Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.
A Ripon engineering company has renewed its sponsorship of a junior football team in the city.
Last year Econ Engineering, which is responsible for producing more than eight out of ten of the UK’s winter maintenance vehicles, sponsored Ripon City Panthers U11s Red squad.
And now, with the 2022/23 season just around the corner, the company will be following the fortunes of the team, who compete in the Harrogate and District Junior Football League, as they move up a year and become the U12s.
The firm’s links with the City Panthers, which plays its home games at Mallory Park, stretches back to shortly after the club’s founding in 1984, when David Lupton, the late brother of the director, Jonathan, played for them.
Econ Engineering Director Jonathan Lupton said:
“We really enjoyed our relationship with Ripon City Panthers last season, and we are looking forward to continuing it this season.”
Ripon City Panthers’ U12 Reds Team Manager, Gareth Bainbridge, added:
“I’d like to thank Econ Engineering for their continued sponsorship of our football team, which means a great deal to us.”
Harrogate-based Bettys and Taylors Group reported a rise in turnover, according to accounts dated the year ending October 2021.
The company reported an increase in turnover up to £252 million compared with £232.1 million the previous year.
The recently published accounts also show a pre-tax profit of £10.3 million compared with £14.1 million in 2020.
Paul Cogan, group finance and resource direction, said in the report that a combination of the pandemic and “stop-start nature” of the lockdowns throughout 2021 made for “another challenging year”.
Here’s what you can see and do at the Harrogate Carnival this weekendA parade featuring music, dancers and colourful costumes is set to wind its way through Harrogate this weekend with the return of the Carnival.
The free event on Saturday will see flag-waving crowds line the streets for the procession, which will snake its way through the town centre and down to the Valley Gardens.
It will include performers from Leeds West Indian Carnival, who will be joined by Houriat Belly Dancing, Sweep of Swallows kite puppets, Chinese dragon dancers, the Bare Brass Band and more.
The party will then continue throughout the day and will feature street theatre, interactive workshops, international street food and two stages hosting music and dance performances.
The event, which was previously held in 2019, has been paid for by Harrogate Borough Council‘s tourism body, Destination Harrogate, and will be delivered by Harrogate International Festivals.
Sharon Canavar, chief executive, Harrogate International Festivals, said:
“The Carnival is free for everyone to attend and celebrate the diversity, colours, costumes, sounds and flavours from the four quarters of the world, right here in Harrogate.
“With global music and dance stages, themed food zones, art and craft workshops and street theatre, this family-friendly day is a true party in every sense of the word.”
The Carnival Parade starts at 11am at St Peter’s Church, On Cambridge Road, it will head up Oxford Street, along Station Parade, down Cambridge Street, past the Cenotaph and along Montpellier Hill into Valley Gardens.
Within Valley Gardens there will be family-friendly craft workshops, which will include chalking art, spray art graffiti, environmental craft, bunting making, mask making with the Leeds West Indian Carnival, and a dance workshop.
There will be a Global Music Stage, featuring DJ Trev, the Leeds West Indian Carnival, Bare Brass Band, Ajay Karmic Blues, Buffo’s Wake and Fernando Brazil.
And a Global Dance Stage, will feature Annapurna Dance, Houriat Belly Dancing, St. Aelred’s Irish Dancers, and Anonymas Dance.
There will also be a food zone featuring food from around the world.
Four traditional pubs to visit in the Harrogate districtA new generation of drinkers are being drawn to craft beer and cocktail bars, sparking a decline in traditional pubs.
And while many of us love a good Negroni or an IPA, you can’t beat a good old fashioned British boozer.
Fortunately we are still blessed’ with some excellent ones in the Harrogate district.
We asked our readers for their favourites. Here are four of them:
Reputedly, the oldest pub in Harrogate has a history going back to the earliest days of the town’s emergence as a leading spa resort.
