Two independent businesses in Ilkley have been nominated in a national competition to find the UK's Favourite Local Business for 2026.
Attic Womenswear and The Ilkley Cow are both in the running for the award, which offers a £1,000 Town & City Gift Card to the winning business and a further £1,000 gift card to one person who nominated it.
The competition celebrates independent businesses across the country, with the winner determined by the number of nominations received before the closing date of 30 November.
Attic Womenswear was founded by Sarah Lyles in 2007 and is based at Crescent Courtyard, offering clothing, footwear and jewellery from around 50 brands.
Sarah said:
“We have a small, hard-working team here at the store with a big heart and to feel that love in return by being nominated as the UK’s Favourite Local Business feels wonderful.
“The Ilkley Gift Card is a fantastic initiative that helps keep money local in our town. It’s easy for the recipient to spend with their chosen Ilkley businesses, and it’s easy for us to accept as a business.”
The Ilkley Cow, which opened in 2019, is a family-run steakhouse established by Robert Sypniewski, alongside his wife Marina and children Ollie and Maya.
Robert said:
“We’re proud to be part of Ilkley’s local hospitality scene.
"For us, it’s about more than serving a great steak. It’s about creating memorable experiences, building relationships with our customers and giving people a reason to keep coming back.”
Both businesses accept the Ilkley Gift Card, which was launched by Ilkley Business Improvement District (BID) in 2022 and can now be spent at around 80 local businesses.
Ilkley BID Manager Sarah Brookfield-Almond said:
“Ilkley is known for its incredible independent businesses, and we’re thrilled to see two of them recognised in the national UK’s Favourite Local Business 2026 competition.
“Both Attic Womenswear and The Ilkley Cow are independent businesses working hard to bring something unique and special to our town and are both thoroughly deserving of the title as the UK’s best.”
The competition is organised through the Town & City Gift Cards initiative, which supports local spending in towns and cities across the UK.
Nominations are free and can be submitted at www.lovelocalwin.co.uk until Monday 30th November 2026.
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