31
Oct
Our top five stories of the year so far
The Stray Ferret publishes around 12 articles a day, and for even our most dedicated readers it can be easy to miss some of them.
So, we decided to publish a round-up of the five most read stories of the year so far – and some of your favourites surprised us!
The selection gives a good idea of the range of stories we publish – from crime news straight from the courts and conversations with local businesses to lifestyle and breaking news.
'Brazen gangsters' jailed for kidnapping man on streets of Harrogate
Michael Balog (left) and Liam Edmondson.
Two thugs who kidnapped an innocent man on the streets of Harrogate were jailed in January after a judge said they acted like “brazen gangsters”.
Michael Balog, 24, and Liam Edmondson, 28, were driving around Jennyfields in a black Land Rover “looking for someone” who purportedly owed them money, York Crown Court heard.
The victim, a completely innocent man who didn’t know and had never had any dealings with the kidnappers, was thrown to the ground and then dragged into the back of the car.
Rockstar interrupts world tour to pull pints in Harrogate
Yungblud pulled pints for half the afternoon.
A Grammy Award-winning singer, whose music has been streamed more than seven billion times, came to the town to lend a hand to his sister, who owns Johnny’s Bar and Parlour on Montpellier Parade.
In April, megastar Yungblud visited and stayed all afternoon, pulling pints of Guinness and having dinner with his girlfriend, all while chatting with customers.
Shortly after he was due to set off across the Atlantic for the 26-date American leg of his world tour. Read the full story here.
VIDEO: King visits his castle on historic day for Knaresborough
King Charles III in Knaresborough. Credit: Donkeys Years Antiques Instagram
The visit was unannounced, but as rumours circulated and the castle yard was sealed off amid a heavy police presence, crowds began to gather in the early afternoon of May 26.
They were not disappointed when the king, who owns the Knaresborough Castle through his Duchy of Lancaster estate, arrived shortly after 2pm in a light grey suit on a sweltering day in which he had already been to York.
Watch the video, see photos, and find out exactly what he did (including something that would be illegal for any other person) in the full article here.
New Indian restaurant in Harrogate speaks out against online backlash
Abu Raihan (right) and his family.
Indian restaurant Abu’s announced the opening of its new restauarant on Facebook at the start of March, and has since received a string of unwelcoming comments on its posts.
One comment said that Harrogate 'has gone to the dogs'. Another said: "Another restaurant that Harrogate needs, NOT. How about investing in some decent everyday shops?".
Abu’s pointed out that it was taking over from an existing Indian restaurant, Kinara Tandoori, so it is in fact not "another restaurant", but a replacement.
See what else the – now thriving – restaurant said about the backlash here.
Harrogate chip shop closure: Landlord responds to legal claims
A Harrogate fish and chips shop claimed in February it was ‘forced to close’ by its landlords – the directors of a rival business.
Yorkies Fish and Chips, on Knaresborough Road, put up a notice in the window revealing a landlord dispute had triggered its closure.
The landlord, Drake’s Fish and Chips, then told the Stray Ferret ‘there are two sides to every story’.
0