First look at new West Park Courtyard

This article is sponsored by The West Park 

Visitors to Harrogate’s West Park can soon enjoy alfresco dining in a whole new style, in The Courtyard. The restaurant’s brand-new offering is open from Saturday 26 June.

Famed for its delicious seasonal menus and warm Yorkshire welcome, West Park already has a stellar reputation as one of Harrogate’s finest drinking and dining spots – but The Courtyard is set to take that status even further.

The contemporary and understated space sits under a retractable roof, allowing guests to soak up the sunshine or be protected from the unpredictable British elements. Along with bespoke heated seating and beautiful tiled flooring, The Courtyard features a living wall – perfect for visitors to capture their favourite moments on camera.

Food lovers can continue to enjoy West Park’s delectable cuisine. With a strong focus on championing local produce, the seasonal menus feature a delightful array of classic British and international dishes.

Guests at West Park are spoilt for choice, with flavoursome new dishes such as the Rump of Yorkshire Warrendale Wagyu Beef and the new Peppered Tuna Sashimi. Those looking for a lighter lunch may look towards light bites such as the Indian Spiced Pulled Chicken Wrap or Warm Goats Cheese & Roast Mediterranean Vegetables.

The Courtyard will also be home to a new bar, stocked with local and international ales, spirits and wines. West Park’s expertly crafted cocktails are available too – and they do not disappoint! The Rhubarb and Wild Berry Sour made with Slingsbury Rhubarb Gin and crème de mure, and the West Park Retreat made with Mount Gay Rum topped with caramel syrup are sure to crave those with a sweet tooth after a magnificent meal.

For those looking to enjoy an extended stay in Harrogate, West Park offers deluxe accommodation, with rooms boasting super king Hypnos beds and Nespresso coffee machines.

Speaking of the refurbishment, Anthony Blundell, West Park Hotel Commercial Manager said:

“The West Park Courtyard is going to be the most amazing alfresco space for our guests to drink fine wines, champagne, enjoy our fabulous cocktails and indulge in our delicious seasonal menu. We’re all so proud of our new space, nowhere else we know of has heated seats in the North of England, let alone Harrogate!”

You can now book your table at the West Park Courtyard.

From school to surveyor: FSS support work experience teen to property career dream

This article is sponsored by FSS.

When Adam Crawfurd-Porter took on a week’s work experience at FSS in February 2013, he was a nervous teenager in his final year of school at St Aidan’s in Harrogate. Little did he know, 8 years later, he would still be with the firm – supported every step of the way in his ambitions to become a fully qualified RICS Chartered Surveyor. 

FSS understand the importance of continued development and will always prioritise the care of their team. They consider opening doors and supporting personal growth as a necessity. To maintain their high standard and trusted values, FSS will always look after the next generation of property experts.

 

Adam’s journey

When an ‘office junior’ position came available, Adam began working on reception for FSS, learning the ropes and getting a true feel for the company’s ethos whilst experiencing the 5 disciplines that FSS specialise in. 

After Adam expressed his interest in this area to the FSS team, company partners Richard Smailes and Simon Croft enrolled Adam in a correspondence course, and in May 2019, Adam completed a degree in Estate Management.

But it did not stop there, as Adam’s work ethic, dedication and conscientiousness lead the FSS partners to promote him into the management team.

With a qualification in Estate Management and a senior management role at FSS, Adam knew his career was heading in the right direction, the next stage being to qualify as an RICS Chartered Surveyor. With continued support from the partnership, Adam started the APC training programme (Assessment of Professional Competence). Whilst working full time, Adam continued his studies and the ‘day job’, then sat the final interview in May this year. 

Adam Crawfurd-Porter is now a qualified RICS Chartered Surveyor, which he achieved with superb commitment to simultaneous study and work.

Adam (second right) with FSS Partners Richard Smailes, Dan Brumfitt and Simon Croft

Adam said:

“I always thought of myself as a ‘people person’, but when I first started at FSS I found it quite intimidating and perhaps went into my shell a little bit, however over time FSS really helped build my confidence. The distance learning alongside the practical experience really helped develop me into the person I am today.

