Lauren Ryan, Author at The Stray Ferret

Updated plans revealed for former Harrogate strip club

Plans to convert the former Kings Club strip club in Harrogate into 14 apartments have been revised.

North Yorkshire Council approved plans by Harrogate developer Forward Investments LLP to turn the site into 12 flats last year. But further plans were then submitted for 14 apartments.

Those plans have now been amended to propose converting the former entrance to the club into a shopping unit on Cheltenham Parade, between SOAM Barber shop and Blamey’s Florist. The entrance to the flats would be on Beulah Street.

The building, known as Villa Mercedes, ceased operating as a strip club during the first covid lockdown in 2020 and never reopened.

The 200-capacity venue was set out over two levels and included 25 strip booths as well as a large pole dancing stage.

Documents previously submitted to the council said the use of the site as an adult entertainment venue led to frequent anti-social behaviour issues. Planners concluded that converting the upper floors to a selection of “high-quality” two-bedroom apartments was the only viable economic use of the building.

The amended plans still propose 14 two-bedroom apartments, over three floors.

The new Villa Mercedes apartments floor plan created by J.C Robinson

A planning document says:

“Conversion of first and second floor of former strip club, and formation of third floor to roof void to accommodate 14 apartments with basement storage area, use of 36 Beulah Street as main access, conversion of main entrance to retail unit, and increased retail space to 32 and 38 Beulah Street.”

Today the architectural designer for JC Robinson, which is the firm behind the plans, said:

“On reflection, we felt that the scheme initially approved by the planning department could be improved.

“We are tidying up the access, so this would be off Beulah Street, and then the existing nightclub entrance would become a shop, which is a more prime location for a shop. We are altering the lower roof so that we can provide an extra two flats.”

The deadline to submit comments on the amended plans is March 24.

The proposed site for a new shop.

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Business Breakfast: Harrogate BID launches international work experience scheme

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Harrogate Business Improvement District has launched a match-funding scheme, offering members the chance to gain experience working overseas with Harrogate’s twinned towns.

The available twinned towns are Luchon in France, Montecatini in Italy, Barrie in Canada and Wellington in New Zealand.

The International Work Experience Grant from the BID allows staff from levy-paying businesses to travel to one of Harrogate’s four twin towns to represent their sector and learn more about working overseas.

The scheme is planned to encourage staff retention and a wider recruitment pool into Harrogate, as some businesses in the town centre face unprecedented pressures for resource and recruitment.

Harrogate BID manager, Matthew Chapman, said:

“I’m very excited to see this project come to fruition. Our members have consistently told us that recruitment and retention of staff has been challenging for a while now, so to be able to support them through a meaningful way is really exciting.”

Dennis Richards, chair of the Harrogate International Partnerships, added:

“There is increasing awareness that Harrogate is uniquely privileged in having four long standing links with towns in the Commonwealth and in Europe. Congratulations to BID on this exciting initiative. Barrie in Canada is a great place for such a project.”

The grant is open to all BID Members and is available on a first come first serve basis. The BID will provide match funding up to £750, with terms and conditions applicable.

Harrogate bid specialist appoints new CEO

Big Bamboo BIDS, a Harrogate bid specialist has appointed a chief executive.

Ken Erskine has been promoted to the role after spending the last six months as managing director.

Big Bamboo BIDS was incorporated in May 2022, since then it has won and retained work with clients in the construction, engineering, soft and hard FM and infrastructure sectors.

Mr Erskine said:

“I am delighted, and feel privileged, to take on this role as we continue to grow Big Bamboo BIDS into one of the leading consultancies in its field. We have achieved a great deal in the six months that I have been here as managing director, working alongside Racheal Gregory and Jamie O’Neill.”

Big Bamboo founding director, Nicola Stamford, said:

“Ken joined the business in September and has since made a huge difference to what was essentially a start-up business, with only one year of trading behind it.”

Women’s business group celebrates first anniversary

Harrogate Ladies Who Latte, which offers support and inspiration to working women, has celebrated its first birthday.

Part of a nationwide network, the group launched last February and was the first in North Yorkshire and has since has inspired a sister group in York. It is led by Harrogate women Sarah Shaw, a senior public engagement manager, and Carol Beeley, director of On The Spot Accountants.

