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Yorkshire BusinessWoman December 2022 Edition

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Uniquely Local Experiences is a curated gift experience marketplace helping people discover memorable things to do while supporting brilliant independent businesses across Yorkshire and the North. Founded in Yorkshire in 2016, Uniquely Local was created to make it easier to find genuinely interesting experience gifts from local makers, producers, artists and independent businesses. What began with a small collection of Yorkshire experiences has grown into a marketplace featuring hundreds of handpicked activities, from food tours, wine tastings and creative workshops to outdoor adventures and wellbeing experiences. The business has built its reputation around championing independent experience providers and giving customers an alternative to the large national experience gift brands. In 2026, Uniquely Local began expanding its collection beyond Yorkshire, bringing new independent experiences from across the North East and North West. Whether it’s a birthday present, Christmas gift, anniversary surprise or simply an excuse to spend some quality time together, the aim is simple: give people something they’ll remember long after the wrapping paper has disappeared.

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Independently owned food and drink businesses from across Yorkshire are invited to attend a free event to find out how creating ‘gift experiences’ can generate new business as the cost of living crisis continues to impact consumer spending. Hosted by Yorkshire food and drink provenance brand, The Yorkshire Mark and gift experience provider, Uniquely Local, the event will be held at Yorkshire Heart Vineyard on Tuesday 4th July between 2.30pm – 5.30pm. Since the pandemic, spending on customer and gift experiences has seen an upsurge in popularity, as consumers are choosing ‘experiences over material possessions’, preferring to ‘enjoy the moment’ with loved ones and moving towards ‘doing rather than having’.&nbsp; With over 70 Yorkshire based businesses in its network, Uniquely Local is a ‘one stop shop’ for specialist, unique gift experiences across the county. From vineyard tours, whisky tasting experiences, guided food tours, pork pie and piccalilli making workshops, cocktail masterclasses, online cheese tasting events and more, it offers experiences to suit the needs of a wide range of customers. At the event, Uniquely Local will provide insights into the market and how Yorkshire based businesses can turn their current offering into a ‘gift experience’. A panel of Yorkshire business owners who have taken the plunge and transformed their own businesses by offering interactive customer ‘experiences’ will also be sharing their stories and advice.&nbsp; Speakers will include: • Tim Spakouskas, owner of Yorkshire Heart Vineyard, who offers a wide range of vineyard tours and tastings of his home-grown wine for his visitors.&nbsp; • Simon Lacey, founder of Lacey’s Cheese, who alongside producing artisan cheese, offers tailored cheese making courses and tasting events.&nbsp; • Marion Martinez, owner Tours in a Dish, who turned her passion for food &amp; drink into an interactive experience of York’s hidden foodie gems. • Rodger Williams, from Bramhope Sticks, who offers courses in the ancient art of stick making as well as running a successful butchers. There will also be opportunity for business owners to network and find out more about the ‘customer and gift experience’ market.&nbsp; Rachel Marshall, Owner of Uniquely Local said:&nbsp; “We are delighted to be collaborating with Yorkshire Mark to reach more food and drink businesses as they can really benefit from the shift in spending habits from physical possessions towards experience driven purchases, with consumers looking for ‘memories over materials’. Offering customers an experience can create high margins for businesses that are already producing or offering something, as the main investment for them will be time. We are looking forward to sharing this knowledge and highlighting the opportunities diversifying your business to offer a gift experience can create.”&nbsp; Yorkshire Mark is a community of food and drink producers, retailers, restaurants, and partner businesses who promote and celebrate their Yorkshire provenance by using ‘Made in Yorkshire’ stamp on their products, services or offering. Yorkshire Mark members who attend the event can also unlock a free 1:1 30-minute call with the Uniquely Local team to discover the specific ways they can diversify into the gift experience market. Alexandra Calvert, Brand Director of The Yorkshire Mark said:&nbsp; “We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Uniquely Local to help bring this insight to the forefront for the wide variety of incredible food &amp; drink businesses we have in our region and support them to adapt their offering and grow. With the rise in popularity of ‘gift experiences as well as consumers being more mindful of their spending and tightening their belts, this event is a fantastic opportunity for them to learn more about how they can diversify their business for a relatively low-cost and reach new customers.”&nbsp; Tickets are available on <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/diversify-your-business-by-turning-your-passion-into-an-experience-tickets-619787831087">Eventbrite</a>. &nbsp;<blockquote>Offering customers an experience can create high margins for businesses who are already producing or offering something, as the main investment for them will be time.&nbsp;</blockquote>