Originating as one of the first inns for spa visitors after sulphur wells were first established in the mid-18th century, sulphur springs still flow beneath the cellar and the distinctive odours occasionally percolate up to the bar area.
The premises were rebuilt circa 1827 and known as The Promenade Inn. At this time it was said to be a most successful coaching inn. It was enlarged in 1856 and known as Hodgson’s until 1882, when William Hales became the landlord.
The interior decor is reflective of the pub’s long history, with mirrors and fittings from the Victorian era, including traditional gas lighting and cigar lighters.
Stray Ferret reader Richard Dunston Brady said:
“Hales, is the best traditional pub for charm, atmosphere, friendly staff and a well pulled pint.”
Hales Bar, 1-3 Crescent Road, Harrogate, HG1 2RS
The One-Eyed Rat is a traditional pub, famous for its old fashioned charm.
It can be found on Allhallowgate, one of the oldest parts of Ripon.
A real ale destination over many decades, the One Eyed Rat was refurbished and re-opened under new management in the summer of 2020.
A Grade II listed building set within a terrace of 200-year-old houses, its narrow frontage leads to a warm and welcoming hostelry.
The pub has a long, narrow interior with traditional seating and an open fire, and there is a large garden at the rear, including a covered area.
You can also enjoy a traditional pie and a pint.
The historic building dates back to 1340 and goes back several centuries as an inn.
It was almost certainly known as the Ship in the 17th century, as there is a token copper coin in existence, dated 1671, which shows a ship in full sale with the inscription “John Briggs in Aldborough his half penny”.
Brian Rey and Elaine Howden, the owners of The Ship Inn, have been restoring the pub since January following a fire. They have served many high-profile guests, including Prince William and Harry.
The traditional country pub in the Roman town of Aldborough is well-known for Brian’s Yorkshire puddings and ‘real gravy’.
Low Rd, Aldborough, YO51 9ER
A Harrogate woman has swapped the bar for beds after leaving the pub industry and opening her own tanning salon.
Jade Lacey, 27, launched Be Bronze & Beauty…Ful, on Skipton Road, this week.
The new salon, which is above McCanns barbers, has three sunbeds and offers a range of beauty treatments, including lashes, brows and spray tans.
It has been completely refurbished, thanks to her “handy” dad, and she hopes to employ a nail technician in the coming weeks.
Ms Lacey decided to take the leap and open her own business after working in hospitality for many years.
She was a familiar face at So! Bar and Eats in Harrogate and Knaresborough, as well as the Devonshire Tap House, on Devonshire Place, and the Caravan and Motorhome Club site in Scotton.
But after completing a number of beauty courses during the pandemic, she decided to launch the salon after her dad’s friend offered her the premises.
Inside the salon, which has been refurbished.
Ms Lacey said:
“This came up and I thought why wouldn’t you want to be your own boss? It was a bit daunting completely changing careers, but now I’m up and running, I’m really loving it.”
The irony of opening a sunbed shop on the hottest day of the year was not lost on her.
She laughed:
Three-storey boutique ‘wellness venue’ set to officially open in Harrogate town centre“I had to close the sunbeds on Monday and Tuesday as it was too hot!”
A three-storey boutique “wellness venue” is set to officially open in Harrogate town centre tomorrow.
Ebru Evrim will offer daily classes and workshops in yoga and Pilates in the former Laura Ashley premises, on James Street.
It follows a 4,000 sq ft refurbishment thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign, which saw more than £300,000 raised.
A launch party, featuring food from Hustle & Co, took place at the venue last night and guests were given a tour around the building.
The third floor.
Ebru Evrim is the name of the brand’s founder and owner, who moved over from Istanbul in 2015.
She began to teach yoga and pilates in village halls in the Yorkshire Dales, before launching her first studio in Skipton.
Apparatus in one of the studios.
Following its success, Ms Evrim looked to Harrogate as a vibrant spa town already famed for championing wellness.
