AN award winning retailer is the guest speaker at the annual meeting of Ilkley Business Forum (IBF).

Johnny Hayes, the owner of Frankie and Johnny’s Cookshop on Bishopthorpe Road in York, will be at the AGM of the forum on Wednesday, May 13 at The Wheatley Arms Hotel in Ben Rhydding.

"Johnny Hayes is a legend amongst successful retailers," said IBF chairman, Steve Butler.

"His shop won the 2014 Britain’s Best Cookshop in the North Award organised by Housewares Trade Magazine. But Johnny is so much more than a shop-keeper. He successfully organised the Bishopthorpe Road Traders Association in 2012 and in November 2014 Bishopthorpe Road was named as one of the top three local parades of shops in Britain.

"This was part of a nationwide competition, the GB High Street Awards, which was organised by the Government through the Department for Communities and Local Government.

"One of the reasons we set up IBF was to help retailers in the LS29 area. I for one want our local high streets to be vibrant and popular and I am sure that Johnny will inspire us to new efforts. I intend to issue an invitation to every shop in the LS29 area - all are welcome to attend whether or not they are members of IBF."

As well as Johnny Hayes, there will be presentations by Paul Kitching and Paula Connor, all of which will happen after the very short AGM.

Mr Kitching is organising the local efforts to define the Neighbourhood Plan which will be instrumental in determining how the Wharfedale Valley progresses over the next 15 Years. The Neighbourhood Plan provides local residents with the opportunity to identify key issues for Ilkley and shape how future planned growth will look and where it might go.

Mr Kitching especially wants to hear from local businesses what they think should happen. Visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KBF3C2N, to see the questions he wants answered and to take part in the survey.

The other speaker will be Paula Connor who has formed a local group seeking to develop a regular market in the area. She and her team is looking for venues and talking to Bradford Council and local retailers who might be interested in starting this venture. They will make a short presentation about the work they have done so far and what they hope to do.

The meeting will start at 5.45pm and end at 7.45pm.

There will be wine and canapes provided by the chef at the venue: The Wheatley Arms, Wheatley Lane, Ben Rhydding, Ilkley LS29 8PP.