Knaresborough

Pre-Christmas Thursday Late Night Shopping

Charlotte Gale
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Categories: Members, News

Join us in Knaresborough on Thursday 11 and Thursday 18 December 2025 for some pre-Christmas late night shopping, with a number of local businesses open later than normal.

We’ve put together a handy guide to some of Knaresborough’s fantastic independents. Why not combine some Christmas shopping with a drink or bite to eat in one of Knaresborough’s local bars, pubs or restaurants.

There are lots of other great independents in town too, some of which are unable to stay open later, but who would still love your support this festive season. Follow Knaresborough’s Christmas List on Facebook for festive food and gift inspiration from a wide range of local businesses or view the list of local shops and eateries at the bottom of this page.

Remember that spending money locally helps the town’s economy to thrive and prosper. Much of that money is then reinvested with other local businesses, providing employment for local people.

On average, for every £1 spent at a local independent business, around 63p to 70p stays in the local economy.

Thanks so much for supporting local this festive season. Together we can help our town thrive.

Sheer Bliss Lingerie

Independent lingerie, swimwear and leisure wear boutique Sheer Bliss Lingerie – Knaresborough were finalists in the ‘Best Shop’ category at the national Stars Awards 2023 (the Oscars of the lingerie industry!). They offer a full fitting service. You can find them on the High Street opposite the Bus Station.

Twig & Ink

Twig & Ink are an independent women’s clothing, gift and accessories shop. You can find them in the former Wild Orchid premises on the High Street, just down from Hirst’s Bakery.

Zigzag Cards & Gifts

Independent card and gift shop Zigzag Cards & Gifts has a wide range of cards and gifts for all ages, as well as festive decorations and stocking fillers. You’re sure to find some great festive shopping ideas. Zigzag Cards & Gifts are stockists of the popular Jellycat and Orange Tree toy ranges, as well Joma Jewellery, Pom Jewellery and scarves and cards and calendars by local photographers and artists. They have some great gifts for men too. You can find them on the main High Street pedestrian crossing opposite Tesco Express.

The Music Bank

Spread over 2000sq, and packed floor to ceiling with stock, The Music Bank has a great range of new and pre-owned guitars, ukuleles, amps and accessories to choose from, including all your favourite band merchandise. They also offer music tuition. You can find them on the High Street in the former Barclay’s Bank building.

Bonbon Traditional Sweet Shop

Bonbon are a traditional, family run sweet shop offering a huge range of sweets & confectionary, gifts, movie night boxes, jars, platters & gift vouchers, there is something for everybody and a great range of gifts. Find them at 67 High Street.

Hello Gorgeous

New women’s fashion boutique, Hello Gorgeous, offers stylish clothing, party outfits and accessories, including trendy items and festive wear. You can find them at 88 High Street in the former Greenwoods Solicitors premises. They will be staying open until 7pm for late night shopping.

The Olde Chemist Shop

The Old Chemist Shoppe sells a wide range of Yorkshire produce and gifts, including festive chocolates, biscuits, Elizabeth Botham biscuits and cakes, jams, preserves and soaps. Perfect for stocking fillers or secret santas.

Natural Choice

Located opposite Prudames Greengrocers, Natural Choice offer a wide range of health foods and natural products and supplements. They also have a great range of non alcoholic drinks for the festive season.

Castle Creamery

If all that Christmas shopping is leaving you in need of a treat for yourself, then why not call into Castle Creamery for a pancake, waffle or delicious hot chocolate. Located on the edge of the Castle Courtyard shopping centre opposite the Police Station, The Castle Creamery’s selection of sweet treats is hard to resist.

Castlegate Books

Books make great Christmas presents and Castlegate Books in the Market Place have a wide range of titles, including children’s books, fiction, biographies, cookery books, travel and walking guides and local interest books. They have a fantastic ordering service too if the book you want isn’t in stock. Castlegate Books will be open until 6pm for late night shopping.

Yorkshire Beeswax Candle Company

Stocking a wide range of hand made Yorkshire Honey, Beeswax candles, wax melts, cosmetics and gifts, The Yorkshire Beeswax Candle Company have some great stocking fillers and gift ideas. You can find them in Green Dragon Yard. Pop in and grab a taste of fresh honey, direct from Hive to Jar.

Knitting Pretty

Located on Castlegate at the entrance to Green Dragon Yard, Knitting Pretty have a wide range of wools, patterns, accessories and gift ideas. They will be open until 6pm.

Diane Watson of Knitting Pretty wool shop in Knaresborough

Trinket Home & Gift

Trinket have a wide range of gifts and small homeware items, including ideas for newborns, children and adults, candles and Chrisrmas decorations. You can find them on Castlegate next to Hutton’s Butchers. They are open until 6pm for late night shopping.

Painting Pots

Painting Pots is a fun, relaxed, friendly pottery painting and craft studio. They also have a great range of crafting kits for all age groups. You can find them on Castlegate opposite Brymor Ice Cream. They will be open until 6pm for late night shopping.