Free event to help Yorkshire food and drink businesses to create ‘gift experiences’ and grow hosted by Yorkshire Mark & Uniquely Local 

Two organisations specialising in supporting and promoting Yorkshire food and drink producers have announced a joint collaboration to encourage consumers to #shopYorkshire in the run up to Christmas 2022.<img src="https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/newspage.com-staging/company/1883/files/a78edd27eba0bfea3583deb92858e4280d88f239eef967f260bc097392cf03bbd4c0ad8d9a69d519080c3d785ef1f840a0b22235fd96cf82f72a04e2dacedb0e.jpeg"> During November and December, The Yorkshire Mark and Uniquely Local will be working together on a social media campaign to promote the range of amazing, high-quality produce available within the region. The campaign, which will build on the <a href="https://uniquelylocal.co.uk/30-gift-experiences-under-30/">’30 experiences under £30’</a> launched by Uniquely Local in October, will promote the huge variety of value for money Christmas gift option available and offer a range of ideas to suit all budgets. <a href="http://www.yorkshiremark.co.uk/">The Yorkshire Mark</a> comprises a community of more than 60 food and drink producers, retailers, restaurants and other businesses who are licensed to use the fully trademarked ‘Made in Yorkshire’ stamp to showcase their Yorkshire provenance on their products. Ranging from artisan gins, sea salt, chutneys, jams and cakes to specialist Yorkshire hampers, beer, botanical drinks, cheese and native breed meat, the Yorkshire Mark ‘family’ promote and celebrate the quality of their products to consumers and businesses within the Yorkshire region and beyond. <a href="https://uniquelylocal.co.uk/">Uniquely Local</a>, which also has more than 20 food and drink producers within its network, is a ‘one stop shop’ for specialist, unique gift experiences across Yorkshire. From vineyard tours, whisky tasting experiences, guided food tours around York, Leeds, Otley and Harrogate, plus a pork pie and piccalilli making workshop, cocktail masterclasses and online cheese tasting events, Uniquely Local offers an easy-to-use website where vouchers for each activity can be purchased online in a matter of minutes.&nbsp; Georgie Harmer, Brand Manager of Yorkshire Mark said: “With consumers being more conscious than ever of finding great value, high quality food and drink, whether for themselves or as gifts for family and friends, the variety of locally produced options we have across the Yorkshire Mark and Uniquely Local networks is fantastic.&nbsp; We’re absolutely delighted to be collaborating with Uniquely Local to help spread the word about the rich source of wonderful food and drink businesses we have on our doorstep, all of whom take immense pride in being from Yorkshire. You really don’t have to go far to enjoy the best tastes at great prices.”&nbsp; Rachel Marshall, Owner of Uniquely Local said: “We have developed close friendships with all our experience providers over the years and more than ever want to encourage our customers to support these local artists, producers and manufacturers so we don’t lose them in what is set to be a challenging time ahead. Food and Drink is our most popular gifting category and we are delighted to be collaborating with The Yorkshire Mark to help discover and champion the next generation of food and drink entrepreneurs.”&nbsp;<img src="https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/newspage.com-staging/company/1883/files/cbc3ccfcddfe7d5c338f1ec8ec7c276f7d1d53c208e3471461d2915bf9eae7e762638c48d4fabd16d4193a10220d7e5a729710cf6c97788e1a7dd352a089ad51.png"> If you are looking for inspiration and want to support local Yorkshire businesses this Christmas, you can follow the campaign on The Yorkshire Mark and Uniquely Local social media channels using the hashtag #shopYorkshire. Editors’ notes Photograph (L to R) Georgie Harmer, Brand Manager, The Yorkshire Mark &amp; Rachel Marshall, Owner, Uniquely Local, celebrate their collaboration to champion local food and drink producers.