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Ilkley market looks forward to new location this Sunday
This Sunday (1 September) sees Real Food Ilkley relocate to the prestigious address of The Grove in Ilkley.
The famous Ilkley street will be closed for the first Sunday of every month (exc January when there is no market), allowing shoppers to visit the stalls of over 30 local and speciality producers, which include existing Ilkley retailers, community initiatives and charities. There will also be entertainment at the stunning Ilkley bandstand from a range of local performers.
Real Food Ilkley offers produce from fresh bread, cakes and gluten free bakes to curry sauces, cheeses, condiments and crepes. Stalls also include organic meat and veg, brownies, truffles and herbs from local producers and independent retailers.
This Sunday’s market welcomes many of its regular stallholders, as well as guests such as Ilkley Brewery, Addingham Fruit Liqueurs, Tarn and Moon hand blended teas and Great Taste Award winners Ilkley Kitchen who were a Real Food Ilkley start up company when the market first started.
In addition to the fabulous selection of local and speciality produce, the market gives away two stall spaces each month to local community groups to help them raise awareness of their activities and engage volunteers. This month’s two community stalls are Ilkley Literature Festival and Climate Action Ilkley. The market’s new, bigger location means the team can increase this offering and they are encouraging interested community groups to get in touch for future markets.
It’s over three years since Real Food Ilkley came to town, bringing an array of amazing local produce and ensuring community was at its heart. Its arrival was the hard work of Ilkley residents Bernie Baldwin and Paula Connor, as well as Lucy Allen, Jeremy Benn, Stephen Butler and Fiona Mann, all volunteers.
Since then, with an invaluable team of volunteers who help out during the market and in the lead up, the monthly market has grown in size, reputation and ambition.
The market is now run by Lucy Allen, Becky Nash and Lee Teal who explain "Sunday’s market will be a real event. We’re so pleased stallholders old and new will be here to celebrate with us. Our plan for Real Food Ilkley was always to be a community hub for the town and, in this new venue which allows us more flexibility and growth, we can continue to be that."
Real Food Ilkley takes place on the first Sunday of the month at 10am to 3pm Feb - Dec. To inquire about stalls (producer and community) please contact ilkleymarket@gmail.com