Frequently Asked Questions

This Is Yarm is a community-driven business directory dedicated to showcasing the independent shops, restaurants, cafes, and services that make Yarm's high street special. We're a free platform that helps residents and visitors discover local businesses, read reviews, and access exclusive member offers.

Learn more about our mission →

This Is Yarm was created by local residents who are passionate about supporting Yarm's vibrant high street. We saw a need for a comprehensive, easy-to-use directory that celebrates our independent businesses and makes it simple for people to discover what Yarm has to offer. The directory is maintained by a small team of volunteers who live in and love Yarm, with help from our amazing community members who suggest businesses, leave reviews, and help keep information up to date.

Joining our free community unlocks several great features:

Access exclusive offers — many businesses offer special deals only available to This Is Yarm members
Leave reviews — share your experiences to help others discover great businesses
Suggest missing businesses — help us build the most comprehensive directory of Yarm businesses
Track your activity — keep a record of your reviews and redeemed offers
Support local businesses — every interaction helps our high street thrive

Joining is quick and completely free! Simply click the "Register" button in the top navigation, fill in your name, email address, and create a password. You'll receive a verification email to confirm your account, and that's it — you're part of the This Is Yarm community! No credit card required, no hidden fees, just access to all our features.

Adding a review is simple! First, you'll need to create an account and verify your email address. Then, navigate to any business listing and scroll down to the reviews section. Click "Leave a Review," select your star rating (1–5 stars), and write your thoughts about your experience.

Why leave a review? Your reviews help other community members make informed decisions about where to shop, eat, and spend their money. They also provide valuable feedback to business owners and help great businesses get the recognition they deserve.

Note: All reviews are moderated to ensure quality and prevent inappropriate content. You can only review each business once, and reviews with profanity or spam will not be approved.

If you notice any information that's incorrect, outdated, or missing, we want to know! The quickest way to let us know is by using the chat widget located in the bottom right corner of every page. Simply click the chat icon, describe what needs to be updated, and our team will review and correct the information as soon as possible.

You can also visit our contact page for more ways to get in touch. We appreciate your help in keeping our directory accurate!

We'd love to feature your business! To add your business to This Is Yarm, first create a free account if you haven't already. Once logged in, head to your dashboard and click "Suggest a Business" in the navigation menu. Fill out the suggestion form with your business details, and our team will review and add your listing to the directory.

Our team will research and verify the details, add complete information including contact details and opening hours, and publish your listing. We'll let you know when it goes live!

Offers are exclusive deals and discounts that businesses provide specifically to This Is Yarm members. These might include first-time visit discounts, happy hour specials, loyalty rewards, or seasonal promotions. Offers are completely free to access — you just need a This Is Yarm account.

How to redeem: Browse the directory and look for businesses that have active offers. When you find one you'd like to use, click "Get QR Code" to generate your unique redemption code. Show this to the business when you visit, and they'll scan it to confirm your redemption.

Offer types: Some offers can be used once, while others refresh daily, weekly, monthly, or annually. Check each offer's details to see when you can use it again — all managed through the website, with no apps to download.

Digital loyalty schemes are a modern replacement for traditional paper stamp cards. Many Yarm businesses offer schemes where you collect stamps each time you visit, and once you've collected enough, you earn a reward — like a free coffee, discount, or special offer. It's all managed through your account, so no more lost cards or forgotten stamps.

Collecting stamps: When you visit a participating business, show them your unique stamp QR code (available in your dashboard). They'll scan it to add a stamp to your digital loyalty card, and you can track your progress anytime.

Redeeming rewards: Once you've collected the required number of stamps, generate a redemption QR code from your dashboard and show it to the business on your next visit. After redemption, a new card automatically starts.

Note: Not all businesses offer loyalty schemes — look for the loyalty card icon on business listings to see which ones participate.

Yes, absolutely! Creating an account, browsing listings, leaving reviews, suggesting businesses, and accessing member offers are all completely free. There are no hidden fees, premium memberships, or costs to use any feature of This Is Yarm.

Our mission is to support Yarm's local businesses and community, not to make money from users. We're passionate about keeping our high street thriving and believe the best way to do that is by making it as easy as possible for people to discover and support local businesses.

We'd love to hear from you! There are a few ways to get in touch:

Chat widget — click the chat icon in the bottom right corner for quick questions or to report issues
Contact page — visit our contact page for more ways to reach us

Whether you have questions, feedback, suggestions, or just want to say hello — we're here and we're listening. We typically respond within 24–48 hours.