Harrogate is set to host some of the country’s best padel tennis players for a major tournament.

Surge Padel launched in the space above Coach gym at Hornbeam Park in January as the UK’s largest premium indoor padel tennis centre — it has six indoor courts.

Padel tennis is one of the fastest growing sports in the country. Surge Padel has sought to put Harrogate at the centre of that growing interest with its modern facilities.

Home Of Padel, the UK’s top padel event organiser, selected Surge Padel for its next competition on October 8 and 9.

The winner will take home a £3,000 prize.

Read more:

• Ripon Tennis Centre opens new £180,000 padel tennis courts
• First glance at Harrogate’s new £1.5m padel and gym centre

HOP has worked with Surge Padel before for its new-to-advanced players and women-only tournaments. But this is the first time the professional tournament has come to Harrogate.

John Leach, Team GB’s padel coach, and Javi Serrats, who has had success in the professional padel game, are behind HOP.

Mr Serrats said:

“Padel is played on a court the third of the size of a standard tennis court. The mass appeal of it is that any age and ability can play.

“The tournament in October is an official event counting towards UK rankings and includes £3,000 of prize money. The tournament will showcase the best padel players in the country.”

Harrogate man Rod Findlay takes a minute out of each day to take stock of where he is — working with one of the best views of one of Britain’s finest stately homes, Castle Howard.

Breathtaking as the estate is, with more than 200 listed buildings and monuments set over around 8,800 acres, there is much to do to ensure Castle Howard retains its prestigious reputation for generations to come.

The estate, 15 miles north of York, has been home to the Howard family for 300 years and is rich in history. The Great Fire of 1940 devastated the building decades ago and, more recently, covid has proved hugely disruptive.

Castle Howard’s worldwide reputation, enhanced by its many screen appearances in films such as Brideshead Revisited, meant it relied heavily on international visitors, mainly from China, so covid restrictions hit visitor numbers dramatically.

With every cloud comes a silver lining, though. Covid also made people want to seek out local places of beauty they had previously taken for granted, and the challenge now is to capitalise on that.

Mr Findlay started his career in law before moving into leadership roles in sports such as rugby league, golf and cycling. His current role as chief operating officer and company secretary at Castle Howard presents numerous challenges. He said:

Rod Findlay enjoys nothing more than a walk with his dogs.

“It’s really varied. You know, one day you are talking about Santa Claus and the next day you are talking about the long-term strategic vision for Castle Howard.

“That is interesting to me. We have a really ambitious plan to turn the house around. In the last few years we have done some work to look at the heritage deficit here.

“To look at Castle Howard, it’s a beautiful house but it needs investment.

“The mausoleum on the outskirts of the estate needs £18 million, the house needs £50 million, the gatehouse needs £15 million.

“It is a 300-year-old house so it needs continual investment. This is a long-term vision and requires a major change in our approach as we won’t get that money by putting up the price of scones.”

More than a house

Profit from the estate is invested in areas such as reports, conservation and restoration.

Castle Howard posted a loss of £2.1 million in its 2020 financial year, but recorded a profit the following year of £5.7 million.

A major reason for that quick turnaround was £7.5 million in upwards property revaluation on Castle Howard’s investment property portfolio, which is made up of the estate, residential accommodation and the holiday park.

So if an opportunity arose to expand its property portfolio in areas identified for development in the Ryedale Local Plan, Castle Howard would be keen to get involved.

The estate has bid to develop four areas of its 8,800 acres, which is made up largely of farmland and woodland.

There is, Mr Findlay says, a severe need for housing in the area surrounding the estate:

“We have a waiting list to get into our properties of 180 people. So it’s clear there are a lot of people who want to live and work in the area but they can’t find those opportunities.

“So if we increase the housing stock there’s another benefit as we can invest that money back into the estate, which also benefits the local economy.

“The first job is to get these properties included in the local plan, as it is currently listed as farmland. Then we can start work with a developer to bring them to life.

“We are keen to keep some control over the look and feel of these properties while the developments need to be responsible and sustainable.”

