A bird's-eye view of Leeds, Sheffield, and Yorkshire
X
News
The floating sweet shop on the Leeds-Liverpool canal run by a pensioner
"We know where we are by the popularity of the sweet. If we're in Gargrave, they love their sarsaparilla-crazy. In Rodley, they love their midget gems and wine gums"
A man from Leeds who used to work on the markets has left his retirement to set up a new stall with a difference.
His floating sweet shop travels up and down the Leeds-Liverpool canal and has become quite the success after launching during lockdown.
Run by Pat Creaven and his wife Jill, Pendle Witch Sweets stops at various points along the canal - sailing between Rodley, Leeds, to Foulridge in Pendle.
Initially, the narrowboat was purchased by the couple to enjoy during their retirement but during the pandemic, Pat got other ideas and talked Jil into the new venture.
Image: Pendle Witch Sweets
It all started with the purchase of some old-fashioned Woolworths scales which, to his wife's dismay, inspired Pat to start the now very successful sweet shop business.
"It's a trip down memory lane, who didn't love a sweet shop when they were a kid?" he said, speaking to Leeds Live.
"It's that memory of sweets, you can walk along the canal and bring back memories."
Pat has colour coded all of his sweets to make shopping easy for those with special dietary requirements, including those with gluten intolerances, vegetarians and vegans.
He also has a dedicated 'memory lane' section which sells all of the old school favourites, like Yorkshire mix, rhubarb and custard, toffees and eclairs.
Image: Pendle Witch Sweets
"We know where we are by the popularity of the sweet. If we're in Gargrave, they love their sarsaparilla-crazy. In Rodley, they love their midget gems and wine gums," he continues.
The couple already traveled most of the UK and Irish canal system during their brief stint at retirement, and are now enjoying being out on the waters in a different capacity.
"You can't beat it, every morning you wake up and you have a different view. When you get used to one view, it's time to move."
Feature image - Pendle Witch Sweets
News
Posh bakery chain Gail’s is finally coming to Yorkshire
Gail's has finally set its sights on Yorkshire for the first time, with a new bakery set to open this year.
It's one of the UK's most famous bakeries, launching in London in the early 1990s to supply restaurants, before opening its first retail site and cafe in Hampstead in 2005.
Gail's founders set out on a mission to bake bread as it used to be baked: by hand, using quality ingredients and time-worn artisanal methods.
While Gail's has expanded aggressively into the north, opening around a dozen bakeries in Greater Manchester and its surrounds, it hasn't made the journey across to Yorkshire just yet.
All that looks set to change, with job ads now listed for roles within a brand-new Yorkshire branch of Gail's.
Based on the job advert, Gail's is heading straight to the spa town of Harrogate - which is a fairly predictable move.
It looks like Gail's is heading for HarrogateGail's will make its Yorkshire debut
It had previously been reported that Gail's would be going to Knaresborough, but the job posting appears to hint that Harrogate will be the first Yorkshire location.
When it does open, you'll find loaf choices including classic white and brown sourdough, Gail’s ‘wasteless’ loaves (made using a specially-created recipe designed to incorporate unsold bread crumbs), alongside seeded varieties, baguettes and batons.
Must-tries include Gail’s famous cinnamon buns, still-warm cheese and ham croissants, chocolate chip cookies, and – given the weather we’re having this week – iced coffees, all day long preferably please.
But given the number of fantastic local bakeries all over Yorkshire, the question is, does anyone want Gail's?
‘Historic’ moment as UK passes bill to ban everyone born after 2008 from smoking
Emily Sergeant
The UK has now passed a bill to ban everyone born after 2008 from ever buying tobacco products.
It's been a long time coming, but in what is being described as a 'historic' moment, the final draft of the landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill completed its journey through the Houses of Commons and Lords yesterday (21 April 2026), and is now on its way to receiving royal assent to officially become the law.
For those unfamiliar, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will stop people who were born on or after 1 January 2009 from ever taking up smoking.
It will also give Government ministers new powers to regulate tobacco, vaping, and nicotine products – including their flavours and packaging, which make them more appealing to younger generations.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has hailed the bill's passing as a 'historic moment for the nation's health' on the road to creating a smoke-free generation.
The UK has passed a bill to ban everyone born after 2008 from smoking / Credit: Pxhere
"Children in the UK will be part of the first smoke-free generation, protected from a lifetime of addiction and harm," Mr Streeting said after the bill was passed this week.
"Prevention is better than cure. This reform will save lives, ease pressure on the NHS, and build a healthier Britain."
The ban on purchasing tobacco products for those born after 2008 was first mooted by Rishi Sunak's Conservative Government a number of years back, but was eventually shelved ahead of the 2024 General Election, and then revived again by Labour when they took power.
The bill's passing parliament has been welcomed by charities and campaign groups - most notably Cancer Research UK.
"This is a historic achievement that will shield our children from the devastating grip of tobacco addiction and help to put an end to cancers caused by smoking," concluded Michelle Mitchell, who is the Chief Executive Officer at Cancer Research.
Georgina Pellant -
29th September 2021 