“I am delighted to finally qualify as a chartered surveyor and would like to thank Simon, Richard and Dan for their thorough support throughout, without which none of this would have been possible. I can now concentrate solely on offering my clients, both new and existing, the professional service that we at FSS pride ourselves on.”

 Supporting members to reach their goals is something that FSS are delighted to do. Richard Smailes, partner at FSS, said:

“It has been an absolute pleasure watching Adam develop both personally and professionally over the past 8 years. We are so pleased to have been able to give him the support and experience he needs to progress his career with us. I take my hat off to him, he had a clear goal, he worked extremely hard, and he got there. A huge congratulations to you Adam Crawfurd-Porter”.

Simon Croft Partner at FSS added:

“Watching his talent flourish from a slightly nervous schoolboy into a consummate professional has been fabulous and of course he now knows our clients well and fits in with the team here at FSS due to the knowledge he’s gained over the years”.

FSS continues to set an industry standard when it comes to supporting growth and education within the property world, and Adam’s journey is testament to the company’s commitment to opening doors for the younger generation into the property industry.

WATCH: Harrogate public give their predictions for today’s Euros final

We asked the Harrogate public for their predictions on today’s Euros final.

This is the first time in over 50 years England has made it to the Euros final and their success so far means excitement is building in Harrogate.

Shoppers in Harrogate this week predicted different outcomes; with some seeing victory for England whilst others thought Italy would take home the trophy.

Keep an eye on the Stray Ferret throughout the day for regular football coverage.

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Who do you think will come home with the trophy?

Stray Gardener: To dead-head or not to dead-head?

The Stray Gardener is written by Rudding Park’s Kitchen Gardener, Fiona Slight. Fiona has worked in horticulture for more than 30 years in the UK and abroad, and specialises in growing fruit and vegetables for fine dining. This month, Fiona’s been dead-heading her plants; she also shares her top tips for what we should be doing in our gardens this July. 

I love the therapeutic effect of dead-heading and would happily spend hours doing it if I could. I especially love dead-heading sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus), which were one of the first flowers I dead-headed as a child with my great aunt hovering over me, concerned that I wouldn’t do it correctly. Those plants were her pride and joy!

But, is it really worth while spending all that time dead-heading the plants in your garden, and does it need to be done for every plant?

In a nutshell, dead-heading is removing flowers from plants when they are fading or dead. There are a few reasons why this is worthwhile:

Violas and chives

There are many plants that are worth dead-heading, with bedding plants in containers and hanging baskets being the first contenders. Pelargoniums, petunias, pansies, polyanthus, violas and cosmos all benefit from dead-heading. Shrub wise, if you have time, it is well worth dead-heading rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias. Bulbs such as narcissus (daffodils) and tulips also benefit from dead-heading as the plant then directs any energy made back into the main bulb for flowering next year.

Fading or dead flowers can be removed quickly by hand and most will snap off cleanly when gently bent back. But if the flower stalks are tough or stringy, use scissors or secateurs to ensure a clean cut and to avoid damaging any developing buds underneath.

Plants such as dahlias, calendulas, marigolds and sweet peas are generally better cut with secateurs. Fading rose flowers can be snapped off just below the head rather down to the first set of leaves; this can actually help produce more flower buds more quickly on repeat flowering cultivars.

‘Tess of the D’urbervilles’ rose

But before you march out into the garden brandishing your secateurs, you don’t have to dead-head everything. Plants such as fuchsia, bedding lobelia and salvias will either dead-head themselves or don’t tend to produce a lot of seed so will keep repeat flowering. It’s also worthwhile finding out which flowers are good for wildlife. If you leave sunflower heads, the seeds will encourage birds into your garden. There are some cultivars of roses that produce beautiful hips and so are worth keeping for interest through the winter. Lastly, hydrangea flowers are actually best left until spring to protect the developing bud underneath.

If you have never dead-headed before, give it a go and hopefully you’ll find it as therapeutic as I do. Happy snipping!

Dahlias

Five Top Tips for July

If you want to hear more about the Rudding Park Kitchen Garden, I recommend subscribing to the Rudding Park Podcast. It provides a fascinating and entertaining insight into stories from Rudding Park and I recently joined host Peter Banks for whether the chat focuses on gardens, golf and gin – a great combination!

Enjoy!

