With its Georgian market place, two breweries and idyllic setting beside the River Ure, locals have known for years that Masham is a wonderful place to live.
But now the secret is out. The Sunday Times has included the market town in its annual Best Places to Live guide.
Masham is one of nine runners-up behind Ilkley in the north-east of England category. No other town or city in the Harrogate district was selected.
The Sunday Times judges based their decision on factors such as schools, air quality, transport and health of the high street.
They described Masham as:
“A picturesque market town in its own right that offers the best of both worlds.
“The extraordinary landscape of the Yorkshire Dales is on the doorstep and Ripon, with its top selective school and Curzon cinema, is just a short drive away.”
The judges listed their favourite things as the market, the Black Sheep Brewery and Johnny Baghdad’s ‘funky bright-yellow café on the square’.
Colin Blair, aka Johnny Baghdad
Independent businesses
Colin Blair, who owns Johnny Baghdad’s, said Masham had got busier in the 20 years since he arrived and now had a good blend of independent businesses. He said:
“It’s a great place and a great place to run a business from.”
Mr Blair, who runs Johnny Baghdad’s with his partner Saeeda Zaman, was delighted to be recognised.
He said the cafe’s eclectic food, which includes everything from falafel and chicken shawarma to bacon rolls, went down well with locals, as well as the numerous cyclists and day trippers that flock to the town at weekends. He added:
“It’s the kind of thing you don’t see often when travelling around the Yorkshire Dales.”
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The cafe is currently open only for takeaways but is due to open with tables and seating on April 12.
The other regional runners up are:
· Alnmouth, Northumberland
· Barnard Castle, Co Durham
· Easingwold, North Yorkshire
· Leeds
· Masham, North Yorkshire
· Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire
· Todmorden, West Yorkshire
· Tynemouth, Tyne & Wear
· York
