# Yell Scraper (`mcdowell/yell-scraper`) Actor

A scraper that extracts data from from Yell.com base on Keywords and Locality. Scrape and download business information data as HTML table, JSON, CSV, Excel, XML.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/mcdowell/yell-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [Victor McDowell](https://apify.com/mcdowell) (community)
- **Categories:** E-commerce
- **Stats:** 225 total users, 1 monthly users, 0.0% runs succeeded, 2 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

$30.00/month + usage

To use this Actor, you pay a monthly rental fee to the developer. The rent is subtracted from your prepaid usage every month after the free trial period.You also pay for the Apify platform usage, which gets cheaper the higher Apify subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#rental-actors

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

## What is Yell Scraper?

It's a tool that allows you to get information about local shops from UK's biggest business directory - Yell.
Use this unofficial API to scrape ratings, reviews, opening hours, descriptions,
contact details and address information of businesses in the UK.

## How does it work?

Simply fill in the `Business Type` and `Locality` fields. Alternatively insert the URL from Yell
in the `Start URLs` field. Set the `Maximum Number of Results` you want to scrape to limit the
number of results to be returned. To change the order of results change the value `Sort By` field.
To prevent bot detection, Fill in the `Configure Proxies` field with a proxy object.

### Sample input with Keywords search

```json
{
	"keywords": "Bakeries",
	"location": "London",
	"sortBy": "relevance",
	"maxResults": 250,
	"proxyConfiguration": {
		"proxyUrls": ["http://proxy-1.com", "http://proxy-2.com"]
	}
}
```

### Sample input with Start URLs

```json
{
	"startUrls": [
		{
			"url": "https://www.yell.com/ucs/UcsSearchAction.do?keywords=Pizza&location=Manchester&scrambleSeed=283049592"
		}
	],
	"maxResults": 50,
	"proxyConfiguration": {
		"useApifyProxy": true
	}
}
```

For all input fields, please check the input tab.

## Output

The scraper returns an array of objects that can downloaded in the following formats: `JSON`, `CSV`, `XML`, `EXCEL`, `HTML Table` and `RSS`

### Sample Output as JSON

```json
{
	"Url": "https://www.yell.com/biz/bandera-ltd-manchester-5857009/",
	"Name": "Bandera Ltd",
	"Tagline": "",
	"StarRating": "4.0",
	"TotalRatings": "1 Rating",
	"BusinessHours": "Now closed",
	"StreetAddress": "2 Ridgefield",
	"City": "Manchester",
	"PostalCode": "M2 6EQ",
	"PhoneNumber": "0161 833 9019",
	"Website": "http://www.harpersmanchester.co.uk",
	"Reviews": [
		{
			"id": "47199",
			"name": "Richard1Report review",
			"profile": "https://www.yell.com/reviews/user/Richard1",
			"ratingValue": "4",
			"reviewTitle": "Tapas with style",
			"reviewBody": "My party of four took advantage of an offer of five tapas dishes and a bottle of wine for two for £35 all in. The food was fine and varied, from smoked salmon and excellent king prawns through patatas bravas to fish croquettes and meat balls. The wine was good ordinary Spanish. The proprietor (Spanish, I think) served, and was friendly and usually could be called when required. I suggested to him that, next time, he brought the food out in stages (as happens in Spain), rather than in one big rush. We were early diners, so the place was rather quiet - it will probably have more buzz at busy times.",
			"datePublished": "07 Oct 2009"
		}
	]
}
```

# Actor input Schema

## `startUrls` (type: `array`):

URLs to start with.

## `keywords` (type: `string`):

Type of Business to search for

## `location` (type: `string`):

Locality where Business search is being performed

## `sortBy` (type: `string`):

Preferred sorting option

## `maxResults` (type: `integer`):

Enter the maximum number of Businesses to extract

## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`):

Configure Proxy to be Used with the Scraper

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "startUrls": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.yell.com/ucs/UcsSearchAction.do?keywords=Pizza&location=chelsea"
    }
  ],
  "sortBy": "relevance",
  "maxResults": 50,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true
  }
}
```

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "startUrls": [
        {
            "url": "https://www.yell.com/ucs/UcsSearchAction.do?keywords=Pizza&location=chelsea"
        }
    ],
    "sortBy": "relevance",
    "maxResults": 50,
    "proxyConfiguration": {
        "useApifyProxy": true
    }
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("mcdowell/yell-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "startUrls": [{ "url": "https://www.yell.com/ucs/UcsSearchAction.do?keywords=Pizza&location=chelsea" }],
    "sortBy": "relevance",
    "maxResults": 50,
    "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": True },
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("mcdowell/yell-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"])
for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "startUrls": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.yell.com/ucs/UcsSearchAction.do?keywords=Pizza&location=chelsea"
    }
  ],
  "sortBy": "relevance",
  "maxResults": 50,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true
  }
}' |
apify call mcdowell/yell-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "mcp-remote",
                "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=mcdowell/yell-scraper",
                "--header",
                "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_API_TOKEN>"
            ]
        }
    }
}

```

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/jMGcl9LKk2tDm062J/builds/uMO4YSCrhoReMqV2k/openapi.json