The Yorkshire Party is calling for Yorkshire Day – August 1 – to be made a bank holiday within the region.

White rose bunting has been installed in Harrogate to mark the yearly celebration, which occurs tomorrow.

The Yorkshire Party, which campaigns for devolution for Yorkshire in the form of a Yorkshire Regional Parliament, wants to take things further.

It said today an extra summer bank holiday would enable the county to celebrate its Yorkshire heritage and break up the long period between May and Christmas, which currently has only one bank holiday.

Yorkshire Day bunting on Princes Street.

England has eight bank holidays — fewer than many other countries.

Dr Bob Buxton, the Yorkshire Party’s co-leader, said:

“There’s a strong argument that England should have more bank holidays.  Why not have one to celebrate our regional identity here in Yorkshire, at the height of summer?”

“Scotland and Northern Ireland both have their own bank holidays; there’s no reason why Yorkshire couldn’t do likewise, which could give a massive boost to Yorkshire’s tourist and leisure sectors, from the coast to the Dales.”

An ‘official announcement’ is expected soon about Harrogate‘s newest restaurant.

The Stray Ferret revealed on Thursday the Mexican restaurant and cocktail bar was due to open on Cheltenham Crescent the following day.

The article generated more than 300 comments, with many people welcoming the opportunity to buy tacos and burritos in the spacious town centre venue.

But The Rooftop opened to mixed reviews online from customers who posted their experiences on sites such as Restaurants Harrogate Review Club Facebook page.

A social media account for The Rooftop replied on the thread:

it said:

“We know there have already been speculations circulating among the public.

“Currently we are in the process of sorting things out before making an official announcement.

“Please let’s all be kind to each others. We truly appreciate everyone.

“We are hoping to publish an announcement as soon as possible.”

Leeds-based owner Mason Elyas initially declined to comment when the Stray Ferret asked him to clarify the situation but later said the restaurant remained open as usual. It is open Thursday to Sunday each week.

Mr Elyas took control of the premises above Sukhothai on the corner of Cheltenham Crescent and Cheltenham Parade just three weeks ago.

Le Bistrot Pierre occupied the site for many years. It was then briefly occupied by Samsons and then HG1 Grill and World Bar.

Read more:

• New Mexican restaurant to open in Harrogate tomorrow
• In Pictures: Harrogate Carnival fills streets with dance, music and colour

Update: The match has been postponed for a week until Monday, August 7 due to the weather. Play will begin at Knaresborough Cricket Club at 6pm.

Beckwithshaw will take on Goldsborough in the final of cricket’s 20-over Addison Cup in Knaresborough tonight — weather permitting.

The Addison Cup, which is contested by the top 16 teams in the Harrogate and District Amateur Evening Cricket League, is one of the oldest cricket competitions in the world, dating back to 1922.

Burnt Yates won the centenary final last year at Follifoot Cricket Club.

Byron Boshoff was named man of the match in last year’s final.

Beckwithshaw have lifted the cup 18 times — a joint record with Bilton. The village team first won the trophy in 1924 and did so most recently in 2017.

They recently rejoined the league after a short break and are currently top of Division 3, having gone through the season undefeated so far.

By contrast, Goldsborough have appeared in two previous finals but have never lifted the trophy. They are joint second in Division 1.

Tonight’s match, which is free to attend, begins at 6.15pm at Knaresborough Cricket Club on Aspin Lane.

If the match is postponed due to weather it will be rearranged shortly afterwards.

Knaresborough Cricket Club

Can you solve the mystery of the 1930 trophy?

Last year Eric Wainwright discovered a winner’s medal from the first ever Addison Cup final whilst clearing out his father’s house.

This year Peter Horsman, secretary and treasurer of the league, was contacted by an antiques dealer in Canada who found an individual winner’s replica cup which it is thought was given to each team member from the final in 1930.

The antique dealer searched online to find out more about the Addison Cup and read about it in an article on the Stray Ferret.

The individual replica (pictured below) is an exact smaller copy of the main cup and is about three inches tall.

