Don’t miss The “Award Winning” (we like saying that) Totally Locally Brighouse Market this weekend (28th April).  Lots of amazing local food, crafts…… oh you know the stuff. If you don’t, take a shufty at the video on the front page of the main Totally Locally site, shot by the lovely Nicola Harris.

So this is the spring version – bigger, better, warmer (hopefully!) and just a nice time to be had by all. Get yersens down!

We do like a birthday at Totally Locally! Blazing Saddles in Hebden Bridge will be turning a ripe old age of 18 soon, and what better way to celebrate this milestone than with a good old knees up… cycling that is! They’ve got a right nice day planned and with a very lovely local theme… with a guided bike ride, locally made cakes, and two other wonderfully local companies will be there in the form of Orange Mountain Bikes (Halifax) and Singletrack Magazine (Todmorden). We’ve got some of the best cycling terrain here in Calderdale so it’s a little but wonderful that these 3 brilliant businesses are right on our doorstep, so let’s help blazing Saddles celebrate such a feat and let’s eat, drink, [cycle] and be merry!

www.blazingsaddles.co.uk

(01422) 844435

35 West End, Hebden Bridge, HX7 8UQ

Having started training in Reiki in 2006, she has gone on to gain skills, experience and knowledge, which has allowed her to improve her abilities and services. She now offers Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Swedish Massage, Reiki and Magnet therapy.

She’s also a member of Federation of Holistic Therapists, who have continued professional development guidelines that has to be fulfilled, which helps keep up the standard of treatments for all members.

So let us know what you think of this new local business, it could well have hidden gem potential… But we won’t know unless you tell us!

They don’t just sell cars either, they offer services, MOT’s, valeting and all the nice little extras, which are very competitively priced so you can be sure you won’t be getting ripped off. And if you buy a car from them you get allthe services for that car at a reduced rate, wahey!

Now that leaves the only problem, what colour to go for?…

runaboutwarehouse.co.uk

Ladyship Business Park, Mill Lane, HX3 6TN

01422 344422

We have just got wind of  a new venture in Rastrick called LoveBread and what they are up to as they start out their journey into bringing fantastic organic bread to people in the region.

They are holding a Big Bake event. It is in aid of Sport Relief and as well as fresh bread baked on the premises on the day, there will be Ivy House cheese and honey, Villa Farm shop and Lippylicious cupcakes.

Carole Roberts from LoveBread CIC let us know a bit more…
“The bread is by our new social enterprise, LoveBread, and we are hoping that some of the children we have taught bread baking to are going to help prepare and sell the fresh bread. We have run 4 workshops so far, had a tasting at Ryecorn Whole Foods in Brighouse and after the 24th March, our next event will be the Totally Locally market. Seems there is a demand for fresh bread, and we use Yorkshire Organic Millers flour so trying to keep it all local.”

Well worth a look we think…and the best of luck in their community owned venture. Could well be a future Totally Locally Hidden Gem.

So… we had an idea to do a monthly Totally Locally Offers email campaign.

We reckon we can reach at least 10,000 people in Calderdale through our contacts. If we do it right and if everyone chips in it would go viral and that should take us up to 20,000 quite easily and quite quickly. And it won’t cost anyone to put their offer on there or anyone to redeem the offers (we’re nice like that!).

We’ve been working on this for a while. We have a big mailing list. But more importantly we have some big supporters who have a LOT of people who work with them, and on their own mailing list. And they’ve all said they’ll pass this on.

In essence it’s like Groupon, but specifically for our area, specifically for our great independent shops.

The difference is the more that each person involved passes it on to their friends, via email of facebook, twitter etc, the more EVERYONE benefits.

So shops – if you’re on there forward it to your email list. People, send it to your friends.

Any thoughts on this would be brilliant. Anyone who wants to distribute it to their group etc please let us know. Any business who wants to be in the next one drop us a line. Lets get going people.

(PS thanks to the shops who jumped aboard first, sailing these unchartered waters!).

The latest offers are HERE

 

816 was set up four years ago by Pete Green, a man on a mission to bring good coffee to Calderdale. Pete has worked in the coffee industry for nearly ten years and it was during his time in New Zealand, training at an independent roastery, that he came to understand the art behind creating the perfect drink. So it’s fair to say that Pete loves coffee, but thanks to Totally Locally, he also has a genuine interest in seeing his local economy thrive.

“Totally Locally has sparked my desire to stay, work and shop within my local area,” said Pete. “I love the heart the guys behind Totally Locally have for Calderdale and their belief in the people who live and work here. The campaign has really inspired me to believe that I can make a difference – that being a young local business that buys most of its supplies from other local businesses can help change our economy in what is a very tough climate at the moment. The support they have given me is beyond what I could have asked for. They have personally encouraged me in my ventures and referred my business to other businesses, which has already generated more work for me. These are real guys with a real economy-changing idea and amazing ambition – they’re not another weak initiative with an answer phone.”

“From a business point of view Totally Locally has made me more focused on buying supplies from local companies. This can often work out cheaper than buying from a supermarket and it has enabled me to build up a network of contacts I know I can rely on for quality and value for money. I can also visit them in person, talk about my requirements and get my order customized as well as having more control over the quality of produce. I have found that local business owners are very encouraging with regards to my own business and offer their help and advice, which I’m certain wouldn’t happen if I hadn’t build up such a good relationship with them by sourcing products locally.”

