Harrogate marketing agency to oversee fashion week 

The team from Marketing Adventures.

A Harrogate marketing agency has been chosen to head-up Northern Fashion Week.

Marketing Adventures will oversee the marketing for the event, which takes place from July 7-9.

It is aimed at championing northern talent and will place a spotlight on the “vast opportunities” in the north.

Brogan Huntington, creative director of Marketing Adventures, said:

“We will be supporting all of the fashion powerhouses, influencers and designers in showcasing diversity, culture and the importance of Northern fashion.

“The fashion week is set to be the biggest and most exclusive event that has ever hit the North and we delighted to have the opportunity to be heading up the marketing.

“It is bringing a huge opportunity to Harrogate and the local areas for influencers, fashion designers and brands.”

Marketing Adventures is set to hold exclusive events in restaurants and bars in Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool prior to the launch in June.

Solicitor Rachel Baul joins LCF Law

Rachel Baul

A family and matrimonial law solicitor from Harrogate with two decades of experience in the town has joined LCF Law.

Rachel Baul advises clients on divorce, judicial separation, the dissolution of civil partnerships and cohabitation law. She also specialises in drafting cohabitation, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements for people who have assets they want to protect.

Ms Baul has knowledge of agricultural valuations, subsidies, inheritance considerations, and how the courts approach these matters, means she regularly represents farming clients.

She also has a great deal of experience dealing with cases involving significant and complex financial assets on and offshore, and she also regularly represents sportspeople and medical professionals.

Ms Baul said:

“I wanted to move to LCF Law because I was keen to work at a progressive firm that values its team.

“Since expanding into Harrogate in 2015 with the acquisition of Barber Titleys, LCF Law has made a big impact in the town, and I have admired the firm’s drive to exceed client expectations, all whilst supporting its staff and the local community.”

Harrogate medical professionals have welcomed new laws which will require people administering Botox or fillers to have a licence.

The government has announced an amendment to the Health and Care Bill which intends to introduce a licensing regime for non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

It follows an “unacceptable” rise in reports of botched cosmetic procedures in the UK.

Nurse Sharon Bennett, director of Harrogate Aesthetics, on Princes Square, is the chair of the British Association of Cosmetic Nurses (BACN).

For years she has played a major role in fighting to push the legislation through, stating that it was “long overdue”.

However, she said the BACN continued to campaign for only regulated healthcare professionals to be able to carry out these procedures.

Only healthcare practitioners

Ms Bennett, who also sits on the clinical governance committee for the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP), said:

“We have been part of the advisory group informing government to improve patient safety and to make some form of legislation.

“My personal view is that we don’t need legislation if the government just said only healthcare practitioners can practice. Then there would be no need, because we are all regulated. That would be ideal.

“There will always be rogue practitioners, but they are at least accountable and the regulators can deal with them and get rid of them.

“However, you can currently go anywhere in this area and get an injectable. They might claim they are an ‘aesthetic practitioner’, but might have only done a one-day course and before this they were a taxi driver or something. That’s where the problems lie.”

The “scope and details” of the new regulations will be “determined via extensive engagement including a public consultation”, the Department of Health said.

The scheme would aim to bring in consistent standards that practitioners must meet and set out hygiene and safety standards for premises.

Details on the public consultation on non-surgical cosmetic procedures are expected to be set out at a later date.

Rogue injectors

Dr Claire Seddon, who is a practising GP, runs aesthetics clinics in Harrogate, Leeds and Liverpool.

She said:

“This is great news for our industry. There are so many rogue injectors about who give the ones who work with care, precisions and adhere to guidelines a bad name.

“Hopefully the licence will standardise practice, not just for medical professionals, but also for non-medics.”

Dr Claire Seddon.

Both Ms Bennett and Dr Claire said one of the main issues was the aftercare of the patient and knowledge of how to treat them if there were any complications.

