The gorgeous little UK market town where life’s almost too good | UK | News

Driving into Beverley, a beautiful market town in East Yorkshire, it’s hard not to feel like you’ve stepped into a storybook; This feeling will become even more magical as the festival season approaches. You pass Westwood, where cows graze freely under ancient oaks, and ahead rises the majestic Beverley Minster, one of the largest churches in the UK. From cobbled streets lined with Georgian townhouses to bustling markets filled with friendly conversation and laughter, every corner looks like a postcard. Even on a rainy day, people stand on the streets chatting and chatting and everyone knows each other.

According to East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Beverley is home to over 100 high-quality independent businesses in its historic centre, as well as popular markets held every Wednesday and Saturday. It’s a place that has managed to preserve its heritage while maintaining a lively, lively energy, and its balance between modern and tradition, as well as its welcoming and friendly atmosphere, are a big part of what makes it so special for locals and visitors lucky enough to stumble upon it.

For Beverley mayor Councilor Alison Healy, her love for the town runs deep. Having lived here her entire life, she said being mayor of the place she was born and grew up in is something she will never take for granted.

He told the Express: “It’s a real pleasure and something I really don’t take for granted. I think it’s a real privilege. Beverley is a special place. It has its roots in medieval England, where it was a thriving town due to the wool trade. “That’s how a small town can afford to have two magnificent churches at either end, the Minster and St Mary’s.

“If you walk around the town you’ll see names that actually reflect the medieval wool trade, such as Dyer Lane, Walkergate, literally walking on wool. Beverley was the tenth largest town in England in medieval times.”

He said there was a real sense of pride and heritage: “We imbibe that heritage and are proud of it.”

But the town doesn’t stay in its past: “Even though we have a legacy and we’re really proud of it, we’re not just a town that looks back, we’re also looking forward,” he said.

“Walking around town you’ll see lots of lively, independent shops. You’ll see lots of eateries. You’ll see modernity. It’s a city that works together and embraces each other. It’s a very welcoming community and long may it continue.”

When asked why he thought Beverley’s high street was successful, he said there were a number of things that came into play, but some of the most important were collaboration and how proactive the community was. The town council is working collaboratively with different groups, including Beverley in Bloom.

This collaboration pays off big during the festive season with beautiful lights and a lively Christmas market. He said: “The East Riding Christmas Market in Beverley is really special and brings traders from all over.”

Stepping into Islay Bloom, one of the town’s beloved independents, we met the town mayor and shopkeeper to find they were both chatting and already knew each other well; This is another sign of Beverley’s close-knit, friendly and collaborative spirit.

Since its opening in 2023, Marnie Taylor has moved from Canada, first to Kent and then to Beverley, and has quickly become a Beverley favourite. The store offers carefully selected clothes, jewellery, gifts and homeware that you won’t find on the high street. When you enter the store, you are greeted with the faint scent of candles and soft lighting. With quality pieces at a variety of prices and thoughtful touches like gift wrapping, Islay Bloom is more than just a store; It’s a Beverley experience you won’t want to miss

Ms Taylor said: “Every brand has a story and every product feels special, whether it’s a scented candle, a distinctive piece of jewelery or feminine clothing from an up-and-coming designer.

“I think people who want to be independent in Beverley can look around and feel safe about the risk of doing that. They see the community, the people and the collaboration. With people like Allison [the town mayor]. It’s just a great sense of community. Especially with the Chamber of Commerce. We all work together. We all promote each other. I think it’s just based on the love for the city, which is contagious.

“We’ve got such a vibrant community. So many people seek out Beverley because it’s quaint and has great weather. We’ve got historic sites. We’ve also got a lovely High Street with some great shops. But there’s also independents to explore and we’re really spoiled for choice here, especially when it comes to food venues. It’s quite a magical place.”

“You can walk to the theatre. There’s the East Riding Theatre, where productions are held. We have a cinema.” He joked: “There’s almost too much going on here. Even I can’t keep up and I get frustrated when I miss things.”

He noted the town’s vibrant calendar of events, including a puppet festival and folk festival in the summer, and a wide range of events that appeal to all ages, from young to old.

“There are also many young people, ranging from women in their 80s who do ballet,” he said.

“I feel incredibly safe here. Even walking at night, I feel like I can stop anyone and ask for help. People have time for people here. I feel extremely welcome in the community.” He laughed, “I’m part of the furniture now.”

Councilor Healy added: “When you live in Beverley you’re very close to the sea, the countryside. The quality of life here is good.”

For Victoria Strickland, 47, owner of Pamperhouse, a gorgeous home and gift boutique next door to the Saturday Market, Beverley’s sense of loyalty and kindness has enabled her business to thrive.

“It’s a really lovely town. There have been some tough times no doubt and from the media reports at the moment autumn can be quite rough, but everyone keeps smiling and doing their best and the customer community in Beverley is fantastic because they really try to support independence. They go out of their way to come and shop with us.”

“Our customers are amazing. During COVID, they call and say, ‘Can I buy something?’ They were texting. and we would deliver it wherever we could.”

He said Beverley had a good mix of national brands and independent brands. He added: “The customer base is fantastic. They’re such nice people. They’re really supportive of us. I’ve never come across anything but people being really positive.”

Ms Strickland transitioned from a career as a corporate lawyer to running her own business, and although running an independent store isn’t always easy, she doesn’t take working at Beverley lightly. Even on a rainy day like the one we visited, going to work surrounded by the beautiful square, old buildings and the beauty of Beverley feels very special and completely different to a day in your previous career.

Regulars at Beverley’s weekly markets include Deborah Edmond, who runs a stall called Nellie’s Garden, selling lanterns, birdbaths and garden ornaments.

“It’s nice because we all look after each other,” he said. “If anyone wants to pick something up, we just watch each other stall. It’s nice because it’s kind of a community feeling. And on Saturday, it’s the same at the other end. On Saturday, you walk here and there are buskers – two or three buskers. It’s a very nice atmosphere.”

What makes Beverley stand out, he said, is the variety of places to eat. “It’s a very nice place, you have so many options.”

Among the many visitors to Beverley’s cobbled streets and cavernous church was retired Dutch historian Arnold Obraan, who was traveling with his wife and dog. The historian said the Minster was founded in the 8th century and had survived many historical events, including Henry’s dissolution of the monasteries.

“We are visiting, we are here for a day. But we saw it on the internet. It is a very beautiful town. It has a beautiful church and we know that the people here are lucky that the church was not destroyed by Henry VIII.”

He added: “We love old churches. We love old towns. I’m a historian and I’m retired now. So I’m interested in history and England and Scotland have a lot of history.”

As the town mayor summed up: “What makes Beverley unique is that it is proud of its traditions, forward-thinking and has a strong sense of community.”

Perhaps this is what makes Beverley shine so brightly as a town steeped in history, visible in its cobbled streets, the paintings that adorn some of its walls and the Grade I-listed Market Cross, but also boasting a diverse range of independent shops, eateries and an undeniable sense of togetherness.