Organisers of the Harrogate Christmas Market are planning to go ahead with the event this year with social distancing measures in place.

Currently, the event is still on for November 12 to 15, 2020 on St Mary’s Walk and Montpellier Hill.

They will ask all traders and visitors to bring a mask or face covering in all parts of the market and to observe the rules of the day.

There will be hand sanitiser stations at every entrance, a one way system around the craft and gift marquee and no food and drink marquee.

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Around 180 stalls have already signed up for the event but the organisers will not take any fees until they get the green light – something they hope to get in the next month.

One of the concerns for the organisers is the coach travel industry. They fear for the 9000 people that use coaches to get to the event if coaches cannot carry more people.

Brian Dunsby OBE, Harrogate Christmas Market, told The Stray Ferret:

“We are hopeful that we will get the approval from the authorities. We normally get around 80,000 people but we are not expecting anything like that this time. I think that Harrogate needs this market to go ahead, the retailers would definitely miss it.”

Unlike other Christmas markets around the country, the Harrogate Christmas Market focuses on Yorkshire traders. It bucks the trend of French and German markets elsewhere in the UK.

Harrogate District Hospital has not reported any new coronavirus deaths for the last six days.

The last time the hospital recorded a death was on July 7. That came after more than two weeks without any deaths.

It means that Harrogate District Hospital remains on 81 deaths and 139 patient discharges after treatment for coronavirus.

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England’s hospitals reported that a further 11 people had died with coronavirus in today’s NHS figures.

Patients were aged between 72 and 95 years old. All patients had known underlying health conditions.

Andy Barnsdale has taken over the helm of The DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel & Spa.

He is the top hotel’s new general manager and said that the hospitality sector is facing a “very tough” next 12 months.

The Majestic was just a week away from officially opening its new £2 million spa and wellness centre, called The Harrogate Spa before the coronavirus lockdown.

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That new project has still not been given the go ahead to open but, in the meantime, they have opened a new dining concept called Majestic Weekends.

It had remained open throughout the pandemic for key workers before it reopened to the general public on July 4.

The DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel & Spa.

When Mr Barnsdale started his role 90% of the staff were on furlough but now they are bringing them back. He said:

“Thanks to the Cairn Group’s significant investment, The Majestic has regained its place as one of the finest hotels in the Harrogate District. Coronavirus has had a major impact on the hospitality sector, and we are facing a very tough 12 months. However, I believe we are well placed to pull through; we have a fantastic product and the Hilton brand is recognised and respected worldwide. Events and conferences are rebooking, and guests are coming back.”

Andy Barnsdale started his career in hospitality 25 years ago with Haven Holidays and over the next 11 years, he worked at six different holiday parks at general manager level before he moved onto hotels – namely Nidd Hall for six years.

Harrogate District Hospital has not reported any coronavirus deaths in today’s NHS figures.

It comes as the hospital records three more patient recoveries. That takes the hospital up to 139 discharges and 81 deaths.

The hospital had not reported any deaths for 16 days before the latest death on July 3.

Meanwhile, a further 22 people who tested positive for COVID-19 have died in England’s hospitals.

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Of that number, two were recorded in the North East and Yorkshire.

NHS England said patients were aged between 53 and 94 years old. One patient, aged 77 years old, had no known underlying health conditions.

It means the national total number of deaths in hospitals has increased to 28,991.

Vandals have ripped out large chunks of wood from sculptures in Valley Gardens dedicated to Harrogate’s links with New Zealand.

Both the kiwi bird and the carved Maori bench were missing large chunks when The Stray Ferret visited the gardens today.

There are some chippings close to the carved Maori bench indicating that the damage was deliberate.

The carved Maori bench has also been badly damaged.

Ann Beeby, the secretary for the Friends of Valley Gardens, told The Stray Ferret she feared that the sculptures could not be repaired or replaced:

“We get very upset when mindless vandalism of this sort happens in a park, especially at this time when a safe and attractive outdoor space is so important. These sculptures can never be replaced, they can only be removed, which is what will happen if there is further damage.”

Harrogate Borough Council has told The Stray Ferret that it will look into whether the sculptures can be repaired.

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Councillor Andy Paraskos, the cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, said:

“We are really disappointed to see that the sculptures in the New Zealand garden in Valley Gardens appear to have been vandalised. These were carved to complement the gardens and make them more attractive for residents and visitors alike. We will look into whether repairs can be made but as they are carved from tree trunks this is easier said than done.”

A large chunk missing from the kiwi bird.

The New Zealand Garden commemorates Harrogate’s twinning with Wellington and the country’s airmen stationed in the town during World War Two.

