Country Living Christmas Fair returns to Harrogate

The Country Living Christmas Fair is back in Harrogate today, with thousands of interior-lovers set to get into the festive spirit at the four-day event.

Held at the town’s convention centre, the popular event, which was cancelled last year due to covid restrictions, features a programme of talks, demonstrations and workshops.

It also supports small businesses, with more than 300 stalls from artisan makers.

Marketing executive Harriet Hayes said:

“From the practicalities of sourcing one-of-a-kind gifts and the latest trends in home interiors, to inspiration for your festive feast. The fair offers it all under one roof.”

The event, which takes place from 10am to 5pm from today until Sunday, will offer a selection of interiors, handcrafted gifts and food stalls, which will include local produce. There will also be a champagne bar.

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Alongside the exhibition, there will also be a live programme in the Country Living theatre and Christmas kitchen. Festive advice and inspiration from leading professionals and cooking experts will be on offer.

Chefs include BBC Masterchef 2021 winner Tom Rhodes and Rudding Park demi chef, Ben Wright.

Harriet added:

“From Christmas canapés to showstopper desserts, in the Country Living kitchen our celebrity chefs will share their top tips and festive favourites for you to make at home or pick up inspiration.

“On the stage, there will also be advice on seasonal trends, how to decorate the perfect Christmas tree, festive wreaths, the Christmas dinner table and much more.

“You will also be able to roll up your sleeves and get creative in one of the many hands-on workshops sessions hosted by crafting experts and makers, who will lead you through a range of interactive sessions.”

 

Masterchef finalists to launch pop-up restaurant in Harrogate

Two Masterchef quarter finalists are teaming up to launch a Christmas pop-up restaurant in a tipi at a Harrogate hotel.

Jo Mills, from Leeds, who appeared on the BBC cooking show in 2021, met Chris Hale from the 2016 series on a Facebook group for former MasterChef contestants.

The two chefs will take over Cedar Court Hotel’s Tipi on the Stray for two weeks from Thursday, December 9.

Chris, from Wakefield, who runs his own catering company, and helps Masterchef contestants to gain experience in cooking for events, said:

“We just wanted to do something different really in Harrogate.

“I do a lot of pop-up restaurants, so we turn venues, like cathedrals, into restaurants. So the tipi is aligned with what we do. For me it’s not just about the food, it’s about the whole experience. It will feel cosy and relaxed and I’m all about the chill vibes.”

Festive tapas, including turkey and sage bon bons with cranberry dip and mini nut roasts with candied carrots, will be served from 2pm to 10pm from Thursday to Saturday in collaboration with Magic Rock and Harrogate Tipple. On Sunday it’s a two-course bottomless brunch and on Monday to Wednesday, afternoon tea.

Then on December 20, 21 and 22 Afternoon Tea with Elsa, the character from Disney’s Frozen, will take place for families.

Chris said:

“I think we have got a really nice balanced menu. I like tapas because you can get as much or as little as you want.

“The desserts are particularly theatrical. For me it’s the end of the meal, and it’s the bit people take away with them.

“There is an edible Christmas wreath, which is our festive take on an Eton mess, with meringue, ginger, cinnamon, pomegranate and molasses.

“We are also doing a panettone tiramisu garden, which will be presented as a snowy garden scene and will feature meringue mushrooms and edible snow and flowers. Those are the two that are probably the most Instagrammable.”

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The December residency will offer additional dining options at the busy hotel and is aimed at Harrogate residents, as well as guests.

The tipi, which can hold up to 38 people, opened on July 4 last year as a result of covid dining restrictions, and has now become a permanent fixture due to its popularity.

The Tipi on the Stray at Harrogate’s Cedar Court Hotel.

Jo, whose passion for tapas has inspired the menu, said:

“Tapas has been my kind of thing or a long time. When friends come over it’s just nice to have one of those sociable ways to eat, so it’s something I have always cooked. We thought it would be fun as it’s a nice casual atmosphere in the tipi. It lends itself really well to that style of dining.”

‘Sneak peek’: Harrogate’s new Manhattan-style cocktail bar

Harrogate’s answer to a Manhattan cocktail bar will open it’s doors on Friday, with the launch of 63rd+1st.

Decked out in trendy dark blue and gold, and featuring lots of greenery, the restaurant, lounge and bar on Albert Street is aimed at customers who might just want a nibble and a drink after work or a meal out with friends.

The restaurant area.

The extensive selection of cocktails, priced at around £10, include the likes of a New York Hangover and a Fuhgeddaboudit, as well as a more traditional selection. There is also a good choice of low alcohol or alcohol-free options.

With plenty of other restaurants in the area, as well as bars on nearby John Street, the venue will need to stand out from the crowd.

And general manager Eva Souza, from Harrogate, who has been in the hospitality industry for 15 years, believes it will.

She said:

“The location is really great in the town centre. I believe we are the right cocktail bar and restaurant for this particular place.

“People love to go out here and enjoy nice surroundings and I believe this is the right place for Harrogate people.

