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Monday 10am - 5:30pm Tuesday 10am - 5:30pm Thursday 10am - 5:30pm Friday 10am - 5:30pm Saturday 10am - 5:30pm Sunday 10am - 5:30pm

http://www.yorkghostmerchants.com/

York Ghost Merchants, York (2025)

06/10/2025

A Monday preview of a Black Box Edition - a collaborative venture with Bettys, born from the city famed for its chocolate and its ghosts.

May we introduce The Starlight Club Ghost, handmade by Bettys award-winning chocolatiers from the finest Grand Cru Swiss milk chocolate. Each ghost is filled with a decadent champagne and milk chocolate ganache and gilded with exquisite pink lustre. Made with the highest quality ingredients and no artificial preservatives, we recommend you enjoy our Starlight Club Ghost within 6 weeks of purchase.

Edition of 3000, standard edition card is included with each purchase. £27.95 each.

The Starlight Club Ghost is inspired by the story of Bettys, from its beginnings in Harrogate in 1919, to the opening of its elegant – and now iconic – York café in 1937. It represents an era when the world was emerging from the shadow of the Great War and moving into a new age of optimism, glamour and expanding horizons, as imagined in our recent series of stories and films, My Darling B, The Gift and Between Two Worlds.

Sold from a separate sales counter in Bettys York from 9am Sunday 26th October - Sunday 3rd November (while stocks last). Purchases are now limited to five Ghosts per customer purchase instead of three. This product contains alcohol (under 0.5 ABV) and is not recommended for under 16s in line with UK retail guidelines.

Every Starlight Club Ghost sold will be issued with a little black envelope containing a Starlight Club souvenir ticket card. Most of these are black embossed with gold, however, 60 are pink embossed with gold - one pink winning pink ticket per 50 sales. These will be distributed evenly and fairly by volume. The random recipients of pink Starlight Club tickets should refer to the information on the reverse on how to claim their exclusive and everlasting Starlight Club White Star Ghost free of charge. This Starlight Club White Star Edition Ghost is a separate edition of 60 and is supplied with a standard YGM Black Box and edition card.
Bettys is located at 6-8 St Helen’s Square; we will update with information on queueing protocol on this page ahead of Ghost Week

12/09/2025

For the last year we have been working behind the scenes in partnership with York’s iconic Bettys and, in addition to our limited-edition Starlight Club Black Box Ghost, we look forward to unveiling another sweet secret…

The city of a thousand ghosts is also a city famed for its chocolate. In 1919, when Frederick Belmont opened his first Bettys tearoom in nearby Harrogate, it was a city in mourning.

We invite you to travel back to that time and discover a story that moves from the trenches of the Western front to the streets of York; a story of love, loss, and learning to live in a changed world. Please follow the link in our bio to listen to the story entitled “The Gift” which accompanies this next release. You can find it in the LIBRARY section of the ARCHIVE on our website. There is a text version of the story there too.

There will be a full preview made by Bettys and ourselves on Monday morning and a short film which will be released next Friday.

05/09/2025

Friday Preview - The Lamplighter. Our notable Ghost of the season this year is jet black & peppered with pale yellow which glows green when ‘charged’ with light (any source). These are being released now so that all of the orders can arrive ahead of Halloween. They will take 5-6 weeks to arrive from the date of sale and Ghosts will be sent in order of purchase.
Before the streets were illuminated with electricity, streetlamps operated on gas. They had to be lit by hand every night and extinguished every morning. Lamplighters would use a long pole to ignite the lamps all over towns and cities, and then a ‘snuffer-outer’ would take over the shift at dawn to put them out. Their work may have been unglamorous, but it was foundational to maintaining a fully functioning society.
£20 + postage,
Please Note: US postage charges have had to increase to £14.50 to cover the recent removal of de minimis threshold. US customers should not be charged tariffs upon receipt of their Ghost as we are operating a DDP ( delivered duty paid ) service.
Size: 8x4x5cm.
Batch of 5500.
The Bowler Hat entry period will be from Monday 8th September 10am until Tuesday 9th September 10am BST with results announced during the day of the 9th (not immediately afterwards). There will be a 48-hour period in which to pay should you be selected, please note the expiry time on your link to pay carefully. We cannot honour expired links.
To enter, visit The Bowler Hat page on our website between the specified times and enter your details, simply visiting the page will not enter your details for the draw. Not all who enter the draw will be successful, notification either way will be received unless your entry breaches the requirements. More information on the process can be found on The Bowler Hat FAQ page. PLEASE ENSURE ALL ENTRY DETAILS ARE CORRECT- THESE ARE USED FOR SHIPPING AND CANNOT BE AMENDED AT PURCHASE.