They have both had to correct treatments that have gone wrong, with problems mainly surrounding high-risk treatments such as dermal fillers.

‘We can deal with complications’

Nurse prescriber Ms Bennett, who has had to dissolve and administer antibiotics and steroids for botched fillers numerous times, said:

“When you have got someone lying here, we are not just injecting them. We are watching them and we can deal with anything that happens.

“I have seen someone who has had Botox around their eye, which has affected their smile. That’s because the practitioner came to low. Botox eventually wears off, so you just have to tell them to wait and it will come back.

“With filler you can actually block an artery if you go too deep. What happens then is it restricts the blood flow and the skin can die. You have to then inject something called Hyalase to dissolve the filler.

“If you are with the wrong person, it can make a massive difference.”

They said there are also issues surrounding the prescription of Botox, with rogue practitioners often buying cheap unknown products online from Korea or China.

And current rules mean an aesthetic practitioner does not need any mandatory qualifications, meaning anyone can go on a basic training course and then be allowed to perform the treatments.

This is also the case when it comes to where Botox and fillers are actually administered.

‘People deserve better’

Dr Claire, who has been practising aesthetics for seven years, said:

“People literally do it in sunbed shops.

“One girl who came to me went to someone who was doing it in their house. She got there and the person who was doing it was lying on the sofa in her dressing gown. She then took her into the kitchen where she was in the middle of cooking a meal and administered Botox. She didn’t even have gloves on. That’s what we are dealing with.

“Some beauty therapists treat it like they are doing someone’s make-up, but they are injecting into someone’s face. They don’t have the knowledge or the drugs to treat the patient if there are any complications.

“This will 100 per cent be a good thing for the industry. People deserve better.”

It is an ancient organisation shrouded in mystery, which conjures up images of aprons, arcane symbols and secret handshakes.

However, in an effort to bring the fraternity into the modern era and attract younger members, Freemasons in Yorkshire are attempting to become TikTok famous.

The Province of Yorkshire West Riding has posted two videos on its new account – @wrfreemasons – including a take on the staircase scene from Titanic, set to Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On.

@wrfreemasons

If you would like to know more about Freemasonry in Yorkshire, West Riding, visit http://wrprovince.org.uk #freemasons #brotherhood #fraternity

♬ My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme from “Titanic”) – Céline Dion

The second is a TikTok of the famous Masonic aprons, described as “a badge of honour” being packed into a suitcase, with the caption ‘Freemasons wear aprons’. This is set to the track Run, by Becky Hill and Galantis.

@wrfreemasons

Freemasons wear aprons. #freemasons #fraternity #brotherhood #community #clothing #Yorkshire

♬ Run – Becky Hill & Galantis

Both have been filmed by member of Harrogate’s Harlow Lodge David Simister.

He said:

“Obviously we are a secret society, but we are hoping to open it up to a new, younger audience on TikTok.”

Harrogate’s Royal Hall to feature in next video

A third TikTok video which will be a take on the Kingsman movies – complete with bowler hats – is set to be filmed outside Harrogate’s Royal Hall on Saturday.

It follows the launch of a video on the The Province of Yorkshire West Riding’s website last month, which throws light on what Freemasonry is all about.

The film features a number of Freemasons, including a university undergraduate, retired firefighter, former soldier and a financial consultant, explaining what enticed them to join.

It also shows the splendour of a Masonic ceremony, the charitable side of the organisation and, more importantly, the diversity of its members from so many different walks of life and social backgrounds.

Read more:

• ‘So beautiful I can’t believe it’s real’: TikTok video of Knaresborough goes viral

• TikTok famous: 4 videos featuring the Harrogate district’s people and places

Based on the old West Riding of Yorkshire, the Province has more than 5,000 members and over 180 individual Lodges, and covers an area from Sheffield in the south, to Ripon in the north, Goole in the east and across to High Bentham in the west.

