No Annual Remembrance services will take place across the district this weekend to honour the fallen.

Below is a list of events. If you know of others, let us know so we can add them to this guide. Email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Ripon

Sunday November 13: 11am – Remembrance Sunday service at the war memorial in Spa Gardens, where there will be a two-minute silence before wreaths are laid in honour of the fallen, by civic dignitaries, members of the armed forces, the RBL and representatives of other organisations.

Those planning to attend are asked to arrive by 10.30am.

Harrogate

Town centre

Sunday November 13:

Town Centre

10.30am – Parade and wreath laying ceremony at the Harrogate war memorial. The service will include the Army Foundation College, the Royal British Legion, regimental associations, uniformed cadets and scouts and guides.

Stonefall Cemetery

1pm – Harrogate Brigantes Rotary has arranged a service for 1pm at the Commonwealth War Graves. Wreaths will be laid by the Harrogate Mayoress, Andrew Jones MP, the Army Foundation College and representatives from the Commonwealth.

Starbeck

11am – gathering of residents at the war memorial on the Starbeck High Street.

3pm — Ceremony at Starbeck war memorial. The service will include the Royal British Legion, uniformed cadets, the brigades, students from Starbeck Primary Academy and local churches.

Knaresborough

Sunday, November 13: 11am – ceremony at Knaresborough war memorial attended by local officials and Harrogate Army Foundation College.

Nidderdale

Friday, November 11: A service takes place at the Cenotaph in the Pateley Bridge & Bewerley Recreation Park led by the Church in the Dales and the last post will be sounded. There will also be a contingent of 40 junior soldiers attending who will be marching in public for the first time since joining the Harrogate Army Foundation College.
Following this the young soldiers will march to the Pateley Bridge & Bewerley Memorial Hall on Park Road.
There will also be a display of the Nidderdale people who went to war and returned and those who didn’t, displayed by Folk Finders Family History.

Sunday, November 13: 10.15am – ceremony at Summerbridge war memorial

Boroughbridge

10am Service at St James’s Church followed by a parade and wreath laying at Boroughbridge war memorial from 10.45am.

If you want to make a donation to the Royal British Legion click here. 

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A head chef has been given a suspended sentence for causing criminal damage at a Harrogate restaurant and carrying a knife in public.

Daniel Woodward, 35, of Oakdale Drive, Harrogate, was also charged with assaulting a staff member, racially aggravated harassment and affray.

He appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to all charges.

Woodward had worked at William and Victoria restaurant on Cold Bath Road for three years as a head chef, the court heard.

When he turned up at the restaurant on October 9, another staff member noticed he was “concerned about his girlfriend”.

Woodward was told to calm down and sit upstairs, where he began raising his voice and banging his fists on the table.

Later Woodward was in the kitchen where staff found him swearing and bowls were smashed.

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The prosecution said the female staff member became scared as Woodward began shouting and swearing, some of which was racial.

The court heard how staff found Woodward with a chef’s knife “clutched to him” and had “blood on his hands”.

Magistrates were also told how Woodward had assaulted a male staff member and left him with a cut to his right hand finger.

At 2.30pm, police arrived at the scene and took Woodward to hospital. He continued to swear and use racially insulting words.

The officer said Woodward called him a “pig” and repeatedly told him to “f*** off”.

The prosecution said:

“The officer said the abuse that the defendant subjected him to is by far the worst in his seven-and-a-half years in the force.”

‘Sorry for his actions’

Brian Nuttney, defending Woodward, told the court that Woodward had “no recollection of much of what happened”, but was sorry for his actions.

Mr Nuttney said the defendant’s girlfriend was supposed to come to see him the night before, but did not turn up which led to him becoming concerned.

He told the court that Woodward was also offered bottles of wine at the restaurant and another staff member made a remark which “could have tipped him over the edge”.

Mr Nuttney said the defendant had been in care at a young age and had felt abandoned, but had gone on to start a family and train to be a chef.

He said:

“Mr Woodward did not have the best start in life.”

Woodward was given a 21-month total sentence suspended for two years. He was also sentenced to eight weeks and four weeks in prison for harassment and affray, which were also suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to undertake 25 days of rehabilitation and to wear an alcohol abstinence tag for 90 days.

Woodward was also subjected to court costs of £472.

