Saturday 30 July 2016

Celebrate Yorkshire Day with Hunters of Helmsley

As a Yorkshire business, and the happy recipients of a 2015 Yorkshire Life Food and Drink Award, we pride ourselves on celebrating everything that our beautiful region has to offer both on Yorkshire Day and throughout the rest of the year too.

This August 1st we welcome Yorkshire Day and all of the Yorkshire pride the occasion brings with it. The two of us (Chris and Christine) come from Yorkshire farming families and we are very proud of our upbringings and influences, all of which we use to help decide how we run the business and what we stock here.

Did you know that a traditional Yorkshire custom is to eat a Yorkshire Pudding as a separate course before a main meal? Whilst this practice was allegedly created by money conscious mothers hoping to fill their families up, it is now a favourite amongst many Yorkshire folk. Come the festive season you may see some of us tucking into the tasty treat ahead of Christmas dinners in place of a starter.
Another famous Yorkshire symbol is that of that white rose. The origins of the White Rose of Yorkshire go all the way back to Edmund of Langley and the fourteenth century, the first Duke of York and the ruling Plantangenets. It is now the symbol for various local universities including Leeds, York and Sheffield and proudly adorns the certificates of graduates bound for greatness.

Yorkshire has a proud heritage when it comes to food and drink. At least 70% of the products stocked in our store are sourced from within the county. Delicious local produce on offer includes the fabulously creamy Brymor ice cream which is available to purchase in both 500ml tubs and also in cones through our dedicated ice-cream window during summer months.

Our deli counter is packed full of tasty home-grown fayre including Yorkshire ham and beef and various locally made pastries and pies. Cheese lovers will be happy to know that we carry many native varieties including our old friend Wallace’s favourite; Wensleydale.

As well as edible entities we also stock a range of regionally created beverages. For the beer-drinker, we have over 40 locally brewed bottled beers - including 'Riggwelter', Yorkshire Moors, Yorkshire Sparkle and Scarborough Fair. We also carry a delicious cider made by the Monks at the nearby Ampleforth Abbey as well as a fabulous selection of wine from award winning Ryedale Vineyards, the perfect thirst quencher following a long day exploring the nearby moors.

Alongside our alcoholic drinks, a vast variety of teas from the world famous Taylors of Harrogate can be found in-store. As we know, us Yorkshire folk enjoy nothing more than a brew with a piece of freshly made Parkin to accompany! Finally, we stock more locally created preserves than Yorkshire has Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty - and that’s a lot! Our selection includes Yorkshire Marmalade, St Clements Curd and Tutti  Frutti amongst many others.

So this #YorkshireDay why not pop to Hunters of Helmsley and pick up a feast that not only supports ‘Gods Own County’ but also tastes fantastic! What’s not to love?

Friday 22 July 2016

On Your Marks, Get Set, Bake!

Nation set to be inspired with new series of The Great British Bake Off

Dust off your wooden spoons and pull out the mixing bowl, The Great British Bake Off is back! Launching in early August the seventh series will take its rightful primetime spot on BBC1 and run for ten exciting weeks.


As usual, legendary judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood will be on hand to critique the amateur bakers’ creations with Sue and Mel around to steer the ship and calm contestants’ nerves with plenty of fun and jokes. Having launched in 2010 the hit series has gone from strength to strength with 15 million viewers tuning in to watch Nadiya Hussain scoop the victory in the 2015 final. Nadiya has since gone on to make the Queen’s 90th birthday cake, proving the show really does have star power!

Here at Hunters of Helmsley we love to bake – and we also love to eat the goodies we produce! The cosy and traditional feeling that GBBO creates isn’t lost on us as a small local shop. We love the nostalgia and familiarity of a village fete bake off, something which Anna Beattie, the show’s producer says she based the programme on.

As the nation gathers to marvel at the ‘showstoppers’ and ‘classic bakes’ we are on hand to fulfil your shopping list and make sure you have all of the tip top ingredients you need to create your own masterpieces. During the last series of GBBO contestants used 133kg of unsalted butter - whilst you may not need as much as that, we have lovely locally sourced butter available in store. Next on the list, in the 2014 series a massive 1440 large eggs were carefully cracked, beaten and whipped into a frenzy. We carry fresh free-range local eggs  ensuring the very best in taste and quality.

Finally, contestants in 2015 used a whopping 306.5kg of sugar in their bakes. Sources tell us it would take an exhausting 1,779 hours to walk off that much of the sweet stuff. Lucky we have the Helmsley iFootpath walking app on hand for some inspiration! We carry various ranges of sugar, flour, grains, dried fruit and nuts amongst various other ingredients meaning we are the one stop shop for all your baking needs. Those with special dietary requirements should know that we also carry various gluten, dairy and sugar free options in store too.

Once your ‘bake’ is fresh from the oven a range of high quality preserves and marmalades are available to top off your creation. If you’re going for classic Victoria Sponge why not try a strawberry jam for the filling? You can choose from Hunters of Helmsley’s own ranges and renowned suppliers such as Cartwright and Butler. Other flavours available include plum, ginger, blackberry & elderflower and tutti frutti, for a bit of a twist on the classic.

If you’re seeking a summer holiday activity, baking could be just the job for an afternoon of fun. We carry a selection of baking decorations  Let’s just hope there isn’t too much of an argument over who gets to lick the spoon!

Finally, those wishing for some simple rest and relaxation can let us take away all of the stress and get you ready to tune in with a delicious ready-made cake or biscuit. Obviously us Brits can’t enjoy any of these tasty treats without a good old cup of tea. Choose from a wide selection of teas, coffees and infusions from renowned producers such as Taylors of Harrogate, Grumpy Mule, Twining’s and Pukka, all of which are stocked here at Hunters.