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Stray Pets Rescue Club: George, Rupert and Biggie need your help

The Stray Pets Rescue Club is our monthly profile of animals in and around the Harrogate district, in desperate need of a loving home. Could you help these three dogs find a new family? 

George – Retriever Cross


Age: Approximately four

George’s story: George was found by a Romanian rescue, who asked Miss Mollies Rescue to give him a second chance. He has been with Mollies for about four weeks.

Temperament: George is incredibly energetic and has a very lively personality. He gets on well with other dogs, and loves people.

Ideal home: George will need a very active home, preferably with adults or older teenagers because he is so lively. He will also need a home where he will have company most of the time.

If your family has space for George, contact Miss Mollie’s Rescue. 

Rupert – Coonhound


Age: 13

Rupert’s story: Rupert came to the RSPCA York, Harrogate and District Branch after his previous owner sadly died. He was devoted to his owner, and has struggled to come to terms with his loss.

Temperament: Rupert struggles to trust people he doesn’t know, so adopters will need to do more than one meet and greet before adopting him. Once he knows you, his true cheeky character starts to shine through.

Ideal home: Rupert will need experienced adopters who have the time and patience to help him settle and feel space. He can feel intimidated in small, confined spaces. He will need an adult only home where he is the only pet.

For Rupert to become part of your family, visit the RSPCA York, Harrogate and District website.

Biggie – Chihuahua


Age: Five to seven

Biggie’s story: Biggie was found in a very bad state, underweight and suffering with a painful skin condition. With the help of Dogs Trust Leeds, he’s bounced back brilliantly.

Temperament: Because of his skin problems, Biggie doesn’t like too much handling, especially around his ears and neck. So instead of snuggling on your knee he will show his love for you in other ways like playtime. He likes chasing a ball and really enjoys his walks.

Ideal home: Biggie will need patient owners who will let him slowly settle into his new life. He will need a secure garden and may need a little refresher for housetraining. Biggie is fine around other dogs but isn’t really interested in them, so doesn’t want to share his home with other pets.

To find out more about Biggie and the adoption process, visit Dogs Trust Leeds.

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Stray Foodie: Catch Harrogate review

Stray Foodie reviews are written by Michelin-starred chef, Frances Atkins. In 1997, Frances opened the Yorke Arms near Pateley Bridge, where she was the owner for 20 years. During her ownership, she held her Michelin-star status for 16 of those years.

Frances independently chooses which restaurants she will visit. This week, Frances reviews Harrogate’s new fish restaurant, Catch.

 

More years ago than I care to remember, I have happy childhood memories of what a big treat it was to go to the original Harry Ramsden’s in Guisley. It was a warm, vibrant, exciting place through a child’s eyes, with great greasy smells and wonderful crunchy fish with a succulent interior. Harry’s had two sides to it, one was a takeaway in newspaper which added to the excitement and the other was where you had the vinegar and tomato sauce on the table, with bread and butter and you ate off a plate! The plate side never tasted so good as the newspaper!

Catch Harrogate has a great takeaway business with all those attributes I have just mentioned. On arrival at the seated side, no expense has been spared as far as the interior is concerned. It cuts a modern, clinical and safe impression. Hospitality at the moment is suffering in more ways than one, its latest problem is the lack of competent staff. Not so here at Catch, as its name suggests. The staff were charming, helpful and knowledgeable.

It’s ‘posh’ side with its Oyster Bar, which I am sure is very joyful experience at any time, leads on to its very extensive menu with breads, bao buns, prawn and crab nachos, sea salt and pepper squid, tempura of tiger prawns, monk fish wings and smoked salmon. These are all starters ranging from £4 – £8.

Then on offer, ‘Bigger’, as they call it, are platters of fish, fish pie, mussels, grilled steak sandwiches and grilled halloumi open sandwiches, traditional fish and chips and ‘sides’ galore. The ‘Bigger’ varies from £25 for a platter of fish down to a halloumi open sandwich at £12. The choice of 6 different desserts are around £6 each.