Ms Shaw said:

“I think our success is down to the informal and friendly nature of the group. There are no speakers, no membership fees, no agenda, and no pitches or presentations. It’s just a really friendly, vibrant and professional space for like-minded working women to support and inspire each other.”

Ms Beeley added:

“Many of our members have already built strong relationships with each other, both on a personal and business level.”

Knaresborough solicitor wins Women in Business award

Camilla Greenwood, director of Greenwoods Solicitors, has won a Triumph over Adversity award in the Women in Business UK awards 2024.

The Triumph over Adversity is a award national award with other winners including HSBC and IBM. The Knaresborough law firm was founded in 1991, by Ms Greenwood’s mother Lynda. When Lynda died in 2022 she took over the firm and continued her mother’s legacy.

Hampsthwaite Village Room’s £100,000 renovation nears completion

A £100,00 renovation of Hampsthwaite Village Room is almost complete.

The building, which dates back to 1890, was initially a reading room.

It was recently used for parish council meetings and various societies as well as private functions and classes such as yoga and bridge. But it had become unfit for purpose, with no disabled access or facilities.

The six-month upgrade has included creating a new kitchen and a disabled toilet, as well as better insulation and solar panels.

Most of the funding came from payments made by developers for building in Hampsthwaite.

In addition, an £8,700 grant from the National Lottery Community Fund paid for the installation of solar panels.

Volunteers have installed a library and more than 1,500 books have been donated.

Dr Mozaffar Nami, a trustee of the village room said:

“The renovations mean a warm and comfortable space where residents can meet to have tea and coffee, borrow books and enjoy participating in activities.”

Cllr Michael Harrison, a Conservative who represents Killinghall, Hampsthwaite and Saltergate on North Yorkshire Council, said:

“This has been made possible by the enthusiasm of a small number of people who were determined to see this village asset remain in use and refurbished for future generations.

“The majority of the funding was generated from the Brookfields housing developments, and this is a good example of new housing being used as a catalyst for investment into the infrastructure of a village.”

Villagers are invited for coffee and cake in the new room at the reopening at 11am on April 27 when the charter mayor for Harrogate and local MP are expected to attend.

The renovation was undertaken by B&N Batty Ltd, and Townscape Architects Limited. The room is soon to have a new website made by Loyalty Matters.

Harrogate restaurant Lucia to change name and reopen under new ownership

Lucia wine bar and grill Harrogate is set to retain its Italian flavour when it re-opens under new management next month.

Lucia, which calls itself “Harrogate’s favourite al fresco Italian restaurant & cocktail bar” will serve its final customers on March 10, before being refurbished and rebranded as Divino Italian.

The restaurant on Ripon Road has been Lucia Harrogate for 10 years and underwent a £750,000 refurbishment in 2021. The venue is set over three floors and serves Italian cuisine and cocktails.

Lucia after the refurbishment.

Lucia has two more restaurants in Beverley and York, which will remain open. The company also owns The Cut & Craft, a fine dining restaurant with branches in York and Leeds, with another one due to open in Manchester this summer.

Darioush Shahidi, operations manager for Lucia, said:

“Lucia is still really successful and is not why it is closing. It was a case of the right buyer with the right offer and that money will be invested into the Cut & Craft restaurants. We thank all our loyal customers of Lucia Harrogate over the years.”

He told the Stray Ferret that staff would transfer to the new restaurant.

The hidden stories behind Harrogate’s newest chocolate shopRipon primary school joins catholic academy

St Wilfrid’s Catholic Primary School in Ripon has joined the Bishop Wheeler Catholic Academy Trust.

The primary school currently has 148 pupils aged three to 11 of all faiths. It was graded ‘outstanding’ at its last Ofsted inspection in 2018.

The trust has 14 primary schools and two secondary schools serving 5,100 pupils across Yorkshire.

They include St John Fisher, St Joseph’s and St Robert’s in Harrogate and St Mary’s in Knaresborough.

