This traditional Yorkshire village is only 12 miles from York and has been a market town since 1221 so all things considered this is the place to shop local Saturday. Antique home wear and furniture, handcrafted goods and homemade delicacies are everywhere and this is the perfect antidote to the generic high street shopping experience. We have been visitors to Easingwold for almost 8 years and now more than ever this town is thriving. It retains its traditional Yorkshire village feel but has some unique independent retailers in the mix too. So go and support them before they disappear!
The village itself is charming and quaint with the shops, cafes and pubs scattered around a central marketplace. Parking in Easingwold is still free however it is only a very short and convenient bus ride away from York if you just visiting. You can pick up everything here from beautiful local produce at the traditional grocers Doolies as well as more unique souvenirs and gifts from the one and only Yorkshire Jigsaw shop. No you really can’t get more authentic then that!
The store itself has been in Easingwold for 6 years with 4 of them being in its current location. The products are meticulously curated and are a definite reflection of their owners sense of decorating style which has been featured in several interior publications . Ethically sourced handcrafts from Mali as well as plenty of British design talent are displayed on reclaimed and refurbished vintage furniture and finds. The shop also partners with a local florist with seasonal bouquets and small potted arrangements for sale. They are utterly charming and we wish we had a green suitcase to tote these little creations around with us on our travels! The wife of a local dairy farmer Kirsten relocated from London of all places to this tiny town but retains a thriving online presence producing and distributing soft furnishings made from handmade vintage french linen. Kirsten also runs crafting workshops (block printing, lampshade making and more) in-store which make such original gifts for your nearest and dearest. If you can’t make it to Easignwold before Christmas there is always the very extensive website to check out here...
Its not really fair to describe this as a shop. It’s an emporium really. With 2 higgledy piggledy floors packed to the rafters with new and vintage home-ware, Farrow and Ball wallpaper and paints, clothing and some surprising curiosities as well as a nail salon (Nails by Francesca) coffee shop and hairdresser, this is as close to a department store Easingwold is going to get. The Olive branch hosts some inspiring events too the most recent one being the Cancer Research Trusts Christmas crafting workshop. Coming up these holidays a local youth theater will also be visiting mainly to keep Santa company I think as he will be bedding down at The Olive Branch this December. Im so excited for Oscar Chang to come and visit him in front of the beautiful old wood burner at the back of the store. Most importantly the Olive Branch stores lots of local and British made brands as well as being an exclusive stockiest for many in the area. Cashmere throws by Love Molly, beautifully packaged Harrogate Candle Co goodies. I just couldn’t stop taking pictures here there is so much to see. For more information on upcoming events you can take a look at their updated Facebook page.
Mulberry House
I walk past this shop many many times (on my way to cake or tea or coffee or cookies more about that later) and its rare that I don’t have the urge to go in. Its rooms are richly decorated with well designed contemporary quality home wear sourced from around the UK. Its set in a small lane just opposite Angel vintage and takes over an entire terraced house with each space telling a slightly different story from garden to dining to the adorably styled his and hers kids section. The owners of Mulberry House are locals and there store is also well established with a new DIY business just about to open around the corner. Although they don’t have an online presence due to logistical reasons they are the exclusive stockist and pick up point for UK based online home accessories and glassware store Parlane. Its actually an ingenious idea you can browse thousands of amazing products online and then order and pick them up here. For anyone with an online shopping phobia this is the perfect solution and a great excuse to come and visit Mulberry House!
No shopping trip is really complete for me without a good cake and coffee or tea and Yorkshire being the land of tea it would just be rude not to sample it in abundance. So i did. I took it upon myself to visit no less than six tea and coffee shops in Easingwold. I find rating them way to harsh because each is so different and unique that its really up to personal preferences or on somedays down to the line out of the door. Turns out I’m not the only one with a soft spot for confectionary.
It really lives up to its name. It is the purveyor of all things sugar. Jars and jars of rainbow delights line the premises, shakes come in mars bar and rocky road flavor and the giant twinkling carousel hypnotizes even the toughest sugar convert into sampling a tiny morsel of sweetness. The coffee isn’t bad either in fact its hot and strong and large. Perfect.
This is actually a coffee shop and cheesmonger. Dont even get me started on how good this combination is. I just love the ever changing cake selection here. The treacle and apple tart I had on this particular day was sumptuous and rich and light and tangy at the same time thanks to a lovely lemon curd creme dolloped on the top. Coffee is awesome and the quirky little table setting and decorations add to the homely and welcoming atmosphere. This is one of Easingwold oldest cafes and has just been taken over by new management who intend to keep the quality and service top notch as always. No point fixing something that clearly isn’t broken!
Ah yes the new kid on the block. Just when you thought five was enough and surely another cafe wasn’t required. Well you were wrong. This place manages to be different and unique despite the competition. The tables are indeed curious but you will have to visit to see why. The lunch platters and delicious porridge and just different enough to entice you in over the competition and the tea, coffee and cakes are totally delicious.
