24 December 2023 , 13:58
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A person who moved to a 'quiet' little Yorkshire town has annoyed residents after describing it as a debauched haven for party-goers.
The unlikely label was given to Skipton after the person said that the quiet cobbled streets transform into a party hotspot when night falls and the locals come out to play in "little Ibiza". They said that the Keighley Road area of the market town "boomed out club music every week" starting at 6pm and finishing at 3am and that "the nightclub takes this on until 5am".
The shocked local described drunken locals 'staggering down the streets in high heels with kebabs and beer bottles in hand'. They also had a go at the mess that the party-goers left behind them – vomit and litter on the floor.
Megan Banner found that the town is a great place to go out (Megan Banner/YorkshireLive)However, longer-term residents of the quaint and picturesque town, that sits just 27 miles from Leeds, have rejected the claims and defended their home, telling YorkshireLive reporter Megan Banner that while it is a busy place it is thriving and "always has something going on". They say that a little bit of liveliness at night is actually great for the community.
Skipton, has many visitors whether it's those just passing through, people looking for a pretty place to walk, taking in a bit of history with its stunning castle that dates back to 1090 or to browse round its quirky high street which is packed with independent shops, pubs, bars and restaurants.
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However, the town does have a thriving night life too, with 85 pubs and bars, according to TripAdvisor – an impressive amount for a small town. While it is dwarfed by Leeds and York, it still manages to be lively on a Friday and Saturday night. It has everything from cosy pubs with open fires to trendy bars. There are also year-round events that attract coach-loads of tourists who love the location.
Samantha and Steph, who work in the town's Red Lion pub, said: "Skipton is always busy, there is always something going on, so it's always busy. The pubs are packed most of the time, especially on a weekend. We have sheep day, medieval markets, Christmas markets, goats nativity, food markets, artisan markets, all sorts.
"When they do something they close the main road off as well so it's just full of people and they all drink in the pubs. There is always something good going on which always keeps us busy and keeps customers coming in. It is such a community spirited town and I'm sure it was said to be one of the happiest places to live, its known as the gateway to the Dales, it's just a lovely place."
Visitor Bret Hepper, from a nearby village, said: "We do come here [Skipton] sometimes to go to the pubs, we only drink in certain pubs like the wine bars. It gets very lively on an evening, we often visit because we only live in Settle down the road – we've been here many times."
And reporter Megan said: "It's lovely hitting the welcoming pubs and wandering around the idyllic little town. I would much rather go to Skipton to drink in the pubs on a Saturday afternoon than I would go into Leeds. As for it being comparable to a 'mini-Ibiza', I think that's a bit of a stretch. You can certainly get your fill of booze and food in Skipton but the class of the punters mean it retains its charm whatever time of day or night it is."