Ms Evrim, who also runs wellness holidays and yoga retreats, said:
“I’m so happy I think we are unique and I’m super excited to bring some healthy living to Harrogate. And I’m excited to introduce ourselves, our teachers and our services. I think it’s going to be great. I can’t wait.
“I was so lucky to find this place. We still have some work on the building to complete, but it has all been done by local tradesmen.
“The location is amazing. I’m so grateful to be given the opportunity to open this venue. Life is short and I want to give something good to this place.”
On the ground floor shop-front, Ms Evrim’s own-branded boutique fitness clothing is on sale.
On the second floor, state-of-the-art Pilates reformer apparatus will be in place. The machines are being made in California and were expected in April. However, they are now unlikely to arrive until September as a result of shipping delays.
Apparatus in one of the studios.
The apparatus will be alongside a space for working with clients requiring specialist therapy for conditions such as lower back, scoliosis, arthritis and osteoporosis. The floor also features showers and changing rooms.
The third floor, complete with industrial-style exposed brick walls and ambient lighting, provides space for yoga and Pilates classes with 30 mats and underfloor heating.
There will also be a cafe on the ground floor, offering snacks and healthy food, which is set to open in a month’s time.
Classes will begin tomorrow from 9am.
Search for missing dog Molly set to enter second monthThe team behind a major search operation for a missing dog in Harrogate have said they will not stop looking for the beloved pet.
Emily Watson’s white bichon frise, Molly, was spooked by another dog and ran away in Nidd Gorge on June 23.
Her last sighting was near the viaduct on the Bilton/Ripley cycle path.
Ms Watson has faced online abuse due to the length of the search, with people saying she should not continue.
However, she has vowed that she will “never give up” and has thanked the community for their continued support.
The search also faced a setback this week when a camera set up to attempt to track Molly was vandalised.
Jen Bell, who has been part of the team helping Ms Watson, told the Stray Ferret:
“We are working behind the scenes with professionals whose time, expertise and equipment are provided on a voluntary basis.
“One of the cameras on loan to us was vandalised recently and the SD card was thrown or dropped further along the road.
“A member of the public found the SD card but we found that the perpetrator(s) had tampered with it, meaning that we have lost 24 hours of footage.
“Consequently, this has hindered our search for Molly. We are however a strong team supporting Emily, and we endeavour to continue our work with the professionals in finding Molly.”
Ms Watson has put out regular appeals on Facebook to help find the missing dog and a group called Missing Molly has also been set up.
Posters, banners and flyers have also been displayed and given out in the area.
In an outpouring of support, the community has been out in force searching for Molly, who was wearing a purple harness when she went missing.
Volunteers have also come forward with thermal drones, a dog tracking team and thermal cameras.
Many have continued the search into nightfall.
Residents have also checked their smart doorbells and CCTV cameras for sightings.
Ms Watson is now asking residents in the surrounding villages of Harrogate to keep their eyes peeled.
She said:
“I will carry on for as long as is needed in the search for Molly.”
Anyone who has seen Molly or who has any information is asked to call her owner Emily Watson on 07852 636641.
It was first established by Royal Charter in 1304 and has been enjoyed by villagers ever since.
Now, following a two-year break due to the pandemic, the Hampsthwaite Feast and show is returning this weekend.
This year the event, which is organised by volunteers for residents in the village, will start on Friday evening, kicking off with children’s races.
Saturday will include a pet show and a new and improved Hampsthwaite Run, which has been opened up to competitors from outside the village.
The Hampsthwaite Feast Show will take place in the memorial hall and the traditional feast fancy dress parade is also back, accompanied by Tewit Youth Band. This year’s theme is ‘Children’s TV – past and present’.
The event, which is aimed at emphasising the village’s “wonderful community spirit”, will finish with fireworks on Saturday night.
Feast secretary Vicki Dixon said:
“We are really thrilled it’s coming back this year. Last year we had a smaller event, but we weren’t able to do more than that. So we are really looking forward to celebrating as a village again.”
