SPRING is in the air and with this welcome transformation further changes are coming to Malton too.

As you may well have read recently in the Gazette, Costello’s Bakery is expanding its empire with a new production unit in Navigation Wharf.

As well as its Malton and Driffield shops, James Costello’s investment will increase the bakery’s output considerably.

And, as always with food that bears the Made in Malton label, visitors will be welcome to visit and learn how these famous pies are made.

Costello’s new line of sweet pies are particularly enticing and so I say to all you pastry enthusiasts (I’m one too!) – get thee to Navigation Wharf.

YO Bakehouse is expanding too. David and Chris, who opened their charming café and bakery in Market Street last August, have taken on the shop next door and are also moving its bakery production to an additional unit on Navigation Wharf.

With its incredible scones, cakes and new brownies, the Wharf will no doubt smell as good as Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.

At York House you will have noticed the scaffold has gone up and much activity is taking place. That’s because York House is to become a wedding venue connected to the Talbot Hotel.

With its fine 17th century interiors and pretty garden leading down to the river, I hope it will become the most stylish of Yorkshire wedding venues - a truly special place for families to share their most joyful of celebrations.

I’m delighted that interior designer Flora Soames has agreed to decorate.

Flora has got great taste and as Winston Churchill’s great grand-daughter she has brought a good deal of urgency and direction to the wedding project. She’s certainly got us all running around.

Although still in the early stages, and not 100 per cent confirmed, there are also other tantalising openings happening later this year.

There’s a gin distillery planned at Talbot Yard by a very cool fire fighter, I mean who doesn’t like gin and firefighters. Ladies, please form an orderly queue..

There’s a beautiful and stylish wood-fired pizza restaurant planned for Wheelgate by an amazing and talented chef.

I think this will be incredible for Malton’s restaurant scene, plus expanding the food town message further across town.

And last, but very much not least, there’s Stew & Oyster, a superb high quality bar to go into the old Town Hall building in Malton’s Market Place.

I’m thrilled that they are thinking of moving in to Malton. What is clever about Stew & Oyster is that they truly want to be a place for the whole community.

Because of this they are open every day of the week from early to late with free wi-fi and families are very much a big part of the business too.

If you’ve visited them in other parts of Yorkshire you will already know they have a great reputation and no doubt will breathe life into such a fine building.

Thank goodness they are going to have lots of outside dining too. The seasons are changing and Malton is too. Tell your friends.

It is time to dust off your shopping baskets and head to Malton Market Place as March sees the welcome return of the monthly food market on Saturday.

There will be lots of fantastic fresh produce from Yorkshire’s best producers and there will also be live cooking demonstrations from Dan Graham, Luke Daniels and Will McKee.

The market will be open for business from 9am to 3pm, it’s going to be fab.