The magistrates also awarded £100 in compensation to William and Victoria and another £100 to the injured staff member.

The owners of Furnish and Fettle have announced they are to close their Harrogate showroom.

Glyn and Eleanor Goddard said changes in the marketplace with more online shopping and rising costs led them to make the decision to shut the branch on Crescent Road.

The showroom will close at the end of the year. 

All staff will be moved to the branch in Wetherby. The business has also taken on additional storage and workshop space at Thorp Arch as part of the move.

Mr Goddard said a significant change in footfall was part of the decision to shut the showroom.

He said:

“Footfall has changed dramatically over the past couple of years and the marketplace has polarised.

“The more price-sensitive shoppers are increasingly turning to the internet, while at the other end of the spectrum are people looking for expertise and service, and these are the majority of our clients. 

“With rising costs, it just makes no sense to have two showrooms so close to each other, so we have taken the opportunity of a break in our lease to refocus how we can best serve our clients.”

The business has also invested in new, larger vans to make delivery of larger pieces of furniture easier.

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It is also looking to recruit an additional experienced interior designer and a tradesperson to work as part of the installations team. 

Mrs Goddard said:

“This is a really exciting time, we have seen a huge increase in the projects side of our business, while the retail side has become a bit of a distraction. 

“Both our Wetherby and Pocklington showrooms will continue to display inspirational room sets and will still feature pieces that can be bought there and then, but they will mainly serve to showcase design ideas and our bespoke craftsmanship. 

“Yes, it is a bit sad to be leaving Harrogate, especially as we are in such a beautiful building, but our Wetherby showroom is less than 10 miles away and this move just makes sense on every level.” 

A long-standing Harrogate business has had its Christmas lights vandalised for the first time in 14 years.

The display at Dangerfield & Keane hairdressers has become an annual highlight for families walking along Cold Bath Road.

It went up on Monday — and on Wednesday night was damaged.

A video of a man, appearing to rip the lights off the shopfront, has been shared many times on the shop’s Facebook page.

An image from the Dangerfield and Keane CCTV footage.

Gerri Dangerfield-Keane, who owns the business, said:

“I’m just dismayed – why would anyone do that? It’s senseless.

“This is the 14th year of doing the same thing and it’s never been touched or vandalised before.”

Mr Dangerfield-Keane said the electric circuit had been destroyed but he was determined to get it fixed and restore the display to full power.

He has also offered to give a free set of Christmas lights to the perpetrator:

“Whoever did it must be so bereft of Christmas lights we will give them a free set.”

Read more:

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Forget the John Lewis TV ad — the unveiling of the Bettys Christmas window marks the start of Christmas for many people in Harrogate.

It has been a low key occasion for the last two years due to covid. But tonight, for the first time since 2019, the company is making an occasion of it.

The fun will start at 5pm with Christmas carols outside the flagship Parliament Street store. The first 200 people attending will receive free hot drinks and mince pies.

Branch manager Janet Parker will appear shortly before 5.30pm to welcome everyone and lead a countdown, which will end with the blind going up to reveal the display.

There will also be a raffle and the shop will stay open until 6pm.

Staff will be on hand to manage the crowd and to prevent people from spilling on to the road.

A Bettys spokeswoman said the display was installed last night and is being kept hidden until tonight. She added:

“Let’s just say it will be a Christmas cracker. We are really excited to have everyone back. “

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Some Harrogate residents are still waiting to receive letters about the latest cycle plans for Otley Road and Beech Grove — even though a meeting to discuss the scheme is due to be held today.

North Yorkshire County Council announced on October 19 it would hold “further public engagement on phase two of Otley Road cycle route, its links with Beech Grove and the town centre”.

It added “letters to residents in the vicinity of the scheme will be delivered next week”.

But some homes have yet to receive them, even though a meet-the-designer event is due to be held at the civic centre today.

Melisa Burnham, highways area manager, said:

“Over 1,400 letters were distributed during the week commencing October 24 in the vicinity of Otley Road, Beech Grove, Victoria Road and Queens Road.

“We have however been made aware of some pocketed locations where letters have not been received and we have been working to get these letters distributed this week.”

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Asked how many homes had not received the letter, a council spokeswoman said it “wouldn’t know the exact figure”. The letters were posted by Royal Mail and the council has reissued them when they were alerted to problems.