Frances Atkins’ new Killinghall restaurant secures place in Michelin Guide
She was one of Britain’s first female chefs to win a Michelin star. Now, Frances Atkins could be in the running for the prestigious accolade again.
Paradise Cafe at Daleside Nurseries, in Killinghall, has been chosen as one of six of the inspectors’ favourite new additions to appear in the Michelin Guide this month.
This means the lakeside restaurant, which only opened its doors in April, could now be up for a Michelin star or Bib Gourmand.
Ms Atkins said:
“As a new business, we are delighted.
“It doesn’t make any difference in terms of what we offer. We will continue to to do what we do, which is to use fresh foods we produce ourselves, grown here at Daleside.”
A scallops dish.
Ms Atkins held a coveted star for 16 of the 23 years she was chef-patron of The Yorke Arms at Ramsgill in Nidderdale. Although she sold the business in 2017, she continued to work for its new owner until 2020, when it closed as a restaurant as a result of the pandemic.
With two long-term Yorke Arms colleagues, John Tullett, general manager and front of house, and head chef Roger Olive, she bought a silver Airstream caravan and parked it at Daleside.
The Paradise Cafe Airstream caravan.
From here, the trio served began serving food on disposable bamboo plates for 18 months, before moving into the long-planned 80-seat cafe.
The Michelin Guide entry says:
“It may be a garden centre café, but this is not just any old garden centre café: it’s located in a separate building for a start – a spacious and smart modern space with a jewel of a terrace overlooking a lake.
“And then there’s the food: a frequently changing, seasonal menu bursting with delightful dishes which are fresh, unfussy and full of flavour.
“Come for coffee and cake, breakfast, brunch or lunch; there’s plenty for vegetarians and vegans – and a chef’s table if you’d like to watch and chat to the chefs as they work. Do book ahead, as the aptly named café is likely to be busy.”
Paradise Cafe is open Tuesday until Sunday, from 10am until 4pm.
Dinner is available on Friday evenings from 7pm.
Estate agent returns to Harrogate roots to sell properties in her hometown
When Libby Watt was a little girl growing up in Harrogate, she remembers playing ‘estate agents’, showing her friend around imaginary houses.
The childhood dream became a reality and she has enjoyed a long, illustrious career in property, which has seen her sell some of London’s most exclusive homes.
Now, she has returned to her roots and is three months into running her new estate agency, Barclay Watt Estates.
She said:
“I’ve just sold the most perfect cottage in Bishop Thornton and I’ll actually be really sad I won’t be going there any more. It has been a joy showing people.
“I’ve also got one due to complete next week and I’ve sold a couple off market.
“I’m really excited about it. I think Harrogate will be slower than London, but I am enjoying it and I love property.”
Ms Watt was brought up on Hookstone Road and moved to London in 1999.
She said:
“I was the administrator for a big corporate company. Unbeknown to me at the time my two managers there were setting up on their own, so they were out of the office all the time.
“Applicants would come in and say they had viewing books, so I told them to hop in my little Clio and drove them down to see the properties.
“I kept getting offers on them and I thought ‘I really love this’.”
She went on to work for a number of property firms in the capital, including Featherstone Leigh, Hamptons International and Manors.
She said:
“One Saturday I kept getting calls from former clients asking where I had gone. I remember, I was driving and thinking ‘I can do this for myself. Why am I working for other people I’ve got the contacts, the knowledge and enthusiasm’.”
In 2010, she set up her own successful agency called Napier Watt in Mayfair.
After selling the business, she went into property acquisition, before making the decision to move back to Harrogate to be closer to her parents.
After being unimpressed by the service when she was buying a property, she decided to launch her own firm.
She said:
“I was surprised at the level of service. Friends and family told me I should open an estate agency here as I would do well. So I thought ‘why not?’
“I started doing all the branding and paperwork and in March I was up and running.”