Five lodges in Harrogate

There are five individual lodges in Harrogate, with around 400 members who meet at the Masonic Hall on Station Avenue.

James Newman, who will become the Province’s most senior member at a ceremony held in Harrogate next month, said:

“Freemasonry in Yorkshire dates back well over 200 hundred years and, in a nutshell, it is about making good men better.

“Our members range in age from those in their late teens and early twenties to those who are in their nineties and older and they hail from many different professions, ethnic backgrounds and religions.’’

Mr Newman said charity was at the heart of Freemasonry, with the Province of Yorkshire giving more than £200,000 to a variety of local causes each year, including schools, hospices, youth organisations and community groups.

A new restaurant celebrating “exceptional British produce” is set to open at the former Le Bistrot Pierre site in Harrogate this month.

Work is underway to transform the building into Samsons restaurant and bar, dubbed a “vibrant yet elegant dining and drinking destination”.

The spacious unit on Cheltenham Parade has remained empty since July 2020 after Le Bistrot Pierre became one of the first restaurant casualties of the pandemic.

Managing director Mark Morris said:

“I am thrilled to bring the people of Harrogate and the surrounding area a unique drink and dining location in the heart of the town.”

The team behind Samsons includes executive chef Josh Whitehead, who is known for his work with the Harewood Food and Drink Project. He was also a semi-finalist on MasterChef: The Professionals 2016. Andy Castle, who was head chef at the Ox Club, Leeds, is also involved.

No opening date has been announced yet.

Roof garden

It aims to be the first carbon-neutral restaurant in the UK. This includes plans to launch a full roof garden with a wild flower meadow and bee hives next year.

The ‘design-led’ restaurant, which will offer an all-day dining space with plush booth seating, will have space for up to 182 guests across the main restaurant and bar, as well as a snug room for private wine-tasting.

Read more:

• Sneak Peek: Cheese, wine and charcuterie bar opens today in Harrogate
• Owner of Royal Baths Chinese Restaurant opens Pateley Bridge takeaway

Samsons is currently recruiting staff, with a job advertisement for various positions stating:

“Samsons is unique, reflecting its heritage and location, but founded on the core values and principles. Sustainability, provenance, seasonality and traceability shines through.

“We will be striving to be the best restaurant in Harrogate.”

The empty premises were due to be occupied by Tomahawk Steakhouse, however the restaurant chain is now planning to move into Solita Food Hall’s space on Parliament Street, which closed last year after just six months.

The steakhouse had planned to open in January, but with the change of location it is now planning to launch in April.

The site was also formerly Jamie Oliver’s restaurant.

This article is sponsored by Gracie Barra Harrogate

After months spent in various lockdowns, I was determined to find a club for my eight-year-old son that would allow him to meet other kids and help him to rebuild some confidence.

Like the majority of parents in the pandemic, the struggle to juggle work, homeschooling and a toddler was real.

Inevitably screen time went up while we attempted to work from home.

So when gyms and clubs were allowed to re-open again, I wanted my son to channel his energy into a sport or martial art.

And there was one club in particular that caught my eye when I was scrolling Instagram one evening.

Under the leadership of Lewis Matthews and his team of coaches, Gracie Barra Harrogate had been teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) classes over Zoom during the lockdown.

Once restrictions had eased, a full timetable of children’s sessions was launched at the newly-refurbished school at Hornbeam Park.

The popularity of BJJ has soared in recent years. With many high-profile personalities preaching its benefits. As well as building fitness levels, the martial art allows children to experience and understand core values like focus, discipline, persistence, co-operation and respect.

The academy is part of the global martial arts organisation, Gracie Barra, and forms part of a network of schools across the world offering the highest standard of BJJ instruction.

The structured curriculum is age and skill level appropriate, with children ranging from four-years-old to 15, before moving into adult programmes. It is aimed at teaching kids practical self defence skills that will give them confidence moving through life, as well as introducing them to an exciting and challenging new sport.

