This story is sponsored by Park Playground
Leeds recently became home to Yorkshire’s newest virtual reality site, which sees no sign of slowing down its success.
The Park Playground VR began in 2018, in Belgium, and has shot to success – boasting 13 locations across 4 countries in just five years.
The Leeds site, which was the first UK destination, located on Kirkstall Road, opened last December and has since brought the county endless virtual fun and adventure.
Visitors can choose between six different experiences to be enjoyed by a range of ages and immerse themselves into some seriously out-of-this world challenges. From TV game shows and saving the planet to travelling back to Ancient Egypt and zombie hordes, The Park Playground will ensure a day of guaranteed excitement and thrill.
If you’re looking for some family fun, the Mask of the Pharaoh is the perfect rainy-day activity. The game begins as any normal day – although, not for long – as you and your team receive a call from the Professor to say he is trapped in Ancient Egypt! It’s your job to travel back in time to the land of the pyramids, help break the spell of the mysterious mask and return the Professor to modern day. To be enjoyed by 2-6 players, aged 7 and above, enjoy a series of mini games and discover artefacts along the way to help solve this historic puzzle.
The Park Playground is the perfect indoor activity for friends, family and colleagues.
Thrill seekers can enter a world of zombie-hunting in The Hallow. Travel back to the 19th century and combat a world overthrown by a zombie horde to restore what was once a peaceful village. Join forces with your friends, family, and co-workers in this epic journey of mini games and battle – but beware…only the bravest will survive.
If you consider yourself an armchair sleuth, try your hand at The Snitch. In a VR TV gameshow, you and your team will journey across the natural beauties of New Zealand, completing challenges to win a cash prize. However, someone isn’t such a team player and is aiming to sabotage the group’s efforts to keep the money for themselves. Whether you’re the saboteur or walking the plank for some cash, expect suspicion and laughter in this game of non-stop fun.
The site’s newest game, Nanoclash: Focus, allows up to 12 friends to battle it out in a futuristic arena, competing in various challenges until one is victorious! Described as paintball without the pain, this game attracts anyone from gamers and adrenaline-junkies to wedding parties and work colleagues. No matter who you are, enter the arena for the ultimate VR battle.
If one terrifying game wasn’t enough for you, the award-winning Don’t Scream horror-themed escape room will challenge the mind and keep your heart racing. Comedian and evil genius, David Whitely welcomes you to his world of fear where evil lies around every corner. Face your fears and collect the necessary memorabilia to help escape this nightmare, but remember…don’t scream.
Adventure can also be found in Mission Planet X – the ultimate apocalyptic journey. Earth is running out of energy and fossil fuels will soon be exhausted, so it’s up to you, recruits, to save the day before it’s too late! Commander Dawson sends you to Planet X – a world of the unknown – to bring back the powerful Energy Crystal. Work as a team and overcome some intergalactic challenges to return the crystal to Earth and keep our planet alive. Once you’re up in space, there’s no turning back…
Players will battle against each other on an 81 square metre field.
All games include an initial 30 minute starter, helping players get used to the equipment, as well as playing some introductory mini games. After this, teams will share an 81-square metre playing field to compete in your chosen game.
Ditching the heavy backpacks and cables, The Park Playground games are entirely mobile and offer a large wireless area for gamers to roam. Visitors are also provided with state-of-the-art VR goggles to transport you to an alternate reality.
Marketing manager, James Nye, said:
“Laughter, shouting and even screams are a common occurrence at the park.
“My personal favourite is The Hallow – it’s 30 minutes of non-stop heart-pounding action.”
Visitors can also enjoy a drink at the bar and debate who played the best in the cool relaxation lounge.
The site can be transformed for any occasion, from children’s parties to corporate events. The entire venue is also available for hire for large-scale events.
He continued:
“There has been such a buzz in Leeds since we opened in December, and we’ve had multiple local celebrities try the games for themselves.
“Our latest experience is due for release later this year, – I can’t say much now but I’m very excited for the city to see it.”
The Park Playground VR welcomes anyone aged 7 upwards, and team sizes range from 2 – 16 people.
Find out more
To find out more about all that’s on offer at The Park Playground Leeds, visit https://www.theparkplayground.com/en-gb
Click here to book your discounted game for four.
Stray Ferret vouchers: fun for all the family come wind, rain, or shineAlthough it may not have felt like summer over the last few weeks, the Stray Ferret’s voucher page is here to ensure endless fun for all the family during the holidays.
From pizza and castles to the St Leger and virtual reality, we’re offering our readers unmissable discounts to keep your children and your bank balance happy!
So whether you’re seeking culture, excitement, furry friends or just some full tummies, be sure to check out our vouchers to make your summer shine.
The Park Playground: 50% off 60-minute group VR experience for 4!
Fancy transporting to a different reality? Well, at The Park Playground, Leeds, you can do just that!
The hottest new virtual reality experience in Yorkshire is giving Stray Ferret readers 50% off a 60-minute group VR experience for 4 – that’s half the price for double the fun.
Discover a thrilling adventure with your friends and family in a unique, free-roam environment and enter a world of breathtaking virtual reality.
Work together or battle against each other in an ultra-real virtual world, like hunting zombies in The Hallow, or solving puzzles in ancient Egypt in The Mask of The Pharaoh.
Thrill seekers can face their fears in Don’t Scream, or even take part in your very own TV game show in The Snitch.
Click here to buy your voucher and go on an incredible journey beyond your imagination at Park Playground.
Major Tom’s Social: 2 pizzas for just £12!
Calling all pizza lovers! Major Tom’s Social is offering Stray Ferret readers 2 Margherita pizzas for just £12 – one pizza is usually at least £10, so don’t miss out on this tasty deal.