Ms Watt is focusing on sales, lettings, management and property acquisitions. She also works with interior designers and offers a global relocation service.
She said:
Mind blowing Harrogate company makes waves in mental health“I have noticed there don’t seem to be many female bosses of property firms up here. I am so pro women doing well.
“I was lucky enough to have some great mentors.
I went to Harrogate Grammar School and actually only got two GCSEs, because I’m just not academic. I just can’t retain things that I don’t find interesting.
“So I always tell clients I’m not taking notes, as I have photographic memory. I could draw a floor plan of a house I saw 20 years ago.
“As long as you have got a work ethic, you can do anything.”
This story is sponsored by The Brain Collective.
The idea that you can train the brain to tackle emotional issues, behavioural and developmental problems, and slow the decline of early dementia patients is mind blowing.
Prior to meeting the team at The Brain Collective in Harrogate, I had never heard of neurotherapy. So I was amazed to discover that this innovative approach to therapy was available right on my doorstep.
I visited the impressive clinic at Windsor House, on Cornwall Road, to find out how it became the largest Neurotherapy clinic in the UK.
As soon as I walked in, I was made to feel at ease as I sat down for a chat with the company’s founders, Melanie Adeley and Maria Walters.
When I listened to Melanie’s incredible story, it became clear why she embarked on this journey.
Melanie was up night after night with her son, who was suffering badly with epileptic seizures despite medication and required Ritalin for his ADHD.
In desperation, she joined a support website, Epilepsymums.com in America and came across a world-renowned Neurotherapist called Paul Swingle in Canada who offered an alternative therapy for the brain.
After travelling to Vancouver for neurofeedback training over a period of two weeks he was sleeping through the night, with much improved seizure control. Melanie was sold!
After two further visits to Vancouver over the space of two years and a dramatic improvement in her son’ difficulties thanks to the Neurofeedback training, she launched The Brain Collective alongside her good friend and business partner, Maria.
Now part of a team of six, Melanie and Maria have spent the best part of a decade dedicating their lives to helping others by using the revolutionary and rapidly evolving method, which involves regulating and stabilising the brain.
Melanie, who also works as a Consultant Anaesthetist at Harrogate District Hospital, said:
“We set the company up because we were struggling to find good answers for our own children with the traditional medical approach.”
Maria shared a similar experience with her son, a competitive cyclist, who suffered a significant head injury. After taking part in a Neurotherapy programme his post-concussion symptoms dramatically improved.
So, the pair embarked on extensive training in America amongst world leaders in the field before taking it to a professional level, opening the clinic in Windsor House eight-and-a-half years ago.
However, despite the incredible results, which are completely drug-free, Melanie and Maria said many people still haven’t heard of Neurotherapy and Neurofeedback.
Taking a brain map.
Maria said:
“We spend a lot of time talking to our clients about their symptomatic and functional difficulties and then take a QEEG recording to generate brain maps and gain a deeper understanding of the brain.
“The training plan is completely tailored to the individual because our brains are unique, and nobody has had the same set of experiences in life.”
To date they have helped children and adults with brain imbalances including ADHD, anxiety, depression, autism, insomnia, long Covid and brain injuries, including concussion and stroke.
They also help healthy people to “train their brains”, including top athletes, who want to reach peak performance. Essentially, anyone has the potential to benefit from neurofeedback training.
“We offer a wide range of different therapy options to supplement the fundamental Neurofeedback approach, some of which can be delivered remotely when appropriate.
“The Neurotherapy approach offers a drug-free, talk-free, safe, and effective therapy which regulates and stabilises brains to improve the quality of life for a wide range of people when other therapies have failed.
“We pride ourselves in developing an effective therapeutic relationship with our clients to support them on their journey.”
“We track our client’s progress throughout therapy to ensure we can evolve the most effective protocol to get the best outcome as efficiently as possible.”
For more information on how the team at The Brain Collective can help you, visit www.thebraincollective.co.uk or give them a call on 01423 565522.