The garden dates back to 1954 and chainsaw sculptor Mick Burns carved the Marlin, Kiwi, and bench in 2010.

The Yorke Arms has no plans to reopen its Michelin Star restaurant in Nidderdale. The owners will open the country house for private hire instead.

Managers closed the restaurant down at the start of lockdown. Now they do not believe that it is financially viable to reopen with the current social distancing guidelines.

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Instead, they are repitching the Yorke Arms as “the ultimate staycation” to reconnect and immerse. It will be an informal space for private events and overnight stays.

The dining room will still be open for guests to eat together but it could also work as a boardroom meeting or wedding ceremony space.

The Yorke Arms Restaurant.

They have also adapted the living space areas to become lounges and guests can bring their own alcohol for the bar.

Owner Jonathan Turner said:

“The Yorke Arms has been a hostelry for over 100 years and the team are excited to move forward and ensure that legacy evolves and stays alive. Yes these are challenging times for all however we are determined not to let recent events prevent our guests from enjoying the enviable location and stunning interiors. This is Yorkshire. We pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and move on.”

With 17 individually styled Yorkshire-proud bedrooms with en-suites, The Yorke Arms can accommodate 33 guests overnight and many more during the day or evening.

A Costa drive-thru will open next month near Pannal after coronavirus delayed construction works.

The coffee company has not yet pinned down a specific date but will open the Leeds Road drive-thru in August.

It’s the first time Costa has announced an opening date with much of the external works already complete.

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Harrogate Borough Council approved the demolition of a petrol station and shops for the development despite concerns over traffic.

A Costa Coffee spokesperson, told The Stray Ferret:

“We’re delighted to be safely opening new stores across our estate, aswell as reopening existing stores in line with government guidelines – returning the Nation’s Favourite to customers by serving them a perfectly handcrafted cup of coffee.”

More than 100 temporary and zero-hour jobs are under consultation at Leeds Bradford Airport.

Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) had managed to keep many of its staff on full pay during lockdown through the furlough scheme.

The majority of the 102 jobs under threat are seasonal roles. The airport brings in that workforce for the busy summer period.

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The airport believes that the aviation industry will recover in the long term but the “short term impact” has meant difficult decisions.

A spokesperson for LBA said:

“We are deeply saddened to be consulting with colleagues as a result of the impact of the global pandemic. We, like many other sectors, are operating in challenging circumstances and this has led to some difficult decisions.”

LBA will still push ahead with its terminal replacement proposals. It says the plans are “well placed” to boost its recovery and the wider economy.

Harrogate Theatre has been on its knees in recent months but has welcomed a £395,000 grant from Arts Council England to help it survive until September.

The money is part of a £90 million fund separate to the government’s £1.5 billion arts rescue package – there are no details for that yet.

David Bown, Harrogate Theatre’s chief executive, told The Stray Ferret that he was “very grateful” for the money but he added that they still needed more support:

“This is a good amount of money and it will help us to survive to the end of September but we still need more support. We have had a fantastic response from Harrogate so far. We understand that a lot of businesses are struggling financially but we are important to the town’s economy.”

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So far more than 1,200 people have donated over £60,000 to keep Harrogate Theatre going. Donate by clicking or tapping here.

The theatre has been losing £1 million every three months since coronavirus forced it to close its doors.

Mr Bown also estimated Harrogate Theatre brings in around £25 million a year to Harrogate’s local economy which is leaving a “huge hole” the longer it remains closed.

Harrogate Theatre relies on the panto season which Mr Bown said they may have to cancel due to social distancing guidelines.

A Knaresborough yoga charity that helps people with disabilities needs £10,000 to reopen safely.

Yorkshire Yoga, set up in 2005, said that the coronavirus lockdown has had a “real dent” in its finances so set up a fundraiser online.

The over 60s with disabilities make up a quarter of its classes. Many of them will have been living alone during the coronavirus lockdown.

It also holds classes pregnancy and postnatal classes as well as pilates, chair-based yoga, pilates, dance fitness and children’s yoga classes.

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As Yorkshire Yoga’s funds mostly come from paid classes, rather than grant funds, the coronavirus lockdown has meant it has had no income for months.

The charity has also been eating into its limited funds to support its most vulnerable clients in their homes.

Find the fundraising page by clicking or tapping here. So far 26 people have raised £1,400 of the £10,000 target.

Chris Cox, Yorkshire Yoga’s manager, said:

“We believe this will be a lifeline to ensure that people have access to free physical and mental wellbeing practices which will maintain some kind of normality during an unprecedented time of stress and anxiety. We provide a much loved and valued service for the community.”