Techniques taught within BJJ focus not on striking, but on grappling and defending yourself, without the need to punch or kick someone.

Lewis said:

“These are valuable skills that are needed, as the potential consequences for striking someone often outweigh the benefit. But we also practice the sport of BJJ, which is incredibly fun too.”

So in November I signed my son up for a free trial at the facility, which is impressive in itself, with its huge floor space and its striking blue and red interior.

I was able to sit in the bright and airy reception area and watch him enjoy his session.

In just a few months his confidence has soared, he has made friends – and grappled with – lots of other children from across Harrogate and he has realised that hard work pays off.

I put this down to the quality of the coaching, which sees sessions delivered in a fun and relaxed manner, while also being incredibly thorough.

Recently he was awarded the first stripe on his belt, which gave him a huge sense of achievement.

Lewis said:

“In BJJ there is a huge emphasis placed upon enjoying the process of practice as much as the end result.

“As such, ‘gradings’ and new belts are not as frequent, but recognition comes in the form of stripes at intervals between belts.

“This teaches children about patience, persistence and to not just get hung-up on collecting the shiny object at the end.”

Other parents have also sung the school’s praises.

Ryan Ellis has two children, aged eight and five, who started at Gracie Barra in June 2021.

He said:

“I chose Grace Barra Harrogate as I had a taster session there myself the previous year. I remember how welcoming and helpful everybody was and this prompted me to look into the kids’ classes.

“My children both enjoy being active and the class gives them plenty of opportunity for this.

“The classes contain a great variety of activities, from the animal warm-ups, to finishing with a game of dodgeball, there’s something for everyone.”

Ryan said he had noticed an improved sense of confidence in his children which had transferred into school life, particularly with his son.

He said:

“I like how the classes promote respect and resilience, both of which are important life skills for them growing up.

“I couldn’t recommend the classes enough. Lewis and the team are exceptional role models to both of my children and every child should give BJJ a go.”

Gracie Barra Harrogate’s owner Lewis Matthews started teaching BJJ in 2017 as he wanted somewhere to train closer to home, with there being no real offering in Harrogate.

He started the kids’ classes after his American friend, and former business partner, Geoffrey Cumbus, a Jiu-Jitsu practitioner working at Menwith Hill, suggested offering a juniors programme. BJJ is extremely popular in the States.

Lewis said:

“There was a doctor on the base who knew Geoff and his children had practiced BJJ back in the States. He kept asking Geoff if we would start a class for his four kids.

“His children started training on the edge of the mat in the adult classes and eventually we made the jump and launched a Saturday kids’ class.”

From 2018 until 2020, the classes continued to grow, so when Lewis became a dad in 2020, he faced a big decision.

He said:

“I used to work in construction and I was working on a job at Betty’s and Taylors that I knew was going to come to an end.

“For me I had a lifestyle choice to make. I realised that if whatever new project I was working on took me away from Harrogate, I would have to almost close the club down.

“I came to a bit of a crossroads. I realised I could go all in on this, make it a full-time job and have a better work/life balance, which meant I could see my family and stay in Harrogate.”

So Lewis, who started training in BJJ in 2006, decided to go for it and spent the first national lockdown transforming what was formerly BigKat Fitness and Martial Arts into the now full-time Jiu-Jitsu academy at The Zone, Hornbeam Park.

However, when the newly-refurbished school opened with a full children’s timetable, like many businesses, Lewis then had to navigate two more lockdowns and a string of constantly-changing Government restrictions.

He said:

“Fortunately we went from strength-to-strength.

“I remember being so nervous leaving my job, but I had faith in what me and the team were building. 

“When I first started training Jiu-Jitsu in Harrogate, it was for my own benefit. Before that first kids’ class I wasn’t so sure about teaching children’s classes, or whether I would enjoy it. 

“But now something I was initially nervous about doing, has become my most enjoyable part of coaching.

