Sustainable flower studio puts down roots at former Emmerdale site in Leeds

A Yorkshire flower studio startup has chosen the former filming site of ITV’s Emmerdale and Heartbeat as its new base.

Pampas & Bloom, based in Leeds, has moved from being a home-based business to its first dedicated premises, at the regenerated family-owned mill where prime-time TV programmes have previously filmed.

Amelia Harker, a university student, started the floral business during lockdown from her parents’ home.

Specialising in sourcing and selling pampas grass and dried flowers, the company has now moved into the recently refurbished Mending Rooms at the Sunny Bank Mills development near Leeds.

Amelia, who is studying Product and Furniture Design, commented: “Although I live in north Leeds, I am half Danish and – together with my sister Louisa – discovered the resurgence of popularity for pampas in Scandinavia when we visited Denmark a couple of years ago.

“That ignited my passion and I saw how pampas and beautiful dried flowers could bring joy to everyday life.

“I started sourcing and selling bunches of natural hand-tied dried flowers online from home and soon, to my astonishment and delight, my bedroom was overflowing with flowers.

“My parents were very understanding, their house had soon become overrun with bunches of dried flowers. My mum Susan is incredibly hands-on with the business.

“So we started looking for business premises in the Leeds area and Sunny Bank Mills fitted the bill perfectly.

“It is a stunning environment, a beautifully refurbished old mill, full of creative businesses.

“My own studio in the historic Mending Rooms is absolutely gorgeous, light, airy and spacious, while our landlords the Gaunts have been incredibly helpful and supportive.

“There is no doubt that lockdown has helped me. Not only have I had to time to devote to my business, but there has also been a revival of interest in interior décor, as people have had to spend much more time at home, and mine is a sustainable choice, so that ticks boxes as well.”

William Gaunt, co-managing director of Edwin Woodhouse, the owners of Sunny Bank Mills, added: “We are delighted to welcome Amelia to Sunny Bank Mills. Pampas & Bloom really adds to the diverse mix of retail and leisure occupiers we have at Sunny Bank.”