Knaresborough’s hospitality offering is undergoing something of a renaissance.

Last week 1858 bar and restaurant opened in the former NatWest bank on High Street.

On Monday, the historic Dower House will reopen as The Knaresborough Inn under new ownership.

Both venues have undergone major refurbishments to offer something more ambitious than the average hospitality business.

The new bar.

The Inn Collection Group, which bought The Knaresborough Inn along with the former George Hotel in Harrogate and the Ripon Spa Hotel, markets its venues as ‘inns with rooms’ rather than hotels.

Its business model therefore focuses as much on attracting local people for food and drink as it does on providing three-star accommodation for tourists.

The Knaresborough venue, which closed last summer, held a VIP preview day today.

It no longer has a spa and gym but the number of rooms has increased from 38 to 56. The inn will serve food seven days a week from morning to night and the outdoor area has been upgraded with more seating.

The outdoor area can seat 100 guests.

A spokesman said:

“The idea is that this is as much a place for locals as it is visitors.

“If you want cake and coffee in the afternoon, a breakfast before work, a quick lunch or a night out for a treat, we will cater for you.”

The Knaresborough Inn employs 47 staff and can seat 125 customers inside and 100 outside.

Operations manager Paul Brown (left) and general manager Ian Durrant toast the inn today.

A new portico entrance has been built on the Grade II-listed 15th century building.

General manager Ian Durrant said:

“This has been a year in the making and it’s wonderful for Knaresborough.

“I’m really excited because it’s a beautiful reincarnation of a well known venue.”

Guests at today’s VIP preview opening.

The Inn Collection Group, which is based in Newcastle, has 33 venues in northern England and north Wales, including eight in Yorkshire.

The Ripon Spa Hotel is due to reopen as the Ripon Inn in October. A precise date has not been revealed but it is expected to be in the second half of the month.

The Harrogate Inn, formerly the St George Hotel, reopened on July 3 after a 152-day refurbishment.

The former Dower House has a new name and look.

One of the rooms in what used to be the spa.

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Rossett School in Harrogate has joined the Red Kite Learning Trust, it was announced today.

The secondary school, which was founded 50 years ago, becomes the 14th school to join the multi-academy trust.

Other members include Harrogate Grammar School, Oatlands Junior School, Western Primary School, Rossett Acre Primary School and Coppice Valley Primary School.

A statement issued by the trust today said Rossett “will benefit from shared knowledge and a central team of experts for finance, HR, IT, estates and communications”.

The move follows an announcement in May that Rossett’s sixth form would merge with nearby Harrogate Grammar’s.

At the time Richard Sheriff, chief executive of the trust, said there was a long-term vision for Rossett and Harrogate Grammar to collaborate more closely.

He said better outcomes for children was the main driver for change but acknowledged cost was also “absolutely part of this”.

Rossett’s income, which is based on student numbers, has decreased significantly in recent years due to pupil numbers falling by roughly a third from 1,500 to 1,000.

Rossett already had a close relationship through its membership of Red Kite Alliance, a less formal collaboration of 50 Yorkshire schools.

Former Harrogate Grammar deputy head Tim Milburn was appointed Rossett head this year.

(from left) Richard Sheriff, Tim Milburn and trust chair Chris Tulley

Mr Sheriff said today the move would provide “security and support” for Rossett:

He added:

“Whilst the school will benefit greatly from being part of our trust, this is very much a two-way relationship with Rossett bringing new colleagues with talents, skills and knowledge that will further enhance our partnership.

“Working together, collaboratively, our schools thrive and deliver outstanding outcomes for the children and young people in our care.”

Mr Milburn, said:

“The due diligence carried out over the past few months cemented our decision to join this Trust and we are excited to be starting the new academic year as part of such a strong collaboration of schools.”

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The headteacher of Harrogate’s largest school has released a book about leadership.

Neil Renton, who became head of Harrogate Grammar School in 2019, said New School Leader: What Now? aims to help school leaders daunted by their role.

It examines the challenges new leaders face and how they can be overcome.

Mr Renton, who was previously the school’s deputy head, said “this was the one book I looked for when I became a headteacher that I couldn’t find”.

Based on his own experience, it covers issues such as the weight of responsibility he felt on his appointment, leading through a pandemic and coping with an Ofsted inspection.

Mr Renton said:

“Something happens when you step from being a senior leader to being appointed as headteacher. Everyone tells you it will feel different, but no one can quite explain how.

“I found it helpful to write about my experience and what I was learning as a leader. I then tried to set that learning out in a way that could help other new leaders.

