New muffin cafe opens in Harrogate

A new muffin bakery and cafe has opened in Harrogate.

Muffin Break, which is based in the former Hotter shoe shop, opened its doors on Cambridge Street this morning.

The outlet, which has 60 cafes across the UK, offers a range of freshly baked goods including muffins and cakes, as well drinks such as milkshakes and coffee.

There will also be gluten free and vegan options available.

Customers can even order cakes online to be baked in store and collected.

John Viola, area manager at Muffin Break.

John Viola, area manager at Muffin Break

John Viola, area manager for Muffin Break, told the Stray Ferret he felt the new outlet would fit into the Cambridge Street scene.

He said:

“Every store has its own feel. The nearest here is in Bradford.

“But I feel like this one has got that Harrogate feel.”

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Mr Viola added that the store will pride itself on giving people a relaxed experience in the cafe.

The cafe will be open from 8am until 5.30pm Monday to Saturday and 10am until 4pm on Sundays.

Muffin Break is a franchise business of FoodCo UK Franchising that first originated in Canada before expanding its cafes in Australia in the late 1980s.

Voters head to the polls for Selby and Ainsty by-election

Voters will head to the polls this morning as a by-election is held in Selby and Ainsty.

The election was called after former Conservative cabinet minister, Nigel Adams, resigned with immediate effect in June.

The constituency’s northern border includes Harrogate district areas such as Huby, Follifoot, Spofforth and some of the villages in the Vale of York, such as Tockwith, Green Hammerton and Long Marston.

A total of 13 candidates have been confirmed for the contest. The full list is below:

Voters are reminded that the by-election is the first to be held in North Yorkshire where ID will be required at the voting booth.

Acceptable forms of ID include photocard driving licences, UK passports, and bus passes for older or disabled people.

Polls for the by-election will open at 7am and close at 10pm.

You can find your nearest polling station by entering your postcode on the North Yorkshire Council website here.

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Business Breakfast: Ripon motor group announces refurbishment and recruitment drive

There’s not long to go until the Stray Ferret Business Club’s breakfast event on Thursday, 27 July at Banyan in Harrogate between 8-10am.

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets now by clicking or tapping here.

A Ripon motor group has announced plans to refurbish its site and recruit 10 new staff.

Lloyd Land Rover, which is based at Hutton Bank in the city, is set to redevelop its branch with a new building and modernised facilities.

As part of the move, the group is set to hire new staff and hold a recruitment evening on Thursday, July 27.

Positions will include sales executives, service advisors, a parts manager and parts advisor and various technician roles including master technician, prep technician and apprentice parts and technician roles.

Mark Redding, head of business of Lloyd Land Rover Ripon, said:

“This is going to be an exciting two years for Lloyd Ripon, as we will see a complete redevelopment of the whole site, with a new building and modernisation of all facilities.

“With the expansion of the site, there will be new opportunities that will take the staff numbers from just over 60 to eventually over 70.”

For more information on the recruitment event, contact the Lloyd Motor Group by visiting its website here.

Harrogate BID plans town floral celebration

A Harrogate business group is set to host a floral celebration in the town this summer.

Called the Floral Summer of Celebration, the event will be hosted by Harrogate BID and include flowers from local florist Helen James Flowers.

It will be held between July 21 and August 4 this year.

Helen James Florist on Station Parade.

Helen James Florist on Station Parade.

The event is set to include prop displays from EPH Creative, an interactive floral trail and shop window competition. Harry Satloka, who hosts regular free walking tours in the town centre, will take guests around the floral installations during the week.

Matthew Chapman, Harrogate BID Manager, said:

“We are proud to be recognised as a finalist for the Britain in Bloom UK finals, especially as we are the only town in Yorkshire that made it through to this stage in the competition.”

The installations will be designed to celebrate multi-national cooperation, in particular the twinning of Harrogate with other towns such as Luchon in France, Montecatini in Italy, Barrie in Canada and Wellington in New Zealand. 

In addition, the special links that Harrogate fosters with Switzerland and Japan will also be feature.

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Council leader apologises for saying only 129 bin collections missed

The leader of North Yorkshire Council has apologised after incorrectly stating just 129 bin collections were missed in the first 100 days of the new authority.

North Yorkshire Council took over responsibility for waste collections from the seven former district councils, including Harrogate, on April 1.

