The Sheff

Inside the magical eco-chic woodland retreat in Yorkshire

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall - 1st July 2025

Feel as though you need to escape the pressures of 21st century life? Then we have the perfect getaway for you.

This woodland staycation offers 8 boutique suites that can accommodate up to 6 people. Nestled within 500 acres of peaceful English woodland, the new North Star Club offer unique, luxury breaks in the Yorkshire Wolds.

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.

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.

A path leading up to one of the woodland hideaways.
Image: North Star Club

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.

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.

The woodland at night with the sunset peeping through the trees.
Image: North Star Club

All suites have the amenities for a more than comfortable stay including a two ring gas hob and charcoal barbecue on your private veranda. 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. 

Two ladies enjoying a cup of tea outside at the North Star Club.
Image: North Star Club

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.

The inside of one of the hideaways at the North Star Club.
Image: North Star Club

Although tempting to stay in all day due to how gorgeous the hideaways 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.

Copper bath inside the Star Suite.
Image: 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.

The outdoor picnic table with hanging lanterns hanging above.
Image: 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.

A family gathered round a fire pit outside at The North Star Club.
Image: North Star Club

For more information on prices and how to book, take a look at the North Star Club website.

Featured image - North Star Club

The Sheff

Sheffield has been crowned the best city in the UK for students

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

It's good news for students in Sheffield, as the city has been crowned the very best in the UK for university life.

I mean, we can't say we're exactly surprised.

The news comes from a new report by Edumentors that reveals which UK cities offer new students cheap rent, safety, and quality teaching.

The research examined 40 UK cities to find which offer the best university life, tracking monthly rent rates from SpareRoom's data, crime rates from government records, and entertainment costs.

It also looked at how easy it is to get around and what students think of their teaching based on the National Student Survey. Each city received scores from 0 to 100 across all categories, with higher scores indicating a better student experience. 

Sheffield got the coveted top spot, undergrads here can find dorm rooms and shared flats for around £500, about £300 less than what students pay in Oxford or Cambridge.

Teaching quality also came up trumps, with nearly 9 out of 10 students saying they're happy with their courses at the University of Sheffield.

Coming in second place was Sunderland followed by Lancaster, Coventry and Aberdeen.

The higher education expert from Edumentors commented on the study: "It's not just Oxford and Cambridge ranking low; London and Edinburgh finish at the bottom too, despite having some of the world's most famous universities.

"But UK universities in general offer quality teaching across the board, so opting for budget cities is actually smarter for most students. You get a similar education while having money left over for a proper flat, going out with friends, and enjoying actual student life."

Read more The Sheff here:

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The Sheff

New Sheffield pizzeria named one of the world’s best

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

A Sheffield pizzeria has been named one of the world’s best in a prestigious global ranking.

Forbici, the restaurant where all pizzas are served with a pair of scissors, is the only northern pizzeria to be recognised at last week's Best Pizza Awards 2026.

The awards took place in Milan, and are said to be the Michelin equivalent of the pizza world.

Forbici was named as creating one of the world’s best pizzas, with its master chef recognised as one of the top pizza chefs in the world.

It’s one of just two UK pizzerias listed in the coveted top 100 this year.

Images: The Sheff

Forbici opened in Manchester back in 2024, and has since expanded across to lovely Sheffield on Millennium Square back in March.

It was also once named by Marco Pierre White as ‘the best pizza’ he’d ever had - quite an accolade.

Biga pizza dough at Forbici is slow-fermented to create a light, risen crust, before being topped with quality ingredients like San Marzano tomatoes and Italian produce.

It also has a lot of northern flavour, thanks to local specials like the Lancashire Hotpot – a pizza topped with crisps.

And all pizzas are served with scissors, inspired by the pizzerias of Naples, to be cut into quarters.

Master baker Davide Argentino is a fifth-generation baker from Napoli. While his family runs two bakeries on his behalf back home, Davide brings a true taste of authentic Neapolitan pizza to the UK.

Commenting on the recognition, Davide said: “It is a huge honour for Forbici to be recognised as one of the best pizzerias in the world.

“Baking has been in my family for five generations, so this is a really proud moment. In crafting Forbici’s signature dough we challenged convention pushing the fermentation process to the limit. Every bite reflects the patience, precision and expertise behind our approach.

“This recognition belongs to our entire team, whose passion, skill and commitment to the craft of pizza-making make Forbici what it is every day.”

Read more: A look inside the trendy Catalonian café and bar coming to Sheffield

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