Nestled within 500 acres of peaceful English woodland, the new North Star Club offer unique, luxury breaks in the Yorkshire Wolds.
Feel as though you need to escape the pressures of 21st century life? Then we have the perfect getaway for you. This woodland retreat offers 8 boutique suites that can accommodate up to 6 people.
Image: The North Star Club
Founders Christian and Carolyn Van Outersterp are multi award-winning designers who made a huge name for themselves revolutionising the contemporary fireplace market, earning themselves a coveted Prince of Wales medal by HRH Prince Charles. They also founded CVO Firevault, a showroom and restaurant bar named “one of London’s best kept secrets” by Time Out and “a triumph” by Harper’s Bazaar.
Image: The North Star Club
Feeling tired and exhausted by urban life, the couple escaped to the country in 2008 and fulfilled their dream of creating an eco-chic glamping business. Leading the UK's glamping revolution, Jollydays was born; an authentic woodland camp based in York which celebrated the great British outdoors and allowed people to camp in style and luxury.
Jollydays Glamping has been showered with awards since and attracts visitors from across the UK; eager to expand, the couple opened The North Star Club in 2014 and their success has been ongoing ever since.
Image: The North Star Club.
The 8 woodland suites are all decked out to the highest degree and provide all you need for an indulgent and unique staycation.
There's a cosy sitting room with a double sofa bed, a large bedroom with a kingsize bed and wood burner, a second bedroom with bunk beds and a spacious bathroom with a bath and separate walk-in shower.
All suites have all the amenities for a more than comfortable stay including a two ring gas hob and charcoal barbecue on your private veranda.
Image: The North Star Club
If you want to kick it up a notch, the Star Suite features a spa bathroom with an opulent copper bath and a glorious private infra-red sauna. All of the suites are individually designed in their own unique themes inspired by the people and places of the UK.
Think a rustic and airy hideaway clad in whitewashed timber and decorated with silver birch detailing for The White Rose suite, and nautical style touches for The Whitby Suite with recycled driftwood and chunky ropes hanging from the ceiling.
The suites are truly like something you've never seen before and will provide a perfect pad for a celebration or simply a weekend treat, which we all deserve every now and again.
Image: The North Star Club
Although tempting to stay in all day due to how gorgeous the suites are, there is so much to see and do around the North Star Club that you will be spoilt for choice for activities.
Located just outside the village of Sancton which boasts an array of delicious eateries, including award-winning pub The Star; a country walk followed by a cosy pub lunch seems like the obvious choice to spend a Sunday.
Image: The North Star Club.
Other activities include trying out polo at the White Rose Polo Club, taking a flying lesson at Wolds Gliding Club or playing your favourite water sport at Allerthorpe Park.
You could even attend York or Beverley races during your stay or go Clay Pigeon Shooting at the nearby shooting ground. The options really are endless and are all only minutes away from the club- and if you're stuck for inspiration, there's a huge list of recommended activities can be found here on their website.
Image: The North Star Club
Prices for a two night stay start from £650 and differ depending on what time of year you wish to stay.
With the suites sleeping up to 6 people, a stay at the North Star Club is the perfect place to get together and enjoy the best of what the Yorkshire countryside has to offer. We must admit, we are dying to book ourselves in and be a part of the North Star Club.
The full details of the Grand Départ of the 2027 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift have been released - and the action will be kicking off right in the heart of Leeds.
Preparations have moved up a gear this week, with the full map of the first stage revealed, which will see the world's leading female cyclists setting off from none other than The Headrow.
Leeds will make sporting history on 30 July next year, when we host the start of the world's biggest women's professional cycle race.
When our city was added to the 2014 Tour de France route, around 230,000 people packed into the city centre, with another two million lining the rest of the Yorkshire route - so we're expecting even bigger scenes next year.
The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will move from the centre of Leeds to travel through communities including Headingley, Kirkstall, Bramley, Farnley and Drighlington.
Now, an interactive map has been published that gives people the chance to see for the first time exactly which streets will be in the thick of the action next summer.
Riders will set of from The Headrow before travelling down Briggate and Boar Lane - then they'll head via via Woodhouse Lane, Hyde Park Corner and Otley Road into Headingley before travelling west on North Lane and Kirkstall Lane.
Key roads on the rest of the route include:
Bridge Road at Kirkstall, which will take the riders across the River Aire;
Broad Lane, Waterloo Lane, Lower Town Street and Henconner Lane in Bramley;
Butt Lane between its junctions with Pudsey Road – near Farnley Reservoir – and Tong Road at Farnley;
Whitehall Road, from its junction with Back Lane at New Farnley, to Drighlington.
From Drighlington, the riders will cross into Kirklees and then head over the Pennines into Manchester.
Leeds City Council will be keeping people fully updated about the planning involved to host the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, including road closures and other traffic management measures.
Following its visit to Leeds, the Grand Départ of the 2027 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will run from Manchester to Sheffield on July 31 before finishing in London on August 1.
The event will make Leeds the first place outside mainland Europe to host the start of stage one of a Grand Départ for both the men’s Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said: "The Grand Départ of the 2027 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift promises to be a great occasion for Leeds and one that will raise our profile on the international sporting stage while also delivering a boost to the local economy.
“Today’s announcement of further route details is a reminder that the countdown to July 30 is well and truly on, with a huge amount of planning and preparation work already taking place.
“As part of that work, we will be doing our utmost to ensure residents and businesses have all the information they need about the arrangements for the day.
“People in Leeds are famed for the passionate support they show when the city hosts major sporting events and I’m sure this one will be no different. Roll on next July!”
A new bar dedicated to Guinness and games is coming to Leeds city centre
Clementine Hall
Expect live music, a load of craic and plenty of Guinness at Leeds' brand-new bar.
Opening on Leeds' bustling Merrion Street, 'Love, Jackie' is the latest concept from the team behind Roxy Ball Room and King Pins.
Love, Jackie will be taking over a 7,000 sq ft space,and will be promising proper prints, late nights and plenty of Irish charm.
Pouring will be the holy trinity of Irish stouts - Guinness, Beamish and Murphy's.
Image: Supplied
These will be served alongside Leeds' own Kirkstall Virtuous IPA and a vast whiskey selection that celebrates the best of Ireland.
Games wise, try your hand at crazy pool, interactive darts, shuffleboard and karaoke. There will also be live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The opening comes as Merrion Street enjoys a new wave of investment and hospitality openings, helping bring new life to one of Leeds' best known night life attractions.
Image: Supplied
Matt Jones, CEO of Professionals at Play, said: “Everyone knows a Jackie. She’s the one who gets everyone together, convinces you to stay for another and makes sure there’s never a dull moment.
“We wanted to create a pub with that same personality. Somewhere with brilliant drinks, live music, plenty of games and the kind of atmosphere that makes you forget you were only popping in for one.
“Merrion Street is coming back to life, and we’re excited to be part of its next chapter. We think Jackie will fit right in. And because Jackie’s never been one to turn up empty-handed, the first drink’s on her."
We'll keep you updated on opening times as and when we find out, but for now you can sign up here for a pint of free Guinness. Cheers to that!
Clementine Hall -
19th May 2022 
