A luxury spa which was built inside a former textile mill in Huddersfield has received a global award for eco sustainability.
Titanic Spa, which is situated inside a restored textile mill in the Linthwaite Valley near Huddersfield, has been crowned as the best luxury eco spa in the world in the World Luxury Spa Awards 2022.
It is the only spa in the UK to scoop an award in this year's event, and it is the second time that the spa has won the award, the first being in 2018.
The event was held in Turkey this year and more than 300 visitors jetted across from around the world to attend.
Image: Titanic Spa
Titanic Spa is the UK's first ever eco spa and they hold some pretty impressive credentials that set them apart from the rest. Located inside a fully carbon-neutral building with photovoltaic solar panels installed to catch the daylight all year round, an OTEX laundry system providing significant financial and energy savings on their laundry and a 15m salt regulated swimming pool for guests to enjoy.
They even have their very own borehole 100m below the earth’s surface that provides vast quantities of pure Yorkshire water to the spa and it's guests.
Image: Titanic Spa
Whether you're after an overnight break, day or evening spa visit, the Titanic Spa is the perfect place to escape the stresses of everyday life and enjoy some well deserved relaxation.
They offer a range of luxury treatments from refreshing facials to relaxing massages which can be enjoyed by themselves or as part of a spa day where guests can indulge in a light lunch or evening meal as part of the package.
Image: Titanic Spa
They even offer a private mud chamber experience, where those looking for the ultimate detox can apply organic mud to their body to help nourish and exfoliate before stepping inside a private herbal steam room to fully open up their pores, finishing up with a relaxing, gentle tropical rain shower to help ease the mud away.
Otley has announced its intention to bid to become UK Town of Culture 2028.
Entering into the national competition launched by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the West Yorkshire town is hoping to be the first-ever town to claim the title.
The Town of Culture competition invites towns across the UK to showcase their cultural story and develop ambitious programmes that celebrate local heritage, creativity, and communities.
The winning town receives a £3 million grant from the Government to deliver a major year-long cultural programme in 2028 designed to boost civic pride, attract visitors, and provide everyone with the opportunity to participate in cultural activities.
Their bid is focused around the Otley 800, a year-long programme that will mark the 800th anniversary of the granting of the Royal Market Charter in 1227 and the bridge over the River Wharfe in 1228.
These two historic moments transformed Otley into the bustling market town that it is today, so it deserves to be recognised.
Work has been going on behind the scenes for the past two years, with the council and Otley BID working with residents to put plans in place for the special year.
More than 70 organisations have been involved.
Mayor of Otley Cllr Paul Carter said: “Otley has always been a town that punches above its weight. This bid is about celebrating our history, but also about investing in our future — creating opportunities for our community, raising our profile and making sure Otley continues to thrive for the next 800 years.”
The shortlist for UK Town of Culture 2028 is set to be announced later this year, with each chosen town receiving £60,000 to help deliver their full bids for the competition. Fingers crossed!
Permission granted for new ‘Corn Exchange Pavilion’ to be built in Leeds city centre
Clementine Hall
The green light has been given for a brand-new pavilion to be built outside the Corn Exchange in Leeds city centre.
Yesterday, Tuesday 31 March, the planning committee of Leeds City Council officially gave the green light to plans submitted by CX Leeds Ltd.
These include plans to build a pavilion outside the Corn Exchange, one of Leeds' most iconic city centre landmarks.
The new building will go where that rather underwhelming patch of astroturf currently lays, in front of the Cornucopia mural and next to the bus shelter.
It lies between New Market Street and Crown Street.
DEN Architecture state that the materials selected will create an intriguing single-storey structure that compliments the surrounding area.
They stated: “The scale of the building and roof form of the proposal pays tribute to the previous tram and bus shelters that once occupied the site.
"While retaining the appropriately subservient nature of any new building in close proximity to the Corn Exchange. This will also provide greater visibility of the Cornucopia Mural.
“The building has been designed following extensive and thorough analysis, with a clear understanding of the built environment and the area’s historic significance.”
It's not yet been decided upon what the building's use will be, although Leeds city council suggests it could be used for "outdoor functions, shops and cafes".
When first put forward to the council back in December 2024, the plans were met with three objections from the public.
So, what would you like to see go into this new space?
Clementine Hall -
8th November 2022 