“You see the impact, how much they enjoy it and how much you can help develop a child that maybe doesn’t have much confidence, or isn’t very co-ordinated, or needs to improve their healthy habits. It’s really rewarding in that sense.”

Tiny Champs classes are for children aged four and five, Little Champs, ages six to nine, and Juniors and Teens is age 10 plus.

Kids classes run at Gracie Barra everyday apart from Friday and Sunday. You can view the full timetable here.

To book a free trial session click here.

Follow Gracie Barra Harrogate on Instagram @gracie_barra_harrogate

More small independent businesses will be given a chance to run their own town centre shop due to the continued success of the Harrogate Pop-Up.

As pop-ups continue to surge in popularity, spaces for the rest of the year are already filling fast at the store on Cambridge Street.

And a number are set to move in this spring, including a flower shop, a screen printing business and a fashion a beauty boutique.

Kiera McLaughlin, who is involved with organising the pop-up shop, said she was delighted to see so many businesses return to the space.

She said:

“It’s great to see so many local businesses take a chance on our pop-up and see success so great that they want to return.

“Our spring calendar has been immensely popular and we cannot wait to see these businesses open the doors once again. We
hope to welcome even more new faces throughout 2022.”

Freddie’s Flowers are the first to run their pop-up, from now until March 6.

Forme Prints will take over the space from March 14 – 20. Owner Nathan Dalla Riva will be offering a range of his own designed printed t-shirts, jumpers and bags.

Read more:

• Stray Ferret to launch local daily business news round-up
• New pop-up shop offers small businesses chance to trade in Harrogate

For one week from March 21 to 27, Tag Queen Cosmetics and House of Zana will take over the space. There will be a range of make-up and ladies clothing on offer.

Returning host Martha and Bea, which sells a range of ladies clothing and accessories, will be back in the pop-up shop from March 28 until April 3. Owner Jane has become a familiar face to those visiting the shop.

Speaking about her last pop-up, she said:

“I had a wonderful week and had some really lovely feedback from customers.”

The Dogs Bakery will then follow with a two-week stint, offering a range of dog treats in store.

And finally women’s clothing and accessories business Patricia Eve Ltd will host its first pop-up for two weeks from April 18 until May 1.

Barker Proudlove and Victoria Shopping Centre came up with the idea to rent out the outlet opposite Cafe Nero back in August.

Businesses can rent the space for between one and six weeks and the £400 weekly cost includes rent, business rates, water, electricity and furniture.

The Harrogate Pop Up will soon be launching its calendar for summer reservations. To find out more, visit the website.

This article is sponsored by Barnard Castle School.

It is now easier than ever to reach Barnard Castle School thanks to a raft of new transport links, including from the Harrogate district.

Set in the heart of the stunning Northern countryside, the independent school, known affectionately as ‘Barney, is well-served by a growing number transport connections, making it even more accessible.

The school currently offers 10 bus routes as part of its comprehensive transport services, which also cater for flexi passengers.

In 2020, two new routes were launched in Ripon and Yarm, which has helped to meet increased demand and to support the school’s existing community.

Tony Jackson, headmaster at Barnard Castle School, said:

“We are fortunate that Barnard Castle is surrounded by open countryside and areas of natural beauty, yet is close enough to major towns and cities.

“External regional transport links offer the best of both worlds, in addition to our robust bus services.

“People often forget that we are only two-and-a-half hours away from London via train, which is a massive advantage.”

Mr Jackson said in nearby Tees Valley, significant investments had greatly strengthened the region’s transport infrastructure, including the re-emergence of Tees Valley International Airport in recent years and the planned major development of Darlington Railway Station.

He added:

“Barney is a well-positioned campus in our region and remains one of the most beautiful and safest places to live in the entire United Kingdom.”

Pupils at Barnard Castle School.

His comments come ahead of open mornings at the co-educational independent day and boarding school, which has a history that stretches back to the 19th century.