Can Harrogate improve its events?

Mr Findlay, who is originally from Newcastle, moved to Harrogate in 2014.

He has always enjoyed living in the town but the open spaces of Valley Gardens, Crimple Valley and the Stray enhanced his appreciation during covid lockdowns.

Castle Howard is embracing new kinds of events.

Mr Findlay believes the town should embrace more larger events. He said:

“I do think those large events will drive people.

“We certainly have seen that at Castle Howard where, we have attracted visitors we perhaps otherwise wouldn’t get with events like Cafe Mambo, Duran Duran and the Chemical Brothers.

“This attracts a demographic we’re not necessarily seeing. Harrogate shouldn’t shy away from those events, even if the town had a mixed experience like with the UCI.

“People should remember the positive benefits of those large scale events and I feel we should be using our incredible public spaces to that end all year round, weather depending.”

What next for Castle Howard?

Building work began at Castle Howard in 1699 but it took more than 100 years to complete, spanning the lives of three earls.

The estate has seen a lot in that time. While Castle Howard works well as a visitor attraction with around 250,000 expected annually, it’s clear the leadership will not rest on its laurels.

Mr Findlay and his team work for the Howard family, specifically Nicholas Howard and Victoria Barnsley, who are heavily involved in the business and its direction. He said:

“The family wants to make sure this is a place welcoming visitors for many years to come. It’s that long term vision which is important, we are talking about developments we will never see.”

Christmas is coming to Castle Howard.

There are lots of reasons to visit Castle Howard this year with Stately Superstitions: Eerie Encounters at the Castle from October 21 to 31 and Into the Woods: A Fairytale Christmas from November 12 to January 2.

This story is sponsored by Myrings.

Harrogate’s Leading Family Estate Agent Myrings has partnered with Martin House Children’s Hospice to support families with its new charity boards initiative.

Martin House provides hospice care for children and young people with life-limiting illnesses free of charge across North, West and East Yorkshire.

To support Martin House, Myrings will donate £10 for every “for sale” or “to let” board in Harrogate and the surrounding villages.

The new charity initiative is starting now so residents will start to see the new Martin House boards popping up soon and it will continue for the foreseeable future.

Gemma Myring, co-founder and director at Myrings, told the Stray Ferret:

“Martin House is a big part of Harrogate and has touched so many lives.

“We simply cannot praise the staff and volunteers enough. The hospice provides selfless dedication and love to those who need it most.

“It has been one of the guiding principles at Myrings from the day we opened our doors to ‘put something back’ into our hometown where we all live and work.

“Myrings has been in the property business for more than 20 years. It’s a long time but not close to the 35 years Martin House has faithfully served our community.”

Myrings has adapted many times over the years, investing heavily into the website and software.

However, the estate agents believes that a welcoming, dedicated and individual service is greatly valued by Yorkshire people so has recently remodelled its offices to allow for a more personal and private client experience.

Please look out for the new Myrings and Martin House boards over the coming months – and call in to see the team for a chat and a coffee soon.

Cosy Club is set to open the doors to its latest bar and restaurant in Harrogate today – so we went for a sneak peek.

The new venue is designed to bring “relaxed dining and drinking with a touch of timeless glamour” to Cambridge Street.

Cosy Club Harrogate has an arts and crafts feel with wallpaper originally designed in 1895.

Diners will find handmade table lamps throughout the restaurant and an eyecatching bar with bespoke, handmade stained-glass.

The all-day menus will include “fresh and modern classics” with “extensive brunch, gluten free and vegan options”.

The venue had a special opening evening last night.

Loungers Ltd runs the Cosy Club and Lounge brands. As of March 2022 the company operated 193 sites in England and Wales, including Claro Lounge in Ripon.

Amber Wood, managing director at Loungers Ltd, said ahead of the opening that Harrogate “has been a target of ours for some time”. She added:

“Our new restaurant offers a very strong location, linking the main retail and leisure pitches within the town. The externals of this historic building have been extensively renovated by our landlord, Broadland Properties.”