Known for its delicious stone baked pizzas, made in house using flour and tomatoes imported from Italy, Major Tom’s Social is the place to go if you’re looking for great quality food and drinks.
So, gather your friends and head down to Major Tom’s after work to enjoy a full-size pizza for a fraction of the price!
Click here to claim your voucher.
Ripley Castle Guided Tour – Two adult admission tickets for the price of one!
If you’re looking for some fresh air and culture this summer, Ripley Castle is offering two adult tickets for the price of one with this exclusive deal.
That’s right…a family of 2 adults and children under 12 can enjoy a guided tour of the castle, as well as admission into the gardens and grounds for just £15!
Ripley Castle has been home to the Ingilby family for over 700 years — the tour will share fascinating stories about the history the family, as well as the castle itself.
Immerse yourself in the grounds and walled garden that surrounds the estate with floral and shrub borders, a kitchen garden with a range of vegetables, a herb garden and a fruit orchard. A true garden-lovers dream.
Don’t miss out on this exclusive deal – buy your voucher here.
DogFest – 2 for 1 tickets!
Struggling to find somewhere to have fun with your four-legged friend? Then look no further as we’re bringing you 2-for-1 tickets to DogFest!
You and your hound can enjoy a day of non-stop fun at the nation’s favourite dog-friendly festival!
Expect a day of agility courses, hay bale racing, doggy diving and even a giant ball pit for your dog to enjoy.
Owners will be invited to attend ‘Breed Meet Ups’, where families with the same breed are encouraged to swap stories, share notes, and take photos.
Visitors can also take part in the Big Dog Walk’s 2km or 4km walk around the grounds of the estate.
Enjoy all that andmore for just £20 – grab your discounted voucher here.
Harewood House – Half price Family Ticket!
Prepare to explore 100 acres of gardens and grounds this summer with half price family tickets to Harewood House!
Fancy a bit of adventure? Get lost in the winding paths of the Himalayan Gardens or stroll around the lake to discover the famous Walled Garden.
The site also offers a Woodland Wonderland play area and adventure playground for your little ones to burn off some steam, as well as a variety of walks to enjoy the natural beauty on display.
Get your half price voucher here.
Doncaster Racecourse: 37% off Betfred St Leger Legends Day – Grandstand tickets
The Stray Ferret is bringing you discounted tickets to one of the oldest and most prestigious races in Britain – the Betfred St Leger at Doncaster Racecourse!
Featuring the Leger Legends Charity Race, the Legends Day will showcase an array of ex-professional jockeys to celebrate the final day of the historic four-day racing festival.
Whether you’re looking for some family fun or just a good knees-up with some friends, the Grandstand tickets will grant you access to public bars, eateries, and betting outlets along with views of the racing action including the parade ring and pre-parade ring.
Children can expect a kid’s disco, meet & greets with Doncaster Knights players, an air ambulance simulator, stilt walkers and more!
The race will take place on Sunday, September 17 — U18’s go free!
Find our special offer here.
Click or tap here to see our vouchers page.
Business Breakfast: Harrogate Town sign another sponsorThe Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is an after work drinks event on Thursday, August 31 at The West Park Hotel in Harrogate between 5-7pm.
The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.
Harrogate Town have announced a partnership with a Harrogate construction and plant hire firm.
Kitching Plant Hire has over 350 machines to buy and hire, including diggers, excavators, rollers and cement mixers.
The club said the firm’s commitment to innovation and quality mirrored its values.
Matthew Kitching, director of Kitching Plant Hire, said:
“We’re excited about our new partnership with Harrogate Town AFC, being proud supporters, we felt the timing is right to show our commitment to our local club.”
Joanne Towler, commercial director of Harrogate Town AFC, said the company’s support was “instrumental in driving our club’s progress”.
Harrogate and Boroughbridge companies help beautify York
A Borougbridge landscape contractor has partnered with a horticultural company in Kirk Hammerton to remodel the grounds of York Museum Gardens.
ATM Ltd, a landscaping, highway and maintenance company, has partnered with Johnsons of Whixley to supply thousands of plants to the 12.5 acre area of land as part of the recent Environment Agency flood defence improvements project.
ATM provided the project with all soft landscaping following engineering work to raise an existing flood bank, while the commercial plant suppliers selected plants to ensure pollination will thrive throughout the year.
The aim of the project is to rejuvenate the gardens, which were first established in the 1830s, and create a fresh and enjoyable space for the public.
Daniel McClaren, contracts manager at ATM Ltd, said:
“The plants were carefully selected with wildlife and seasons in mind. The gardens will be enjoyed all year round. ”
Eleanor Richardson, marketing manager at Johnsons, said:
“York Museum Gardens is on our doorstep, so it has been great to visit the site and see the hard work ATM have completed and see the plants thriving.”
Read more:
- Business Breakfast: Harrogate company in ‘strong financial position’ despite interest rate hike
- Business Breakfast: Harrogate district company awarded £20,000 to move production to digital
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.
Read more:
- Million pound house draw comes to Harrogate
- Historic Harrogate family business to open for Heritage Open Days
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.
Read more:
- New Harrogate ‘café’ to support communication after stroke and brain injury
- Major Harrogate road set to close each evening for three weeks
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.
Read more:
- Long-standing Harrogate sandwich business for sale
- New Mexican restaurant to open in Harrogate tomorrow
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.
Read more:
- Brew Bar owner opens new Harrogate coffee shop
- A-ha’s sound man opens record shop and bar in Harrogate
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
Read more:
- Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration blossoms across town
- Businesses vote ‘yes’ to continue Harrogate BID
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.
Read more:
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.
Read more:
- New Mexican restaurant to open in Harrogate tomorrow
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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.