Rustic Rabbit, Grassington: The Yorkshire Dales gift shop used as a filming set for All Creatures Great and Small where American fans visit
Rustic Rabbit, a Yorkshire Dales gift shop, has been a filming set for All Creatures Great and Small since it first aired and it has been attracting American fans ever since.
Rustic Rabbit was founded by Holly Patrick, 50, and her mum Sandra in 1994 and was originally transformed into Higgins Bakery and Hirst the Laundry in 2020 for All Creatures Great and Small.
The shop sells a variety of trinkets, children’s toys, homewares, jigsaw puzzles and branded ranges including Wallace and Gromit and Maileg Mouse.
This year, Ms Patrick has designed a range of All Creatures Great and Small products.
Rustic Rabbit attracts tourists from all over the world, particularly Americans.
“I think Grassington is busier now because of the filming for All Creatures Great and Small,” Ms Patrick said.
“It brings lots of tourists in and when it returns it’s always exciting. It’s nice to chat with people.
“We do get quite a lot of Americans who come over because obviously it’s shown in America as well.
“We get big parties who come over on tours and specifically to have a look around.”
Ms Patrick is a long-time fan of the show, having watched the original 1970s series as a child and has watched every episode of the recent adaptation.
“It wasn’t until we actually saw the series and [our shop] was there on the screen that we realised it was something [big],” she said.
“It was all very exciting, the filming and when your shop gets dressed for filming.
“When All Creatures Great and Small first started filming, we were Higgins the Bakery and Hirst the Laundry but because of Covid and my condition deteriorating during Covid, I downsized, so I’ve changed into R. Bunney Garage.
“I’ve watched every episode and I love it. You never get tired or bored of seeing your shop on the show.
“The nice thing is, it will always be there on film so there will always be a little bit of that there forever.
“I watched the [original series] when I was a kid. I loved it and I also love this one and possibly in some ways I love this series more because it has the local interest and my shop is in it. It means more.”
Rustic Rabbit’s most popular product is the Maileg Mouse brand.
“It’s always been a gift shop; we sell all sorts of little knick knacks, children’s toys, homewares, jigsaws and big ranges of things like Wallace and Gromit,” Ms Patrick said.
“We sell Rendale, East of India, Maileg Mouse brand, we sell Gibson’s Jigsaws, Alex Clark. The most popular brand is Maileg.
“I’m also having my own designed All Creatures Great and Small products made because of the series, I designed some products.
“I’ve done tea towels, coasters, mugs, magnets, cushions, t-shirts all with images that have been drawn related to All Creatures Great and Small.”