29/08/2025

Ghost Week VI 25th October - 2nd November.
We take pleasure in announcing further information about this year’s Ghost Week events. Both the Shambles shop and The Dispensary will be open each day of Ghost Week. There will be no Guild Room appointments on Wednesday 29th October though.
Please follow the link in our bio which takes you to the updated Ghost week page of our website.
We have added all the information to this page in event subheadings as there is too much detail to convey within a social media post. There will be some further updates made in the following weeks so please do revisit the Ghost Week page. Ghost Week maps will be available to pick up from the Shambles and Dispensary from mid-October.
Certain events are by ticket only so please check the details carefully and pre book where necessary from the dates advertised. Some tickets are available right away & rather limited in number, so we do recommend booking early to avoid disappointment. If you have any questions about the Partner events, please contact the host of the event rather than TYGM. If you have specific questions about Ghost Week or Ghost Merchants events please use email - events@yorkghostmerchants.com
There will be a large Bowler Hat release in early September, all Ghosts sold will be dispatched prior to Ghost Week.
Have a wonderful weekend wherever you are in the world.

16/08/2025

We opened on this day in 2019.

The past six years are difficult to explain properly in the context of a social media post.
On 16th August 2019, there were just three of us. We made all the Ghosts upstairs in the Shambles workshop and brought downstairs to fill the shelves below. There was no fanfare, no expectations, just us, 500 Ghosts and a ticking Baraclough long case clock.
August 16th 2025, there are now 35 talented Ghost Merchants & Makers, three workshops and a community of incredible customers & collectors. There are increased expectations !
Although we are viewed quite differently now, our principles, methods and ethos remain the same. We still fervently believe in the traditional values that guided us in the early days, and have held fast to these. The world has changed in many ways since 2019 but the way that we do things has not.
If anything, this post is to say thank you to those who have become part of our business and who have upheld and enhanced our values. We are immensely proud of the wonderful people who have worn and continue to wear the brown bowler hats, without them it would not be possible to be what we are.
Thank you of course to everyone who now lives with a York Ghost ( or perhaps more than one ! ); to those who have supported us we are immeasurably grateful.
We have new Crossed Torches pin badges for sale from today, these will be available in The Shambles, Dispensary (and Guild Room on Wednesdays) price £9.

12/08/2025

It’s our biggest Charity Ghost Raffall of the year.
For most scheduled large online releases in 2025 there will be a small number of the style, made as Rare & Unusual limited editions to be sold by charity raffle. This is the Charity Ghost version of our recent Monochrome Happenstance Ghost.
There are ten Charity Ghosts available this month (one from each maker), each Ghost holds a Victorian Penny in its base and is accompanied by the makers card. It is the first time that we have reversed the coins to show Queen Victoria’s profile, the Ghost will not bear the charity stamp as the coin will not allow space. Each Ghost has been polished to a high shine and is black/white/grey in colour.

The Raffalls are open to people outside of the UK although if an overseas winner is selected at random then they will be responsible for covering any shipping costs. UK winners receive free postage (or collection) from our offices if appropriate.
Multiple ticket purchases have equal opportunity for success as ticket numbers are selected from the entire range of tickets purchased including individual tickets purchased as part of a bulk buy. Ticket bundle opportunities are offered as early bird incentives. Tickets are available now, go to www.raffall.com and search HAPPENSTANCE PENNY or follow link in stories.
Winners will be notified by Raffall immediately after the draws are made on 19th August. For the funds to be released to the charities all winners must press the ‘accept’ button located on their Get Prize screen that is accessible via the claim button located on their winning tickets.
We are supporting The York Women’s Counselling Charity this month; they provide one to one counselling to women who are experiencing emotional and mental health difficulties as a result of current or past emotional stress or trauma.