&nbsp; The Yorkshire Mark comprises a community of more than 60 food and drink producers, retailers, restaurants and other businesses who are licensed to use the fully trademarked ‘Made in Yorkshire’ stamp to showcase their Yorkshire provenance. Yorkshire Mark members are able to promote their products on the Yorkshire Mark online directory, have access to marketing support, training resources and more. The Yorkshire Mark is powered by Yorkshire-based PR and Marketing Agency Intandem Communications who are passionate about Yorkshire and championing its fantastic food and drink. For more information about The Yorkshire Mark visit <a href="http://www.yorkshiremark.co.uk/">www.yorkshiremark.co.uk</a> Uniquely Local is an independent Yorkshire business working with local suppliers, artists and makers to provide a range of Yorkshire based experience days and experience gift vouchers. Founded by friends Rachel and Ema, both full-time mums living in North Yorkshire with young families, the idea for Uniquely Local came from their own desire to find interesting, memorable experience gifts that they’d be pleased to receive, whilst promoting Yorkshire provenance &amp; supporting all the fantastic independent businesses based in Yorkshire. For more information visit <a href="https://uniquelylocal.co.uk/">https://uniquelylocal.co.uk/&nbsp;</a> &nbsp;<blockquote>“We have developed close friendships with all our experience providers over the years and more than ever want to encourage our customers to support these local artists, producers and manufacturers so we don’t lose them in what is set to be a challenging time ahead. Food and Drink is our most popular gifting category and we are delighted to be collaborating with The Yorkshire Mark to help discover and champion the next generation of food and drink entrepreneurs.”</blockquote>

The Yorkshire Mark joins forces with Uniquely Local to champion local food and drink producers

Uniquely Local is an independent Yorkshire business working with local suppliers, artists and makers to provide a range of Yorkshire-based experience days and experience gift vouchers.The business was founded by friends Rachel and Ema, both full-time mums living in North Yorkshire with young families. The idea for Uniquely Local came from their own desire to find interesting, memorable experience gifts that they’d be pleased to receive whilst promoting Yorkshire &amp; supporting all the fantastic independent businesses based in Yorkshire.“We had a vision to start a business that inspired us, offering quality experiences with a personal service. Something we would use ourselves and could be proud to recommend."Uniquely Local are passionate about finding new and interesting food and drink experiences so whether you are looking for an experience to taste, make something new or learn more about how your favourite food and drink is made, they have over 80 quirky food and drink experiences on offer. Here are 10 of their most unusual experiences in Yorkshire which make ideal gifts for Food and Drink lovers this Christmas! 1. <a href="https://uniquelylocal.co.uk/experiences/spiced-rum-creation-classes-in-leeds/">SPICED RUM CREATION CLASSES IN LEEDS</a> £89.95 inc. a bespoke bottle of blended spiced rum Have you ever dreamt of designing your own rum? This one of a kind experience from the award winning team behind the Hedonist bar in Leeds allows you to do just that. Ideal for those with a foodie side or a budding scientist, this unique spiced rum creation experience is a 2 hour interactive journey through Spiced Rum and the Science of Taste!<img src="https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/newspage.com-staging/company/1883/files/9cf5ccc372ebb6993fb89c18d895ce9cabada278fa16b70544bb371623e554b61f4e36fb867cdb5ac90a44e9a17dd02e96f0096721c300ba0e1ac08272753dae.png"> 2. <a href="https://uniquelylocal.co.uk/experiences/kelham-island-beer-and-food-tour-in-sheffield/">KELHAM ISLAND BEER AND FOOD TOUR IN SHEFFIELD</a> £70.00 per person inc food &amp; drink A fabulous gift for food and beer lovers this unique food and drink experience will introduce you to the real ale pubs of Kelham Island, Sheffield and the area’s rich brewing heritage. The Food &amp; Beer Tour focuses on beer brewed in Steel City and food pairings from some of the great local producers in the area.<img src="https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/newspage.com-staging/company/1883/files/0067d906db5c32bbb041af7e4eff168989edbfc2e946563e18c23fad757819b7a5902e5a19576a15d1038f154d0b527a4184ab42c77473c0a2ebe95f8d4a5abd.png"> 3. <a href="https://uniquelylocal.co.uk/experiences/feed-yourself-well-with-fermented-foods-in-leeds/">FEED YOURSELF WELL WITH FERMENTED FOODS IN LEEDS</a> £55.00 for a 3 hour course A fascinating foodie experience suitable for anyone with an interest in healthy eating and the science behind gut health and the role fermented food plays. In this fun and educational gut health class, Emily, the owner of Get Cooking, will help you understand more about what the gut microbiota is and what our amazing bacteria can do.