Aysgarth School remains a joyful outlier. They believe that an unrushed childhood, with the school to the age of 13, is the foundation of a successful education. Their day boarding model provides children with more time. Time, space, and friends to play with. Through play, children develop vital skills: creating their own games, agreeing on rules, and, most importantly, the vital skill of assessing risk. Head of Pastoral Care, Paul Barlow, notes: “Without play, we as adults are constantly making decisions for our children; with play, they learn to make these decisions for themselves.” They even take the stress out of the mess; all kit is washed in-house, so a pair of muddy

knees is seen as a badge of a lunchtime well spent. By letting children be children, Aysgarth prepares them for the UK’s best senior schools with a confidence and independence that simply cannot be taught in a classroom. Find out how they extend childhood at their Discovery Day on 11 March. Email admissions@aysgarthschool.co.uk for more

Attention to detail is at the heart of every Longden project. We specialise in bespoke doors, taking great pride in that every door is hand-made in the UK and finished by artisans devoted to their trade. A Longden door is a statement piece that elevates any space, using the finest quality solid timber to ensure exceptional durability and timeless beauty, an investment that will grace your home for generations. For more information call Longden on 01325 582583 or visit us at www.longdendoors.co.uk

CHURCH LANE

Burton Leonard

£2,500,000

ld Vicarage o ers a total internal area of 7,280 sq ft of light-fi lled, flexible accommodation arranged predominantly over two floors of the main house. The current owners have fully refurbished the property during their tenure and added a magnificent orangery. In total, there are seven reception rooms, five bedrooms and five bathrooms.

MONEY CAN BUY…

Exploring Lowfield Farm, on Aberford Road in Barwick-in-Elmet

WHAT

Lowfield Farm is a truly exceptional equestrian residence and family home, set within approximately 12 acres of landscaped private grounds. This outstanding property blends refined contemporary living with top-tier equestrian facilities – a rare gem in one of West Yorkshire’s most sought-after village locations.

WHERE

Located on the fringes of the highly desirable village of Barwick-in-Elmet, the setting o ers peaceful rural tranquillity while still being within easy reach of Leeds, York and key transport links. The village itself boasts excellent everyday amenities, renowned local pubs, community facilities and a primary school.

INSIDE

The home extends to almost 4,000 sq ft of elegant accommodation across two floors. It opens with a spacious entrance hall featuring underfloor heating and luxurious finishes. The heart of the property is a magnificent open-plan living kitchen, designed for both everyday family life and entertaining, with high-end integrated appliances, a central marble island and French doors leading out to the gardens. Complementing this are generous reception rooms and a versatile snug or home o ce. On the first floor, five well-proportioned bedrooms include a principal suite with en-suite and walk-in wardrobe, while additional bedrooms are served by stylish family bathrooms.

OUTSIDE

The grounds are exceptional – a sweeping gated driveway with turning circle, beautifully landscaped south-facing gardens with extensive patios, summerhouse and gazebo create superb outdoor spaces. A converted barn opposite provides additional living space and incorporates a living room, kitchen, bedroom and shower room. Equestrian facilities include a floodlit ménage, multiple paddocks and a stable block with tack room and storage.

PRICE

O ers in the Region of £2,000,000

SELLING AGENT

Fine & Country Wetherby 01937 583535

why everyone is talking about…

The Piece Hall

The Halifax landmark’s major economic contribution has been revealed

New financial figures show that The Piece Hall in Halifax has contributed to the economy by generating an estimated £680 million over the last decade. It’s also been confirmed that, despite the ongoing unprecedented economic conditions, The Piece Hall Charitable Trust has a projected surplus of £290k for the financial year, 2024-25. A significant economic impact assessment undertaken by leading professional services providers for the heritage and cultural sectors, Counterculture, has looked at the local, regional and national benefits brought by The Piece Hall.

Their calculations showed The Piece Hall contributed £680 million in economic impact between 2015 (when the Trust was formed) and 2025, with projections indicating that it will continue to bring an ongoing boost of around £90m per year into the region. That’s an annual economic benefit of £426 for every resident of Calderdale.

Counterculture’s analysis, using a standard Treasury Green Book compliant methodology, describes the economic impact of The Piece Hall as “significant and rising in real terms”. This is attributed to the sustained increase in visitor numbers, resulting in increased spend across the town and wider Borough, plus a major increase in large scale live ticketed events which draw audiences from across the north of England and even further afield, resulting in significant revenue increases for hotels, restaurants, bars, transport operators and retailers in Halifax and beyond.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, says: “The Piece Hall is a jewel in West Yorkshire’s crown, and these figures

demonstrate the vital role it plays in our economic and cultural life. Our tourism sector is booming, growing by almost 8% over the past year, and it’s places like The Piece Hall that have helped us to attract over 70 million visitors and £6 billion of investment in that time.

“The Piece Hall’s incredible success demonstrates the power of the creative industries and culture to drive growth, support jobs and business, create pride in our communities, and build a brighter West Yorkshire that works for all.”

Chair of The Piece Hall Trust, Orphy Robinson MBE, adds: “It’s fantastic to see clear, independent analysis of just how significant The Piece Hall’s impact has been. This shows that we are continuing to make good on our promise to be the key driver of regeneration in the area. As a

not-for-profit organisation and community asset, The Piece Hall Trust’s purpose is to drive inward investment and economic benefit for the people of Calderdale while keeping this unique building open, with any surplus reinvested. This report shows we are delivering on these key objectives, and with the right support, will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.”

Counterculture’s report also reveals that around 7.2 million visitors from outside of Calderdale have been attracted into the Borough because of The Piece Hall, delivering a major boost for local businesses. The Piece Hall is the home of TK Maxx presents Live at The Piece Hall. The 2026 summer season will see more than 40 global headliners perform in the unique heritage site.

thepiecehall.co.uk