Jill Allen, headteacher of St Wilfrid’s, assured the Stray Ferret “there is no problem with St Wilfrid’s and it is not being ‘taken over”, adding:

“We have voluntarily chosen to become an academy and join Bishop Wheeler Catholic Academy Trust in order to gain the benefits of being part of a family of schools, mutual support and educational development, sharing of resources and economies of scale.

“The trust ‘family’ of schools shares a common catholic ethos, but each school expresses that ethos in ways that suit its parish and community. Similarly, the schools share good educational practice but adapt the curriculum to their local needs.”

Ms Allen added trust schools retained their unique identify, names, uniforms, crest and links to the community within the trust’s structure.

She said:

“St Wilfrid’s admission policy will not change as a result of joining the Bishop Wheeler Trust and the school will continue to welcome catholics and children of other faiths and none.

“We look forward to the future: working collaboratively with colleagues across the trust will enable our school to continue providing an excellent catholic education for our children.”

Simon McCudden, chair of the governing body at St Wilfrid’s, said:

“We look forward to realising the benefits of being part of the trust and, seeing our school continue to go from strength to strength.”

Diane Gaskin, chair of the trust board, added:

“I am very glad that St Wilfrid’s has joined our successful and growing catholic education partnership. The good education that the school provides, their high standards and their enthusiasm for education of the whole child, are a pleasure to see and support.”

The trust is one of five multi-academy trusts across the Diocese of Leeds and is named after Bishop William Gordon Wheeler, who was Bishop of Leeds from 1966 to 1985.

Harrogate Body Shop survives administrator’s cull

Administrators of The Body Shop said today the Harrogate shop had survived a cull of stores.

Seventy-five UK shops are set to close over the next six weeks, leading to 489 job losses. But 116 stores will remain open, including the one in Harrogate.

The beauty company, which was founded in 1976 by the late Dame Anita Roddick, has been a long-term tenant in the Victoria Shopping Centre. But staff have faced an uncertain future in recent months.

The company was bought by private equity firm Aurelius in November and FRP Advisory were appointed as administrators this month.

Tony Wright, joint administrator, said:

“In taking swift action to right-size The Body Shop UK store portfolio, we have stabilised the business and are providing the best opportunity for this iconic brand to have a long-term, sustainable future.

“The UK business continues to trade in administration, and we remain fully focused on exploring all options to take the business forward.”

Stores in Skipton, York and one in Leeds are also to remain open.

£20m rebuild of Harrogate College underway

A £20m scheme to rebuild Harrogate College has begun.

The college on Hornbeam Park in Harrogate is replacing its main building and constructing a renewable energy skills hub to ‘future-proof’ the site.

Preliminary work began in February while the full construction phase, in what is currently the campus’s car park, will start in March.

The upgrade will create modern facilities such as a mock hospital ward, digital technology suite, electric vehicle workshop and a construction centre focused on modern building methods.

A total of £16m of the funding has come from the Department for Education’s Further Education Capital Transformation Fund.

The college aims to move into the new main campus building in July 2025, after which the current property will be demolished.

Danny Wild

Principal Danny Wild said:

“We are really excited to see work on our new campus getting underway. The resulting, purpose-built facilities will allow us to keep producing the highly skilled individuals that our region’s businesses need, now and for decades to come.

“It will also allow us, while building on our close collaboration with local employers, to consolidate our position as the leading local provider of T Levels – the new, work-focused alternative to A levels that are becoming increasingly popular.

“We look forward to showing off the results, which will usher in an exciting new chapter for Harrogate College, its students and the people of North Yorkshire, in the summer of 2025.”

An artist’s impression of the renewable energy technology centre.

The college has pledged to become net-zero by 2035 and will focus on teaching sustainable technology skills. It has teamed up with local businesses including Energy Oasis, which recently trained tutors on how to fit and wire up PV solar panels, so they can in turn teach the students.

Energy Oasis founder Mike Kaye said:

“We are really proud that the college is looking to become a centre of renewable and sustainable excellence.

“This is one of the fastest growing areas in the economy and the more people, whether they are just starting off or looking for a career change, who can be trained up in these skills and deployed into the workforce, the better. By offering comprehensive energy and sustainability courses, Harrogate College is arming students with the necessary skills to lead the way towards a greener future.”