Kelly Teggin Hair and Beauty

Kelly Teggin Hairdressing and Beauty have some great Christmas packs of Milkshake hair products for sale, in addition to a full range of hair and beauty treatments. You can find them on Castlegate opposite Hutton’s Butchers.

Boujee

Newly opened luxury beauty and aesthetics salon Boujeė offer gift vouchers against treatments. You can find them on the High Street just up from the Post Office

Orchis Escape

Orchis Escape are a small and friendly beauty salon offering a wide range of treatments in a calm and relaxing environment. You can find them on the High Street above Twig & Ink, just down from Hirsts.

Vital Beauty Aesthetics & Skincare Clinic

Vital Beauty is a CPD accredited clinic, offering a range of non surgical treatments and semi permanent make-up. You can find them on the High Street next to the Brow Bar.

Swish

Swish offer a range of beauty treatments, including gel nails, manicures, pedicures, brows, lashes and tans. You can find them on the High Street next to Zigzag Cards & Gifts.

Divine Hairdressing

A Friendly and comfortable salon that offers all aspects of hairdressing. You can find them on the High Street opposite the bus station.

Aurum Hair

Aurum hair and beauty salon specialise in cutting, styling, colouring, special occasion hair, weddings, hair extensions and mens hairdressing. You can find them on the corner of Castlegate, opposite The Market Tavern.

Aimes Health & Beauty

A bit further out of town, but award winning Aimes Health and Beauty on Aspin Lane offer gift vouchers for treatments and massages. The perfect Christmas pamper gift.

Post Shopping Food and Snack Ideas
(all open late on Thursday)

Zolsha
Berry’s Tavern
So Bar & Eats
Blind Jack’s
Dil Raj
Six Poor Folk
The Castle Inn
The Groves Inn
Lawai Spice
Carriages
The Mitre
The World’s End
The Knaresborough Inn
Mother Shipton Inn
The Half Moon

List of independent businesses in Knaresborough town centre for Christmas gift ideas
Food and drink places in Knaresborough

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Feva Window Competition – August 2025

Charlotte Gale
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Categories: Waiting

Help turn the town pink with the annual feva window competition, which will run from 8 – 17 August 2025.

Decorate your shop or town centre window in feva pink and you could be in with a chance of winning this year’s competition and feva cup.

This year businesses are being asked to register their business name via the link below to enter the competition. This is so no-one gets accidentally missed from the judging.

Click here to enter your business now

There will be a chance for residents and visitors to vote for their favourite windows, with the results assisting the judging panel with their final decision.

Find out more about feva at www.feva.info.

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Knaresborough Visitors and Residents Survey

Philip Kilner
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Categories: News

Chamber has worked with Renaissance Knaresborough and the Civic Society, supported by funding from the Shared Prosperity Fund, to commission a report that seeks to understand opportunities for tourism development in Knaresborough.

As a market town with great appeal for visitors, on whom many businesses rely, this data provides invaluable intelligence for future developments in the town. It also reflects the perspectives of local residents who also want our town to be a great place to live as well as visit.

Downloads:

Knaresborough-Visitors and Residents-Survey Final Report

Polis Report

Connectivity Study

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Knaresborough Trading Conditions Survey – May 2022

Charlotte Gale
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Categories: News

A recent survey undertaken by Knaresborough Chamber of Trade suggests that the town may be bucking the national trend.  3 out of 4 traders said that conditions were either the same or better than pre-COVID suggesting that all the efforts to support local during the pandemic are bearing fruit.  However, they also reported growing pressures on costs of both stock and overheads, which were the top concerns of traders impacting on profitability. 

Chamber Committee member Charlotte Gale says “whilst we’re obviously pleased that most traders in Knaresborough are positive about current conditions there is also a real concern about the impacts of rising prices for both business costs and people’s spending power over coming months.”

When asked what would further support recovery Traders said that most effort should be put into encouraging existing and new residents from the town’s local housing developments to continue to shop local.  This message was part of the joint initiative between Chamber and Knaresborough Connectors, the Lions and Rotary with the ‘Welcome to Knaresborough’ booklet distributed free to all new residents. 

Peter Lacey, another Chamber Committee member, says “everybody in the town wants to see a thriving business community for convenience, recreation, jobs and ensuring an attractive visitor experience.  It’s only by working together in that goal that we can weather whatever the cost of living crisis sends out way.”

Some of the comments by traders in the survey responses reflect the cautiously optimistic mood reflected in the survey.

“We need to keep working on making the High Street tidier.”

“The recent Spring Fair was brilliant because it supported business and didn’t compete with them.”

“Never seen Knaresborough so busy its fantastic.  Town is buzzing”

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Chamber Knaresborough Banking and ATM Update – 2022

Charlotte Gale
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Categories: News

The loss of all seven banks and building societies, as well as all but two of Knaresborough’s town centre ATMs, had a significant impact on the town. Not only due to loss of local amenities, but also reduced footfall and other challenges for the local business community.

