The Grade II listed building officially reopened on Tuesday, August 25th, concluding an intensive renovation effort launched in early 2025 to reverse severe structural deterioration caused by age and coastal weathering.

Funded jointly by the UK Government’s Towns Fund and North Yorkshire Council, the project restored the landmark’s distinctive clock tower, roof, external stonework, and columns. Contractors also refurbished and modernised the building’s first floor, which had sat vacant since 2017, preparing it for public, cultural, and community use.

Market vendors, who were temporarily relocated to New Quay Road and Dock End for 20 months during construction, resumed trading under the restored arches today.

“The restoration of the Old Town Hall has given Whitby’s historic marketplace a breathtaking new lease of life,” said Gary Jamieson, an artist who has traded in the town for 16 years. “As the resident caricaturist, I’m thrilled to be back sketching under these iconic arches and welcoming locals and visitors back to our creative hub.”

Initial inspections in 2025 revealed that the building was at risk of irreversible damage without immediate intervention, with further structural defects uncovered once work commenced.

“This is a proud day for Whitby and it’s great to see one of the town’s most historic landmarks restored and brought back into full use,” said Cllr Mark Crane, deputy leader of North Yorkshire Council. “The scale of deterioration uncovered during the project showed just how important this investment was. Without intervention, its future would have become increasingly uncertain.”

Design work for the project was overseen by Align, North Yorkshire Council’s property consultancy, with local representatives officially cutting the ribbon on Tuesday.

The first-time collaboration between the museum and the Shambles-based artisan shop will run from Saturday, 24th October through Sunday, 1st November. Visitors can follow a self-guided trail through Station Hall to spot the hidden ghosts while learning Victorian railway lore and York ghost stories linked to the museum’s collection.

“York is said to be one of the most haunted cities in the world, and part of that reputation is thanks to the ghostly tales about the railways,” said Sarah Price, Head of Public Programming at the National Railway Museum. “The beautiful Victorian style and stories associated with York Ghost Merchants fits so well with the style and stories of Station Hall, with its opulent Victorian carriages and secret dark corners – it seemed like the perfect collaboration.”

The ghost hunt anchors a broader October half-term schedule at the venue. A complementary programme, titled Echoes on the Line, will feature live storytelling sessions and 19th-century keepsake craft workshops. The museum’s interactive Wonderlab: The Bramall Gallery will also offer Halloween-themed activities, including ultrasound experiments and a robot-car haunted train.

All activities run daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM throughout the half-term week.

During a week-long work experience placement at the company’s Yorkshire factory, students Zara and Tabitha created “Street Dog,” a new brand line that adapts popular human street food recipes into healthy canine treats.

Their debut creation – a sliced, air-dried treat named “Fish & Chips” – contains 70% sustainably sourced fish alongside apple cider vinegar and dill. As part of their product design, the students integrated a charitable component, pledging a portion of the treat’s proceeds to Dogs On the Streets, an organisation supporting vulnerable pet owners.

“We wanted to offer young people the full experience of what we do, to support them and provide them with skills in this challenging time for finding work,” said Chloe Heaton, founder and managing director of The Innocent Hound.

The limited-edition “Fish & Chips” treat goes on sale this Friday via the company’s website, with the students taking control of the brand’s social media channels to document the product launch.

Occupying a 101-square-metre unit, the store will offer MINISO’s standard line of plushies, blind boxes, lifestyle goods, and beauty accessories. The location will also stock licensed merchandise from major entertainment properties, including Disney, Pokémon, Sylvanian Families, and Sanrio’s Hello Kitty & Friends.

“York is such an exciting city for MINISO,” said Hannah Cook, Marketing Director at MINISO UK. “As a major UK tourism destination, welcoming millions of visitors every year from both the UK and overseas, it gives us a brilliant opportunity to connect with a diverse mix of existing and new MINISO fans. We’re excited to bring the MINISO experience to Coney Street and create an unmissable destination for people to discover, explore and, most importantly, have fun.”

To mark the opening, the store will offer a promotional goody bag, valued at £25, to the first 150 customers who spend a minimum of £5, alongside opening-day entertainment including a balloon modeller.

​Running from 29th to 31st August 2026, the three-day event pairs the timber-framed medieval townhouse, once home to former Lord Mayor of York and wealthy goldsmith William Snawsell, with hands-on historic combat demonstrations.

​Re-enactors from history group Three Swords will set up inside the Coffee Yard property to explore the 30-year conflict between the Houses of Lancaster and York. Visitors will be able to inspect period weapons and armour before watching live demonstrations of armed and unarmed combat drawn directly from fechtbücher (medieval fighting manuals).