“The more businesses I talk to, the more I see how Totally Locally has affected them too, and how they are developing more of a real friendship between each other with the aim of making a difference to their local economy. I think that Totally Locally will continue to increase support for our local businesses and help our towns to thrive.”

www.816espresso.co.uk

TV programmes like River Cottage that are re-introducing people to the idea of getting back to a way of shopping that looked like it was on it’s way out up until a few years ago.

In Calderdale we’re lucky enough to have three permanent markets and a number of regular outdoor ones as well, so we’ve stolen a march on some other places really. From the massive Victorian splendour of The Halifax Borough Market, winner of UK Market of the Year 2008, to the tiny Elland Market which appears every Friday morning with its regular queues for fresh veg & fish.

Unfortunately the buildings have suffered from a lack of investment over the last few years, probably because the thinking that maybe markets weren’t as important as they once were. But the tide is turning and Calderdale has the opportunity to really get behind it’s unique offering, not least because many traders live locally and also support local communities along with employment of local people.

And here’s a thing: Calderdale Markets make a profit for the local taxpayers (yes you!) of over £1/2 million per year, which goes back into the rates fund to add to our community.

WINNER OF BEST MARKET IN THE UK 2008.  A HUGE BUSTLING, FRIENDLY MARKET IN AN EXQUISITE VICTORIAN GRADE 2 LISTED BUILDING.

As a first time visitor to the award-winning Borough market, you could be forgiven for thinking that you had stumbled on to the set of a period TV drama. Décor and atmosphere combine to create a shopping experience that just can’t be matched by the soul less out-of-town supermarkets.

The first thing that hits you is the Victorian splendour of the vast, building. With its ornate clock tower, glass roof and intricate carvings, you could be forgiven for thinking you’ve been transported back in time – in fact it was first opened in 1896.

But whilst the market’s roots might be planted solidly in the past, many of the stallholders have got their eyes firmly fixed on the future. Alongside the outstanding traditional family butchers and fruit and vegetable stalls which have been passed down through generations, are the new stall holders tempting our taste-buds with a bounty of exotic produce from the continent.

But when the weather’s more Manchester than Marrakech, and your appetite demands something substantial, try the local specialty of prize-winning pies, local venison and beef by one of the butchers/farmer himself. And if your passions lie more with fruits-de-mere than fruit and vegetables, none of the fishmongers will disappoint. From the exotic to the native, extravagant to inexpensive, the quality of produce on offer remains unsurpassed.

But there’s more to The Borough Market than food.

Fashionistas will delight in delving into the treasure troves that are the haberdashers and there are vibrant flower shops, a perfumers,  exotic underwear sellers and one of the best-stocked hardware shops this side of Arkwights!

All of this makes The Halifax Borough Market a unique shopping experience.

Monday – Saturday 

Stepping inside this butcher’s shop with its cheery red and white striped canopy is like going back in time.  It’s nothing to do with the décor or product range, but about the welcome and quality of service that every customer is given regardless of how much or little they spend.

Even on a wet Wednesday morning customers were queuing out of the door to sample some of the special treats such as freshly baked pork and apple pie as well as stocking up on the usual basics.

Choose a whole chicken and you will be asked ‘with or without’ giblets.  When is the last time you can remember being given the choice?  Every item requested is shown to each customer to check whether they are happy with the cut and quality of meat before they agree to purchase.

Walker’s stocks a great range of fresh meat joints and cuts, sausages – including our favourites – pork and black pudding, as well as stand pies and cooked meats.

Located in the bustling Kings Cross Road, Walker’s Butchers at number 198 is well worth a visit.

Telephone:  01422 366 862

After opening in August, The Sandwich Station is already off to a good start. When it comes to good grub, you can’t really go wrong when you start with proper home cooking, finish with reasonable prices and chuck in a good dollop of service with a smile. Mother and daughter A-Team Sue and Kelly have got all of this covered, they used to work at Café 5 for Sue’s sister (and Kelly’s Aunty- keep up!). They know the importance of good food and good service, and they sure are putting this to good use. They’ve got some cracking food, and it’s available as a take-away and also outside catering.

From the massive breakfasts, to the sandwiches, jacket potatoes and cakes, they have got an impressive selection. The famous Jean (Sue’s mum), who built up a reputation as Sowerby Bridge’s best sticky toffee pudding maker at Café 5, is also impressing Sandwich Station customers with her delicious food.

Their Lemon drizzle cake is going to be our downfall at Totally Locally Towers, it really is the best we’ve tasted (and believe us, we are cake connoisseurs!), we just can’t get enough of it. In fact just last week Totally Locally Chris arrived with a still-warm-from-the-oven freshly baked FULL CAKE, which didn’t even last a day (maybe we shouldn’t mention that were only actually 3 of us in the office that day…woops!)

So that’s three generations of wisdom and what not to supply the good people of Sowerby Bridge and beyond with good food. Here’s to sisters (and aunties, grandmas, mothers and daughters..) doing it for themselves.