“There are a lot of Italian restaurants in this area and this is something unique. I believe it is something new for the town.

“Our bartenders are really well-trained and the bar itself is beautiful. You can sit around it and watch them prepare the cocktails.

“It’s like a home away from home and we want to be a nice, cosy place for everyone. The place is very stylish and I hope guests will be very happy here.”

General manager Eva Souza enjoying a cocktail in the lounge area.

The new 3,380 sq ft venue, which was formerly Ask Italian, seats 101, as well as another 12 outside.

The menu is inspired by Manhattan street food and features small plates to enjoy with a cocktail, as well as larger dishes.

It includes a ‘signature burger’ steaks and seafood, as well as savoury donuts, a crayfish roll and a corndog. Small plates include arancini and calamari.

Head chef Nick Chappelow, who is also from Harrogate, said:

“I’m excited to cook all of it. The menu is great.

“I like the fact that there are sharing plates on the menu. It’s more relaxed and you get to just graze, so it’s somewhere in between tapas and a main meal starter size.

“The jammy chicken lollipops are insane.

“There’s a really good team here. I’ve been a head chef for 20 plus years, so I’ve seen a lot and it’s nice to go into this going forward.

“It’s fresh and funky and we are going to hit the ground running.”

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Brunch will be served from 9am on a Friday and over the weekend and there will also be a Sunday lunch option. Diners can also choose table service or they can order and pay using a tablet.

American-style booths in the restaurant area.

The venue, which will generate 30 part-time and full-time jobs, is being developed by Hostmore PLC, which also includes TGI Fridays as part of its portfolio. It is named after the street in New York that was home to the original TGI Fridays and where Tom Cruise filmed Cocktail.

Harrogate’s branch is the third to open in the UK behind Surrey in May and Glasgow in September.

Christmas markets 2021: The best festive events around the district

This article is sponsored by Berwins

A less-than-ideal Christmas in 2020, many of us want to mark the festive season as early as possible this year.

And what better way to get into the festive spirit than to wrap-up warm and wander around a Christmas market with a cup of mulled wine.

While some events have been cancelled due to coronavirus concerns, there are still plenty going ahead across the district.

And just like buses, three events have come all at once in Harrogate following the cancellation of the town’s original Christmas market.

Knaresborough’s popular Christmas market is also back!

Here is our guide to the festive markets taking place across the district this year:

Christmas Market Weekend at Crimple, Harrogate

We kick off with the Christmas Market Weekend, which will feature more than 20 food and craft stalls at the brand spanking new Crimple food hall and restaurant.

It comes after Brian Dunsby, co-organiser of the original Harrogate Christmas Market, has worked with some of the stallholders to get them a new venue.

There will be music all day, including performances from the Chris White Jazz Trio, Tewit Youth Band and local busker Freddie Cleary.

There will also be plenty of children’s activities, including a festive animal farm, face painting and Christmas treasure trails, as well as wreath-making demonstrations.

November 27 and 28, Crimple, Leeds Road, from 8am to 7pm on the Saturday and 10am to 4pm on the Sunday

Harrogate Hospital & Community Charity’s (HHCC) Outdoor Pop-up Christmas Market

In the true spirit of Christmas, this NHS charity event is being held at Harrogate Railway Athletic Football Club for an extremely good cause.

Visitors are invited to “soak up the festive atmosphere” at the outdoor market, while browsing a selection of stalls. The big man himself will also be making an appearance, with a chance to visit Santa.

There will also be a licensed bar, “merry donkeys” and live music.

Tickets are available for a donation of £5 per adult (aged 14 and over), £2 for children over the age of 3 and under 3s are free.

Tickets include and entry drink on arrival, a mince pie and a visit with Father Christmas – an absolute bargain! And what’s even better, is the proceeds from the event will go towards making life changing differences in the town’s hospital and wider community.

November 28, Harrogate Railway Athletic FC, Station View, Harrogate, 1pm to 7pm.

Harrogate Christmas Fayre 

Market Place Europe is taking on the main event in Harrogate, but instead of Montpellier Hill, this new market will take place across the town centre over 10 days.

There will be a mixture of local and European stallholders on Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent.

The Harrogate Christmas Fayre will feature around 50 traders, which will spaced out wider than usual to encourage social distancing.

December 3 until December 12, Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent, Monday to Wednesday – 10am to 7pm, Thursday to Saturday – 10am to 9pm, and Sundays from 10am to 5pm

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Harrogate Christmas Artisan Market

Little Bird Made, which has carved out a name for itself across North Yorkshire with its artisan markets, is set to hold a special two-day Christmas event in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens.

More than 60 local traders and producers will sell a variety of festive arts and crafts, clothing, homeware and jewellery, as well as locally-produced food and drink.

This is a new addition Harrogate, set to complement the town centre’s Christmas Fayre, with organisers working with Harrogate Borough Council.