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones said:

“As well as enhancing the facilities available to Harrogate College students, this £20 million new campus will bring many broader benefits to Harrogate, Knaresborough and the wider area.

“With many of the courses set to be on offer at the new campus geared toward sectors where there are currently local skills shortages, the development will provide a real boost to local economies, providing valuable opportunities for our young people and adults.”

The college will run as normal throughout the building phase and students will continue to have full access to all of the existing facilities.

Business Breakfast: I’Anson Bros recruits commercial director as new mill opens

Excellence deserves to be recognised and celebrated. The 2024 Stray Ferret Business Awards is the event to put your business, people or great initiative in the spotlight!

Don’t miss out and click here to book your tickets now for the awards night on March 14 2024.

Masham animal feed producer I’Anson Bros has appointed a new commercial director.

as the business looks to grow its sales with its new, £20m feed mill and distribution centre.

Andrew Richardson will take up this post at the beginning of March as Waterloo House, the firm’s new production facility prepares to go into production at Dalton Industrial Park, near Thirsk.

The new mill is the largest financial investment in the 120-year history of the company and will more than double production capacity.

Mr Richardson Richardson has extensive experience within the agri, retail, equine/leisure and fuel sectors having previously held the roles of managing director and group chief executive at two other major agri supply companies.

He said:

“I am delighted to have been offered the opportunity to be part of such a significant and important project and look forward to working with the team to make it an outstanding success.

“The new mill will deliver real benefits for customers, providing security of supply, the ability to meet growing demand and the development of new products.”

I’Anson managing director Sarah Richardson said:

“The role of commercial director is vital in ensuring we capitalise on the significant investment we have made in developing the new mill. The search to find the right individual has been long and thorough but we are delighted to have attracted someone of Andrew’s undoubted calibre.”

Contract cleaning firm forecasts strong growth

Contract cleaning firm It’s Clean is forecasting double digit growth for the third year running as it marks 25 years.

The business has expanded its management team and moved to larger premises on Harrogate’s Hornbeam Park.

Managing Director David Whan said he expected 2024 to see the same level of growth as the last two years after the firm secured new multi-year office cleaning contracts with two of Harrogate’s biggest businesses.

Mr Whan said:

“Some services are much better from local providers and contract cleaning is one of them, which is why we have focused our growth on a limited geographical area and developing a well-supported and highly trained regional team of cleaning staff and managers.

“We have overcome the recruitment challenges many operators face in our line of work by offering fair levels of pay and working hard to generate a sense of pride in being part of one of the most established and best known cleaning firms in the region.”

Harrogate Law firm welcomes back apprentice

LCF Law’s specialist debt recovery team has welcomed Oliver Wraith back into its team.

Mr Wraith was an apprentice in the debt recovery division in 2019 and completed a level 3 paralegal apprenticeship in 2022. He then left to travel before re-joining LCF Law to continue his legal career.

He said:

“I would recommend apprenticeships to anyone thinking of pursuing a legal career, as you get lots of real experience alongside studying for the qualification.”

LCF Law’s head of debt recovery, Andrew Langton, said:

“It’s great to have Oliver back. When he first started it was just the two of us, and we have now grown to a team of five.”

Asda to open new Express store in Harrogate

A new Asda Express convenience store is set to open in Harrogate early next month.

The Spar shop at the Esso garage on Wetherby Road is being rebranded by Asda. The Esso garage will remain but the shop will become an Asda Express, stocking up to 3,000 branded and own-label products.

Asda told The Stray Ferret that the new store is expected to open on March 5 as part of an ongoing programme to convert sites acquired from EG Group and Co-Op.

Asda plans to open 110 Express stores in February, of which 109 are former Co-Op and EG Group sites.

The move is part of Asda’s long-term plan to expand into the convenience market and become the second largest UK supermarket.

An illustrative shot of an Asda Express.

Two Asda Express stores opened in Knaresborough, as reported by the Stray Ferret last month. There are also plans to convert two sites in York and Leeds.

Andy Perry, managing director of Convenience at Asda, said:

“This conversion programme is an incredibly exciting moment for our business and accelerates our presence in the fast-growing convenience market. We look forward to bringing Asda’s great value in fuel and groceries to many more communities across the UK.”