Harrogate bar to host Taylor Swift quiz to celebrate UK tour

A Harrogate bar is set to host a Taylor Swift-themed quiz to celebrate the UK leg of her tour.

Starling Harrogate, on Oxford Street, will stage a six-round quiz this Friday (August 18) for ‘Swifties’ to enjoy.

Attendees will need to brush up on their ‘Tay-Lore’ ahead of the event, and will be tested on their knowledge of her music videos, lyrics, her sell-out Eras Tour and more.

Teams will be formed on the evening and the lucky winners will be awarded Swif-tea mugs, while the winner of the best-dressed award will receive a free cocktail.

Organiser and die-hard Taylor Swift fan, Tiffany Snowden, held a release party ahead of her album, ‘Red’, in 2021 and is hoping the quiz will see the same level of success.

The 2021 album release party.

She said:

“We still have a few tickets left and last time was such a success, I’d love for other Harrogate-based Swifties to be able to attend.

“[It is a] pub quiz like no other, centred around the one and only, Taylor Alison Swift (a.k.a. the music industry).”

The quiz will be followed by an after-party featuring the star’s songs on repeat.

A ‘posh’ pizza buffet, including pizza slices and sides, will be also included in the ticket, as well as a complimentary glass of wine on arrival.

The singer, who is the second most listened to artist globally on Spotify, recently announced 13 UK shows as part of her Eras Tour in 2024, including Liverpool, Cardiff, London, and Edinburgh. VIP tickets set fans back over £600, while regular admission ranged from £58 to £172.

The quiz will take place on Friday, August 18, from 7pm – 10pm.

Tickets for the event can be found here.

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New street art café opens in Harrogate

A café serving sweet and savoury dishes has opened its doors in Harrogate – with street art covering its walls.

Salt N Sugar, on King’s Road, sells coffees and teas, sweet and savoury waffles, pancakes, and crepes, as well as traditional brunch dishes, such as eggs royale and breakfast sandwiches.

The café’s interior is less than traditional, however, as the walls are covered in graffiti – hand painted by owners Marina Prokoiosifi, 23, and Danjel Mulla, 24.

They moved from their hometown of Athens to Harrogate in search of a brighter future.

The pair explained that “everything is painted and vandalised” in Athens, so they chose to add street art to the walls of the café to bring a “taste of home”.

Ms Prokoiosifi told the Stray Ferret:

“We were surprised how little street art there is in Harrogate when we moved – it’s so normal for places to look like this is Greece.

“I began graffitiing at the age of nine and continued until I was 12. My friends and I would paint on school walls, parts of our town and even our walls at home.”

The dog-friendly cafe also operates as a co-working space for remote workers.

It hopes to begin delivering online takeaway orders in future.

The owners said:

“People got to know us over the last few months while we were preparing the unit and have since come into the café to show their support.

“We really look forward to welcoming the residents of Harrogate to our café.”

Salt N Sugar is open from 9am to 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday.

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Harrogate children’s shop seeks new location

A children’s shop in Harrogate is looking to move to a town centre location to attract more shoppers.

Tiger Fifty 7, on Cold Bath Road, opened in 2019 to “create a shopping experience like no other for both parents and children”.

The shop sells a wide range of toys and games, children’s clothing, as well as accessories and clothing for parents.

However, the business has made the decision to move due to increased bills and the challenges that retail is facing, according to its social media.

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Neither an official closing date of the current shop or a new store location have yet been confirmed.

Co-owner Georgie Simpson said the business was “in limboland” until the current site is taken over by someone else.

Ms Simpson told The Stray Ferret:

“We can’t commit to anything new until this shop is taken over, however we’d prefer to be closer to the centre of town as there is not a lot footfall here.

“We’re definitely happy about the decision, despite it being a lot of stress.”

The unit is listed with Montpellier Property Consultants and is £18,000 per year to rent.

 

Harrogate coffee shop and bakehouse Brew Bar up for sale

A well-known Harrogate coffee shop has been put up for sale.

Brew Bar Harrogate, located on St Winifred’s Avenue near the Stray, offers a variety of coffees and breakfast foods, baked goods and a small retail shop. It’s a popular cafe for dog walkers and staff from nearby Harrogate Hospital.

The café opened in 2018 and then expanded into the next door unit. The owners have since opened another site in the centre of town called &…Harrogate.

The sale of the business comes as the owners “wish to concentrate their efforts on other business opportunities”, according to the listing agent.