Mr Horsman said:

“In 1930 the winners of the cup were Woodlands, who went on to win it five years in a row from 1929 to 1933.

“It would be interesting to hear if anyone knew of somebody who played for Woodlands CC and who later moved to Canada so that we could trace who was presented with the individual replica.”

If you have information about the Woodlands team you can call Mr Horsman on 07798 582792 or email him at peter_horsman@hotmail.co.uk.

Read more:

• Burnt Yates beat Knaresborough in cricket’s Addison Cup final
• Sun shines on Yorkshire-Lancashire match in Harrogate

Harrogate Borough Council’s bid for £20 million of government money to upgrade the town’s convention centre lacked evidence and rationale and may have over-stated the economic benefits.

Government feedback on the bid, released following a freedom of information request by the Stray Ferret, revealed several areas of concerns with the bid.

This is despite the fact the council, which was abolished at the end of March, paid consultants £45,000 as part of its submission to ministers.

More than 100 projects were awarded a share of £2.1 billion from round two of the Levelling Up Fund in January.

But the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, led by Michael Gove, rejected Harrogate’s application.

The decision was a significant blow to the council’s plans for a £49 million upgrade of the ageing centre and cast further doubt on the facility’s future.

The feedback described the bid as “relatively strong” and listed stakeholder engagement and deliverability as strengths. But the economic case was widely criticised.

The feedback said:

“There were some key areas that could have been enhanced, particularly in the economic case relating to the analysis of monetised costs and benefits, and the appropriateness of data sources and evidence.”

The rejection was a blow to plans for a £49m upgrade to Harrogate Convention Centre.

It went on to say although the bid “evidenced the need to revitalise the visitor economy”, it “could have been strengthened by drawing on a broader range of socioeconomic indicators to demonstrate the multifaceted nature of the problems that the intervention had been designed to address”.

It added:.

“There was a lack of supporting evidence and rationale. The bid could have been strengthened by incorporating more evidence to support the assumptions linking outputs to outcomes and impacts, e.g., it would have been good to understand whether there was unmet demand for this type of space, and how the increased capacity of the centre would address the problems identified.”

Benefits ‘may have been overstated’

The feedback also said the council’s economic case was not based on government guidance. Citing one example of this, it said:

“There was no justification for the 40-year appraisal period (typically it would be 30 years) and so benefits may have been overstated. More detail and discussion in relation to the counterfactual could be provided too – for example, the application mentions that they could borrow money and it also states that £115m of investment would be required in the ‘Do Nothing’ scenario, without any further explanation.

“There were only environmental benefits monetised; with no attempt to monetise other categories of benefits that would be typical for this type of proposal, e.g., wider land value uplift, potential wellbeing benefits from arts/culture, etc.”

In a section on deliverability, the council was praised for its “strong, coherent bid with a high level of detail and explanation throughout”.

Read more:

• Consultants paid £45,000 for failed Harrogate Convention Centre bid
• Government rejects £20m levelling up bid for Harrogate Convention Centre
• Warning that Harrogate would ‘wither on the vine’ without convention centre

The feedback also recognised the bid’s “strong levels of engagement with most of the relevant stakeholders”.

North Yorkshire Council, which succeeded Harrogate Borough Council on April 1, provided the feedback following our freedom of information request.

Richard Cooper, the Conservative leader of Harrogate Borough Council at the time of the bid, has said he will not comment on any council issues relating to his time in charge of the local authority.

A Harrogate man has admitted pulling off the wing of a pigeon in Harrogate town centre.

Martin Gilham, 53, of Bewerley Road in Jennyfields, pleaded guilty to the offence on Oxford Street at Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday.

Gilham also admitted a separate charge of being drunk and disorderly on Oxford Street on the same date.

The incidents took place on May 20 this year.

Gilham initially denied the charges but changed his pleas.

He is due to be sentenced at York Crown Court on August 17.