The events, which take place on March 8 for Sixth Form, and March 19 for the Prep and Senior Schools, are aimed at giving parents and pupils an opportunity to get a feel for the school, inspect the facilities and chat with peers and staff.

To find out more about what makes education at Barnard Castle School so special, contact a member of the admissions team on 01833 696030 or email admissions@barneyschool.org.uk

The owner of a family-run nursery chain, which is set to launch a new setting in Harrogate, says he is preparing to “get stung” by rising energy prices.

Matthew Dawson, director of Children’s Corner Childcare, said he had already seen a significant rise in energy bills at his six Leeds nurseries over the last 18 months – including almost double in some cases.

The nursery is set to open a branch at Central House, on Otley Road, in April, when the price hike is introduced.

Mr Dawson said:

“We have several utilities contracts due to run out in the coming months and as such are likely to get stung by the ever increasing costs of keeping our buildings warm.

“This is especially important when looking after young children as we do and not something where corners can be cut.

“Our newest site in Harrogate has a number of obstacles in terms of its energy efficiency which are going to have to be addressed.”

Mr Dawson said the nursery was going to have “the most energy efficient heating system we could find” installed to help mitigate rising costs, as well as investing in insulating the building further.

He added:

“This will not only reduce our ongoing energy bills, but also to reduce our environmental impact as well.

“This will come at a significant cost to the business at a time when margins are squeezed ever tighter by other increasing extraneous costs.”

£80 a month more to pay

For Knaresborough family-of-three, the Hobsons, the energy bills are set to go up by at least £80 per month.

Regional sales director Mike Hobson, who lives with his wife Hannah and their eight-year-old daughter Grace, said:

“This isn’t sustainable and it is now eating into other areas of living costs, especially with all the extra expenditure at the moment, including inflation.

“We were paying £160 a month and we are now paying £240 – for a family-of-three, that’s an extra £1,000 a year.”

From left to right, Grace, Hannah and Mike Hobson, from Knaresborough.

However, the price hike is not just set to hit families and homeowners, with the majority of residents across the Harrogate district set to feel the pinch.

Read more:

• Vulnerable people in Harrogate having sleepless nights over rising bills
• Soaring energy bills ‘a kick in the teeth’, say Harrogate business owners

Catherine Aletta, a junior digital designer at Cloud Nine, which is based at Hornbeam Park, rents a two-bedroom flat near Harrogate town centre with her partner.

She said:

“Energy prices are already a big chunk of monthly outgoings. As prices are set to rise even further, we are both concerned that it will have a big impact on us. The monthly bills are already a consideration to our lifestyle and if they do go up, we will have to start looking at how we possibly cut back on other things.

“We are both very conscious of our energy consumption and do our best to reduce our usage to keep the monthly bills manageable. We use the timer to restrict the amount of time the heating is on, we turn off lights as we leave rooms and make sure we don’t leave the TV on when we are not watching it.

“We have lived in our apartment for six months and we have noticed that the prices have already gone up. Obviously we have had the heating on quite a lot in recent months due to the cold weather, but it is a concern for next winter. If the prices go up even further, we will start to struggle.”

Catherine Aletta.

The price rise comes after the energy regulator, Ofgem, lifted the maximum rate that suppliers can charge for an average duel-fuel energy tariff by £693 — an increase of 54 per cent.

This is to reflect the fourfold increase in energy market prices over the last year.

Harrogate business owners say soaring energy bills are a “kick in the teeth” in the wake of the pandemic.

They are calling for more government support, however they say they “are not holding their breath”, after receiving little help over the last two years.

And there are fears that it will be the final nail in the coffin for some, with the price hike affecting every business – from big to small.

Bills have doubled

Andy Preston, co-owner of F45 Harrogate gym on Albert Street, said it had just received its electricity bill and the amount had doubled.

