It is safe to say that the Oakwood Farmers’ Market has almost become as famous as the iconic clock tower, around which the stalls and regular visitors gather. Taking place on the third Saturday of every month, it is a great way to buy some fantastic fresh produce, and is also a regular meeting spot for locals to catch up. Opening at 9am and finishing at 12.30pm, the FARMA-accredited market includes organic meat, bread, eggs, plus pies, cakes, fish, fruit and vegetables. Hot coffee and tea is available too, along with a variety of jam and chutneys, cheeses and patisseries from visiting local artisan sellers.
Oakwood Farmers’ Market is operated by Roundhay Environmental Action Project (REAP) and is run entirely by local volunteers. The food and produce has mostly travelled less than 30 miles. In recent months, The Art of Mallow, the Yorkshire hand-crafted gourmet marshmallow makers was the latest guest stall to visit Oakwood, offering handmade marshmallow favours and marshmallow pops. Be sure to visit North Leeds-based Bloom Bakers’ stall too for Germanic and Dutch treats.
For more information about the market, visit Oakwoodfarmersmarket.com.
Strong as Oak
Over on Roundhay Road, Jackrabbits Pottery starts the new year with another round of its incredibly successful ‘Ladies’ Night’ events. Held monthly, this ladies-only pottery painting evening at the studio includes nibbles, wine and pizza. The next events will be on 24th February and 31st March and booking in advance is required.
Since JLife last reported on Oakwood, two cafes have opened their doors, serving light bites and tasty dishes to diners. Stories, a uniquely hip venture situated next to Bang & Olufsen, serves artisan coffee, breakfast, lunch and homemade cakes. Inspired by Scandinavian design and Nordic cuisine, the café has a menu of small dishes and cold-pressed juices. Over on the edge of Roundhay Park, Sylva, the coffee house, deli and bar, has opened within the woodland and walkways of the park. With the Oakwood clock tower as the backdrop once again, the café is perfectly situated to be a community hub as well as an ideal culinary destination.
In Roundhay Park itself, every Saturday morning fitness fans get together to take part in Roundhay Parkrun, a 5km run against the clock. Meeting at 9am, participants cover a course of three laps around the park before finishing at the bandstand and grabbing a coffee at The Lakeside Café. And for the even more adventurous, Go Ape, the nationwide high rope treetop adventure company, has proposed the ‘Aerial Adventure Experience’ within Ram Wood. Go Ape is currently in discussions with Leeds City Council and there are plans to apply for planning permission soon.
Loveoakwood.co.uk
Around the Clock
Oakwood is as busy as ever, thanks to its bustling retail scene. Here are a few of the best…
Oakwood Farmers’ Market
Since its inception by a group of volunteers nearly 10 years ago, the Oakwood Farmers’ Market has become a regular community hub on the third Saturday of every month. It is a place to meet friends and shop direct for high-quality local food and produce from award-winning farmers, producers and sellers.
Tasty Kitchen & Coffee
Tasty is a family-friendly, family-run cafe. Since 2011, Paul, Rebecca and the team have been serving delicious home-cooked food in their own modern style. They also provide a catering service, from cold food party platters to bespoke celebration cakes, and events where they come to your home and cook on their street kitchen barbeque.
Perfection Carpets
Having recently refitted Etz Chaim’s cloakrooms, Perfection Carpets on Roundhay Road continues to be recognised for its array of quality floor coverings at competitive prices. The independent retailer has also unveiled an interior design service. Maria, the in-house colour and design advisor, can help you select the carpet to best suit your home and advise on patterns and colour schemes. So, whether you want new flooring for a small room or the whole house, Perfection Carpets is at your service.
Jameson’s Café & Tea Rooms
The family-run Jameson’s Café and Tea Rooms, located at 647 Roundhay Road has gone from strength to strength since opening in 2015. The intimate and elegant tea room is now open seven days a week and is renowned for its wonderful afternoon tea, home-baked cakes, lunches and welcoming atmosphere.
Martin & Co
A New Year message from Elizabeth Richardson, director of estate agent, Martin & Co:
As we head towards the first green shoots of spring, the North Leeds property market also has a new lease of life. With a continued lack of properties being built, a shortage of properties (both in terms of quantity and quality) coming to the market, and the continued low mortgage rate environment, enquiries from first-time buyers and buy-to-let landlords is strong and motivation is even stronger, given inexpensive lending rates and the general demand caused by under-supply.
Now of course, there are a few potential hurdles coming towards us in the coming months that could affect the North Leeds (and UK) property market. Prime Minister Theresa May has yet to get her teeth into Brexit negotiations, and the effect the new US President might have on the global money markets is unknowable, meaning that some savvy spenders took advantage of the lack of certainty by making cheeky offers in the run up to the New Year.
However, I do not believe these will have a huge impact on property values. Expected growth in property within North Leeds is predicted at +4.5%, with popular areas exceeding this. If you want to know more about the value of your key investment or discuss any other property matters, pop in for a chat.
Oakwood Travel
Oakwood Travel offers a truly individual service to customers. This is one of the few independent travel agencies in Leeds and Jonathan and his team provide a bespoke service to make sure that you can have the trip you always dreamed of. Opposite the Oakwood Clock at 480 Roundhay Road pop in for a tailor-made holiday today.
Southlands Luxury Apartments for older people
For too long, the only way many people could access the additional care and support they needed as they grew older was to sell the family home and dip into their assets to pay for it.
Thankfully, Westward Care now offers independent living apartments with care and support at two of its North Leeds locations: Southlands in Roundhay and Headingley Hall in Headingley.
Clients can live in their own apartment, paying only for the services they use, with the reassurance that help and support is on hand 24 hours a day. Meanwhile, clients in need of greater care or nursing needs can access this when they require it.
The advantages are manifold: you own your own home, thus retaining your assets and only access services such as nursing, care, meals and laundry when required; reducing the fees you would pay for full time care.
Why not find out more about a truly independent alternative to care and support in later life today?
Tea and a Tour, a special offer for JLife readers: Call 0113 331 4830 to book a no-obligation tour at Southlands or Headingley Hall and enjoy a free afternoon tea as part of the visit! Valid until 31st March 2017.
Goodnight Sleeptight
Purchasing your new bed, mattress or bedroom furniture at this well-established Oakwood store is a pleasurable experience. Howard and Noushim have got over 75 years’ expertise and their top priority is to give correct advice and help each of their customers to ensure that they get a perfect good night’s sleep.