BID Projects & Campaigns, Term 2

Yorkshire Day 2025

Yorkshire Day 2025 Official Photograph by Stephen Garnett Photography.
L-R: Suzanne Watson, Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Councillor Mohammed Shafiq, The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Jane Gibson, The Mayor of Ilkley, Isabel Ashman, Ilkley Town Crier.

The Ilkley BID successfully delivered on its promise to “support and promote events in the town and to collaborate with others to bring new events” by playing a central role in the Yorkshire Day Celebration Weekend that took place 1st – 3rd August 2025.

Read the about the Yorkshire Day 2025 event here

The BID’s proactive approach began in August 2022 after becoming “The Sunday Times Best Place To Live” in April 2022 when it applied to host the event. By choosing to co-host with Bradford, the BID strategically strengthened its application, as Bradford had already been named the City of Culture 2025. This move ensured the event would attract significant attention, with the main goal of bringing more visitors to Ilkley and supporting the local economy and levy-paying businesses. The three-day event was a huge success, drawing large crowds and extensive media attention.

BID’s Role and Key Contributions

The BID was the driving force behind much of the event’s success, coordinating with various partners and executing a comprehensive plan.

Media Coordination

A key achievement was the coordination with major broadcasters to feature local businesses and put Ilkley on the map.

ITV’s This Morning: Actor Colson Smith (known as Craig from Coronation Street) reported live, sampling products from Bettys and Lishman’s butchers, interviewing Ilkley Town Crier Isabel Ashman, and performing a rousing rendition of “On Ilkla Moor Baht’at.”
BBC Radio Leeds: The station broadcasted live from La Stazione Café, featuring interviews with local businesses like Forde Restaurant and Ilkley Manor House.
GB News: Broadcasted live from the Fountain and around town, concluding with an interview with Tim Tennant, owner of The Art Shops.

Marketing and Promotion

A key contribution of the BID was the extensive marketing and promotion of the event. The BID led a comprehensive advertising campaign that included:

Social media ads, posts, and email marketing.
Posters around the town.
Numerous press releases.
Radio advertising.
Roadside banners and advertising.

Event Logistics & Beautification

The BID’s commitment to creating an attractive and welcoming town was evident in its contributions to the event’s infrastructure and appearance.

Flagpole Installation: A long-term BID initiative, the flagpoles were installed after over a year of planning and securing permissions from Bradford Council, businesses, and landlords.
Lamppost Banners & Bunting: The BID arranged for lamppost banners and Yorkshire Day bunting to decorate the town, tying into its broader mission of keeping Ilkley clean and attractive.
Sponsorship: The BID created and managed a sponsorship scheme to bring in additional funds. This secured major sponsors for key parts of the event, including securing large sponsorships from David Wilson Homes for the Acoustic Stage (Ilkley Bandstand) and Booths for the Main Stage.

Collaboration and Partnerships

The event’s success was a testament to the strong collaboration between multiple organisations. The BID worked closely with Ilkley Town Council, Bradford Council, and many volunteers from Ilkley Live, Ilkley Community Network, Bradford 25, local residents, and town councillors.

Ilkley Town Council’s Contribution: The Town Council was a key partner, funding the majority of the music entertainment, stages, lights and sound, picnic tables & chairs and security. They also collaborated with the team at Ilkley Live to curate a full day of music entertainment featuring local musicians.

Event Highlights & Economic Impact

The celebration was packed with activities that brought the community together and drew in visitors.

Friday: Grand Procession & Proclamation: The weekend kicked off with the Grand Yorkshire Day Procession, where civic leaders, mayors, and dignitaries paraded through the town, handing out white roses. The highlight was Isabel Ashman delivering the Yorkshire Day Proclamation at Station Plaza, accompanied by live music from the Phoenix Four.

Saturday: The Grove Cultural Hub: The Grove was closed to traffic and became a vibrant cultural hub. The live music event (funded by Ilkley Town Council) featured two stages with a full day of music, poetry, and drama. Visitors enjoyed street food, relaxed at picnic tables, and explored the Yorkshire Day Market, organised by Real Markets. The day was a huge success, with hundreds of happy people celebrating.

Sunday: Family Activities: The weekend concluded with family-friendly activities. The Ilkley Cycling Club hosted a fun cycling and scooting skills circuit for kids at Ilkley Riverside Park. Meanwhile, Ilkley Manor House offered activities like crafting paper Yorkshire Roses, traditional games, and exploring the Rombald’s Rocks Keighley Sculpture Trail, all celebrating “God’s Own Country.”

The event had a significant economic impact, increasing footfall and spending for local, levy-paying businesses over the three days. The extensive media coverage provided free and invaluable promotion for these businesses, reaching a wide audience across the country.

Conclusion

The Yorkshire Day Celebration Weekend was a major success that underscored the value of the Ilkley BID. By taking the lead in planning and executing this ambitious event, the BID not only fulfilled its commitment to supporting local events but also provided a substantial boost to the local economy and enhanced Ilkley’s reputation as a dynamic and welcoming destination. The collaborative spirit demonstrated by all involved ensured the celebration was a memorable and highly beneficial event for the entire community.