Read more:

• Harrogate dominatrix ordered to pay £1 in £100,000 sex-trafficking racket
• ‘Beeping’ barriers to be removed by September at Harrogate hospital

Rev Jane Ball has been installed as the new vicar of the Masham group of parishes in a service led by the Bishop of Leeds, Rt Rev Nick Baines.

The new Bishop of Ripon, Rt Rev Anna Eltringham — who had only moved into her new home in Yorkshire the day before — was also present at St Mary’s Church in Masham for the service on Wednesday.

The Masham group of parishes covers a wide area north of Ripon at the gateway to Wensleydale, with churches in Masham, Healey, Well, Snape, West Tanfield and North Stainley.

Rev Ball has returned to North Yorkshire where she was ordained in Ripon Cathedral in 2003. After being a curate in Bedale, she spent 18 years in southern England in various school, parish and military chaplaincy posts.

A packed congregation of people from these churches and the wider community welcomed her.

The previous vicar was Rev Canon David Cleeves, who retired in June 2021.

Bishop Anna, who succeeds Rt Rev Helen-Ann Hartley as the area Bishop of Ripon, will begin her main ministry in September.

The photo shows Rt Rev Nick Baines (Bishop of Leeds), Ven Jonathan Gough (Archdeacon of Richmond and Craven), Rev Jane Ball (Vicar of the Masham group of parishes), Rt Rev Anna Eltringham (Bishop of Ripon) after the service of institution and induction in St Mary’s Church in Masham.

Read more:

• Riding accident 65 years ago contributed to death of Baroness Masham, inquest finds
• Rural homes in North Yorkshire could face years of poor broadband

Ripon businesses have worked together to ensure tomorrow’s St Wilfrid’s Day celebrations continue until 10pm.

Budget cuts and the cost of living crisis looked set to restrict the day’s activities, which include the procession and a free climbing wall and bungee jumping on Market Square, to a 5.30pm finish.

But businesses, helped by a £829 grant from North Yorkshire Council, didn’t want one of the city’s biggest days of the year to be cut short.

So they arranged for the Kirkgate road closure to be extended into the evening and organised a night of eclectic live music, which includes two rock bands, a harpist and a singer.

It is hoped restaurants will put tables in the street and stay open later to encourage café culture that adds to the festive vibe.

Antony Prince, chairman of the St Wilfrid’s Procession committee, said:

“We are constrained with a reduced budget this year but, thanks to local volunteers, the council and local business sponsors, we are putting on a fantastic day of celebration for St Wilfrid.”

Ripon businesses worked with the St Wilfrid’s Procession committee and Ripon Business Improvement District to organise the evening of free entertainment at short notice.

Read more:

• Dates set for reopening historic hotels in Knaresborough and Ripon
• Relief for Ripon teenagers as access to skatepark remains open

Local musician Alannah Creed will sing from her latest album and Lucinda Taylor will give a harp recital. Later in the evening, Knaresborough Vista Social Club and Time Machine will play live.

Kevin Hill, who runs Karma shop on Kirkgate and was one of the traders determined to extend the day’s festivities, said:

“These days, if money is tight, we are finding that events can still happen as long as we work together. We are all dedicated to supporting local business and also supporting local artists in the entertainment we provide.

“All the bands are from the Ripon area and they are of really high calibre.”

Richard Hughes, owner of Manchega Tapas restaurant, said,

“We are dedicated to supporting the economy of Ripon and the rural hinterland.  St Wilfrid’s Day is a great opportunity to party whilst bolstering local business.”

How the day shapes up

Tomorrow’s celebrations get underway with the 7.5-mile procession starting on Studley Road at 1.30pm.

The St Wilfrid’s Procession route

An actor on horseback, playing the role of St Wilfrid, will parade through the streets in honour of Ripon’s patron saint. The procession, accompanied by Ripon City Band, will include 20 decorated floats.

Free entertainment will take place on the market square throughout the afternoon. It includes a climbing wall, bungee jumping, stilt walkers and face painters.

Kirkgate will then take centre stage for the evening of live music.

A Mexican restaurant and cocktail bar is to open in Harrogate tomorrow.

