Westwood Lodge Ilkley Moor News: Ilkley Literature Festival Back in town!

Wednesday, 20 September 2017

Ilkley Literature Festival Back in town!

The Ilkley Literature Festival this year runs from Friday 29th September until Sunday 15th October. There are over 250 events including Alan Bennett, Sarah Millican, Richard Osman, Shami Chakrabarti, Judy Murray, Richard Dawkins, June Sarpong, Daljit Nagra, Alan Hollinghurst and many more.

The Children’s Festival is headlined by BBC Radio 1’s Greg James and Chris Smith and includes fantastic events for anyone ages 3-12 including Ben Faulks, Nadia Shireen, Robin Stevens and Festival favourites tutti frutti. Young People have the chance to meet some of their favourite authors including Alex Wheatle and Samantha Shannon. Plus there are workshops and masterclasses with leading writers and the Festival Fringe.

Go to http://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk for full details.

The Top Places to Eat and Drink, as chosen by YOU!

Emporio Italia, Railway Road - friendly place with a true Italian feel. No longer open in the evening.
Quinta - Mediterranean cuisine - Wells Road
The Vine off main car park - small and friendly Italian
The Swan (Addingham) - great reviews! The best of the surviving Addingham pubs
The Timble Inn, Timble - 20 minute drive but beautifully restored village pub - now almost totally food focused
La Casita - now on Cunliffe Road - top quality (but salty!) Spanish-style tapas
Betty's Tea Rooms, The Grove - expensive, but the crowds just keep coming!
The Wheatley Arms, Ben Rhydding - great food , especially the Early Bird menu
Friends of Ham - Wells Road - sharing platters
The Angel, Hetton - not cheap, but worth driving there and splashing out!
Bistro Pierre at The Crescent Inn, Brook Street - popular buzzing place with great bar
The Box Tree, Church Street - If only a lapsed Michelin star will meet your needs - you must go!
The Veggie - daytime only though
Bah't at Ale and Wine Bar, Cunliffe Road - much more of an ale house than a wine bar!
Joel's Bar and Kitchen (was Host) - latest Monkman venture run by Chris's son Joel
Pranzos - moved from Ben Rhydding to the main car park in Ilkley
The Ilkley Cow, New Brook Street - replaced long-time favourite Farsyde
Pizza Express, Ilkley Station - it's a chain, but for families, it's hard to beat!

20 Things you MUST do!

Sing "On Ilkley Moor Baht' at" outside our gates
Orienteer or Geocache on Ilkley Moor
Pop into The Toy Museum or try the new Climbing Wall!
Take afternoon tea at Betty's
Visit the World Heritage site at Saltaire
Walk to the Cow and Calf Rocks
Head into Bradford for a curry or a theatre trip to the majestic Alhambra
Bask at Ilkley Lido on a sunny day
Visit the limestone wonder of Malham Cove or the powerful Ingleton Waterfalls
Wander around the bluebell woods at Middleton in April
Take a ride on the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway
Shop at Harvey Nicks in Leeds
Walk part of The Dalesway long distance path
Climb up Brimham Rocks
Take the train to York - pretend to be an overseas tourist (or a British one if you really are!)
Play games and learn at Eureka (if you're between 5 and 95!)
Take a day return on the Settle- Carlisle railway but get off en-route to take in the scenery and small towns. Garsdale Head or Dent are best
Run wild around the ramparts of Skipton Castle
Wander around the RHS Harlow Carr Gardens