Barry Adams, who lives on Otley Road, said hardly anyone he had spoken to was aware of the consultation, which he described as a “sham”. He added:

“It’s so typical of Area 6 highways when they organise any public consultation and has happened before.  In my opinion they should start the whole process again and do it properly this time.”

Views on cycling

The public engagement opened last month as part of the latest bid to promote active travel in the town.

The council is asking residents and people who travel in Harrogate to suggest what improvements could be made to the area on and around Oatlands Drive.

It is also consulting on phase two of Otley Road cycle route, its links with Beech Grove and the town centre ahead of construction.

It is hoped the proposed schemes will encourage residents and visitors to opt for walking and cycling and reduce traffic congestion.

Three options for the Otley Road route are being considered. Today’s meet the designer event at the civic centre from 4.30pm to 7pm will give stakeholder groups and residents the opportunity to discuss the options.

The results will be considered this month with construction due to begin in summer next year.

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

A n executive search firm the global chemical, medical and industrial sectors has moved into Harrogate’s Windsor House.

George Thomas, which was founded in 2018, helps with recruitment for senior management, executive and c-level placements.

The company has joined more than 115 other businesses in Windsor House, the former Grand Hotel, on Cornwall overlooking the Valley Gardens.

Thomas Flaherty, director of George Thomas, said: 

“We are delighted to have recently moved into Windsor House, the building is the perfect location for us to operate in and offers us all the facilities we need to run our business.”

Windsor House is undergoing major refurbishment to its ground floor, which is seeing its communal areas modernised and the creation of new co-working spaces.

Karen Winspear, property manager at Boultbee Brooks which manages the building, said: 

“We are delighted to welcome George Thomas and his 14-strong team to Windsor House.

“The company, our latest tenant, chose Windsor House because of the quality of office space, affordability, its proximity to the town centre, and onsite car parking.”

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Grantley Hall wins best countryside hotel award

Grantley Hall has won a national award for best countryside hotel.

The hotel near Ripon picked up the award as part of the Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence 2023.

Condé Nast set up the scheme to “acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across our recommended properties”.

Grantley Hall posted on its social media:

“This would not have been possible without our loyal guests and our incredible staff. 

“Thank you to all who voted for Grantley Hall.”

A new restaurant is opening in Harrogate this weekend with a special set list of musicians and DJs to entertain diners.

HG1 Grill and World Bar opens its doors for the first time at 4pm tomorrow. To celebrate the launch, the venue will be offering 50% off food until Sunday, November 27 which has been extended to thank its diners.

There will be limited spaces available as the restaurant looks to improve with feedback from customers during its initial, soft launch.

The 80-seat independent restaurant with a cocktail bar and terrace replaces the building formerly occupied by Samsons and Le Bistrot Pierre on Cheltenham Crescent.

Jas Gill, the owner, told the Stray Ferret:

“People are going to have a great time here. We’ve got a great team here, who are all passionate about food and are fully on board with our vision.”

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Jerome Lacheure, general manager, said:

“Everything is on track, I am really looking forward to it. Very excited, very nervous. A mixture of emotion. We’ve put a lot of work into the place during the last few busy weeks.

“It’s not just about the food or drink. We are here to provide a full evening for our customers and the music offering is going to form a big part of that.”

The menu will change with the seasons. Currently there is a range of dishes on offer from grilled whole fish to beef tataki, burgers and a vegetarian choices like ginger and chilli tofu stir-fry.

The drinks list will also be ever-adapting, focusing on new trends from across the world. There will also be plenty of the classics and local tipples to enjoy too.

Bookings are now open and can be made by clicking or tapping here.

Pic shows: Staff outside the venue, including head chef (centre right) Javier Oitana, general manager (first in from the right) Jerome Lacheure and bar manager (right) Joe Oliver.

Senior Harrogate councillors have rejected plans for a new business park in Pannal as the proposal was “not viable without significant support”.

Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet last night put the brakes on the proposals for a site off the A61 Leeds Road between the railway line and Crimple Beck.

Councillors also paused plans for a redevelopment of Dragon Road car park in Harrogate and agreed to progress with a housing plan for the Harlow Nursery site provided a new nursery is found.

It comes after council-appointed consultants BDP and Colliers undertook a study to come up with options for three brownfield sites under the Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35.

