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 Good Food Guide has just released its list of the 100 best local restaurants in Britain – and three Leeds spots have made the list.
The latest edition of the Best 100 Local Restaurants list celebrates the very best venues that are loved by their communities.
A team of reviewers and inspectors scour the country to find the best of the best, and this year three restaurants in Leeds have earned themselves a place on the numbered list.
One in particular has been included just three months after opening.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The Smithfield opened in April taking over the old Reliance space on North Street, and it's safe to say they had very big shoes to fill.
But they have done with ease, celebrating Yorkshire produce to a crowd that are overjoyed to see the space being brought back to life.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Here's what the Good Food Guide had to say after awarding The Smithfield with 80th place: "Opening in one of the city’s most hallowed restaurant sites was always going to invite comparison. In its day, the Reliance was a much-loved neighbourhood haunt that became the gateway drug for a generation of Leeds foodies, and a return to its burgundy paint job was a statement of intent from its new owners.
"Head chef James Donovan's CV includes Clerkenwell's Rochelle Canteen, and you don't have to do much dusting to see the Fergus and Margot Henderson's nose-to-tail fingerprints: pig's head, ox heart, hogget, and a meritocratic approach to the menu with produce leading the way – occasionally nudged along by a well-timed dollop of gribiche or a slick of bisque."
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Elsewhere on the list, it won't come as a surprise to see that the ever-so-brilliant Bavette has been crowned in 16th place. Described as a "convivial neighbourhood bistro in the northerly suburb of Horsforth" that perfectly exudes a "Franco-Yorkshire alliance".
And lastly for Leeds, the ultra-cool Empire Cafe takes spot 31 where "owners Sam Pullan and Nicole Deighton have done a grand job here, rekindling the nostalgia while making the place feel emphatically of the moment, 'high-class yet down-to-earth'."
It's a trio of great wins for Leeds' foodie scene, and you can read the full list here.
England World Cup semi-final to be shown at Leeds’ Millennium Square as giant fanzone announced
Clementine Hall
Football's coming home to Millennium Square as England take on Argentina in the World Cup semi-final.
If you're still looking for a spot to cheer on the boys in the football this Wednesday then hang fire, because Leeds City Council have got us covered.
Following the Three Lions’ triumphant victory against Norway on Saturday evening, the council have announced that Millennium Square will host a World Cup 2026 fanzone at the heart of Leeds city centre.
Supporters will have the chance to cheer on star boy Jude Bellingham and the team with all the action shown live on a high-definition giant LED screen with concert style sound, all set within a bespoke outdoor arena.
Two large bars and street food concessions will be provided on site together with toilet and drinking water facilities.
Entry is strictly by advance ticket only and is a standing only event. Gates open at 6pm with kick-off scheduled for 8pm BST with live DJ pre match entertainment.
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for economy said “The whole country is behind England and it’s fantastic that fans will have the chance to come together and enjoy this incredible occasion in the open air at the heart of the city centre.
"The atmosphere on Millennium Square is always a one-of-a-kind and probably the closest you can get to being there. Leeds is a city that’s always had a massive passion for sport, and I know the fans will do England proud as we cheer them on in what will hopefully be another memorable win.”
Tickets are priced at £6 per person an go on sale at 10am on Monday 13 July via www.millsqleeds.com.
Clementine Hall -
19th May 2022 