<img src="https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/newspage.com-staging/company/1883/files/91c9c0464ebc47efe2fe8b09114240cbd2187d100cef4cecc0da024c93d19075bbf44b72f60fb69051192e244dd13379b1c224f60da2f6f20c55ac42c4714b30.png"> 4. <a href="https://uniquelylocal.co.uk/experiences/plush-afternoon-tea-in-york/">THEMED SETTING AFTERNOON TEA IN YORK’S PLUSH CAFÉ&nbsp;</a> £20.95 per person , £21.95 per person for gluten free Enjoy a decadent afternoon tea in the sumptuous surroundings of York’s most instagrammable cafe! Choose to enjoy your afternoon tea in one of three themed rooms at Plush cafe on Stonegate – pick the garden room complete with swing seats, or the art-deco inspired neon room or languish in the floor-cushion filled bohemian room.<img src="https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/newspage.com-staging/company/1883/files/1a7a7aff2896858a743a88b6beec67fcfb60c5ce9ef0291b7a85b7b0aba526ae0233fe254361451e8577496e9c7d11850c355acfd09f52f915e619a47c9ee6e8.jpeg"> 5. <a href="https://uniquelylocal.co.uk/experiences/online-french-speaking-and-cookery-workshop/">ONLINE FRENCH SPEAKING AND COOKERY WORKSHOP</a> £55.00 for a half day workshop for one person Learn French with Ann while baking, with Simply French Yorkshire Cuisine workshops. A unique half-day online baking workshop with French language tuition! Learn and speak French with others while you bake a traditional French dish from your own kitchen! Suitable for all levels.<img src="https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/newspage.com-staging/company/1883/files/8b69508318332f9749f5cb11702cabbbe45de974dfab421d7c2469d84d2aadf159de5aae0782e9dd50261b29666e2cf76217d16e9056d01582696f08cb0d319e.png"> 6. <a href="https://uniquelylocal.co.uk/experiences/gelato-ice-cream-making-experience-in-the-yorkshire-dales/">GELATO ICE CREAM MAKING EXPERIENCE IN THE YORKSHIRE DALES</a> £25.00 for 90 minutes (minimum purchase is 2 people) Calling all budding Willy Wonkas… let your imaginations go wild on this family gelato making experience. You will create your very own signature gelato ice cream at the ‘Udder One’ in the beautiful market town of Reeth in the Yorkshire Dales. Upon arrival you will meet the ‘Chief Ice Cream Maker’ for your class and you and your children will be kitted out in chefs’ hats (hairnets for the adults as it makes them look silly!) and aprons – it’s going to get messy! You’ll work together with your family in a small class (max 8 people per group) to make your own delicious gelato ice cream from scratch using lots of lovely local milk. <img src="https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/newspage.com-staging/company/1883/files/6761c6547c84bc7cdb52428926f97227e879e2e6c7d5a4de19934b3422331658a2b9a949b4ffca001593f126f96947134f65eef7c368619511fbc98e30e3c682.png"> 7. <a href="https://uniquelylocal.co.uk/experiences/vegan-food-tour-of-york/">HIDDEN GEMS VEGAN GUIDED FOOD TASTING TOUR OF YORK</a> £55.00 per person (min group size is 6) Embark on a journey which will take you into the heart of York’s foodie scene where you will taste exquisite vegan dishes created by unique and independent foodipreneurs whose shared passion for locally sourced, sustainable, freshly made and above all sumptuous vegan creations will delight you. This tour is about discovering the hidden gems of York through stories, history, food and fun. Whether vegan-committed, vegan-curious or a vegan virgin, this tour will satisfy your appetite for great food made with love. A great experience to share with a friend or loved one.<img src="https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/newspage.com-staging/company/1883/files/dc52be4f32d81761e1ec43ba22829cc247d09456da4f62308281c64f5a5473cd08379325a92aad525de73a0c193407f8bd4175ea91f17aefeb28357643e4b3b7.png"> 8. <a href="https://uniquelylocal.co.uk/experiences/introduction-to-chocolate-making/">INTRODUCTION TO CHOCOLATE MAKING AT YORK COCOA WORKS</a> £55.00 per person (take home 300g of chocolate creations) This half day chocolate masterclass is the perfect gift for all chocolate lovers. Discover the basics of chocolate making from working with the raw ingredients to making a ganache and professionally tempering the chocolate to create approximately 300g of tasty chocolate delights. Set in a chocolate factory in the heart of the chocolate city of York, this experience would be fantastic for any budding chocolatiers.