​”We are hugely excited to be embracing this turbulent part of English history for our Medieval Weekend at Barley Hall,” said Richard Jones, event manager for York Archaeology, the educational charity that owns and operates the restored townhouse. “The external courtyard and grandeur of the Great Hall provide superb locations for this kind of display, whatever weather the bank holiday weekend throws at us.”

​The venue will host main combat presentations twice daily at 11:30am and 2:00pm, alongside guided historical tours of the hall at 1:00pm and 3:00pm.

​The event runs daily from 10:00am to 5:00pm (last admission at 4:30pm) and is included with standard entry tickets: £9.50 for adults, £5.50 for children, £7.75 for students, and family packages starting from £22.75.

​Running from Saturday, August 29 through Monday, August 31, the three-day event builds on last year’s debut by introducing the new Sizzling Showdown Arena. Hosted by comedian Neil Frost and partnered with Pure Pet Food, the venue will feature interactive audience events ranging from a family dog show to a chilli-eating contest and pie-themed bingo.

​The festival’s expanded footprint includes four distinct entertainment zones. The Main Stage will host 20 local and tribute acts across the weekend, headlined by Arctic Monkeys tribute band The Mardy Bums on Saturday night and Planet ABBA on Sunday evening.

​Gastronomy remains central to the event, with the Yorkshire Food Guide Cookery Theatre hosting live demonstrations from regional chefs, including Jon Appleby, Sandy Docherty, Sumith Babu, and Chris Hobson.

​Over 70 regional artisans will sell produce and crafts in the market area, complemented by two dedicated bar streets featuring 10 local vendors, including Vocation Brewery’s real ale setup. The central Street Food Arena brings together 23 international food vendors.

​Beyond food, the grounds feature hands-on activity stations including historical cooking demonstrations by the Viking Heritage Kitchen, target workshops, VR gaming, axe throwing, and free children’s cooking classes by Artisan Cooks.

​Organisers have partnered with Sheffield Mind to collect donations on-site, aiming to add to the £191,000 previously raised for Mind charities at sister events across England.

​Gates open Saturday at 10:00 AM, with free parking available adjacent to the site.

The collaborative day gives visitors of all ages the opportunity to learn about marine conservation, explore the Yorkshire coastline, and participate in hands-on environmental activities.

Between 11:00am and 3:00pm, Deep Crew educators and Sewerby volunteers will host drop-in sessions in the Orangery. Activities include beachcombing, creating unique marine artwork, handling historical sea artefacts, and identifying native rockpool species using dedicated guide sheets.

In addition to the Orangery setup, visitors can join guided Seaside Safari sessions running from 11:30am–12:30pm and 1:30pm–2:30pm. These outdoor sessions take participants directly onto the beach at Sewerby to explore active rockpools and observe local marine life in its natural habitat.

“We are delighted to welcome back Deep Crew to Sewerby Hall and Gardens for another exciting Ecology at the Beach event. The Deep Crew sessions are always extremely popular, offering families the chance to explore the local coastline, get a closer look at its wildlife and learn the importance of protecting our natural environment. Working in partnership with The Deep allows us to inspire curiosity, especially with young people, and encourage visitors to connect with nature.”

— Councillor Nick Coultish, East Riding of Yorkshire Council

The initiative aims to build a deeper connection between coastal visitors and local wildlife protection efforts.

“These popular sessions provide a fantastic opportunity for families to explore our local coastline, discover the incredible wildlife found along the Yorkshire coast, and learn more about the importance of protecting our natural environment. Working in partnership with The Deep allows us to offer engaging, hands-on experiences that inspire curiosity.”

— Marie Gascoigne, General Manager at Sewerby Hall and Gardens

The Deep’s Education Team added that they are thrilled to continue their long-standing partnership with Sewerby Hall, using the event to bring local families closer to the natural wonders of the Yorkshire coast.

All Ecology at the Beach activities are included with standard admission charges to Sewerby Hall and Gardens. Further details and advance bookings can be accessed via thedeep.co.uk/events/ecology-beach.

The Yorkshire family attraction is introducing an expanded line-up of live-action entertainment, interactive trails, and seasonal activities across the park. At the heart of this year’s event is the brand-new Woodland Witches experience, which transforms the Enchanted Forest into a magical world where young adventurers can meet mischievous witches and take part in hands-on challenges.

As visitors journey through the forest collecting stamps on their trail sheets, they will explore several new interactive locations:

• The Willow of Whispering Wishes: An ancient tree guardian where children can share their dreams.
• The Menagerie of Mismatched Monsters: A storytelling hub bringing strange new creatures to life.
• The Pantry of Poisonous Potions: An activity zone packed with bubbling ingredients and playful challenges.
• The Wardrobe of Witchy Wonders: A family dress-up space designed for seasonal photo opportunities.