The sale will set the buyer back £74,950 plus stock at valuation.

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The listing, represented by Alan J Picken The Business Transfer Agents, reports a turnover of £219,458 on 2023 accounts, as well as a net profit of around £60,000.

The listing says:

“Currently run on civilised day time hours, however offers immense scope to extend opening hours later into the evening or on weekends to take full advantage of its prime trading position and alcohol license in place, to increase sales and maximise profits.”

Brew Bar declined to comment when contacted by the Stray Ferret.

GALLERY: Have you seen Harrogate’s innovative new floral displays?

Harrogate has been in full bloom this week following the Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration, coordinated by Harrogate BID.

Nine innovative floral displays have been installed to represent the town’s international links, including its twinning with Luchon in France, Barrie in Canada and New Zealand in Wellington.

They displays follow the BID’s success at Yorkshire in Bloom 2022. Harrogate won overall winner in the Yorkshire Rose Town/City Centre BID category and was a finalist in this year’s RHS Britain in Bloom UK Finals.

It is in partnership with Helen James Flowers — who won a gold medal in the Floristry Awards at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023.

The summery showcase will be on display until Friday, August 4.

Take a look at our gallery below in case you missed it.

Pic: Harrogate BID Facebook page

Pic: Harrogate BID Facebook page

 

Pic: Harrogate BID Facebook page

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From Zulu dancing to inflatable lobsters: Everything you need to know about Harrogate Carnival

Harrogate town centre will become a cultural hub tomorrow when it welcomes the return of Harrogate Carnival.

Launched in 2019, the carnival is commissioned by Visit Harrogate – a tourism organisation run by North Yorkshire Council and produced by Harrogate International Festivals.

The free one-day event will showcase an array of world music and entertainment, as well as street theatre, a dance stage, and a food quarter.

Live dance and music performances will fill the streets of the town, including Leeds West Indian Carnival, Zulu performers, Ubunye, and St Aelred’s Irish Dance Group.

There will be an interactive display from Close-Act, an inflatable lobster from Lobster A la Cart, as well as moving sculptures from Hebden Bridge’s Handmade Parade.

A Chinese dragon will take centre stage.

Foodies will find cuisines from around the world, from Greek gyros to Japanese rice dishes to Turkish kebabs and churros.

People can also take part is various workshops to learn about international cultures, including a dhol drumming workshop with Punjabi Roots.

The parade will begin at 11am from the war memorial and will finish in the Valley Gardens.

Several roads will be closed between 10am to 1pm during the carnival, including Cambridge Road, Royal Parade and West Park.

More details on road closures can be found on North Yorkshire Council’s website.

A full programme of acts can be found here.

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Long-standing Harrogate sandwich business for sale

A long-standing sandwich takeaway in Harrogate is up for sale.

Wedges & Co has been a mainstay on Cold Bath Road for many years.

But the owners are looking to sell the business and have a “well-deserved retirement”, according to listing agent Alan J Picken

Wedges, which sells hot drinks, breakfasts and cakes as well as hot and cold sandwiches, is on the market as a leasehold business for £149,950 plus stock at valuation.

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Alan J Picken, which is an Ilkley firm that specialises in selling businesses, says the company’s 2022 takings were £268,397 and net profit was “in excess of £100,000”.

The listing says:

“The business currently operates on most convenient opening hours five days a week, however there is scope to extend opening hours particularly Saturday to Sunday to increase sales and maximise profits.

“There is also scope to maximise sales via increasing the outside catering book and large sandwich orders for events/lunches.”

Wedges declined to comment about the sale when contacted by the Stray Ferret.

Business Breakfast: Harrogate legal firm achieves top industry ranking

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 legal firm has been recognised by a leading industry guide for the seventh year running.

Raworths’ trust, wills and states team has been ranked Band 1 by the Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2023.

The team is the only firm ranked Band 1 for the region of York, Hull, and surrounding area, while also ranked in the National Leaders category outside London.

Raworths has one one of the largest private client teams in Yorkshire after hiring five new recruits this year.

The firm’s head of trusts, wills and estates, Rachel Tunnicliffe, said:

“It is fantastic to have Raworths’ private client offering achieve the top ranking in this globally recognised industry guide for the 7th year running.

“The strategic growth of the TWE team over the last few years has attracted partners from leading national and international firms, enabling us to offer exceptional levels of service to our client portfolio.”

 The guide described the team as having “great knowledge and project management, then drive that knowledge into action.”