Read more:

• Oliver Bonas to open in Harrogate in September
• Harrogate men’s fashion retailer relocates to James Street

Loungers Ltd was founded by a trio of friends from Bristol: Dave Reid, Alex Reilley and Jake Bishop.

They opened their first first venue in Bristol in 2002 and then opened the first Cosy Club in Taunton eight years later. They set up the separate Cosy Club brand to cater for larger sites.

More photos from inside the Cosy Club

Sponsored by the Gilbert & Sullivan Festival.

Audiences can double their fun at the Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Harrogate this year with a special buy one ticket, get one free FESTIVAL TASTER offer.

The 28th festival will open at the stunning Royal Hall on Wednesday, August 10, where it will be for 12 days of outstanding entertainment.

There will be 20 performances at the Royal Hall alongside a memorabilia fair with a programme of lectures, concerts and more.

During the festival you can enjoy shows from the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company.

The company will bring all-time favourite The Pirates of Penzance, an enchanting production of Iolanthe and a lavish, rarely performed production of Utopia Limited.

An incredible crowd in the Royal Hall for the Gilbert & Sullivan Festival.

Opera della Luna, Charles Court Opera and Forbear! Theatre will also bring HMS Pinafore, The Mikado, Patience and an all-singing and dancing production of The Gondoliers.

So, if you have never seen Gilbert & Sullivan before, or your memories flash back to The Play That Goes Wrong in a draughty village hall, then the festival organisers would like you to join in the fun this year and see just how well it can be done.

There’s never been a better time to get involved with a rare buy one ticket, get one free offer. All you need to do is use code TASTER22 on the Gilbert & Sullivan website or by calling 01422 323252. This offer expires on Friday, August 9, 2022.

Stockeld Park is set to open its £3.5 million children’s play centre to the public this weekend.

The Playhive, set over 20,000 square feet, is one of Europe’s largest indoor play centres. It will open for the first time on Saturday.

The play centre has space, aeronautical, subaquatic and jungle themed areas, which are all connected by a 33-feet tall tower, which also comes with giant slides and a toddler zone.

Playhive also includes a football pitch-sized area filled with play equipment and a pizzeria for families to enjoy after a day of play.

The different zones are all connected by a large tower.

With capacity for 400 visitors at a time, Stockeld Park believes that the new venture will come as a welcome boost for Wetherby and Spofforth’s economy.

The Playhive has created 50 jobs.

Read more:

• Crime writing festival heads up busy night of launches in Harrogate
• Harrogate’s Turkish Baths celebrates 125th birthday

It was the brainchild of park owners Peter and Susie Grant, who wanted to create an all-weather space where adults and children can explore, learn and play together.

It is one of the largest indoor play centres in Europe.

Peter Grant said:

“Susie and I are so excited to finally see the Playhive come to life – a passion project of ours for years, it’s great to see the final result come together exactly as we envisioned.

“We wanted to move away from the traditional soft play scene whilst also encouraging play and imagination in the kids that attend Stockeld Park each year.

“One of the most incredible parts of the Playhive is that it allows for all occasion play – ideal for those rainy Yorkshire days!”

Tickets to the Adventure Park and Playhive cost £19.50 and can be purchased here.

This article is sponsored by Wolseley.

Beth Stephenson has become a rising star at Wolseley in just ten months with the Ripon company’s award-winning Talent Guild.

The Loughborough University student, who is reading accounting and financial management, was debating where to go for her placement year when she found the perfect fit in Wolseley.

Wolseley is the UK’s leading plumbing, heating and cooling specialist with 560 branches across the UK and its headquarters in Ripon.

The company employs more than 320 people in the city and recently completed a £500,000 refurbishment of the Ripon office.

So this is an exciting time to join the team and there’s no better way to get your foot in the door than through the Wolseley Talent Guild.

A taste of different career paths

The opportunity to move around and learn in different parts of the business through the Wolseley Talent Guild was a major draw for Beth, who is originally from York.