Frances chose the cod with seafood curry and monkfish pakora

I was reminded of a restaurant that I once went to where you chose your meat and you had the choice of two sauces to put with it, which always struck me as being somewhat odd, as trying to please all tastes was rather prostituting the experience of a kitchen. After being seated at a very comfortable table, I was told that I could have cod, salmon, sea bass or swordfish, all costing around £18. Having chosen my fish, I could have it with a choice of garnish: seafood curry, coriander rice, monkfish pakora and raita; Moroccan roasted vegetables, toasted giant couscous and halloumi salad; seasonal vegetables, new potatoes and herb butter (gf); or beef dripping chips with dressed house salad and salsa verde. Any of the said fishes would be finished with a Catch spiced blend and served with the garnish of your choice.

The Verdict: 2.5 stars

StrayFoodie verdict 2.5 stars

I opted for the cod with the seafood curry, and found myself dreaming of the succulent interior of deep fried fish of the aromas coming from the takeaway next door. Then I wondered, although very tasty, if the monkfish pakora was not a little on the ‘too crispy’ side, along with my chosen cod. Fish can be a very temperamental thing to cook and it needs care and attention, as does presentation of one’s food on the plate. This is a menu that tries to please everyone, but perhaps smaller offerings and a fresh fish dish of the day would be less stressful for the kitchen to produce, and to the customer’s advantage.

Opening a new restaurant in these times is a very hard thing to do and I take my hat off to Catch for what they have done. I look forward to returning as there is such a great need for an honest fish restaurant in Harrogate, and these are early days.

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Property Gold: What are you really paying an agent for?

Property Gold is a monthly column written by independent bespoke property consultant, Alex Goldstein. With more than 17 years’ experience, Alex helps his clients to buy and sell residential property in some of the most desirable locations in Yorkshire and beyond. This month, Alex explains what an estate agent is really paid for.

 

 

The sceptics out there will say this sounds like an oxymoron; however it has never been more important to have a rock solid agent that is correctly remunerated to keep their motivation.

Let’s be clear about something – getting your property on to the market with high quality photographs, floorplans, brochure and web entries is easy. You do not need to be the best agent to do this.

Matters then step up a gear when it comes to viewings and the general administration of your sale. Again, you do not need to be a great agent for this.

So where then does your estate agent commission go and what are you actually paying for? The answer lies with once you have found a buyer, or you think you have found a buyer.

Current property law means that a buyer or seller can withdraw from a transaction at any point up until the point of exchange, without any financial penalties or otherwise. It is therefore vital to keep the time between Under Offer and Exchange as tight as possible, whilst ensuring you are agreeing terms with a reliable party.

Importantly, do remember that getting the best offer from a buyer doesn’t necessarily mean running with the person who puts forward the most amount of money. One has to weigh this up with the reliability and security of the buyer – in other words, will we transact with this buyer or not?

An experienced agent will instinctively know the tell-tale signs if a buyer is serious, get the most money from them without pushing too far and losing them, ensure the foundations of their offer are robust, plus know where the monies are coming from and the situation behind the façade.

Whilst the Yorkshire market continues to charge along for the time being, getting from Under Offer to Exchange of Contracts remains incredibly demanding – arguably the most difficult I have known it in 19 years.

One of the main reasons for this is the length of time everything takes. Keeping the attention of buyers and sellers during this time, whilst pushing conveyancing solicitors and the several other associated professionals in the right direction, plus keeping timeframes to an absolute minimum in order to reach Exchange is a tall order.

If the sale falls through, then it is the buyer and seller who pick up the pieces. The extra often notional amount of money on agents’ fees, will mean that your transaction gets over the line first time and on time.

Your agent needs to have the time, experience, detective skills, relentless persistence and clout in order to see transactions through. After all, going Under Offer is only step one.

If you have any comments or questions for Alex, please feel free to contact him on alex@alexgoldstein.co.uk.

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Brilliantly fast full fibre broadband is coming to the Harrogate district

This article is sponsored by CityFibre. 

Harrogate, Ripon, and Knaresborough are set to benefit from a new gigabit network.

CityFibre is a name you’re likely to start hearing more in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon. As one of the largest UK-wide digital infrastructure builders, CityFibre is installing a full fibre broadband network that will bring gigabit speeds to homes and businesses across the district.

