Town End Farm, holiday accommodation in Yorkshire

A luxurious escape to the North York Moors

Tel: 01751 417960 Email: relax@townendfarm.org.uk

Kirkbymoorside: The North Yorkshire Gem You Need to Discover

by | Jul 28, 2025 | Latest, Local Businesses, Uncategorized

An exterior shot of a shop called "Moorside Stores," with a green awning extended over a display table outside. The table holds various woven baskets, small decorative birdhouses, and other household items. To the right of the window, a large, cream-colored wooden sign welcomes customers to "Moorside Stores," describing it as "A Treasure Trove" and a source of "Fresh & Long Lasting Delicacies" for "CULINARY DELIGHT and KITCHEN CUPBOARD." Inside the window, a sign reads "KIRKBYMOORSIDE PROPER YORKSHIRE."
A bustling market stall laden with a vibrant array of fresh produce. In the foreground, large bunches of yellow and green bananas are prominently displayed on a green surface, next to crates of white button mushrooms and green limes. Behind them, a colorful selection of vegetables includes bright red tomatoes, green asparagus, celery, onions, potatoes, and various leafy greens. A person's hands are visible on the right, reaching for produce and holding a brown paper bag, suggesting a transaction is taking place. In the background, other market stalls and vehicles are partially visible, under what appears to be a clear sky.

We think that Kirkbymoorside is one of the best kept secrets in the area. It may not be as showy as Helmsley, nor have the tourist pull of PIckering (with its railway) but it is a lovely welcoming little town. 

Excitingly, Kirkbymoorside has recently launched its own impressive website, which we hope will showcase it more widely. In fact, we’re featured in its “Places to Stay” section. This lovely market town is also home to the Kirkbymoorside Brass Band, which boasts an impressive 200-year history.

Research found that when you shop locally, for every £10 you spend, about £50 is generated in the local economy through the multiplier effect. You spend £10 in the butchers, and then they buy a paper from the newsagent, who then pays for a local window cleaner who can then afford dance lessons for their daughter in the village hall. And so it goes on. So if you can, please support our wonderful local businesses.  

The Best of Independent Local Businesses

One of Kirkbymoorside’s greatest charms is its collection of lovely independent shops.

While the pub scene hasn’t always been its strongest suit, the White Swan has recently changed hands and is going from strength to strength. It offers a lovely beer garden and is dog friendly. While they don’t serve food yet, Ian can confirm the beer is excellent!

There is a great run down of all the shops here. 

Our favourites are:

For food and provisions

  • S Wainds and Son’s  – our favourite butcher. They make their own pies on the premises. Top tip from Ian – “extra large” pork pies are only available on Fridays and Saturdays. 
  • Moorside Store – Dian and Nick’s store is an Aladdin’s cave, especially good for herbs, spices and dry goods. They love a good curry and sell some great curry kits and breads.
  • Simply Delicious  – Great deli with homemade cakes and pastries. They also run a catering service which we recommend to guests. 
For everything else
  • Post Office If you’ve ever left something behind at the Long Barn, we’ll have posted it back from here! They also have a shop with a really good range of greeting cards, party decorations and balloons.
  • Something Special – a lovely little independent clothes shop, also selling gifts. Hilary and her partner also run the Home Decorating centre and are the new owners of the White Swan. 
  • Jem’s Hair Design – Jackie was recommended here when we moved to Appleton. And she rates Mandy’s salon far higher than Toni and Guy in Harrogate when she used to go. Sarah, her amazing hair stylist took completely in her stride when she mistakenly turned up in her fluffy slippers…
  • Essential Beauty  – why not treat yourself during your visit with us to a pedicure or manicure?
  • Towlers Chemist  – Family run (Rory also plays trombone in the Kirkby Brass Band/Soul Band) they also sell a great selection of wine here. Ian loves it, as he can buy a bottle and carry it out in an NHS branded bag. So, it must be good for him.
  • Ginger Hall Cafe  – our favourite cafe as it sells good Roost Coffee along with some great cakes. Pop into the Pickering Antiques, the recently opened antique/bric a brac shop next door. 
  • Ryedale Auctioneers  Angus is now a bit of a celebrity on the Channel 5 show, The Yorkshire Auction House. Whilst you can bid on line, if you are visiting and there is an auction on, it’s fun to pop down to see it. 
A first-person, eye-level shot looking down at a person's feet, clad in light-colored, fluffy open-toed slippers, with dark painted toenails. The person is wearing blue jeans. In the background, above their feet, is a sign that reads "Jems" in a cursive font, with "HAIR DESIGN" in a sans-serif font below it. The setting appears to be a hair salon, with a metallic footrest visible.
A candid, medium close-up shot of a smiling man with short, light brown hair, looking towards the camera. He is wearing a blue and brown fleece jacket. Behind and to the right of him is a large cluster of balloons, including a prominent gold "6" shaped balloon and several gold and red balloons that say "Happy Birthday." To his right, there are racks of greeting cards, and in the background, another person is partially visible. The setting appears to be inside a shop.
A smiling man, wearing a light blue striped butcher's apron over a white shirt and tie, stands in front of a traditional brick butcher shop with a dark green storefront. The shop's name, "S. WAIND & SONS Traditional Family Butcher," is prominently displayed above the window. To the left of the man, a dark green plaque on the stone wall details the history of the S. Waind & Sons establishment, mentioning "FIVE GENERATIONS OF MASTER BUTCHERS." The shop window displays various items, and a smaller sign inside reads "S. Waind & Sons."

The Weekly Market

Don’t miss the small but mighty Wednesday market, featuring some lovely stalls. It’s more than a market for shopping. It’s where lots of the locals head to meet up with friends and catch up, often over a coffee in one of the local coffee shops.

Be sure to look out for:

  • Cinnamon Twist Bakery: Get there early – they sell out fast!
  • A fantastic mushroom stall, Moorside Mushrooms.  
  • Plus, lots of other local businesses from wet fish, local cheese and fruit/vegetables.
A slightly angled exterior view of a traditional shop building made of light-colored brick with a prominent dark green storefront. The shop's facade features a large display window filled with various products, and an ornate sign above reads "CHEMIST" on the left and "TOWLER'S" on the right. Above the first-floor window, a sign indicates "WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANTS." To the left, part of an adjacent building with a bay window and a street sign for "SMIDDY STREET" is visible. A light green door on the right of the storefront has a push bar and various notices.
A vibrant, elevated view of a large gathering of people dancing and socializing in a spacious hall. A band is performing on a stage at the far end of the room, with a prominent "Kirkby Soul" sign visible. The stage is lit with colorful lights, and there are various band members and equipment visible. The floor is wooden, and there's a long table with drinks on the left side. The attendees are dressed in various outfits, and the overall atmosphere appears festive.
A full exterior shot of "Scrumptious Deli," a quaint shop with a green and light green facade. The shop window, adorned with pink cursive lettering of its name, displays various baked goods and products. Signs in the window advertise "Delicatessen," "Outside Catering," "Homemade Produce," and "Home Delivery Service." A menu is visible to the left of the window, and a flower box with colorful pansies and daffodils sits in the foreground.

Kirkbymoorside Music Festival

This August sees the very first Kirkbymoorside Music Festival, a 3 day extravaganza of live music across the town. It’s a wonderful and eclectic mix of a programme with pretty much every genre represented with local bands.

It looks to be a fun packed weekend; what do you reckon Jackie’s chances are of getting Ian to a line dance…?