Strictly speaking this isn’t anything to do with tea or coffee or cake however this is a fantastic spot to get some great food in Easingwold. The traditional Yorkshire pub was recently refurbished and taken over by The West Park Inn’s group which has done a great job of ensuring the quality of food and service is enduring. The pub services locally sourced produce and works with some great British suppliers including my personal favorite new discovery Nyetimber sparkling wine which I just love. A great family spot too with ultra friendly and accommodating staff. We have spent a few great get togethers here during our stay.
Although we haven’t mentioned everyone in this fantastic village this doesn’t mean that they are not worth a visit or a write up for that matter we simply haven’t had the time or the waist line space in this case (this may change though! the time bit anyway 😉 I just love the look of the much lorded Yorkshire fine foods as well the Clarkes tea room so be sure to check them out and let me know what you think. A few more honorary mentions below…
Clarkes Bakery and tearoom – Like so many others Clarkes has been in the village for a long time and probably has the biggest pork pies I have ever seen!
Yorkshire Fine Foods – I have heard much about there afternoon teas and have to get to visit before we go.
Dooleys – This fantastically well stocked grocer and deli stocks some of the finest food producers in the area and the country. A dream for any food lover and a mouth watering deli counter to boot. Great picnic stop!
Alne Hall Charity Shop – I love a good charity shop rummage and this place never disappoints. Its for a great local charity too and the windows are always totally kitted out with the latest and greatest charitable donations.
Hutchinsons Card Shop – The owner of this lovely little card shop also has some very very creative and eye catching windows. Lots of unique cards and small gifts in here too.
Hearts – with two locations in the village and sumptuous collection of fabrics and furnishings, this place sometimes makes me briefly re consider being a nomad.
For more information and up to date events listings in Easingwold and the local area be sure to visit this very informative web site Visit Easingwold. Be sure to visit the office when your in town too for walks inspiration and more.
Well thats it for today and just a closing mention to my drive to shop local and support small businesses. Never has it been more important to do so. Local shops are more than just a place to get things, they are a source of local information and tips and hello! human contact. No google search will give you the anecdotes a third generation local family member will. So get out of the car and take a trip down to the nearest village, you never know what you might learn…or buy.
Thank you Anna for a lovely article on Easingwold, our market town home (it is a town, not a village!) in North Yorkshire. As you rightly say, we have a lot to offer both locals and visitors, especially in those “hard to get anywhere else” kind of things, and that traditional personal service you thought had long left these isles. Maybe in the south it has, but up here we still expect it!
Other delights of shopping in Easingwold are our famous Thorntons Butchers, with the best home baked pork pies you will find – anywhere, for how much? You won’t believe what you get for your money.
Did I say personal service? You need to go into Craggs, our electrical store on Long St. So far away from the impersonal take it or leave it attitude of the larger retailers at Clifton Moor in York.
The best mens outfitters in the north east? Tell your male partner to pop into the relatively inconspicuous Charles Hobson in Spring St where folk travel from not just Teeside, but Tyneside too – such is his reputation, and with free parking outside of the store, who can argue with that.
Easingwold is a misunderstood town and even our local councils get it wrong sometimes. With a population of only 4500 – it is however a service centre to its many surrounding villages so that its catchment area is really around the 15,000 mark! So half of those you see in the town at any one time are from the villages around us. This additional population also helps to support the many and varied small shops of course.
With York shopping centres just down the A19, we have learnt that to survive in Easingwold, you have to be both different – and most importantly better, than the competition. Shopkeepers need to work harder for your custom. Easingwolders and those from the surrounding villages vote with their feet, and you have seen the results.
Another almost unique feature of Easingwold is the amount of volunteering that goes on in the town. This is highlighted by our wonderful volnteer run Community Centre called the Galtres Centre which has its own theatre / cinema which was one of the first to relay live by satellite broadcasts, a sports hall, fitness centre and a plethera of rooms for meetings and events & activities.
Thank you for highlighting our website – like our tourist information centre, it is volunteer run as a not for profit operation.
Best wishes – and thank you again for a wonderful resume of Easingwold in North Yorkshire!
Frank Johnston-Banks
Easingwold Tourist Information
Hi Frank, Thanks so much for your feedback. There is just never enough time to include everything and everybody so thanks for contributing, Easingwold is an exceptional place and we are really enjoying our stay here. Very best wishes Anna + Oscar
Hi Anna,
Thank you for your excellent article on Easingwold and especially your mention of The Yorkshire Jigsaw Store. I have had a customer in this morning who had seen your article and didn’t realise there was a new Jigsaw Store in the Town!
Easingwold is a fantastic town and as a third generation family member of Towlers (Newsagent) we will be celebrating our 50th Year here in 2015.
I look forward to following your travels in the future.
Kind Regards,
Joe Rushton
The Yorkshire Jigsaw Store
Thanks Joe, This is such great news. Congratulations on your anniversary I think thats truly amazing and you have such great businesses. Wishing you all the best for the next 50 years at least 🙂