86% of money raised will go directly to the charity (after the 9% Raffall commission & 5% Ghost Merchants apportionment). We have now raised well over £230,000 for many charities local and global, thank you for your support, kindness and generosity.
Good fortune
TYGM

06/08/2025

We are delighted to announce that the second production batch of 300 Tannery Ghosts will be for sale at The Dispensary shop in St Anthonys Garden, York on Tuesday 16th September from 9am.
Recipe 02 has been made using natural organic dying & steeping processes and has resulted in batches of Ghosts which have extraordinary markings & colours. The palette is varied but dominated by muted greens, autumn browns, plum, lilac and occasionally blue. The coalescence of colours create a beguiling surfaces of subtle pattern and tones.
There will only be Tannery Ghosts to buy from The Dispensary on that day and for that day only. Recipe 02 is priced at £68 per Ghost. Strictly one per customer.
Tannery Ghosts boxes include the recipe number, batch, manufacture date, merchant signatory & stamp.
We will issue some more details including queueing protocols in advance of the sale day from The Tannery page of the website. The same ticketing system that we adopted for the first Tannery sale in March will be used again. Tickets will be issued to those queuing on the day, these will give an allocated time slot to return at a specific time later that day to make your purchase.
There will be 14 accessibility slots available again and these can be booked from the accessibility calendar at the bottom of the Tannery Ghost event page from 6pm on Monday 11th August. Please note that our new accessibility booking procedure means that you will need to provide a photo of your National Disability Card, Nimbus Access Card or Nimbus Digital Access Pass for our business. Further details about the Tannery sale can be found on The Tannery page of our website ( under The Dispensary ), more information about accessibility appointments can be found under “Disability & Access Information” on our FAQ’s page.
Ghost Week accessibility appointments for the Shambles and The Dispensary will be available from 6pm on Monday 18th August. One booking per person during Ghost Week in order to be as fair as possible to all who want appointments. National Disability Card, Access Card or Digital Access Pass (DAP) must be provided at time of booking.

01/08/2025

It is with heavy hearts that announce the departure from the company of one of our Ghost makers.
Mr Ord has been a maker for 3 years and his distinctive styles have become a firm favourites with many collectors. Eclectic colour combinations, layered veils, zig-zag pours, bold marbling and red-eyed Ghosts are some his best known creations. He has also been responsible for a number of Ghost Week Charity Ghosts which have raised incredible sums; The Pontic Jewel Ghost made for Ghost Week in 2023 raised over £16,000 for Carecent.
Those of you who have crossed paths with Mr Ord will know that he is a shy, extremely humble, caring & talented man. He will be missed in the workshop and his Ghosts will no doubt be missed by our customers.

His black cat stamp will be used for the last time this week, after which it will be retired. This will be the first retirement of a makers stamp and the tightly knit group of makers will miss the serenity and kindness that Mr Ord contributed to workshop life.
We all wish Mr Ord every success and happiness in his travels and future creative endeavours.
TYGM

31/07/2025

Ghost Week VI , Saturday October 25th until Sunday November 2nd.
We are delighted to announce this year’s programme of events.
Ghost Week information will be fully updated on the Ghost Week page of our website on 29th August with event details including ticketing information. Tickets will be on sale for certain events from the end of next month through event partners directly.

York Ghost Merchants Events
The Little York Ghost Hunt – Monday 27th October – Thursday 30th October inc. 6 – 8pm. A seek & keep Ghost Hunt on the streets that flank the Minster.
Black Box Ghost sale in association with Bettys York – Sunday 26th October – Sunday 2nd November. Further information on 29th August.
There will be a launch night event in The Belmont Room at Bettys on Saturday 25th October. Ticketed
The Ghost Merchants Quiz – Lendal Cellars, Thursday 30th October 8pm. Pre-book only.
Seed Ghost Search – Tiny Ghosts to be found throughout the week.
The Guild Coin Ghost Trail – 25th October – 2nd November. A city wide assignment. More details at the end of August.

