Otley Bellman Terry Ford will officially proclaim Otley Charter Day in Otley Market Place as the town marks 799 years since the granting of its historic Market Charter.

The Otley Market Charter was granted by King Henry III on May 24, 1227, helping shape Otley’s development as a centre for trade, hospitality and community life. This year’s celebrations mark the 799th anniversary, ahead of the town’s major Otley 800 celebrations in 2027.

Organised by Otley Pub Club, the Charter Day weekend is designed to help establish the Spring Bank Holiday weekend as an annual celebration of Otley, its history, community, pubs and market traditions.

As part of the celebrations, Otley Pub Club has teamed up with Shadow Brewing to create Market Gold, a special Otley-brewed beer for the weekend, and has distributed commemorative beer mats to pubs around the town.

Locals and visitors are encouraged to gather in the historic Market Place for the proclamation, then raise a glass to the town in one of Otley’s famous pubs. Hardly the worst homework ever set.