She started in August 2021 with the transactional input team but she has also worked with the tax and treasury teams. Beth, 22, said:

“That experience with different departments has meant it is much easier for me to understand the whole business and piece it altogether.

“It seemed daunting at first but I had heard from other people that they had gone to a business and stayed in one department the entire time – sometimes it’s an area they don’t like.

“Now I know which areas I like so when I progress, I can start my career in the area I like. It’s beneficial for my career but also for Wolseley as I have been able to connect the different teams.

“Ripon is lovely. I am from York so Ripon is similar to York but smaller so it’s a very nice place.

“There are lots of lovely places to walk and lots of independent shops. There’s a new vintage shop that has just opened up too which I am excited about.”

Beth is a student at Loughborough University.

Why join Wolseley?

Wolseley’s award-winning Talent Guild is a great way for employees to ensure progression and realise career goals. This industry-leading approach received formal recognition in December 2021, when Wolseley scooped the HR Excellence Award for Talent Management Strategy of the Year.

It includes apprenticeship programmes, talent boosters and career ladders, right through to more technical qualifications and higher education programmes.

Wolseley is currently training more than 130 apprentices across the UK and boosting the skills of more than 150 existing employees.

When employees progress they will notice that Wolseley strives to do the right thing – whether that is in the way they treat customers, suppliers or employees.

Wolseley knows how to attract, develop and retain the best people. The company offers competitive salary, holiday entitlement, a fantastic pension scheme, life insurance and much more.

Would you like to join Wolseley and unlock your potential with the Talent Guild? Click or tap here to find out more information.

Lapicida has sponsored this article.

Lapicida is set to launch an exciting new range designed to seemlessly combine outdoor and indoor life at an exclusive event next week.

On Wednesday June 16 and Thursday June 17 from 9am to 4pm Lapicida will unveil the ORNAMENTI collection at its delightful show garden recently opened at its headquarters and state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Knaresborough.

The UK’s leading specialist in tile and stone has curated ORNAMENTI as an inpirational collection of ornaments and objects designed for private gardens and interiors.

ORNAMENTI comes in the form of planters, fountains, furniture, sundials, obelisks and more.

Technogym’s Personal Line of gym equipment.

The event will also see TechnoGym, which has been the official supplier to eight Olympic Games, present its stunning new Personal Line range of premium cardio equipment.

The Personal Line collection of premium home fitness equipment includes a treadmill, bike, recline, elliptical, kinesis and power station.

Lapicida is also exclusively launching FYSIK in the UK market. FYSIK is a beautiful collection of handmade leather and wood weights and gym equipment, which brings that spa resort feel home.

A new beautiful collection of weights and gym equipment.

These three new lines will be presented alongside Lapicida’s existing lifestyle collections from Albatros Spas and Saunas and Luke Irwin Rugs.

All readers of The Stray Ferret are invited to this premium event where they will be able to:

• Explore the new ORNAMENTI show garden for inspiration.
• Understand the scale and quality of what is available.
• Meet our expert team.
• Refreshments will be available.

Visit the Lapicida website for more information by clicking or tapping here or arrange a visit to the showroom at St James Park in Knaresborough.

This article is sponsored by Yorkshire Water.

Yorkshire Water is planning to introduce car parking charges at three reservoirs in North Yorkshire – Fewston, Swinsty and Thruscross – on a trial basis.

Since making the announcement this morning Alastair Harvey, lead countryside and woodland advisor, wanted to explain the proposed charges, why they are being implemented and what it is hoped the trial will deliver:

“Yorkshire is blessed with fantastic outdoor spaces, including reservoirs owned and operated by Yorkshire Water.

“Over the last two years, people looked for outdoor spaces to enjoy time with their family and friends when permitted. So we’ve welcomed more people to our sites than ever before.

“Unfortunately, this period also saw an increase in anti-social behaviour at our sites. Instances of fly-tipping, the lighting of disposable barbecues, littering, vandalism are on the up.

“All of these hindered the enjoyment of our sites for visitors and posed safety risks.”

As a result, Yorkshire Water decided to introduce its first ever in-house ranger team. A total of ten rangers will be recruited to patrol, manage and maintain the reservoirs.