<img src="https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/newspage.com-staging/company/1883/files/63f85a4d0d98573f280bac5d065c326ac0d8c4c77cf76dd55aafa86d2f340a305e0fe054761077c4f950e1f3934cec7206bfe172fdb333c2d4cd03c68127dfeb.png"> 9. <a href="https://uniquelylocal.co.uk/experiences/foraging-courses-in-yorkshire-with-foraged-lunch-included/">FORAGE &amp; COOK – FORAGING COURSES IN YORKSHIRE WITH FORAGED LUNCH INCLUDED</a> £70.00 includes a wild foraged lunch Learn how to identify a range of wild foods in your local area. Join a Totally Wild UK professional forager to learn the art of foraging and to discover the vast range of wild edibles lying all around us before enjoying a delicious wild food meal. Learn the rules and ethics around foraging, tips on how to confidently identify different plants, edible, medicinal, and herbal uses for plants, and much more! <img src="https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/newspage.com-staging/company/1883/files/79df84509b2b89dc573dc2ed4da5e0b90e26175f68a99bf07da3c8e2bfc5e9363f424814c190468df34ae88a1e0f4d16e87cea91b9b7aa012bb15ec04cee7c05.png"> 10. <a href="https://uniquelylocal.co.uk/experiences/cheese-making-experience/">FULL DAY CHEESE MAKING EXPERIENCE IN THE YORKSHIRE DALES</a> £99.00 for one person inc. lunch, £150 for two people Have you ever fancied making your own cheese? Lacey’s Cheese offer a hands on experience where you will take part in a full days cheese making at their artisan cheese factory in the Yorkshire Dales. You will start the day with 500 litres of local milk and spend the day turning this into 55kg of various local cheeses. Enjoy all aspects of cheese making including: waxing of the cheese, cheese grading and (the best bit!) cheese tasting.&nbsp;<img src="https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/newspage.com-staging/company/1883/files/94211efa8f68dca6ac574a090aefe58a3fde87926abead5c04e888f8f199be5252441e0aa66af65ac199a42a09e250772a608d9fa414582192dfacece51b06c8.png"> &nbsp;<blockquote>"It’s clear that people want to spend less money, but what they do spend, they want it to be on experiences, so that we can enjoy life and moments, even as cost of living continues to rise…” said Founder of Uniquely Local, Rachel Marshall.</blockquote>

10 Unusual Food and Drink Gift Experiences in Yorkshire

At Uniquely Local we are passionate about finding new and interesting food and drink experiences. Whether you are looking for an experience to taste, make something new or learn more about how your favourite food and drink is made, we have over 80 quirky food and drink experiences on offer. We have rounded up 10 of our most unusual experiences in Yorkshire which make idea gifts for Food and Drink lovers! 1. SPICED RUM CREATION CLASSES IN LEEDS £89.95 inc. a bespoke bottle of blended spiced rum Have you ever dreamt of designing your own rum? This one of a kind experience from the award winning team behind the Hedonist bar in Leeds allows you to do just that. Ideal for those with a foodie side or a budding scientist, this unique spiced rum creation experience is a 2 hour interactive journey through Spiced Rum and the Science of Taste! <a href="Spiced Rum Creation Classes in Leeds | Yorkshire Rum School Voucher (uniquelylocal.co.uk)">Spiced Rum Creation Classes in Leeds | Yorkshire Rum School Voucher (uniquelylocal.co.uk)</a> 2. KELHAM ISLAND BEER AND FOOD TOUR IN SHEFFIELD £70.00 per person inc food &amp; drink A fabulous gift for food and beer lovers this unique food and drink experience will introduce you to the real ale pubs of Kelham Island, Sheffield and the area’s rich brewing heritage. The Food &amp; Beer Tour focuses on beer brewed in Steel City and food pairings from some of the great local producers in the area. Kelham Island Beer and Food Tour in Sheffield - South Yorkshire Food Tour (uniquelylocal.co.uk) 3. FEED YOURSELF WELL WITH FERMENTED FOODS IN LEEDS £55.00 for a 3 hour course A fascinating foodie experience suitable for anyone with an interest in healthy eating and the science behind gut health and the role fermented food plays. In this fun and educational gut health class, Emily, the owner of Get Cooking, will help you understand more about what the gut microbiota is and what our amazing bacteria can do. Feed Yourself Well with Fermented Foods in Leeds (uniquelylocal.co.uk) 4. THEMED SETTING AFTERNOON TEA IN YORK’S PLUSH CAFÉ&nbsp; £20.95 per person , £21.95 per person for gluten free Enjoy a decadent afternoon tea in the sumptuous surroundings of York’s most instagrammable cafe! Choose to enjoy your afternoon tea in one of three themed rooms at Plush cafe on Stonegate – pick the garden room complete with swing seats, or the art-deco inspired neon room or languish in the floor-cushion filled bohemian room. Plush Afternoon Tea in York | Afternoon Tea Yorkshire (uniquelylocal.co.uk) 5. ONLINE FRENCH SPEAKING AND COOKERY WORKSHOP £55.00 for a half day workshop for one person Learn French with Ann while baking, with Simply French Yorkshire Cuisine workshops. A unique half-day online baking workshop with French language tuition! Learn and speak French with others while you bake a traditional French dish from your own kitchen! Suitable for all levels. Online French Speaking and Cookery Workshop (uniquelylocal.co.uk) 6. GELATO ICE CREAM MAKING EXPERIENCE IN THE YORKSHIRE DALES £25.00 for 90 minutes (minimum purchase is 2 people) Calling all