Cllr Tim Myatt, cabinet member for planning at the council, told a meeting last night he was not comfortable with the standard of the design for the Pannal proposal.

He said:

“The options presented, which aren’t viable without significant support, are not up to a standard design with which I can feel comfortable.

“There seems little hope to producing something to the quality that I believe the site needs. I will therefore propose that we do not progress with options for the site.”

He also recommended that the employment site be removed from the local plan “at the review stage or during the creation of a new local plan on a North Yorkshire Council geography”.

The proposed layout of the employment site along the A61 near Pannal.

An officer’s report said the site could be used for high-tech manufacturing, research and development, or business headquarters. Buildings would be up to three storeys and 5,000m sq in size.

The total office space allocated for the site was 10,000m sq alongside 31,500m sq of industrial space.

The officer’s report acknowledged that any development of the site was likely to take place after Harrogate Borough Council is abolished next spring, when the new North Yorkshire Council comes into effect.

Dragon Road redevelopment paused

Meanwhile, senior councillors also decided to pause plans for development on Dragon Road car park in Harrogate.

The site could be used to create affordable flats or extra care housing.

However, Cllr Myatt proposed that the council should ensure that “adequate parking for Harrogate Convention Centre associated vehicles take primacy over site redevelopment”.

Read more:

• 62 homes set to be built at council’s Harlow Nursery
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He added that the council should “pause consideration of this site until it is clear that the Harrogate Convention Centre redevelopment will be able to accommodate exhibition traffic on site”.

The cabinet did, however, approve plans to procure technical drawings and surveys into how infrastructure for the Nidderdale Greenway cycle route, which passes through the car park, could be improved.

Cllr Myatt said:

“We do certainly want to see improvements to the cycle path.

“But greater development isn’t possible until the site’s role as a car park for Harrogate Convention Centre traffic has been explored during Harrogate Convention Centre redevelopment.”

Harlow Nursery housing

The council approved plans to press ahead with housing for the site at Harlow Nursery provided a replacement nursery is found.

Cllr Myatt recommended that any sale of the site was “contingent on the relocation of the existing council nursery”.

Consultants hired by the council came up with two options for the site this year. The first option was to build a mix of 57 family homes and flats. The second was to build 62 homes and flats with smaller gardens.

The Harlow Nursery site in Harrogate.

A report before councillors recommended the 62-home option and invites expressions of interest for the land before proceeding to tender for a conditional sale.

Cllr Myatt told councillors:

“On Harlow Nursery, we must make sure that a successful nursery relocation is prioritised and that should be explicitly referenced in our recommendations.”

This story is sponsored by Revo Kitchens.

If you are planning on treating yourself to a new kitchen for the New Year, now is the time to take advantage of Revo Kitchens’ incredible opening offers.

The German kitchen superstore launched its 10,000 sq ft showroom at Harrogate’s Hornbeam Park in September.

To celebrate, the company introduced a series of deals, including free worktop upgrades and tile discounts.

Dream kitchen

However, the promotion is set to end on Christmas Eve. So now is the time to visit the showroom and choose your dream kitchen.

Adam Challis, owner of Revo Kitchens, said:

“We have been really busy since we opened and customers have enjoyed receiving the added bonus of our opening offers.

“But all good things must come to an end and the promotion will finish on Christmas Eve.”

However, Mr Challis pointed out that after this date customers still have a great range of finance options.

He said:

“When it comes to having a luxury German kitchen, there is no need to break the bank.

“We can offer varied finance options to suit your needs and finances to make your kitchen affordable to you.

“Our most popular options are the Buy Now Pay Later and 0% interest. A third option is a low deposit (10%) and low interest bearing (5.9% apr) loan available up to four years.”

Revo Kitchens is a new showroom concept created by the family behind Inter Ceramica, which the Challis family launched in Harrogate more than 30 years ago.

It offers Germany’s number one kitchen brand ‘Nolte Kuchen’, alongside an expert design service and superior customer support.

The business is aimed at being a blend of the family company-based caring approach, featuring in-depth knowledge and product quality, alongside the benefits offered by bigger corporate brands. This includes finance options and a delivery team with a large fleet of vehicles.

The kitchens range from £3,000 upwards and finance is available from £29 per month.

Last chance

The opening offers, which are available until December 24, are: