Knaresborough restaurant to launch new takeaway venue next month

A Two Brothers grill and pizzeria takeaway is set to open early next month on Chain Lane, Knaresborough.

The business will be based in the former Chilli Hut unit and will be Two Brothers’ second restaurant in Knaresborough, joining their existing venue in Castle Courtyard.

The Italian restaurant was established in March 2018 when the Ravasz brothers, Nandor and Szilard, opened the restaurant with their wives Vivien Kovacs and Eniko Szenasi.

In an update posted on social media by business group Knaresborough Chamber, it was revealed the restaurant plans to open seven days a week from March 10.

Knaresborough Chamber also shared that the new takeaway will offer the same food as the restaurant and potentially additional options.

The statement said:

“With separate premises we can speed both kitchens up so we will be able to offer a quicker service for both sitting in and taking away. At the moment the take away orders are putting pressure on our tiny kitchen, slowing both services down.

“We have still got much to do as the building needs refurbishing and new equipment. We are still deciding if we should open during the day or just at night as we are not sure if there is a market for daytime take away in town.”

The Stray Ferret has contacted the restaurant for further details but have not yet received a response.

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Last call for entries to Knaresborough Bed Race

Entries to Knaresborough’s biggest annual spectacle are set to close soon.

The Great Knaresborough Bed Race is a highlight of the town’s summer. It sees 630 people in 90 teams, each with six runners and a passenger, complete a 2.4-mile course through Knaresborough’s streets and finish with an icy swim across the River Nidd.

Thousands of people line the streets to watch the crazy race and admire the dressed up teams and beds before the start at Knaresborough Castle.

The teams then parade through the town at 1pm before getting under starter’s orders at 3pm at Conyngham Hall.

This year’s event, which takes place on June 8, is already close to having the maximum number of teams.

Teams have until February 29 to enter, with event organisers Knaresborough Lions Club urging people to “get your bed race entries in before it is too late”.

The 2024 theme is Great Inventions And Technology Through The Ages.

Knaresborough Bed Race parade 2023.

Team coordinator Matt Walker said:

‘We’ve had a great level of interest already this year. People have reacted really positively to the theme of Great Inventions and there has also been a great reaction to the entry form moving online this year.’

Entries cost £240 for an adult team and £100 for a junior team. Entries can be made here and for any queries contact Knaresborough lions.

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Nidderdale Walk to celebrate 30th anniversary this year

The Nidderdale Walk is set to return this year for its 30th anniversary and organisers hope for a landmark event.

This year’s walk is set to take place on May 19, starting in Pateley Bridge and heading into upper Nidderdale.

The walk is made up of six routes ranging from four miles to 26 miles with a new 18-mile hike added this year.

The varied routes take walkers through the scenic countryside of Wath, Ramsgill, Lofthouse, Gouthwaite, Fountains Earth Moor, and Scar House Reservoir.

The walk first took place in 1994 and has since raised more than £970,000 for local and national charities.

Organised by the Rotary Club of Harrogate, it generated £24,000 last year alone and is hoped overall total raised surpasses the £1 million milestone this year.

The Nidderdale Walk is organised by the Rotary Club of Harrogate.

Brian Stuttard, chairman of the walk committee said:

“The sole purpose of this Rotary event is to provide fundraisers with well organised, waymarked walks with checkpoints along the way to enable them to raise money for their own charities. We do the preparation, you raise sponsorship by walking or running.”

Rotary Club members Alistair Ratcliffe, Vic Smith-Dunn, John Wallace & Charles Dickinson with Verity Frearson director Matthew Stamford (centre)

Lead sponsor for the event this year is estate agent Verity Frearson. Director Matthew Stamford said:

“This is one the most eagerly-anticipated charity events on the Harrogate social calendar and we are delighted to be supporting it in its 30th year.

“So much has been raised over the last 29 years for so many good causes and it would be the icing on the cake if we were able to help the Rotary Club of Harrogate reach their £1m milestone. It promises to be a great day and we cannot wait to get involved.”

For more information on this year’s Nidderdale Walk click here.

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Business Breakfast: Estate agent re-enters Harrogate lettings market

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. 

Estate agent Dacre, Son & Hartley has announced it is re-entering the residential lettings and property management market in York, Harrogate and Ilkley.

Sophie Tillisch will head the department at the firm’s Harrogate office. It plans to recruit several new staff.

Ms Tillisch said:

“We’re thrilled to be returning to the lettings market at a time when demand for quality rental property is soaring. We will be providing a bespoke package of services that will reflect the landlord’s individual requirements.

Patrick McCutcheon, head of residential at Dacres, added:

“It’s more than three years since we agreed the sale of our lettings division, which managed more than 600 homes, but we still regularly receive enquiries from landlords looking for an agent with a wide-reaching branch network to manage their investments.

Harrogate carbon accounting firm hires new manager

Flotilla, a Harrogate net zero partner based on Station Parade, is expanding its team with the appointment of an engagement manager.

Sandra Tully will be responsible for lead generation, brand awareness and client engagement.

Ms Tully said:

“I’m very much looking forward to embracing this new stage in my career alongside the team at Flotilla. The chance to put my existing experience to work enabling organisations to do good for people and the planet is a privilege”.

Knaresborough Golf Club donates to Harrogate hospital charity

Knaresborough Golf Club has donated over £6,000 to Harrogate Hospital & Community Charity, which will be used to fund improvements to within the hospital’s dementia care services and the cardiology department.

Georgia Hudson, volunteer and charity manager at the hospital said:

“We are deeply honoured to have been a part of their phenomenal fundraising journey and wish all at Knaresborough Golf Club the very best for the future.

“Their donation will really make a huge difference to our patients, their families and our staff.”

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Serial rapist jailed for nine years after Harrogate offences

A serial rapist who carried out some of his attacks in Harrogate has been jailed for nine years and nine months.

Christian Krishna Martoglio, 25, of Keppel Terrace, Plymouth, was jailed at York Crown Court today for separate rape offences.

Following two investigations by North Yorkshire Police, Martoglio pleaded guilty to the rape of a woman, as well as admitting to two counts of rape, five counts of sexual assault and one of actual bodily harm against a girl under the age of 16.

The rape of the woman happened at the victim’s North Yorkshire home in 2022 following a social occasion.

At the end of the evening guests were allocated separate rooms, but the victim awoke in the early hours of the morning to find Martoglio raping her.

Following a police investigation, during which Martoglio twice denied the allegations against him, forensic tests proved otherwise. These resulted him pleading guilty when he appeared at Teesside Crown Court and today he was sentenced in York.

Detective constable Mark Nursey, of Hambleton and Richmond CID, who led this investigation, said:

“This was a traumatic experience for the victim who was very brave and strong throughout the investigation.

“The suspect was interviewed twice and denied the offence on both occasions, but the forensic evidence left him with no option but to plead guilty.

“This has at least spared the victim the trauma of re-living her ordeal by having to give evidence in court.

“I hope she can now put this very difficult time in her life behind her, knowing that Martoglio is now behind bars.”

The additional investigation uncovered that Martoglio took advantage of a vulnerable 15-year-old girl by subjecting her to series of sexual offences, rapes and an assault in Harrogate between January and August 2021, to which he pleaded guilty at York Crown Court in January 2024.

This has had a lasting impact on the victim who continues to have flashbacks relating to the offences committed against her, and for which she has needed counselling to help recover from the trauma.

Detective constable Abigail Garford, from the safeguarding investigation team at Harrogate, said:

“I have immense respect for the victim and for her bravery throughout the investigation.

“Her strength and resilience have resulted in Martoglio being convicted of the horrendous crimes he committed against her.

“She will also help prevent others becoming victims to him in the future.”

Victims of  sexual abuse can make a report online with the police here or with Bridge House here. You can also contact Supporting Victims in North Yorkshire here.

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Leeds Bradford Airport announces new ski resort flight

Leeds Bradford Airport has announced new weekly direct flights to Bulgaria as part of a ski programme.

The airport will fly to Sofia from winter 2024/25 in a partnership with Balkan Holidays.

Flights will depart on Saturdays at 14:45 from the airport, with return flights from Sofia on Saturdays at 21:05. This Balkan Holidays schedule will start in February 2025 and run weekly until March 15 2025.

Tom Holdsworth, aviation development manager at Leeds Bradford Airport, said:

“It’s fantastic to launch this new route with Balkan Holidays, which will give our passengers more choice and flexibility for their winter holidays.

“Bulgaria is a fantastic destination for ski lovers, offering great value for money and a variety of resorts to suit all levels of ability and preference. We look forward to welcoming skiers and snowboarders on board flights to Sofia next winter.”

Balkan Holidays offers winter sports holidays and summer beach holidays to Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro and Slovenia. Skiers can expect excellent slopes at resorts such as Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo.

Andy Jones, head of product and commercial at Balkan Holidays, added:

“We have been operating flights to Sofia for decades and we know that our customers love the destination. We are confident that this new route will be popular with the people of Yorkshire and we can’t wait to start flying from Leeds Bradford Airport in February 2025.”

Tickets are on sale now, with more information available here.

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Mayoral candidate calls for review of Harrogate fire service cuts

Independent mayoral candidate Keith Tordoff has called for a review of changes to fire services in North Yorkshire that he says will put people at risk.

Mr Tordoff, who lives in Pateley Bridge, is one of five candidates standing to be the first elected Mayor of York and North Yorkshire on May 2.

Mr Tordoff described changes to the fire service introduced by Zoe Metcalfe, the Conservative North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, as politically motivated “service cuts wrapped up in a sham of consultation”.

Ms Metcalfe’s Risk and Resource Model, which outlines how North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Services will deploy its resources, includes the loss of four firefighter jobs at Harrogate Fire Station on Skipton Road.

In a video filmed outside Harrogate Fire Station, he said the decision should be reviewed.

The Stray Ferret broke the news in 2022 that four Harrogate firefighters would lose their jobs as part of plans to reduce the number of fire engines from two to one a night by April 2024, and has followed the issue closely since.

Ms Metcalfe has said the job losses, which will save £210,000 a year, are part of her new model putting greater emphasis on fire prevention.

Mr Tordoff said:

“I have great concerns for the people of York and North Yorkshire that they are being put at risk by this new model.

“We need to focus on if there are enough firefighters and equipment available. From what I have seen so far, it looks like the plan has been put together to fit the available budget, and that is just wrong.”

“People need to be able to sleep at night knowing that the emergency services are there if they need them, I don’t believe I will sleep well knowing these changes are going in.”

Mr Tordoff also criticised plans to review the predetermined attendance of the county’s three aerial ladder platforms, which are based in Harrogate, York and Scarborough. He said aerial ladder platforms were essential in more urban areas with taller buildings.

With people set to pay more in their 2024/25 council tax precepts for fire services, Mr Tordoff said “the whole issue of funding needs a root and branch review”.

He added:

“Of course we need the right cover for the county, an efficient fire service. But over time an increasing further tax is being placed on people.

“If I become mayor, then this very much looks like an area that would need attention. Those within the Fire Service are the experts operationally, but it would be the Mayor to ensure they are set up to deliver, and that the people of North Yorkshire are safe.”

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‘It’s just mind over matter’ — meet the Harrogate ice swimming champions

Two ice swimming champions from Harrogate have talked about what drives them to succeed after plunging into one degree waters in Romania for the first ever European Ice Swimming Championship.

More than 300 athletes from 27 countries competed, including Harrogate athletes Millie Bell, 24 and Jonty Warneken, 51.

Ice swimming involves swimming in water in temperatures below five degrees and the season takes place December to March. There are hopes the fast-growing sport could be included in the Winter Olympics.

Jonty lost his leg in a car accident in 1994 aged 22 and ice swims alongside his job as head of office at Atomos financial services. He has been ice swimming for more than 10 years and is a board member and vice president of the International Ice Swimming Association. He achieved a Guinness world record in 2014 for being the the first disabled person to complete an ice mile swim.

In this month’s event in Romania, he won two silver medals and a bronze, but his focus was more on the organisation of the event.

Talking about the impact of his disability, he said:

“I just have to think about things more, how to exit and enter the water. I know getting in it is going to hurt me and the titanium pin in my ankle is torture in the cold but I’m used to it. I carry on for the love of it. Everything is surmountable.

“Ice swimming can help with ailments and mental health but what matters most is getting people in and out of the water.”

He added:

“The sport is expanding. Yorkshire is the world centre, there is real expertise here and people fly over to train here.”

He says people often get involved for the swimming but stay because of the community.

Millie Bell and Jonty Warneken

British ice swimming champion Millie Bell, agrees. She says:

“I enjoy the community, its really close knit. It means you’re always with friends having a laugh even though the racing is quite serious and competitive.”

Millie competed in four events at the European Championships and achieved personal bests in all of the races. She won one silver, two bronze and finished fourth place in the 25-29 age bracket.

Now in her third season of ice swimming, she trains six times a week — four in an indoor pool and twice outdoors at Pool Bridge, York.

Millie trained with an indoor Harrogate district swimming club until she was 12 but “gave up because (she) wasn’t very good”. She began swimming again as part of a triathlon group while at university in York and quickly realised her favourite element was swimming.

“I reached the end of the summer swim season and just thought ‘why stop?’. So I just carried on through winter. Then I realised there were races so then I started properly.

“I just enjoy any kind of swimming. But I especially love being outside. It’s a sense of freedom, just you and the water with no lanes or end of the pool, you can just keep going.”

Her next project is a challenge she has set herself — swimming the English Channel in August this year. This will be a charity swim to raise money for Saint Michael’s Hospice and the charity Cosmic, which cares for babies and children in intensive care.

She said people often think ice swimmers are crazy:

“Even my family think I’m bonkers. People think we are superhuman, I don’t think people realise we are a normal people just pushing our bodies. It is just mind over matter.”

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The Body Shop in Harrogate faces uncertain future

The Body Shop in Harrogate faces an uncertain future amid speculation the company will enter administration this week, in a move likely to lead to store closures and job losses.

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.

The Body Shop has stores in more than 200 locations in the UK, including Skipton, Leeds and York as well as Harrogate.

But it was recently bought by private equity firm Aurelius and trading is reported to have been weak.

Restructuring firm FRP Advisory is expected to be appointed administrators in the next few days, according to media reports.

The Harrogate store was still trading today when the The Stray Ferret visited.

We were advised to contact a media person for further details but have not had a response to our requests for more information.

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Harrogate cancer survivor, 74, launches holistic health retreats

A 74-year-old Harrogate woman and cancer survivor has launched a holistic health retreat business with two people more than half her age.

Patricia Sutcliffe has gone into partnership with a yoga teacher and a fitness coach to create retreats for people aged over 45. They have founded Serene Escapes, which focuses on fitness and spirituality.

The first event, on September 20 to 22, held at Mainsfield House, Settle, will offer motivational talks, training sessions, yoga, walks in the Dales and healthy food.

Ms Sutcliffe said:

“We are aimed at those people who feel age prohibits them from living life to the full. I am proof that you are never too old.

“There is nowhere you can go to do yoga, holistic health, and meditation all together, they are all kept quite separate, so we are combining our skills to provide holistic retreats.”

Six years ago, Patricia was diagnosed with cancer, shortly after her husband recovered from it.

She said:

“You can’t help but think this is it, but you’ve got to help yourself.”

During her recovery she began exercising at home because she felt out of place in gyms and fitness classes. She then decided ‘you’ve got to prove to yourself you’re not too old’ and attended a gym. Unsure of where to begin, Patricia sought the help of a fitness coach, Tomm Melody, who is now one of her business partners.

Patricia has now made a full recovery and goes to the gym four times a week alongside her husband.

The Serene Escapes founders practicing meditation led by Patricia Sutcliffe

She said:

“I suppose I should be putting my feet up now, as many tell me but there is no such thing in my life.”

Ms Sutcliffe has practised meditation for many years after learning the art from Buddhist monks in Singapore.

She said:

“Health is just so important, a lot of it is mental you tell yourself you can’t, but you have to tell yourself ‘Yes, I can. I can do this’. I strongly believe that you have to work at your wellbeing irrespective of age.”

At the gym Patricia met Sarah Butler, a yoga instructor and the trio was formed with the aim to “combine disciplines to offer something special and we believe is unique”.

Patricia calls her business partners youngsters at 28 and 30, and joked that she will stick out like a sore thumb until others of her age join the retreat.

The new fitness venture aims to leave “everyone walking away to feel better spiritually and physically” and is targeted at people over 45 who “need to be rejuvenated”.

She added:

“We want to show people that the young and old all have something to offer and you should never write yourself off or feel embarrassed to give yourself some self-love.”

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