budding Willy Wonkas… let your imaginations go wild on this family gelato making experience. You will create your very own signature gelato ice cream at the ‘Udder One’ in the beautiful market town of Reeth in the Yorkshire Dales. Upon arrival you will meet the ‘Chief Ice Cream Maker’ for your class and you and your children will be kitted out in chefs’ hats (hairnets for the adults as it makes them look silly!) and aprons – it’s going to get messy! You’ll work together with your family in a small class (max 8 people per group) to make your own delicious gelato ice cream from scratch using lots of lovely local milk. Gelato Ice Cream Making Experience in the Yorkshire Dales (uniquelylocal.co.uk) 7. HIDDEN GEMS VEGAN GUIDED FOOD TASTING TOUR OF YORK £55.00 per person (min group size is 6) Embark on a journey which will take you into the heart of York’s foodie scene where you will taste exquisite vegan dishes created by unique and independent foodipreneurs whose shared passion for locally sourced, sustainable, freshly made and above all sumptuous vegan creations will delight you. This tour is about discovering the hidden gems of York through stories, history, food and fun. Whether vegan-committed, vegan-curious or a vegan virgin, this tour will satisfy your appetite for great food made with love. A great experience to share with a friend or loved one. Vegan Guided Food Tasting Tour of York | Food tasting experience (uniquelylocal.co.uk) 8. INTRODUCTION TO CHOCOLATE MAKING AT YORK COCOA WORKS £55.00 per person (take home 300g of chocolate creations) This half day chocolate masterclass is the perfect gift for all chocolate lovers. Discover the basics of chocolate making from working with the raw ingredients to making a ganache and professionally tempering the chocolate to create approximately 300g of tasty chocolate delights. Set in a chocolate factory in the heart of the chocolate city of York, this experience would be fantastic for any budding chocolatiers. Introduction to Chocolate Making at York Cocoa Works (uniquelylocal.co.uk) 9. FORAGE &amp; COOK – FORAGING COURSES IN YORKSHIRE WITH FORAGED LUNCH INCLUDED £70.00 includes a wild foraged lunch Learn how to identify a range of wild foods in your local area. Join a Totally Wild UK professional forager to learn the art of foraging and to discover the vast range of wild edibles lying all around us before enjoying a delicious wild food meal. Learn the rules and ethics around foraging, tips on how to confidently identify different plants, edible, medicinal, and herbal uses for plants, and much more! Foraging Courses in Yorkshire with Foraged Lunch Included Leeds (uniquelylocal.co.uk) 10. FULL DAY CHEESE MAKING EXPERIENCE IN THE YORKSHIRE DALES £99.00 for one person inc. lunch, £150 for two people Have you ever fancied making your own cheese? Lacey’s Cheese offer a hands on experience where you will take part in a full days cheese making at their artisan cheese factory in the Yorkshire Dales. You will start the day with 500 litres of local milk and spend the day turning this into 55kg of various local cheeses. Enjoy all aspects of cheese making including: waxing of the cheese, cheese grading and (the best bit!) cheese tasting.&nbsp; Cheese Making Experience in the Yorkshire Dales - Full Day Workshop (uniquelylocal.co.uk) &nbsp;<blockquote>This Christmas supporting your local producers and makers is going to be even more important to ensure we don’t lose them.</blockquote>

10 Unusual Food and Drink Experiences in Yorkshire

● Local research shows many of us favour enjoying life moments, experiences and making memories this Xmas as opposed to pricey gifts, as cost of living continues to skyrocket ● Leading Positive Psychologist, explains that this all comes down to our inherent human desire to feel safe and that we have somewhere we belong: “When we are faced with change and uncertainty we can find grounding through connecting with ourselves and with other people.”&nbsp; ● Budget friendly experiential gifts with a difference - Superhero photoshoots, Cosmetic Making Workshops to Bird of Prey experiences up for grabs in Yorkshire… As people’s spending power is tightly squeezed and a more frugal festive period is predicted from experts nationwide shoppers from Yorkshire and across the UK have confirmed they will be tightening the purse strings this Christmas compared to the more lavish post lockdown spending of last year, and that it’s experiences that they want. According to a national survey published by KPMG, a third of UK households are already trading down to cheaper products and making use of promotions, and a quarter said they were shopping at less expensive retailers.&nbsp; A survey of Christmas Spending Habits, conducted by Yorkshire-based experiential gifting company, Uniquely Local (https://uniquelylocal.co.uk/), shows that their customers are of the same mind with the majority saying they will only spend between £30-£50 on close friends and family this year – with 24.5% saying their budget would be at the bottom end of this - £30, in comparison to last year’s Uniquely Local figures showing that the average order value was £86.90 last Nov/Dec.