Putting this up early because people ask in October and we would rather answer once.
The dates
We close at 1pm on Christmas Eve, Thursday 24 December.
We are closed all day on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
We reopen on Sunday 27 December at 9am, on normal Sunday hours, and run as usual through to New Year's Eve.
We are closed on New Year's Day, Friday 1 January, and back to normal on Saturday 2 January at 8:30.
The open or closed pill at the top of every page on this site knows about all of these, so if you are reading this on the day, believe the pill rather than your memory.
Cakes and afternoon tea
Celebration cake orders want a week's notice to be certain of them, and more than that over Christmas week when the kitchen has the most on. Shorter notice is sometimes possible, so ask rather than assuming it is too late, but if you already know you need one then ordering early costs nothing and saves a phone call.
Afternoon tea runs as normal on the days we are open. On Christmas Eve, when we close at 1, the one arrival time is 12. Seats are limited at each arrival time, so book rather than chance it. The 27th to the 31st is a quiet, pleasant week in Thirsk and a good one to come for it.
The town over Christmas
The shops on the square keep their own hours over the week between Christmas and New Year, so check before making a trip for any one of them in particular. Bank holidays affect the market too, and the what's on page is the place to check which days it is running.
If you are visiting that week, the day planner is the safer bet than turning up and hoping, and the blue plaque trail works whatever is shut, because it is outdoors and free.