Find more information on the team here.

Celebrity body-builder to promote Harrogate store 

A cast member of the BBC’s reboot of Gladiators is due to host a meet and greet at a Harrogate store.

Fitness fanatics will be able to meet bodybuilder, Jamie Christian-Johal, nicknamed ‘The Giant’, at Harrogate supplement store, Go Herbs.

At 6ft 5 inches Mr Christian-Johal is one of the tallest professional bodybuilders in the world .

Go Herbs, located on Station Parade, is run by the team behind Power Body Nutrition – a health, fitness, and nutritional supplement distributor.

The shop stocks MUTANT products, which are promoted by the bodybuilder, and include supplements used to significantly increase strength and muscle mass.

Power Body sales manager, Joe Taylor-Ferguson, said:

“We are thrilled to announce that we will be hosting the incredible bodybuilder, Jamie ‘The Giant’, renowned not only for his awe-inspiring strength but also for his remarkable journey as an athlete in-store as a part of our MUTANT promotional day for residents.

“We couldn’t be more excited for Jamie’s visit, and it is a great opportunity for the Harrogate fitness community to witness first-hand the extraordinary power and determination that defines the MUTANT Athletes and sample some of their fantastic products.”

The event will take place on Saturday July 29, from 11am – 2pm.

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Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration blossoms across town

The Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration has come into bloom across the town.

Harrogate BID has coordinated the floral celebration following success in Yorkshire in Bloom 2022.

Harrogate won overall winner in the Yorkshire Rose Town/City Centre BID category and was a finalist in this year’s RHS Britain in Bloom UK Finals.

The event is in partnership with local florist, Helen James Flowers, who was recently awarded a gold medal in the Floristry Awards category at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023.

The event will showcase several floral installations around the town, with help from Harrogate International Partnerships, RHS, Harrogate in Bloom, and North Yorkshire Council. These include props, an interactive floral trail, and a shop window competition.

The aim is to mark the town’s international links including the twinning of Harrogate with other towns such as Luchon in France, Barrie in Canada, and Wellington in New Zealand.

The shopfront of Helen James’s store on Station Parade.

The Yorkshire Air Museum, in York, has donated a wicker airplane from Canada to feature in the display, while Harrogate’s own Resurrected Bikes has provided bikes to form part of the display also.

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 Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration will feature unique, vibrant and eye-catching floral displays, each telling a story of how international relations have flourished to bring together the very best of our respective cultures. From a giant Buddha to a floral musical wall, there will be plenty of exciting things to see and experience!”

Parts of the floral trail can be found near Nicholls Tyreman on a corner of Princes Square , Bettys, and the Victoria Shopping Centre.

The event draws on international links.

Helen James, from Helen James Flowers, said:

“We are so honoured to be involved with this special event, which aims to celebrate the town’s beauty and horticultural heritage through an array of stunning floral displays.

“We can’t wait to see the reaction from residents and visitors, as well as welcoming the Britain in Bloom judges.”

The Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration will be on display from Friday July 21, to Friday August 4.

More information on the event can be found here.

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Knaresborough pub to reopen today 111 days after fire

A Knaresborough pub that has been closed for one hundred and eleven days following a chimney fire is due to reopen this evening.

The Castle Inn, on Castlegate, has been closed since the incident on April 1 this year, but “has had a full revamp” ahead of its reopening, according to the new owner.

Landlady, Chloe-Mae Anderson-Maguire, her wife and brother-in -law, made the move from Whitby to Knaresborough to take over the pub after hearing about the fire.

She said her parents have run pubs all her life so this new venture “seemed like a great opportunity.”

The interior of the pub has been modernised.  The premises – which will be showcased at the launch party –  now offers 10 lagers, as opposed to the previous 7.

The pub is not yet serving food but hopes to have dishes out of the kitchen “within the next two weeks.”

The launch event will include discounted drinks, as well as a karaoke machine and live DJ to entertain the guests.

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Ms Anderson-Maguire said:

“We’d only visited the area a few times before moving, so we’re really looking forward to meeting old and new customers.”

The opening event will began at 6pm this evening. The pub will be open daily from 10am-12.30am thereafter.

A social media post for the Castle Inn wrote:

“The anticipation is building, and we can hardly contain our excitement!

“Our team has poured their hearts and souls into creating a unique and unforgettable experience for our valued customers.

“From the inviting atmosphere to the top-notch products/services we’ll be offering, every detail has been carefully crafted with you in mind.”