This is a game-changer, because full fibre is the fastest and most reliable broadband that exists – and CityFibre is one of the only companies doing it here. In fact, even if you think you have full fibre, you probably don’t, because while lots of providers use the terminology “fibre”, they often use copper cables underground, which means you’re actually using outdated and less reliable technology.

With CityFibre, “full fibre” really is full fibre; even the cable from the street to your home is fibre, so when you ask for a gigabit connection, you get a gigabit connection. And it’s not just speed. Full fibre broadband is up to five times more reliable than alternatives, there’s no such thing as “peak times” meaning it’s less likely to slow down when lots of people use it at the same time, at any time in the day, which is great news for busy homes with lots of devices trying to use the internet at the same time.

CityFibre’s full fibre broadband is up to five times more reliable than alternatives

In the UK, we’re now online for an average of 21.5 hours per week. From Teams and Zoom calls to internet banking, home schooling and gaming, it has become an essential part of our lives – and we’re always finding new ways to use it. With the latest technology, you can turn on your dishwasher, control your heating, or even do a load of washing, all through an app, so a good connection is needed to be able to cope with our everyday life requirements.

Some of us think of broadband in terms of download speeds, but what do those speeds mean? With a gigabit connection, you can download a high-definition film in less than a minute, or get a new video game, which can be over 100 gigabytes in size, in just 10 minutes. That’s fast. With CityFibre it’s not just download speeds that are fast, the upload speeds are equally as fast. You can upload photos, files, and videos in the blink of eye.

The full fibre infrastructure being put in the ground now will last for generations and help to power growth. They’re future-proofing the district’s connectivity, which means the cables they lay today will open up a world of opportunities in the future. It’s fantastic news for these areas, it will provide the fast, reliable connection needed to harness new technology and become smart towns and cities.

Work started in Harrogate and Knaresborough last year, with work beginning in Ripon later this year

This is a big project to bring world-class connectivity to all corners of Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon, connecting businesses and homes alike. Construction work started in Harrogate and Knaresborough last year, with more streets being built every day. The first connected homes in these towns will shortly be able to access the CityFibre network via multiple internet service providers, with work commencing on a new full fibre network in Ripon later this year.

So how do you get it? CityFibre don’t sell directly to the public, they make their network available to a range of providers like TalkTalk and Vodafone. They have, however, made it easy for you to check if your home is already connected to their network. Their postcode checker will tell you if it’s available, if it’s being installed or if it’s in the pipeline. And if it’s not available yet, you can register your interest to find out when it will be.

Find out when full fibre broadband is coming to your area.

 

Stray Foodie: Restaurant EightyEight, Grantley Hall review

Stray Foodie reviews are written by Michelin-starred chef, Frances Atkins. In 1997, Frances opened the Yorke Arms near Pateley Bridge, where she was the owner for 20 years. During her ownership, she held her Michelin-star status for 16 of those years. This week, Frances reviews Restaurant EightyEight at Grantley Hall. 

 

 

The Japanese Garden at Grantley Hall is an amazing idyllic garden that has been created in this beautiful manicured establishment that sits in a dell of ancient trees and waterways.

Such creativity has been matched by the new Restaurant EightyEight Head Chef Shane Zhao… a lady Chef – hurrah!

Japanese Garden dessert

Being impetuous by nature, I have to tell you about the dessert FIRST. Shane has produce a sublime experience which is in keeping with the surroundings. Yuzu, Black Sesame and Raspberry are woven into a dish called the Japanese Garden. It was perfectly balanced in texture and on the palate, and a beauty to behold, instilling a lasting memory of a great experience.

First Impressions

On arrival at Grantley Hall my young man and I drove down the side of a waterway with an exquisite duck house, around the wild flower garden and into the car park for Restaurant EightyEight. Getting out of the car I thought I must have left the car radio on, which was funny as I didn’t have the radio on! The music came from the bushes in the car park, and it seemed to be somewhat at odds with the general tranquillity.

We walked down to the restaurant and were seated in a very atmospheric bar with great lighting, orchids on the walls and ceiling, and beautiful Oriental tables. Staff were proud, helpful and conscientious for our wellbeing.

Starter

Fighting shy of the usual large tasting menus (£65 per person for 8 courses), purely because of quantity, we were advised to have small plates to share to start with. These consisted of Korean Fried Cauliflower with a Chive Aioli; this is a sensational dish and the most humble one at £8 on the menu. One of the best treatments of Cauliflower I have ever eaten.