He said:

“At the end of the day it adds an extra financial burden on the business that we have no control over realistically. It’s an extra overhead that we don’t really need.

“There’s nothing we can do, because it’s the world as it is right now. However, we are getting stung by it.

“It’s just another kick in the teeth after everything we have had to deal with over the last two years. We didn’t get much financial help during the pandemic. The government needs to step up and help businesses now.”

F45 Harrogate owners Andy Preston, left, and Matt Goodall.

Across the road at Thug Sandwich Co, owner Daniel Bell said he was waiting to find out just how much it was going to impact his business.

He said:

“I’ll have to tighten up in other areas. I’ll have to make sacrifices in my personal life – not pay myself as much. I’ve just put my prices up at the beginning of the year anyway, which is something I fought for three years.

“I can’t do that again because then I’m not competitive anymore. So it’s just going to affect my personal life more than anything.

“It’s just another thing to deal with after covid. I definitely wouldn’t hold my breath for any government support. Especially with the amount we got over the covid period. It just seems we are borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. It has got to come from somewhere.”

Read more:

• Vulnerable people in Harrogate having sleepless nights over rising bills
• Harrogate council to trial recycling wheelie bins

Extra blow for hospitality

Brett Lee, director and executive chef at Italian restaurant Stuzzi Harrogate, on King’s Road, agrees that it is an extra blow for the hospitality industry.

He said many restaurants have had to put up their prices already due to a large increase in food and import costs caused by a combination of Brexit and the ongoing effects of the pandemic.

Mr Lee, who also owns Stuzzi Leeds, said:

“It feels like another big obstacle on the road to recovery.

“Every household in the country will now be reviewing how they are spending money due to the rise in energy costs. This may push people to only visit their favourite restaurants once a month instead of a more frequent affair.

“It also means people have less disposal cash to spend in different sectors like retail. This doesn’t help our struggling high streets either and could also have a dangerous effect on restaurant lunch trade across the country.

“But we can’t take a negative approach, we must continue to adapt to the circumstances given to us, work hard, be creative and use our initiative.”

Brett Lee, director of Stuzzi Harrogate.

An ‘unwelcome burden’

Sue Kramer, owner of Crown Jewellers and head of the Commercial Street Retailers Group, described the situation as “worrying”.

She said:

“Whilst many of our shops may be small on Commercial Street, the financial impact of the energy crisis will undoubtedly affect every business – from the smallest up.

“The worrying part is that we have little control over what is going to happen, and basically have to accept whatever is thrown at us. Clearly having endured the uncertainty of covid for the last two years, this is an extra and most unwelcome burden.”

Sue Kramer, owner of Crown Jewellers and head of the Commercial Street Retailers Group.

The price hike comes after the energy regulator, Ofgem, lifted the maximum rate that suppliers can charge for an average duel-fuel energy tariff by £693 — an increase of 54 per cent.

This is to reflect the fourfold increase in energy market prices over the last year.

Fears are growing amongst some of the Harrogate district’s most vulnerable people ahead of a record increase in gas and electricity bills in April.

Customers at community grocery shop Resurrected Bites and people who use the Harrogate District Foodbank, say they have been “having sleepless nights”  over the price hike.

One man, whose food budget for the entire month is £30, said he had just received his renewal quote for energy and it was up to triple the original amount.

Another woman, who uses a pre-pay metre, said she was preparing to cut back and put on some extra clothing to keep warm if necessary.

Resurrected Bites is a Harrogate and Knaresborough-based community organisation aiming to reduce food waste and food poverty.

One of the customers at the organisation’s grocery shop at New Park Primary Academy, told the Stray Ferret about the impact it would have.

The man, from Harrogate, who works full time and has a six-year-old daughter, said:

“I have had to take advantage of the Citizen’s Advice Warm and Well scheme, which has tided me over, hopefully until the minimum pay rise in April.