Cllr Carl Les, the Conservative leader of the council, said today that out of 5.6 million collections across the county since April 1, just 129 were missed in that time.

He said:

“We hope that there will be even fewer missed bins as we move forward as even one missed bin collection is important to that household.”

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However, Cllr Hannah Gostlow, a Liberal Democrat who represents Knaresborough East, questioned the accuracy of the figure at today’s meeting.

Cllr Gostlow said:

“Talking with my colleagues across the former Harrogate borough and hearing from my own residents, I understand that there has been a much higher than normal missed general, garden and recycling waste bins.

“Unfortunately it also includes assisted bin collections.”

Cllr Les apologised when it was established the figure was wrong, but added he was unable to provide Cllr Gostlow with the correct figure today.

He added that the information in his statement today was given in “good faith”.

Cllr Les said:

“I will establish that figure in due course. I will send you a written answer and circulate it to all members together with the verified figures.

“As I am wrong, I apologise.”

Business Breakfast: Harrogate Town agrees player development centre sponsorship

There’s not long to go until the Stray Ferret Business Club’s breakfast event on Thursday, 27 July at Banyan in Harrogate between 8-10am.

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets now by clicking or tapping here.

Harrogate Town has agreed a new sponsorship deal for its player development centre.

The club has partnered with Harrogate College to sponsor the centre for the forthcoming season.

The centre provides additional football coaching to young players from under 7s to under 17s as part of their development.

Jo Towler, commercial director at Harrogate Town, said:

“The partnership reflects our shared dedication to supporting young people and fostering their development both on and off the field.”

Danny Wild, principal at Harrogate College, said:

“Harrogate Town AFC, just like our college, is committed to giving great opportunities to the district’s young people to help them flourish and grow. Collaborating with brilliant local organisations is in our DNA, and we know that sport brings all kinds of benefits – physical, mental and social – to those involved.”

Harrogate IT company forecasts improved revenue despite results delay

A Harrogate IT company has said it anticipates an increase in revenue despite a delay in publishing its year-end results.

Redcentric, which is based on Otley Road, was due to publish its report on July 19, but announced a delay to allow the company’s auditors to complete “the finalisation of the results”.

However, in a trading update, it said it expects revenue to increase to £141.8m in line with its forecast in April this year.

The figure would be an increase on £93.3 million at the end of 2022.

The move comes as Peter Brotherton, chief executive of Redcentric, said in January that he expected the firm to capitalise on an “enlarged customer base and increased breadth of products and service”.

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Historic 17th century Harrogate farmhouse put up for sale

A Grade-II listed former Harrogate farmhouse which dates back to the 17th century has been put up for sale.

Dacre, Son and Hartley is marketing Bilton Grove Farm, on Hill Foot Lane near Burn Bridge, for offers over £850,000.

The property, which is thought to originate from the mid-17th century, offers two reception rooms and three bedrooms, and adjoins an extensive range of outbuildings.

They include stone stables, a barn, garages and storerooms that extend to approximately 10,500 sq ft.

Offers on the property are being accepted until midday on Friday, July 28.

Sophie Tillisch, branch manager at Dacre, Son & Hartley’s Harrogate office, said: 

“Opportunities like this in Harrogate’s exclusive south side neighbourhoods, close to the villages of Pannal and Burn Bridge, the local railway station and the A61, are very rare.

“Subject to the relevant planning consents, Bilton Grove Farm, with its extensive range of outbuildings and delightful south facing paddocks, could be transformed into an exceptional home, or a range of bespoke dwellings.

“As a result, this opportunity is already attracting plenty of interest from local developers and individuals.”

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New plan to create eight flats above Cambridge Street shops in Harrogate

A fresh plan has been tabled to create eight flats above shops on Cambridge Street in Harrogate.

York-based GHT Developments has submitted the proposal to North Yorkshire Council for the upper floors of 6-14 Cambridge Street.

The ground floor of the properties is currently occupied by the Card Factory, Phone Patch and an empty unit which was formerly the Phone Doctor. For many years the site was home to Carphone Warehouse.

The site

previously had approval for three one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments.

However, the developer has lodged fresh plans for eight flats because, it says in planning documents, the scheme had “evolved” after it had “been established that the roof is in need of replacement”.

It added that the increased build costs of the previous scheme had left it “unviable”.

In documents submitted to the council, GHT Developments said:

“The proposed development will reduce void spaces in the footprint and has improved the internal and external design.