&nbsp; “It’s clear that people want to spend less money, but what they do spend, they want it to be on experiences, so that we can enjoy life and moments, even as cost of living continues to rise…” said Founder of Uniquely Local, Rachel Marshall. 72% of those surveyed by Uniquely Local said that they would prefer to gift a food and drink experience with 50% saying they prefer a crafty or creative experience and 43% saying they would choose a health and wellbeing experience.&nbsp; Leading Positive Psychologist, Niyc Pidgeon, explains that this all comes down to our inherent human desire to feel safe and that we have somewhere we belong: “When we are faced with change and uncertainty we can find grounding through connecting with ourselves and with other people. We spent so long in isolation during lockdowns we are now seeking more in person connection. This Christmas will be all about connection. Positive relationships allow us to feel supported, seen and heard, and through sharing experiences together we can build bonds, deepen relationships, and feel more secure and stable no matter what goes on in the wider world… “When our attentions might be drawn to having to budget, we can often associate negativity with this because it suggests we are losing something, sacrificing, or missing out. Our opportunity lays in re-orienting our focus to what we can, in fact, gain through times of transition. Joy, gratitude, and love are always free - and there’s so much we can create that recognise the value in presence, simplicity, and working with what we’ve got.&nbsp; “Mental health is both a challenge and an opportunity right now - and reminding ourselves of our power to take control and focus on what’s good is a great way of staying positive in difficult times” Following their survey results Uniquely local have taken on board what their customers are asking for and have published a round up of their budget friendly experiences in <a href="https://uniquelylocal.co.uk/30-gift-experiences-under-30/">‘Top 30 Yorkshire-based Experiential Gifts for Under £30’ (https://uniquelylocal.co.uk/30-experience-gifts-under-30/)</a>; these include Vineyard and Brewery tours to Alpaca Morning Walks, Cosmetic Making Workshop to Clay DIY gift packs, Superhero Photoshoots to Bird of Prey flying experiences.&nbsp; Rachel said: “We are all responding where we can – altering how much we buy, what we buy and where we buy it. The festive focus this year needs to be on spending less but gaining more. People don’t want to spend as much money on gifting as they may have done previously, yet they are still craving connection and experiences together for 'life appreciation'.&nbsp; Rachel adds: “Even the big name retailers are responding to the newly named ‘experience or moments economy’, with companies like John Lewis positioning themselves as being there “for all life’s moments”, as they too adapt to the shift in consumer spending habits.”&nbsp; ‘Uniquely Local’ was originally founded by friends Rachel Marshall and Ema Broadhurst, in 2016 both full-time mums living in North Yorkshire with young families. The idea for Uniquely Local came from their own desire to find interesting, memorable experience gifts that they’d be pleased to receive. Rachel continues; “We wanted to find quality alternatives to giving more ‘stuff’ and set out to find gift experiences that would create lasting memories and this year we’ve gone even further with making these accessible to all- an approach that sets us apart from other experiential gifting companies who promote more exclusive and expensive experiences. We are delighted to be able to showcase the huge range of what Yorkshire has to offer as part of this, to encourage more people to come and explore our region.&nbsp; “Reining in your spending doesn’t have to mean terrible gifts… actually some of our experiential offers could make for a happier Christmas, with many moments to look forward to in 2023. I love living in Yorkshire and as a business we are proud to promote unique and exciting experiences in this special area of the UK. We love the idea of our customers discovering hidden gems on your doorstep.” Uniquely Local’s Top 30 Yorkshire-based Experiential Gifts for Under £30 includes;&nbsp; ● Vineyard Tour &amp; Tasting near York - https://uniquelylocal.co.uk/experiences/vineyard-tour-with-wine-tasting/ - After a welcome arrival drink you will join vineyard owners Chris &amp; Gillian Spakouskas on a guided tour of their beautiful vineyard at Nun Monkton. The stunning setting coupled with the passion and knowledge shown by the team makes this a truly memorable experience. Your tour will be followed by tasting a selection of the white, red &amp; rose