“I wanted to tell a simple, honest and positive story about school leadership.”

He said he wrote 500 words a day in every school holiday for the last three years “until I felt that I had answered the question in the title of the book New School Leader: What Now?”

Critical Publishing, which published the 210-page book, described it as “an uplifting and honest story about how school leaders develop and hone their practice over time to navigate doubt, overcome challenge, and lead well every day”.

The book, which costs £19.99, can be bought here.

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Over 600 former workers at collapsed Flaxby housebuilder Ilke Homes are taking joint legal action over job losses.

More than 1,000 people were made redundant when the firm, which was situated close to junction 47 of the A1, entered administration in July.

Manchester law firm Aticus Law said yesterday it was now acting on behalf of more than 600 ex-employees over the way the redundancy process was managed.

The claim will focus on whether the correct consultation process was followed, and whether ex-employees are eligible to claim for a protective award claim against the company.

Those involved could receive up to eight weeks’ worth of pay in compensation, with a cap of £643 per week.

Edward Judge, a partner at Aticus Law, said:

“The protective award is a vital safety net for so many families in fast-paced redundancy situations that often leave them with no source of income and absolutely no notice.

“However, many people don’t realise that you can only get a protective award payment if you are included as part of the claim and are listed as part of the schedule of claimants attached to the tribunal judgment.”

Former staff members have until September 4 to add their names to the schedule of claimants.

Mr Judge said:

“After this unfortunately we won’t be able to accept new applicants, as we will be doing all of the necessary work needed to submit the claim to ACAS.”

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A rare blue supermoon, which will not be seen again for another 14 years, lit up local skies last night.

A blue moon happens when there are 13 full moons instead of the usual 12 in a year.

Also known as a supermoon, it appeared larger and brighter than usual because the moon was near the closest point in its orbit around Earth.

Photographer Mark Doherty took this image at the top of Harlow Hill in Harrogate using a Sony mirrorless camera, telephoto lens, set up on a tripod.

© Caught Light Photography Limited

In the picture below, Joyce Liggins caught the moon looking radiant over Pateley Bridge while her 16-year-old granddaughter Phoebe, a keen photographer,  took the stunning picture of the moon with a golden glow.

Our Ripon reporter Tim Flanagan was out in the centre of Ripon to photograph it over the city’s town hall.

Although the full moon has passed, it will still appear much brighter than usual again tonight.

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A major water sampling operation along the length of the River Nidd has revealed high levels of the faecal bacteria E.coli.

Dozens of volunteers tested water quality at 45 locations on August 3 as part of an ongoing clean-up campaign.

Analysis of the results has now revealed high levels of E.coli, which can cause illnesses such as vomiting and diarrhoea, along the Nidd and “extremely high levels” at some points — especially the beck tributaries.

Volunteers conduct sampling at Oak Beck this month.

A second round of water sampling is due to take place next month before a formal bid is submitted to the government to designate bathing water status on the Nidd.

If accepted, agencies will be obliged to undertake measures to clean the Nidd, as has happened on the River Wharfe in Ilkley.

David Clayden, chairman of Nidd Action Group, which is coordinating the sampling, said:

“The results so far indicate high levels of E.coli, particularly down river. Specific locations, including some of our becks, show especially high values whose origins we need to understand better through discussions with the organisations charged with keeping our River Nidd clean.

“I’m not surprised by the findings as this is a uniquely comprehensive, citizen science led activity, aimed at exposing the true levels of pollution in the Nidd, and through rational analysis getting them improved.”

Volunteers involved in the project to test Nidd water quality.

Knaresborough bathing levels

The results showed in the upper catchment, down to Birstwith, the concentrations of E. coli were much lower than in the middle and lower catchment.

“During the survey I was heartened to meet many wonderful local people, volunteering their precious free time to understand and benefit their local river.”

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Ten years ago today, Harrogate Town played Stockport County in the National League North.

Their next fixtures were against Histon, Stalybridge Celtic and Gainsborough Trinity.

Last night they entertained Blackburn Rovers, one of only seven teams ever to win the Premier League, in the second round of the Carabao Cup.

It was another one of those occasions that highlighted how far the club has come.

Full stands and optimism before kick-off at Wetherby Road.

Manager Simon Weaver, who was in charge back in 2013 and has since overseen the side’s rise to the English Football League, spoke before the match about relishing the underdog tag and taking the game by the scruff of the neck.