Alongside the forest trail, children can tackle the Mummy Maze to help a forgetful mummy track down her missing children hidden within Stockeld’s hedge maze.

Guests can also ride tractor-trailers out to the pumpkin patch to purchase home-grown weird and wonderful pumpkin varieties. Additional park highlights include live-action scarecrow encounters, six outdoor playgrounds, and Zombie Laser Tag – an action-packed outdoor woodland battle available as an optional add-on.

For visitors seeking evening entertainment, Stockeld Park is introducing all-new Pumpkin Nights on 17th and 24th October. As darkness falls over the patch, the after-dark experience will feature live folk music, roaming performers, seasonal games, and a fire-eating show.

“Halloween is always one of our favourite times of year. This year’s event combines everything families love about Stockeld with some fantastic new experiences. From magical witches and ancient woodland guardians to pumpkin picking and spooky evening entertainment, we’ve created an adventure that captures the fun and imagination of Halloween without being too frightening for younger visitors.”

— Peter Grant, Owner and Chief Fun Officer at Stockeld Park

The Halloween Adventure will run throughout October, with tickets and further event details available online at stockeldpark.co.uk.

Occupying a unit on Merrion Street within the city’s Arena Quarter, the new multi-activity venue will create 18 full and part-time jobs. Leeds marks the fourth UK location for the brand – joining Belfast, Maidstone, and Camden – and expands an international network of more than 110 venues worldwide.

At the core of the experience is Prison Island, an immersive team challenge where groups of up to five tackle a series of themed cells designed to test physical skill, logic, and teamwork. Unlike traditional escape rooms, players can move between various challenges freely, allowing for a unique experience on every visit. The Leeds venue will also offer additional competitive socialising options, including interactive darts and interactive golf.

The new location will be operated by the team behind the Belfast venue, which launched seven years ago.

“The Merrion Centre is a superb location and felt like a natural fit for Prison Island. It’s a busy, well-established leisure destination in the heart of Leeds, with excellent transport links and strong footfall from residents, students, workers and visitors to the city. We’re most looking forward to finally bringing the Prison Island experience to Leeds. We’ve seen how well the concept works in Belfast, particularly because it appeals to such a broad audience and every visit can be completely different.”

— Ryan Lyttle, Director of Prison Island Leeds

The addition strengthens the Merrion Centre’s expanding leisure and hospitality portfolio, catering to student groups, families, corporate events, and night-out celebrations.

“We’re delighted to be welcoming Prison Island to the Merrion Centre. Its decision to launch its first venue in the North of England here in Leeds is a fantastic endorsement of the Merrion Centre as a destination for leisure and entertainment. The scale of the new venue, combined with the variety and interactive nature of the experiences on offer, will bring something genuinely different to our visitors.”

— Charles Newman, Asset Management Director at Town Centre Securities PLC

Prison Island Leeds is expected to open in time for Christmas, with further launch details and booking information set to be announced in due course.

The exhibition establishes a permanent home for the legacy, books, and memorabilia of the late Peter N. Walker, who wrote the Constable series of novels under the pen name Nicholas Rhea. Set in the fictional North York Moors village of Aidensfield (filmed in Goathland), Heartbeat ran for 18 years and remains a staple of UK television broadcasting.

Located adjacent to the attraction’s film-showreel area and replica TV studios, the new display features original artefacts, rare photography, and iconic period police motorcycles.

“I’m delighted that The World of James Herriot has been entrusted with the artefacts of the late Peter N Walker (Nicholas Rhea). The opportunity for the World of James Herriot to become the home for his TV series legacy, books and memorabilia is a welcome addition and complements the story of Alf Wight (James Herriot) whose All Creatures Great and Small BBC TV series was a forerunner to Heartbeat and of similar TV genre, both watched by millions.”

— Ian Ashton, Managing Director at World of James Herriot

The connection between the two authors dates back to their time as local contemporaries. Sarah Walker, daughter of Nicholas Rhea, noted that Alf Wight originally asked her father for advice when developing stories about life as a country vet.

“Alf Wight (or James Herriot) was our local vet and asked Dad, who’d had a few crime books published, for advice on an idea for some stories about life as a country vet. Dad had recently had his own idea for stories about the life of a country bobby rejected with the words: ‘There’s no call for Yorkshire humour’ so passed this sage wisdom on to Alf! Alf tried anyway – and the rest is history! Herriot’s success inspired Dad to not give up and finally in 1979 Constable on the Hill was published. We are thrilled as a family to be working with The World of James Herriot to preserve my dad’s legacy.”

— Sarah Walker, Daughter of Author Nicholas Rhea

The exhibition was developed with the support of Rhoda Walker and the author’s family, alongside contributors Jason Bullard and Lee Jones, offering a unified destination for fans exploring North Yorkshire’s screen tourism heritage.