Partner Events
Candlelit Mouse Hunt – Holy Trinity Church. Monday 27th October only, 6 – 8.30pm. Free
Fortuna Fatum -Fairfax House. Saturday 25th October – Sunday 2nd November, 10am -5pm, 11am-4pm on Sundays + evenings TBC.
Figures in a Landscape, An Act Of Treason – The Mansion House. Friday 31st October. 7.30pm. Ticketed in advance
The Printing House After Dark – Thin Ice Press. Wednesday 29th October. 6-8pm
Traitors Tales – The Mansion House. 25th October -2nd November ( except Saturday 1st )10.30am -5pm
Haunted Hall – Barley Hall. Monday 27th October – Friday 31st November. 5pm, 6pm & 7pm. Ticketed
Children’s Ghost Story Workshop – The Thin Ice Press. Saturday 25th October, 1.30–4pm. Aged 8 – 16. Eight ticketed places.
Two-day Heritage Printing Workshop – The Thin Ice Press. 29th - 30th October. 10am-4pm each day. Eight ticketed places
Sensing the Past – Holy Trinity Church. Tuesday 28th October & Saturday 1st November only. 5.30,6,6.30,7 & 7.30pm
Ghost Week Print Shop, limited edition GW prints for sale – The Thin Ice press. Throughout Ghost Week except 28th & 29th October.

25/07/2025

To be the first to know visit www.bettys.co.uk/curious

York Ghost Merchants

24/07/2025

Something curious is coming…

04/07/2025

Friday Preview - Monochrome Happenstance Ghost
£19 + postage, Size: 8x4x5 cm. Batch of 6000.
The Bowler Hat entry period will be from Monday 7th July 10am until Tuesday 8th July 10am BST. Our largest online release to date.
Last year we offered a ‘Happenstance’ release. A Ghost varied in design but with combinations of the same colours and containing a ‘Clairvoyant’ card within the box, designated at random, making the type of Ghost and card a twist of fate or ‘Happenstance’.
This release follows the same principle and is monochrome. We celebrate our Ghost Makers this release with each of the ten makers contributing 600 Ghosts. Every Ghost is stamped by its maker and will contain a limited-edition collectable card which bears the maker’s flag. The Ghosts pictured are only one example of the range that our Makers have produced for this release. A film was made, showcasing a Ghost Makers “Flag walk”, the history and some of the ceremonial traditions of this ancient craft and this, instead of a story, is now available to view on the Library > Moving Pictures section of our website.
PLEASE NOTE we are unable to assign particular styles or designs to individual customers based on preference. If this is something which may cause you upset, we recommend NOT buying this Ghost. We cannot swap Ghosts because of preference.
These Ghosts are handmade, and delivery will take 5-6 weeks, we expect to have all Ghosts shipped by the middle of August.
To enter visit The Bowler Hat page on our website between the specified times and click on the image of the ghost which will take you to a form where you can enter your details. Simply visiting the page will not enter your details for the draw. Not all who enter the draw will be successful, notification either way will be received on Tuesday 8th. More information on the process can be found on The Bowler Hat FAQ page on our website. PLEASE ENSURE ALL ENTRY DETAILS ARE CORRECT- THESE ARE USED FOR SHIPPING AND CANNOT BE AMENDED AT PURCHASE.

York Ghost Merchants

06/10/2025

12/09/2025

05/09/2025

29/08/2025

16/08/2025

12/08/2025

06/08/2025

01/08/2025

31/07/2025

25/07/2025

24/07/2025

04/07/2025

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Monday	10am - 5:30pm
Tuesday	10am - 5:30pm
Thursday	10am - 5:30pm
Friday	10am - 5:30pm
Saturday	10am - 5:30pm
Sunday	10am - 5:30pm