Knaresborough Chamber campaigned against banking closures and more recently has worked with local councillors to help address the needs of local businesses and work towards solutions to the town’s banking problems.

Current banking projects include a multi-bank Banking HUB, the re-instatement of a Market Place ATM and a community branch of Newcastle Building Society in the library.  Both the Banking HUB and Newcastle Building Society projects will include provision for the business community.

Newcastle Building Society are also looking to recruit staff to join their Knaresborough team. For more information, visit https://www.newcastle.co.uk/careers.

Chamber Sponsors New Civic Society Market Blue Plaque

Charlotte Gale
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Categories: News

We were delighted to contribute to a new Market Place blue plaque, commissioned by Knaresborough Civic Society to commemorate the town’s historic Wednesday market. 

The market is one of the oldest in the country, with King Edward II granting Knaresborough a Royal Charter to hold a market in 1310, and is an important asset for our community.

Chamber have played an active role in its preservation over the past 5 years and we hope that it will continue to thrive at the heart of our historic market town for many years to come.

Roger the town crier expertly announced the unveiling at today’s market, with photos taken on behalf of the town by Chamber Member Charlotte Gale.

Roger the town crier

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Beginners Guide to Knaresborough – Welcoming our New Residents

Charlotte Gale
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Categories: News

One of the key things which has been highlighted by Chamber surveys and group discussions is the importance of local trade for many businesses in the town.

Whilst some do rely heavily on tourists, many are almost entirely dependent on local residents or businesses. The new housing developments on the outskirts of the town will bring many new residents to Knaresborough, many of whom may struggle to feel part of the community due to geographical location.

Chamber recognised an opportunity to engage with this new potential customer base and have worked with Knaresborough Town Council, Knaresborough Connectors, Knaresborough Rotary and Knaresborough Lions to produce a ‘Beginners Guide to Knaresborough’ booklet, ably narrated by Roger the Town Crier.

These booklets have been delivered to new residents and also distributed to local estate agents. New residents can also find out more information on the knaresborough.community website, managed by Knaresborough Connectors. 

Beginners Guide to Knaresborough Booklet Beginners Guide to Knaresborough Supporters

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Knaresborough Christmas Market – 4 and 5 December 2021

Charlotte Gale
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Categories: News

With just over two weeks to go until its popular Christmas Market Weekend, Knaresborough promises to offer visitors a Yorkshire Christmas experience to remember this year. Centred around the imposing Christmas tree in the town’s historic Market Place, this traditional Yorkshire market is a firm favourite with residents and visitors alike.

The market opens at 10am on Saturday 4 December, when the town centre will be filled with almost 50 stalls selling seasonal goods, gifts and the best of locally sourced produce. Hot roasted chestnuts, mulled wine and performances by a wide variety of local dancers, brass bands and choirs will add to the festive atmosphere, as shoppers browse the brightly lit stalls and local independent shops.

Elsewhere in the town, visitors can take in the picturesque viaduct river view, explore Knaresborough’s Castle Keep and Tudor Courthouse museum (Saturday only) and visit the stunning Christmas Tree festival at St John’s Parish Church or Mother Shipton’s Christmas Experience (pre-booked tickets only).

Market Chair, Hazel Haas, comments:

“Sadly we had to cancel last year’s market, so there is a real buzz in the town about its return. It’s been a difficult 18 months for Knaresborough residents and businesses and we wanted to give everyone something to look forward to. We are also keen that this year’s event benefits the town as a whole. Members of our volunteer committee from Knaresborough Chamber, Rotary and Lions’ have been liaising with other local organisations to ensure that we are promoting the full range of festive events taking place in Knaresborough over the market weekend. We are also supporting Air cadets, Lions, Rotary, Hearing Dogs for Deaf people and Knaresborough Cricket Club, who are our charitable partners for this year.”

Committee member Charlotte Gale from Knaresborough Chamber adds, “we have a fantastic range of local independent shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants in town, not just in the market square, but on the surrounding streets and High Street. We hope that visitors to the market will also take the time to explore everything which Knaresborough has to offer. The businesses always make such an effort to decorate their windows for Christmas, which gives a wonderful festive feeling in town on the market weekend.”

As always, the market weekend will close at 4.30pm on Sunday 5 December with a fantastic firework finale, set against the dramatic backdrop of Knaresborough’s famous viaduct and the Nidd Gorge. This is best seen from any viewpoint which overlooks the river area.

The centre of Knaresborough is largely pedestrianised for the event, but a free Park and Ride is available all weekend from the GSPK car park (HG5 8LF) on Manse Lane to Chapel Street, close to the market square.

For more information and entertainment timings, visit the event website at www.knaresboroughchristmasmarket.co.uk

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Great North Auto Services

admin
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Categories: Members, News

Great North Auto Services offers a wide range of vehicle services and repairs across all vehicle makes and models, including MOT, services and tyres. Located just outside Knaresborough on the A168 at Rabbit Hill Business Park, we are well placed to serve all the local surrounding areas and offer courtesy cars or a free collection and delivery service.

 

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