INTERVIEW
Danika Priim retired from women’s rugby in 2021 having played for England, Leeds Rhinos, Stanningley and Bradford Bulls playing prop forward. These days she can be found at the side of the pitch as a sports pundit for the likes of Sky Sports, BBC and Channel 4. She lives in Leeds and proudly supports many local charities
A place in Yorkshire that makes you smile?
Most of Yorkshire makes me smile but since retiring from playing rugby, I love to get out on the paddleboard, and if it’s a quick after-work paddle there’s no better place than Knaresborough. It’s beautiful, offers great views on the river and plenty of places for a bite to eat after. But how can Yorkshire not make you smile? Where in the world can you get the hustle and bustle of a big city like Leeds, the history and architecture of places like York, the countryside and the sea. We in Yorkshire are blessed with the best!
A place in Yorkshire that you love to eat at?
There is no way that I can pick one – I have so many places where I love to eat! For something different and lots of variety I love to try out Trinity Kitchen. Every six weeks there are different street food vendors and so many options. Jimmy Mack’s festive loaded fries are honestly the best! Speaking of six weeks, Six by Nico is incredible – their tasting menu and wine pairing is insane, and the theme changes every six weeks and it’s six courses, but I’m sure the name of it gives that away. Or quite simply, the Famous Wooden Hut fish shop over the bridge in Otley does the best fish and chips – perfect if I take my paddleboard down to the river for a splash around.
A place in Yorkshire that you like to take friends?
Haworth – there isn’t a more picturesque village in my opinion and it just so happens to be on my doorstep. You can enjoy the history of the literature of the Brontë sisters or a wander along the Railway Children’s Walk and to finish, jump on the steam train. I’m so lucky to live just a short walk away. If you don’t want to take in the history, a walk up the super-steep cobbles and a little jump in and out of all of the local shops is a perfect weekend jaunt. It just so happens that there are plenty of little pubs and bars to try from the Burnt Bear Micropub that specialises in craft ales and gins, or the Treehouse where you can grab a great Sunday dinner, plenty of cocktails and wine, and they also show all the big sporting events – Haworth has it all.
An early memory of Yorkshire?
One of my earliest memories was walking the Ingleton Waterfall walk with my aunty and three brothers. It was a really warm day and my two older brothers were jumping in and out of the water. I remember wanting to be just like them, swimming around and playing but I was too scared until my oldest brother came and picked me up and just threw me in. I