The rangers will be able to provide information to visitors and enhance their experience. They will also be able to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Parking charges will fund new ranger team

To fund the rangers, Yorkshire Water is trialling car parking charges at Fewston, Swinsty and Thruscross. Parking charges will also be introduced at Langsett in South Yorkshire.

Mr Harvey added:

“We have thought long and hard about the introduction of these charges.

“We believe we’ve catered for all types of visitors we see. Whether they are looking for a day out or to visit every day to walk their dog.

“As well as improving security and safety at our sites, the parking charges will also be used to fund a variety of conservation, community, and facility improvement projects.

“The funds will help us increase our work with charities and community groups. It will also help wildlife to thrive on our sites.

“All of this will ensure the money visitors spend on parking is invested directly into the sites they use to further improve their experience.

“Ultimately, we hope that during the trial we will see incidents of fly tipping and antisocial behaviour decrease; making these sites safer and more enjoyable for people, and more wildlife friendly too.

“Likewise, we hope that the charges will encourage people to at least consider travelling via public transport, cycle paths, and walking routes rather than by car.”

Yorkshire Water already sponsors the Dales Bus Service, which provides a specific bus route through the Washburn Valley, on Summer Sundays and Bank Holidays.

If planning is approved for the parking meters, charges will start at £1 for an hour, £2 for 2 hours, £5 for all-day parking of £30 for an annual pass.

A Ripon mum has baked a cake judged to be fit for a Queen as part of the Bettys Jubilee Bake Off.

Lori Hendry beat three other shortlisted bakers with a Victoria sponge decorated with red, white and blue icing adorned with a crown and Union Jack flags.

Ann Hedges, food and nutrition teacher at St Aidan’s, Paul Farr, food and drink director at Bettys, and Lisa Benninson, development chef and Bettys Cookery School teacher, judged the final on Wednesday, June 1.

Ms Benninson thanked the shortlist of Lori Hendry, Irene Threadgold, Louise Winter and Edward Lee for baking their cakes and said it was tough to pick out an overall winner.

The moment Lori (centre) found out she had won.

The three judges deliberated for around half an hour and assessed each cake against the criteria Bettys uses to test all of its new products.

Delighted with the win and prize of a course of her choice at Bettys Cookery School, Ms Hendry told the Stray Ferret:

“I am feeling shocked to be honest, really shocked. I didn’t expect to win it at all. I am very chuffed.

“I first got into baking because I started baking for the kids really. When you have three kids you always need a cake on the go!”

Read more:

• Harrogate district jubilee celebrations begin
• Carnival coming to Harrogate as part of summer programme

Paul Farr, food and drink director at Bettys, said:

“I’ve been in the industry for nearly 40 years but when you are judging you need to be able to pull on all of your experience and your honest appraisal on products.

“There was a high standard so it comes down to those fine points of difference that makes a cake stand out from being really good to being the winner.”

(Left to right) Louise Winter, Irene Threadgold and Lori Hendry. Edward Lee could not make it but his cake is second in from the left.

Ann Hedges, food and nutrition teacher at St Aidans, said:

“It was a real privilege to be part of the judging process. With so many potential winners, I think everybody brought something slightly different to the competition.

“For me it was fantastic to see people’s skill level. We had the cake making, meringue making, the piping. All of those skills are an art at the end of the day. We were very lucky to be able to judge that art.”

Lisa Benninson, development chef and Bettys Cookery School teacher, said:

“I thought it was really great. As chefs and bakers it is always a treat when somebody else makes a cake. It was a really nice thing to do to judge a cake competition fit for a Queen on the Platinum Jubilee.

“We had lots of different flavour combinations. We had a rose and pistachio, lots of Victoria sponges. There was a close finish but it was about attention to detail in the end – and that’s Bettys motto.”

The shortlisted cakes

Lori Hendry’s winning cake (Left) with Edward Lee’s cake.

Louise Winter’s cake (Left) with Irene Threadgold’s cake.