I may have mentioned this before, like once or twice, but I am a little teensy bit addicted to…read morecharity shops. So it'll come as little surprise that I've scoured them all in Ilkey! But, not being one to overlook a bargain hole, I decided that the Ilkley BHF needed a good mention. I went a-visiting one Sunday with a friend and decided to take one last minute little shop around before everything closed up. It was around 4pm I think, literally closing time for most places, and I spotted BHF on the corner. Somehow I'd missed it earlier so I dashed across the zebra crossing. Despite the speeds cars go at along that main road I managed not to have an encounter, thankfully! They were literally about to shut it all up and I asked if I could have a quick nose. They let me in without an utterance of dissent, which was really really kind. I flew around the shop, which was pretty well stocked with all the clothing, games, videos, glassware, house holds, and other such items that you could imagine, and then suddenly spotted the most lovely pair of vintage leather gloves. Could I risk annoying everyone and purchase them? Turns out, not a problem, it didn't even seem to be an issue. I suppose, in hindsight, it might have been worse if I had simply browsed and bought nothing! But I was so pleased, as I would have never made it back soon enough for them, and so couldn't be happier. Yey!

Charity shopping in places like Ilkey and Otley is possibly more exciting than bonfire night is to…read morea child. And by that, pretty much, I do mean exciting. It must be something to do with all the super posh shops' last season items, so generously donated by the local community, that makes it worth the 30+ minute journey. Obviously, there is always the variable element of what has been donated, but as a general rule this charity shop in particular is a bargain heaven. It's sad, but I might almost regret shouting about it, most especially if I happen to see you in there grabbing a bargain just before me, but hey - share the love, right? Last time I nipped in here I came out with vintage leather gloves, an old pearl necklace and would have also grabbed a totally useful mannequin head had I not just missed closing time! They even had some £50 shoes on sale for £6. Bargains are here!

This is probably the largest charity shop in Ilkley and holds all the delights of an Oxfam shop,…read moremixing second hand clothes and books with new items. At the front there is a section selling garden things where I picked up some compost mostly for its novelty value but also to plant things in. It is compacted to about the size of a brick but when you add water to it, it expands to 8 liters. Or so it says on the packet! I thought compost was alive and this seems pretty dry..? Oh well, I'll give it a go. In keeping with its ethics, this Oxfam has a range of fair trade jewelry and chocolate and eco-friendly washing powders. If you're stuck for a gift idea for the person who wants for nothing then you can buy them a goat in Africa to help a family. So if you haven't been totally sucked into all of this and want to move further into the shop, you will find second hand clothes and a large book section at the back. There is also a bedding section, which I haven't noticed in many other charity shops before.

It feels a bit terrible not to give a charity shop a raving review, since any charity shop is worth…read more5 stars for the sake of being charitable, but as my judgement on stock goes this one just didn't cut the mustard. I've been in a few times and it's a little odd, but it feels like they just can't compete with the others nearby and so perhaps just stop trying so much. I'll explain; it's not the shop's fault who donates to them, and as you know, even the best charity shops can come up zilch sometimes for amazing items. But the shop can make a decent effort to display the stock to its best effect. Perhaps it was because, bizarrely, they had a sale on that it felt so untidy and uninteresting? There were cluttered runner rails in the middle of the shop with items casually hung all around, which didn't make for the easiest browsing. But then again, we had visited towards the latter half of the day, so perhaps it had been a busy one. Who can say. The volunteers seemed lovely, anyway, which counts for more than appearance if you're buying so don't be completely put off. Nice staff, not too many great items, but always worth a check.