The Rooftop is situated in the large upstairs premises above Sukhothai on the corner of Cheltenham Crescent and Cheltenham Parade.

The short-lived HG1 Grill and World Bar opened on the site in November last year. It was previously occupied by restaurants Samsons and Le Bistrot Pierre.

The Rooftop is divided into two areas — a restaurant that can seat about 70 people and a cocktail bar that can cater for about 100 customers.

The restaurant will serve Mexican meals, including tacos and burritos, and will feature tapas options.

The restaurant area

The late night bar will have live DJs at weekends.

Owner Mason Elyas, who lives in Leeds, has been involved with several restaurants in West Yorkshire but this is his first in Harrogate. He said:

“I’ve always loved Mexican food and I thought there was an opportunity in Harrogate. It’s a beautiful place and local people seem very supportive.”

The Rooftop, which employs 16 staff, will welcome its first customers at 4pm tomorrow. It will then open from 4pm to midnight on Thursdays, from midday to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and from midday to 10pm on Sundays.

It will be closed Monday to Wednesday.

Mr Elyas said he took control of the site just three weeks ago and new signs were due to be installed tonight.

Harrogate-born striker Rachel Daly is the centre of attention in the run-up to England’s second Women’s World Cup match tomorrow.

The Lionesses’ Group D match against Denmark kicks off at 9.30am tomorrow in Sydney. It will be broadcast live on BBC One.

England, who scraped home 1-0 against Haiti in their opening match on Saturday, have not scored in 337 minutes of open play.

Manager Sarina Wiegman left out Daly, who was the leading scorer in the Women’s Super League with 22 goals last season for Aston Villa, in favour of Arsenal’s Alessia Russo.

But the team’s toothless display, in which they had 11 shots on target, has increased pressure to start with Daly up front.

Daly training with England. Pic: Rachel Daly Instagram

Ex-England forward Eniola Aluko described the team’s attacking play as “predictable” on ITV and suggested Daly would be more effective at winning crosses from wingers Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly. She said:

“In the first half Russo was playing, but if that is the approach and the pattern of play, should it be Rachel Daly up there instead? She is stronger in the air.”

Daly’s 337,000 Instagram followers have also been clamouring for her to start a match which will see England almost certainly qualify for the knockout stages if they win.

Daly came on as a 76th minute substitute against Haiti, which England won thanks to a re-taken Georgia Stanway penalty.

The former Killinghall Nomads player said afterwards:

‌“No-one’s happy to sit on the bench. If you are, then you are not in the right place, not in the right career. But that’s the beauty of having a competitive squad. Everyone’s digging for a position.

‌“It’s a headache Sarina has to have in multiple positions.”

Read more:

• Harrogate hails returning hero Rachel Daly
• From Harrogate to New York to the World Cup; Rachel Daly’s ‘whirlwind’ career

A Harrogate village bridge is to fully close tomorrow for five weeks of repair work costing £60,000.

North Yorkshire Council closed the grade two listed Hampsthwaite Bridge suddenly on June 2.

It quickly re-opened to pedestrians and cyclists but has remained closed to vehicles.

Now it is expected to be fully inaccessible until September.

The bridge, on Church Lane, has three arches spanning the River Nidd.

Councillor Keane Duncan, the Conservative executive member for highways and transport, said:

“On inspection of Hampsthwaite Bridge, our engineers found that the parapet has been pushed out over the edge of the bridge deck and this has damaged several of the corbels that support from beneath.

“These need to be repaired and 15 metres of the parapet taken down and rebuilt using hot mixed lime mortar.”

The bridge, which links Hampsthwaite with Clint, is popular with pedestrians, dog walkers, cyclists and runners.

Cllr Michael Harrison, a Conservative who represents Hampsthwaite on the council, said:

“We appreciate the disruption the closure is having on road users so please be assured that our engineers have been getting plans in motion to carry out the repairs as quickly as possible.

“We will keep the public updated on the works as they progress.”

Read more:

• Call for speed bumps on Pateley Bridge High Street
• Hampsthwaite garage resubmits plan for new MOT building