It was, in theory, Town’s first ever competitive fixture against a Championship side but in reality it was anything but as Rovers’ movement caused problems from the start and within 13 minutes they had opened up a 2-0 lead.

Business was brisk at the pie stall.

A rare Harrogate attack.

Their supremacy came despite the absence of most first team regulars, including 19-year-old Harrogate-born Harry Leonard, who scored in Rovers’ 2-1 defeat of West Brom in the opening match of the season.

Town also left out many first team players, a perplexing decision given the opportunity at stake — not to mention the ticket prices. They had a few chances, hitting the woodwork after about half an hour, but the atmosphere soon muted and by half-time they were 4-0 down.

Town star striker Luke Armstrong was brought on but a penalty extended Rovers’ lead to 5-0 and when it became 6-0 with more than 20 minutes another milestone loomed in the shape of a record defeat in the club’s league era.

The start of a busy night for the scoreboard.

When it became eight, the gallows humour set in with the home fans chanting ‘this is embarrassing’. The Beatles sang about 4,000 holes in Blackburn, Lancashire — there appeared to be more than that in the Harrogate defence.

The 2,653 crowd will have swelled the club’s coffers — but a historic night ended in painful fashion.

Most fans realised this was a milestone match in the club’s history and a place in the last 32 alongside the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal was always as likely as a super blue moon. But the 8-0 scoreline left little scope for pride on what should have been a celebratory night.

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Thieves have stolen a “large amount of equipment” from Ilke Homes factory in Flaxby.

The modular housebuilder, which employed 1,150 staff, went into administration in June. Nearly all staff immediately lost their jobs.

The equipment was stolen two days after it had been auctioned by administrators to realise the value of assets on behalf of creditors.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said:

“North Yorkshire Police is investigating a report of a break-in at a large industrial premises near the village of Flaxby in North Yorkshire.

“It was reported that on August 19 a large amount of equipment worth thousands of pounds had been stolen from the premises.

“The investigation is ongoing at this time. No arrests have been made.”

Ilke Homes’ factory is close to junction 47 of the A1, about two miles from Knaresborough.

Ilke Homes’ site near the A1(M).

Administrators AlixPartners commissioned Hilco Valuation Services to auction items including electric hand tools, travelling cranes and tipping skips.

The Stray Ferret asked AlixPartners for details of the value of stolen items and whether the site maintained on-site security.

It declined to comment beyond a statement that said:

“We can confirm that there was a break-in and subsequent theft at a property relating to the Ilke Homes administration.

“The administrators are now working with insurers and all related parties to minimise any losses incurred.”

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Ilke Homes, which was founded in 2018, reported a pre-tax loss of £34m in its latest accounts.

It claimed to produce operationally zero-carbon modular homes from its Flaxby site.

Police urged anyone with information about the break-in to dial 101 and quote incident number 12230156480

Firefighters rescue 16-year-old dog in Harrogate

Harrogate firefighters rescued a 16-year-old dog that had got stuck on a path yesterday.

A crew from Skipton Road were summoned to nearby Dene Park in Bilton at 9.43pm last night.

According to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident report, the dog was too frail to stand.

It said:

“Fire control received a call from a resident who was concerned for the safety of a 16-year-old dog who was unable to get up and was laid in the middle of the path.

“The caller stated the dog was very old and his owner was also an elderly gent.

“Other residents were unable to lift the dog and take him back home. A fire crew from Harrogate attended whilst still maintaining their availability and assisted by lifting and carrying the dog back home to his owner.”

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Harrogate-born Rachel Daly was named PFA women’s Players’ Player of the Year last night.

The Aston Villa and England player was chosen from a shortlist of six at a ceremony at the Lowry Theatre in Salford. Chelsea’s Lauren James was named Young Player of the Year.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland took the men’s award at the same event. Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka was named Young Player of the Year.

In a tweet last night, Daly said she was “feeling beyond grateful” to have won the award, which was voted for by her peers.

https://twitter.com/RachelDaly3/status/1696619128289644693?s=20

It is the latest success for the former Rossett School student, who in just over a year has won Euro 2022 with England, won the Golden Boot for being the Women’s Super League top scorer and played in the World Cup final.

Daly’s achievements have, however, been completely overlooked by North Yorkshire Council, which still has no plans for a civic honour.

The Stray Ferret is backing Killinghall Nomads‘ campaign for this to change. Daly started her career with the club. You can sign a petition supporting this here.

Rossett School, which has said it will rename its sports pitches in honour of its former pupil, has also joined calls for the council to recognise Daly.

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