New research has revealed Harrogate as the second happiest place to live in the UK.
Yes that’s right – the research, which was carried out by Furniture Box, found which locations in the UK were happiest based on a poll of 5,000 people.
And do you know where came in at a very impressive number two? Our very own Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate.
It's not hard to see why. Famed for its beautiful greenery, quaint high street and fabulous architecture, you can see why the people of Harrogate are feeling a bit chuffed to live there.
The research said: "Second place goes to Harrogate, a spa town known for its historic buildings, gardens, natural springs and food.
Image: Unsplash
"The Fat Badger and the Harrogate Tap pubs are renowned. Harrogate Grammar, Oatlands Infants and Western Primary are all rated as 'Outstanding' by Ofsted."
Coming in at number one, though, was Stratford-upon-Avon.
The medieval town that is the birthplace of William Shakespeare topped the survey: "We all know about the Royal Shakespeare Company but Stratford is so much more than a cultural attraction.
"It is a thriving community flanked by the beautiful river Avon. It has independent shops, and fantastic places to eat and drink. It's also home to some of the best state schools in the country."
Need some weekend plans?
Image: Unsplash
Just a forty minute drive from Leeds, there really is so much to do in the wonderful town of Harrogate.
Start off your day with breakfast at Betty’s Cafe and Tea Rooms before taking a stroll down the stray and taking in the beautiful views of the cherry blossom trees, then stop for lunch at Pranzo and browse the high street that is jam packed with fantastic independent shops.
You'll have a cracker of a day, and you may even leave feeling much happier than before.
A renowned brewery have announced that they will be taking over the reigns of a popular craft beer bottle shop in Ilkley.
Fuggle & Golding opened in 2015 on Leeds road in Ilkley and quickly grew a loyal following with locals and visitors alike.
Sadly they announced last month that their last day of trading would be Saturday 28 February, news which was met with huge disappointment.
However this is no longer the case, as Horsforth Brewery is set to reopen the venue on Wednesday. Hooray!
Announcing the welcomed news to Instagram, Horsforth Brewery wrote: "When we saw they were going to close we were determined to not lose another great venue from the local beer scene.
"We owe a massive thank you to George and the landlord for getting a deal across the line in quick order.
"We’re going to take a few days to put our stamp on the place and then we will be open on Wednesday!"
"Obviously we will be stocking our beers here but as anyone who knows will know, we love the beer scene so we will continue to have a good amount of guest beer on as well. We’ll even been joining in with the biggest beer launches from around the country.
"Want to know the best news? We’re doing this solo. No outside interests, no investors, no debt. In the current climate being able to organically grow like this is so so hard and it’s thanks to all our team that we’ve been able to do this.
"We’ve always been determined to grow our business in a healthy and sustainable way; it may have (absolutely has) been tough over the years but we’ve got ourselves in a position to take us to the next level in a sustainable way."
Beloved late night Leeds cocktail bar The Maven announces permanent closure
Clementine Hall
"After years of late nights, strong cocktails, and incredible stories; The Maven will close its doors"
It's a sad day for the Leeds night life scene, as a beloved speakeasy bar has today announced that it will be closing its doors for good.
The Maven has been a firm favourite for many years with those looking to enjoy some experimental and expertly made cocktails.
Hidden behind an unassuming door at the top of Call Lane, it was a great spot to visit if you were looking for something that little bit special.
Announcing the news to their social media, The Maven said: "From the bottom of our hearts we thank you for being our guests over the years and promise that until then, we'll do our best to give you the best nights out on Call Lane."
Clementine Hall -
21st November 2024 