wines with some lovely light refreshments. - £25&nbsp; ● Organic Cosmetics Making Workshop in Sheffield - https://uniquelylocal.co.uk/experiences/organic-cosmetics-workshop/ - Learn to make a range of organic cosmetics including soap, body butter, body scrub cream, lip balm and moisturiser. Choose a one hour experience to make one product or 90 minutes to make two products to take home. Find out all about the origin of the ingredients you will use and their application in organic cosmetic making. You will fragrance and colour your products with natural ingredients to create beautifully unique blends. - £15 for one hour / £25 for two hours ● Superhero Photoshoot - https://uniquelylocal.co.uk/experiences/superhero-photoshoot/ - Do you know a mini Marvel fan who would love to be immortalised in print with a CAPOW Superhero Portrait Experience? Millions of us – kids and adults alike – love dreaming that we have superpowers. So if you’re a secret superhero, or have a passion for cosplay, you turn that fantasy into reality and capture it forever with the cinematic CAPOW Superhero Portrait Experience. - £25 for a 10” x 8” print&nbsp; ● Chocolate Bar Making Experience in York - https://uniquelylocal.co.uk/experiences/chocolate-bar-making-experience-in-york/ - Learn to make a chocolate bar in York, the city that smells of chocolate (if you visit on the right day!) and the home of many well-loved chocolate brands and bars. At the chocolate academy of York Cocoa Works you will learn how to create your very own chocolate bar whilst also finding out a little bit about the humble cocoa bean. Best of all you will need to experiment (taste) lots of different flavours to perfect your masterpiece. Once the chocolate has set you’ll finish off by packaging your bar before taking it home to enjoy at your leisure. £22.50 ● 20 Minute Ayurvedic Yoga Head and Neck Massage in Leeds - https://uniquelylocal.co.uk/experiences/ayurvedic-yoga-massage-in-leeds/ - Enjoy an Ayurvedic Yoga Head and Neck Massage with a qualified therapist to rejuvinate and re-energise! An Ayurvedic yoga massage is tailored to suit individual clients. It can be relaxing, energising, soothing, deep or remedial depending on your needs. - £25 ● Morning Alpaca Walks Near York - https://uniquelylocal.co.uk/experiences/morning-alpaca-walks-near-york/ - The walks are aimed at everyone and will cater to any age or ability. Visits can be tailored for visitors with limited mobility so they can meet the alpacas without having to take them for a walk. Walks are about 20 minutes up a short hill and then on the level or downhill on grass paths. After their walk you’ll give the alpacas their morning snack before letting them out to graze with their alpaca friends. You’re welcome to stay and have a cuppa or an ice pop and watch them graze. The one hour morning alpaca walk experience is available Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. £20 for adults, £5 for kids (accompanying a paying adult) You can also gift some Uniquely Local Gift Vouchers- https://uniquelylocal.co.uk/experiences/uniquely-local-gift-vouchers/- these are the perfect solution when you just can’t make a decision about which Uniquely Local gift experience to buy. It’s the thoughtful gift choice that doesn’t tie you down to one particular package – these are available in denominations from £10 to £300 and are valid for 18 months from date of purchase so the lucky recipient will have plenty of time to choose an experience.<img src="https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/newspage.com-staging/company/1883/files/84ecee700149e4d388bf40facb2c5e15dd46a9f9a4009c31035c80d73a07c85ce3e97c1181c78dfefce3d16f56e7fb03fcdb4182f43ddd126c2cbddd33aeb9b3.png"><figure class="image"><img src="https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/newspage.com-staging/company/1883/files/9f74a48040bfe5e33d258fafbebf31ff76e42393b0adbb06cfe775ef29e5dad06dabc8b7f457f043055784a47a8d9f791cabf8fa5786511f0886b409b6b8bbc5.png"></figure><blockquote>It’s clear that people want to spend less money, but what they do spend, they want it to be on experiences, so that we can enjoy life and moments, even as cost of living continues to rise…” said Founder of Uniquely Local, Rachel Marshall.</blockquote>

The Experience Economy: Less Money = More Memories This Christmas will be all about connection says Leading Positive Psychologist

Uniquely Local Experiences is a curated gift experience marketplace helping people discover memorable things to do while supporting brilliant independent businesses across Yorkshire and the North. Founded in Yorkshire in 2016, Uniquely Local was created to make it easier to find genuinely interesting experience gifts from local makers, producers, artists and independent businesses. What began with a small collection of Yorkshire experiences has grown into a marketplace featuring hundreds of…

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