Tweet us your creations at @huntershelmsley, no soggy bottoms allowed!

Friday 15 July 2016

Working Up an Appetite on Foot


Some of the more eagle-eyed of you might have spotted a new section on our website recently – Go Walking
Thanks to a collaboration between the fantastic Helmsley in Business group, of which we’re a proud founding member, and Ryedale District Council, we now have five wonderful walks to share with visitors (and locals – it’s amazing how many people who have lived here for years have never tried these!)

Helmsley is a fantastic place to base yourself for a walk, whether it’s for the day or the weekend. All five of the walks start and finish in the town, and we have a large long stay car park, so you don’t need to worry about where to leave the car. We’re the only market town in the North York Moors National Park, and as such we’re very lucky to enjoy some stunning local scenery. Meander along the River Rye, explore historic Rievaulx Abbey and set a pace around some unbeatable woodlands in Beck Dale. There’s even a short 1 mile Discovery Trail around the town itself, taking in many of our best attractions (yes – of course that includes passing our wonderful shop!)

The walks vary in difficulty and length (up to 8 miles), and clearly state any access issues so you can judge for yourself which might suit you best. We’re always happy to give hints and tips in the shop so feel free to pop in and ask us about them.

With the walks starting in Helmsley, why not pop in to Hunters and pick up a picnic, or some drinks and snacks to keep you energised on your walk? You’ll be grateful of a deep filled beef and horseradish sandwich or a handmade sausage roll when you’re half way round!  Or if, after your walk, you’re looking to rest your weary legs and watch the world go by, come see us for a locally made Brymor ice cream, and then you can sit on the Market Place monument and people watch to your heart’s content!

So why not download the walks from our very own website, and make a date to explore our spectacular surroundings? Happy walking!



Saturday 2 July 2016

Game, Set and Match to Hunters of Helmsley - Strawberries & Cream Hits our Menu


The 27th June 2016 marked the beginning of Wimbledon, the oldest tennis tournament in the world and a very special time for Britain. To celebrate, strawberries and cream will be available to purchase through our ice-cream window from the 27th June to the 10th July 2016 for just £1.50, what’s not to love?
Whilst we’re looking forward to watching the likes of Novac Djokovic, Serena Williams and Andy Murray take to the centre court, we’re also going to enjoy some customary treats. As well as strawberries and cream, we also carry many other summer favourites including bold Yorkshire Blue cheeses, classic pork pies and fresh sandwiches, perfect to enjoy alongside the tennis.

It appears Wimbledon-goers are foodies like us. Whilst enjoying over 330,000 cups of tea and coffee they also eat more than 140,000 portions of English strawberries, taken from 8,615 punnets and topped with 10,000 litres of dairy cream.

Back to sport… an incredible 54,250 tennis balls are used during The Championships period, with each ball being stored at an exact 68 Deg F before being distributed to players by 250 ball boys and girls. In 2015 viewing figures peaked at an enormous 29.2 million people with 14,979 lucky people watching the action live from their centre court seats.

With all of that in mind there’s no denying that Wimbledon is a very special and unique event which brings with it a real sense of community. Join in with the celebrations and pop to Hunters to sample some of our delicious strawberries and cream or Brymor’s delicious locally made strawberry ice cream, the choice is yours!


Tis the Season to Get Married


We British love our Spring and Summer weddings – despite the fact our weather is often as unreliable in July as it is in February!

Did you know that apparently 300,000 people get married in the UK every year – and well over 50 per cent of the UK’s weddings take place between June and September, with the peak being August and early September.

That’s a lot of weddings taking place over the next four months!

Helmsley is a beautiful place to get married and we often get people from all over the country coming to make the most of our spectacular venues like the Black Swan Hotel and Feversham Arms. You can get some amazing photos taken at the Walled Gardens and in the Castle grounds, even if the British weather is at its most dramatic!

Brides and Grooms to be can find all kinds in Helmsley to help with wedding planning – from handmade jewellery and mother of the bride outfits to tailoring, spectacular cakes and floristry. Here at Hunters, we can help with unusual ideas for edible wedding favours – the stunning Lauden chocolates, which are a work of art in their own right, would look fantastic on a table setting! Or how about a miniature Sloe Gin from our very own local producer SLOEmotion?

But that’s not the only thing we can help with. Fancy something a bit different for your wedding cake? Always had a more savoury than a sweet tooth? How about a cheese wedding cake? We can provide tiers of different cheeses which can be beautifully dressed with fruit and flowers and served with biscuits and locally made chutneys. Delicious, stunning – and we can guarantee it will go down a treat as a late night snack! 

Or if you’re a guest at a wedding this summer and you’re struggling to think about what to get the happy couple, how about a luxury food hamper? We can make one up specially full of all their favourites, or you can pick from our ready to go range. Both can be delivered across the country.

If they love it nice and spicy, there’s our chilli lovers’ hamper. If they’re a fan of cheese, there’s our cheese lovers’ hamper – imagine coming back from honeymoon to an empty fridge, only to have that delivered to say welcome home!

If they’re getting married in Helmsley, what better way to remind them of their happy day than a Helmsley hamper, full of locally made produce? Or how about our popular Globetrotter hamper, full of goodies from around the world – they can feel like they’re on an exotic honeymoon without leaving the comfort of their own home!

For our full range of hampers go to: http://www.huntersofhelmsley.com/shop/hampers.html