We also had Scallops with a pea puree, a bow to seasonality (£19.50) and Duck Liver with Blood Orange Marmalade (£18.50). These starters set the talented style of what was to come.

Main Course

Miso Glazed Sea Trout with Sesame Charred Asparagus, Shrimps and Fennel

Our main courses again, we shared. Flame Grilled Whole Quail, Smoky Aubergine Puree, Spiced Sausage & Pickled Cucumber (£29) was delightful. The Smoky Aubergine Puree an absolute hit as far as I was concerned with the Pickled Cucumber balancing the edge of the Smoke.

We are in the season for Sea Trout and Asparagus now, so therefore I felt it was appropriate to see how these ingredients were executed, with the Miso Glazed Sea Trout with Sesame Charred Asparagus, Shrimps & Fennel (£28). What a joy! It was the sort of dish that you would like to have ordered another one. The flavours of these two dishes were exceptional. It might have been nice to have been recommended some form of carbohydrate with these very elegant dishes, but hey, would I want to ruin such balanced flavours?

The Verdict – 4 stars

I can’t wait to return to the lovely terrace area overlooking the garden and to sample more of Chef’s Vegetarian and Vegan Menus if they are as great as the cauliflower..

The wines by the glass were slightly underwhelming. There was plenty of choice by the bottle, but who needs big wines with food like this?

I know bookings are in great demand. We felt very fortunate to be there and it is some time I have been wowed to this extent!

Well worth it and I am saving up for my next visit.

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Stray Pets Rescue Club: the dog, cats and rabbits hoping you’ll be their new family

The Stray Pets Rescue Club is our monthly profile of animals in and around the Harrogate district, in desperate need of a loving home. Could you help Jerry the Patterdale Cross, cats Mitchell, Webb & Lollipop, or rabbits Mojo & Mystery in their quest for a loving home? 

Jerry – Patterdale Cross


Age: 14-15 months

Jerry’s story: Jerry was left tied to a tree, and was handed to the dog warden after being found.

Temperament: Jerry is very friendly and also very lively. He can be a little unpredictable around other dogs.

Ideal home: Jerry will be a fantastic dog for someone who has time to spend training him. He needs a very secure garden, and a home without children or other pets.

If your family has space for Jerry, contact Saving Yorkshire’s Dogs. 

 

Mitchell, Webb & Lollipop – Domestic Short Haired


Age: 2.5 years & 1 year

Mitchell, Webb & Lollipop’s story: This trio came to the RSPCA as part of a multi-cat seizure, where their previous owner did not have enough time to spend with all the cats. They are very much bonded to one another, so need a special adopter who can give a home to all three.

Temperament: These three cats had been left extremely nervous of people. They have been in care for quite some time and have come on well, and although they are still very nervous when people are around, they are ready to start their new lives with a loving new family. Mitchell, Webb and Lollipop are very playful and active with their toys and each other – they will enjoy interacting with you for fuss and playtime once they get to know you.

Ideal home: They will find moving to a new home very strange, so adopters will need a spare room where they can be together to begin with. Once they’ve settled and gained confidence, they can begin to investigate the rest of the house. Adopters will need to be patient; Mitchell, Webb and Lollipop will need to be kept as house cats for a very long tie and may never have the confidence to go outside. They will need a quiet, adult-only home, but could possibly live with other cats.

If you could help Mitchell, Webb and Lollipop, visit RSPCA York, Harrogate and District. 

Mojo & Mystery – Rabbits


Age: 10 weeks

Mojo & Mystery’s story: This sweet pair were born at the RSPCA, after both mum and dad were no longer wanted by their previous owner.

Temperament: Mojo and Mystery are young, cheeky and playful little boys, who will make wonderful and entertaining family pets. They love treat time, and like being hand-fed.

Ideal home: Mojo and Mystery will need to live in a hutch which is a minimum of 6 feet, with an attached run of at least 8 feet. These boys will be happy to live indoors if given lots to do, and can live with secondary school aged children.

To provide a loving family home for Mojo and Mystery, visit RSPCA York, Harrogate and District. 

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