Newsletter: Friday 1st August 2025

Happy Yorkshire Day! From the Pennines to the coast, the White Rose county is coming together today to celebrate its history, culture, and community spirit. With civic ceremonies in Bradford and Ilkley, pop-up performances in York, and creative Yorkshire twists on everything from ramen to racing, there’s no better time to shine a light on the people and places that make this region so special.

In this week’s newsletter, we’ve rounded up the best of what’s happening across the county—from brand-new exhibitions and charity events to cake collaborations, comedy tours, and local heroes making national headlines. Whether you're out and about or celebrating from home, here’s your guide to everything Yorkshire this week.

Yorkshire Day

Yorkshire Day 2025 is today Friday 1 August, with celebrations across the county including civic events in Bradford and Ilkley.

On Yorkshire Day, staff at Yorkshire Garden Centre sites across the county will take part in a charity spinathon—cycling the distance to Martin House Children’s Hospice on static bikes—to raise funds as part of the group’s £30,000 fundraising goal for the much-loved local charity.

Maki & Ramen in Leeds is celebrating Yorkshire Day with a bold new Japanese-Yorkshire fusion menu—featuring dishes like Sunday Roast Ramen, Sushi Butties, and Iced Yorkshire Tea Matcha—available throughout August and created to honour local flavours with a playful international twist.

What's been happening

Scottish rock icons Texas lit up Scarborough Open Air Theatre with a sold-out summer show packed with hits, heartfelt thanks, and a standout support set from rising star Rianne Downey.

Tim Easterby’s Great Habton yard dominated the 2025 Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival, winning the Trainers’ Challenge, Leading Trainer title, and Best Turned Out yard, as apprentice Warren Fentiman claimed top jockey honours in a standout week for Yorkshire racing.

What's new for visitors

North Yorkshire Water Park has launched affordable on-site camping pods from £40 a night, offering a comfortable stay just metres from its popular water sports and adventure activities near Scarborough.

Danby Castle has unveiled its new Daleview Barn wedding venue—a beautifully transformed former lambing barn with sweeping North Yorkshire Moors views, blending historic charm with contemporary elegance.

York BID has introduced new Night Safe Officers to patrol the city centre every weekend until January 2026, helping ensure York’s evening scene remains safe, welcoming, and well-managed for residents and visitors alike.

Exhibitions

Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley is hosting Many Hands, a powerful free photography exhibition exploring working-class life, industry, and identity across the UK—blending archival images with new work by acclaimed and emerging artists to highlight stories of resilience, creativity, and community.

Wakefield is bursting with colour and creativity this summer thanks to Jason and the Wakefield Adventure—a major art exhibition by local artist Jason Wilsher-Mills, accompanied by free family-friendly workshops, live performances, and inflatable sculptures popping up across the district until 7 September.

The Deep in Hull has unveiled The Wreck, a brand-new exhibit transforming its former Amazon zone into an artificial reef inspired by real-world shipwrecks—home to striking Lookdown fish and part of a summer-long conservation event called Wrecks & Reefs, perfect for families looking to dive into ocean life during the holidays.

A major new exhibition at Whitby Museum and Pannett Art Gallery, REVISIONS, brings together powerful works by Warlpiri artists from Central Australia and British artist Patrick Waterhouse—reimagining colonial-era maps and records through Indigenous storytelling and dot painting, in the very town where Captain Cook’s journey began. Open until 5 October.

Food

Get Baked’s legendary 16-layer chocolate cake “Bert” just got a peanut butter upgrade—Peanut Butter Bert, made with ManiLife’s Deep Roast Crunchy, is launching in Leeds and Manchester on 2 August as a limited-edition bundle packed with cake, cocoa-dusted peanuts, and fudge sauce. Only 10,000 available—expect a sell-out.

Stuzzi’s spicy Nduja Ketchup—crafted in Leeds and served across their Yorkshire restaurants—has won a prestigious 3-star Great Taste 2025 award, placing it among the world’s top-rated condiments for its bold flavour and restaurant-quality flair.

Trinity Kitchen’s summer street food line-up is serving up global flavours in the heart of Leeds, with new vendors like Masri’s Egyptian Koshary, Doles Dirty Bags’ Irish-style Spice Bags, and I Love Brioche’s indulgent buns—alongside returning favourites like deep-fried lasagne and bao buns, available now through 21 September.

Charlie & Ivy’s much-loved Lemon, Garlic, Thyme & Balsamic Bread Dipper is back by popular demand—and this time, it’s here to stay, offering a zesty, versatile flavour made with Yorkshire cold-pressed rapeseed oil.

Eco-friendly

Wakefield’s En Route Hair & Beauty is turning everyday practices—like recycling hair clippings and offering refill stations—into a national sustainability model, earning a finalist spot at the 2025 Pro Hair Awards and inspiring others across the industry to follow suit.

Thorpe Park Leeds has launched a five-year sustainable transport plan—including a new on-site railway station opening in 2027—to cut solo car journeys, boost public and active travel, and support its long-term goal of reaching Net Zero.

Bradford City AFC has earned a Silver award from the EFL Green Clubs Scheme for its ambitious sustainability efforts, including solar panels, recycled kits, EV charging points, and a new three-year ‘Greener Bantams’ strategy led by dedicated staff and supported by the wider community.

Coming up

Berwins Salon North returns to Harrogate on 11 September with a fast-paced, thought-provoking evening exploring family, love, and teenage angst—featuring bestselling authors, a neuroscientist, and live TED-style talks in a relaxed cabaret setting at the Crown Hotel.

Stephen K Amos is bringing his acclaimed new stand-up show Now We’re Talking! to venues across the UK—including Hull and Leeds—as part of a major 2025–26 tour that blends laugh-out-loud comedy with stories from his film, theatre, and BBC career.

This Christmas, the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough is reimagining Sleeping Beauty with a brand-new festive adventure from 29 November to 31 December—starring a returning award-winning cast and featuring songs, laughs, and a magical dreamworld written and directed by Nick Lane.

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What's on in Yorkshire this week?

Yorkshire is buzzing with an exciting line-up of events to suit all tastes. Whether you’re looking for live music, comedy, sports nostalgia, or family-friendly entertainment, there’s something for everyone. Here’s what’s coming up in the next week:

• Sounds of the Universe: Zimmer, Richter, Einaudi by Mystery Ensemble at Bradford Cathedral, Bradford on August 1st, 2025 7:00pm
• Afternoon Flat Horse Racing at Thirsk Racecourse – Saturday 02 August 2025
• Hawkwind at O2 Academy Leeds on August 3rd, 2025 7:00pm
• Afternoon Flat Horse Racing at Ripon Racecourse – Monday 04 August 2025
• Scarborough Spa Orchestra Morning Concert at Scarborough Spa Suncourt on August 5th, 2025 11:00am
• The Magic Mike Summer Show at Scarborough Spa Theatre on August 6th, 2025 7:00pm
• Extreme with Special Guests Terrorvision at The Piece Hall, Halifax on August 7th, 2025 6:00pm
• Sanctum Sanctorium at The Crescent, York on August 8th, 2025 8:00pm
• Craig David | TS5 Album Release Show at Stylus, Leeds on August 9th, 2025 7:00pm
• The Smurfs (PG) at Whitby Pavilion Theatre Cinema on August 10th, 2025 2:00pm

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A look at the history of Castle Howard, with Dr Emma Wells

"...less like a fortress and more like a fantasy conjured from stone..."

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