A new café, restaurant and wellness space has opened in Ilkley town centre.
A new five-in-one food, drink and wellness destination has officially opened in Ilkley following a successful opening weekend. Ajé Cafe + Studio opened at 3-5 Cunliffe Road on Saturday 3rd October, bringing together a neighbourhood café, evening restaurant, movement studio, Andalucian-inspired Tabanco and cocktail bar under one roof. The new independent venue is the creation of husband-and-wife team Luke Downing and Laura MacLeod, who celebrated the launch alongside the Ajé team and welcomed their first customers over the weekend. Laura said: “It was amazing to see so much positivity and support for the concept. “We’re extremely proud of the team and the effort they put in to make sure we opened on time and with minimal hiccups. “There’s a long road ahead and we’re always learning, but we know we made the right choice coming to this stunning little town. "We can’t wait to get started on the Studio and Ajé by Night, and to really show everyone what we’re about. “Lastly, we’d really like to thank everyone who visited us over the weekend. "The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, although we know we weren’t without our mistakes. "To those who ‘get it’, persevered and remained supportive and helpful, thank you.” Ajé takes its name from an Andalucian colloquial expression associated with following your own path rather than simply following trends. Luke and Laura are originally from Leeds and have spent their careers working in restaurants around the world, with both having worked as chefs and previously owned and managed award-winning restaurants. Luke said: “We wanted to create something that felt like us. “Ajé is about following your own path and not just doing what’s fashionable. “It’s a new business and we want it to stand on its own. "We’re not looking to replicate anything we’ve done before." The first part of the concept to open is Ajé by Day, a neighbourhood café serving from 9am until 4pm with speciality coffee, fresh juices, smoothies and seasonal food. The café is walk-in only, with dogs welcome both inside and on the outdoor terrace. Further elements of the business will be introduced in stages throughout October. Ajé by Night will offer a weekend evening restaurant focused on seasonal cooking and Yorkshire produce, alongside a selection of wines and cocktails. Downstairs, Tabanco Ajé will take inspiration from the traditional Tabancos of Andalucia, offering tapas, wine and sherry in a more informal setting. The space will also host masterclasses and be available for private hire. The Studio, led by Laura, will focus on movement, flow and resilience, with sessions designed for people of different abilities. Monthly tasting events, masterclasses and other community-led activities are also planned. Ajé by Night, the Studio, Tabanco and Cocktail Bar are set to launch in stages throughout October. Ajé shared on Facebook how their opening weekend went:
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