“The need to replace the roof has also increased build costs, meaning the previous scheme of five apartments is no longer viable. 

“The proposed development will therefore ensure that development is viable and the site can be used effectively.”

As part of the new scheme, four sets of flats would be created on the first and second floors.

North Yorkshire Council will make a decision on the plan at a later date.

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The move comes as work is ongoing at the former River Island unit on Cambridge Street to convert the building into apartments.

The store closed on February 4 after the landlord announced plans to change use of the building.

Plans were approved in summer 2020 to refurbish the ground floor of the building and convert the first floor, as well as adding a roof extension, to create 14 apartments

Business Breakfast: Harrogate therapy centre plans expansion

There’s not long to go until the Stray Ferret Business Club’s breakfast event on Thursday, 27 July at Banyan in Harrogate between 8-10am.

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets now by clicking or tapping here.

A Harrogate therapy and coaching centre has celebrated its one-year anniversary this month.

The Harlow, which is based at Cardale Park, launched in July last year to support children, teens, parents, families and couples.

The company has gone onto to employ 25 qualified and accredited practitioners.

Now the firm is aiming to expand by launching a new employee assistance programme, which aims to offer mental health support to professionals and businesses.

Andrea Bethell, founding partner of The Harlow, said:

“At The Harlow, our esteemed professionals include psychotherapeutic counsellors, psychotherapists, forensic psychologists, trauma therapists, drama therapists, and hypnotherapists.

“Each member of our team has undergone rigorous training and possesses extensive experience in their respective fields.”

Harrogate businessman wins green tech award

A Harrogate businessman has been named green entrepreneur of the year at a national award ceremony.

Mike Woodhall, chief executive of Chameleon Technology, was recognised at the Enterprise Awards 2023.

Mike Woodhall, chief executive of Chameleon Technology.

Mike Woodhall, chief executive of Chameleon Technology.

He picked up the Green Tech Entrepreneur award at the ceremony, which was held at Drapers’ Hall in London.

Mr Woodhall said:

“I’m delighted to have been nominated and won this award but what it truly reflects is the drive and commitment of the team of people at Chameleon Technology.”

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New Starbeck chicken restaurant opens

A new chicken restaurant and takeaway has opened in Starbeck.

Chilli Chick’s, which is based on High Street, officially opened its doors today to become the fourth outlet of the restaurant chain.

The takeaway offers a range of food including chicken, burritos and rice boxes.

Farhan Murtaza, manager of the Starbeck outlet, launched the restaurant with his partner Khayyam Ifhaq.

Mr Murtaza said:

“We saw good scope for a chicken restaurant in Harrogate. Everyone seemed friendly.

“There is barely any chicken places around here.”

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The restaurant includes seating for 15 people, but also has the option for takeaway.

It will be open from midday until 11pm every day.

Chilli Chick’s also has outlets in Bradford, Dewsbury and Birmingham.

Council to pay additional £1m in North Yorkshire combined authority set-up cost

North Yorkshire Council looks set to pay an additional £1 million to set up a combined authority for the county and York.

The combined authority, which will be headed by an elected mayor, is scheduled to be launched in November this year.

It will include councillors from North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council and make decisions on matters such as economic development and transport.

So far, North Yorkshire Council has footed £582,000 worth of costs for consultation and staff redeployment to help set up the combined authority.

In a report due before a joint devolution committee next week, the council will be recommended to fund a further £1 million in costs ahead of its implementation in four months time.

The money would cover areas such as IT infrastructure, project management, human resources and contingency plans.

However, the council has said that it expects the cash to be paid back once government funding for the combined authority is released.

It said:

“North Yorkshire Council will continue to cash flow the implementation and set up costs of the combined authority on the understanding that these costs will be repaid once funding is released on creation of the combined authority in November.”

Councillors will discuss the funding at a meeting on July 24.

What is a combined authority?

A combined authority is a body set up for two or more councils to make joint decisions.

In this case, North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council would come together to make decisions on matters such as economic development and transport.

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It will be a separate body to North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council.

The closest example of this is West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which recently has led on the £11.9 million Harrogate Station Gateway scheme, as well as similar schemes in Skipton and Selby.

The combined authority would be headed by a mayor who is directly elected by the public.

An election for the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire is set to be held in May 2024.

The Conservatives selected Cllr Keane Duncan, the executive member for highways and transportation at North Yorkshire Council, at a meeting on Friday.