A CRAFT shop aimed at the nimble-fingered members of the community has recently reopened in Ingleton with new faces at the helm.

Craftopia has launched under the new ownership of Alison Priestley and Les Boughton after frantic times working internationally before finding their ideal location in the Craven dales.

Alison and Les, who latterly work in Sao Paulo, Brazil, have opted for a different challenge based in what they regard as ‘the unsurpassed beauty of the Yorkshire Dales and Southern Lakeland’

Alison - herself a queen of craft and a crochet fanatic for many years said she could not believe her luck when Amanda Bloom’s Craftopia came on the market.

She said: “It seemed like the universe was saying it was time for a challenge and tossed me this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity out of the blue.”

With a single visit and meeting at the shop with Amanda by Les – already back in the UK since mid 2020, the deal was done. Alison – finally back from Brazil after quarantine experience plunged with Les into hurried last minute preparations and the shop opened on Saturday, July 17.

The owners were greeted with exquisite summer sunshine and the festivities of the Ingleton Gala and its wealth of visitors.

Alison and Les have been delighted with the warmness they have received from Ingleton folk in general and the business community in particular, and interest expressed by crafters far and wide has been phenomenal.

Alison added: “We intend to build on the sound foundations that Amanda Bloom created with Craftopia, introducing some new, exciting lines to reflect the surge in eagerness for crafting and creativity during lockdown.

“The shop will of course be the tactile heart of our business, but we’ll be increasing our online presence as much as possible very soon.

“And to top it all we just found out that Craftopia has been shortlisted for the British Knitting and Crochet Awards – Best Local Independent Yarn Store – North of England.

“We really couldn’t wish for a better launch.”