But I’ve just had my renewable quote for energy and the variable rate is double what I’m paying now and for fixed, it’s triple. So the extra money I will receive will just be swallowed up.

“I don’t know what is going to go on. I think I’m just going to have to wait until April when it actually happens and just take a view on it or hope that the politicians do something more, because at the moment it’s just not a viable option for many people.

“My food budget for the month is £30, including coming here, and that’s for me and my daughter. That will just be gone with any kind of increase. What do you do? Luckily it’s coming into summer.”

Resurrected Bites provides a ‘lifeline’

The customer, who did not wish to be named, said organisations like Resurrected Bites, which also runs ‘pay-as-you-feel’ cafes in Harrogate and Knaresborough, were a lifeline to those in need.

The community grocery store sells good quality donated food to people on a low income for a small cost, that would otherwise end up in landfill. It often sees between 30 and 40 customers coming through its doors in one day.

The man began using the service after separating from his daughter’s mother, who receives all the available benefits due to being listed as the main residence.

Resurrected Bites’ community grocery store at New Park is a lifeline to those in need.

He said:

“It’s brilliant. I can work out what my meals are going to be. So for example, last week I got some sausages and a turnip and then I’ve cooked them all yesterday and that’s my next three or four meals. I usually make my meals in advance. That way if there are a couple of days where you run short, there’s always something in the back like the odd Pot Noodle.

“You come here on a weekly basis to stock up. The fruit and veg is brilliant, as not a lot of people eat as much as they should do and it fills a gap.”

The price hike comes after the energy regulator, Ofgem, lifted the maximum rate that suppliers can charge for an average duel-fuel energy tariff by £693 — an increase of 54 per cent.

This is to reflect the fourfold increase in energy market prices over the last year.

Volunteers at Resurrected Bites’ New Park Community Grocery Store.

New Park community grocery manager Sophia Clarke said customers, who come from a variety of different backgrounds, were worried about the impact it would have.

She said:

“There are a lot of people who are coming in to sign-up in preparation for the fact that once the energy bills rise they are not going to be able to feed themselves.

“One lady I spoke to said she was going to lose her house because she couldn’t keep up with mortgage payments and the bills rising.

“I don’t think anyone knows the full extent yet, but we are here to help people and offer advice and support.

“People are just getting back on track after covid and are now being faced with this. When you’re struggling to feed yourself and your children, this is not good news for the many.”

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Foodbank fears

Over at a very busy Harrogate District Foodbank, at Mowbray Community Church, on Westmoreland Street, one woman said she used a pre-pay meter to avoid getting into trouble with her bills.

She said:

“If I can’t afford heating, I don’t have it on. If the bills get too much in April, I’ll just have to put a woolly jumper on or wrap a duvet around me.

“I’m topping the meter up as much as possible in preparation. I’m okay at the moment but when it goes up, I don’t know what will happen. Luckily warmer weather is coming. I don’t know what I would have done if it had happened in the middle of winter.”

Harrogate District Foodbank at Mowbray Community Church, Westmoreland Street.

Another man, who suffered with mental health problems, said he was worried that his landlord would put his rent up as a result of the price hike.

He said:

“I’m worried about it. If it goes up, I’m going to struggle financially again. That makes me anxious. I suffer with my mental health and I’m on benefits and this just plays on my mind. You’re always thinking about it.”

Dawn Pearson, project manager at Harrogate District Foodbank.

Dawn Pearson, project manager at the foodbank, which also provides help and support for people in Knaresborough and Starbeck, said more support from the government was needed.

She said:

“We find with clients coming in that they tend to get some help, for example Universal Credit, but it’s not enough to cover their bills. Or if it is just enough and something unforeseen goes wrong, then they are in debt again. It’s a vicious circle, they never seem to get above where they should be and it’s sad.

“A lot of people are saying they can’t have the heating on or they are only having it on a couple of times a week, or a couple of hours a day. That’s why people are here because they don’t have enough money for food.”