December 4 and 5, Valley Gardens, Harrogate, 10am to 3pm

Market Square, Knaresborough at Christmas

Photograph: Charlotte Gale Photography

Knaresborough Christmas Market 

Knaresborough Christmas Market is back with an actual bang – yes there are fireworks – after last year’s cancellation.

With the organising committee promising a “Yorkshire experience to remember”, there will be over 50 stalls selling decorations, gifts and locally-sourced produce.

While visitors sip their mulled wine, they can also enjoy live entertainment from local dancers, choirs and brass bands.

As in previous years, the market will culminate with a fireworks display over the town’s iconic viaduct at 4.30pm on Sunday, December 5.

December 4 and 5, Market Square

Boroughbridge Christmas Market

This is another festive artisan market by Little Bird Made, which is being held the same weekend as the event in Harrogate.

This one is taking place at Langthorpe Farm Shop and promises “a Christmas shopping bonanza, mulled wine and some special surprises”.

There will be an assortment of handmade gifts and stalls will include arts, crafts, plants, clothes, jewellery, candles, soaps, coffee and gin. For the foodies, there will be cheese, pies, flapjack, biscuits, preserves, cakes and street food.

December 4, Langthorpe Farm Shop, Leeming Lane, from 10am to 3pm

Ripon Christmas lights

Ripon Christmas Market

Last year the covid lockdown meant that the city and its traders were unable to capitalise fully on the £65,000 spent on a major expansion of Christmas lights and displays.

However, this year the festivities are back! And so is Little Bird Made, with another Christmas market in the district, this time in partnership with Ripon City Council.

On December 5 and 12, artisan markets will be held on the square and free children’s fairground rides will be in operation on those dates.

There will be a selection of stalls from local traders, arts, crafts, food, an outdoor bar and live music.

December 5 and 12, Ripon Market Square, 10am to 3pm

Successful interior design duo launches new Harrogate studio

This article is sponsored by Lapicida

From working on each other’s kitchen tables, to launching a stylish new Harrogate design studio, Rachael Webber and Justine Kirkham have come a long way in just three years.

Their business, Stylesmith Interiors, has gone from strength-to-strength, with a surge in demand caused by the pandemic seeing them move to bigger premises on Cold Bath Road.

Modern space

The building, which formerly housed Fit Harrogate and the Joy organic food store, has been transformed into a modern space, which will allow the interior designers to meet clients and network with architects and builders, along with others involved in their projects.

As a retail space, it has been tricky to run a profitable business due to the lack of footfall. Joy closed its doors in August, less than a year after opening its doors.

There’s hope the design studio will be a much better fit, as there isn’t the reliance on passing trade.

The new design studio shows off the duo’s style

Justine said:

“In the middle of lockdown we were accumulating more and more things, as obviously construction carried on. So whereas we thought everything was going to slow down, as it turned out, we were busier than ever. It was great, but also it meant that it was absolute chaos with all the boxes of samples etc.”

The duo soon realised they needed more room, so found a unit at Hornbeam Park.

When they were told the building was going to be demolished and redeveloped after 18 months at the site, it was the push they needed to move to bigger premises.

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After looking at lots of similar office buildings that were tucked away, they realised when everything reopened after lockdown, their clients wanted to visit them in person.

Rachael said:

“This building just happened to come up and we thought it was a bonus that we are visible, but we are not retail so we don’t need the footfall like a retail shop. We are very happy and we love it. “

Experience

Both Justine and Rachael have previously worked for large interior design companies and have 30 years of experience between them. Rachael also has a background in fashion.

The kitchen area downstairs

Justine said:

“What we have realised is you get very much dragged into this corporate set-up where it’s all about sales figures and data and systems and it takes away all the creativity in what you are doing. So when we started talking originally, that was the bit that bugged us.

“We thought it needs to be more client-focused, where it’s all about their experience. So we decided to set-up ourselves.”

To complement the skills of their interior design team, Justine and Rachael also partner with experts and suppliers across the homebuilding and renovation industry. These include builders, architects, kitchen and bathroom suppliers and curtain manufacturers.

The new space, painted in Little Greene’s Harley Green, features elements of design that act as a showcase for the duo’s style. A studio downstairs houses samples, including material, paint and tiles.

Rachael said:
“The space shows what we can do. We have kept it very clean and haven’t gone glitzy. It’s much more how most people actually choose for their houses to be. A bit more colour, to push people outside their comfort zones slightly, but without being blingy.”

The kitchen area in the new studio

Understated

The pair said they didn’t have a specific style when it came to their design ideas, however, personally they had an “understated” take on design.
There are plethora of talented interior designers in Harrogate and a lot of new housing developments and renovation projects going on at the moment.
Some of these also have their own showrooms in the town. To stand out from the crowd, each have their own distinct style, allowing them to become successful in their own right.
Justine and Rachael’s understated modern design already clearly speaks to a lot of people.
Recently I’ve found myself being a fan of maximalism. This is a style that embraces the all-out: beautiful colour palettes, luxurious textiles, patterns and embellishment, Just last month I did an interior design masterclass with Joanie Mac, where I discovered I was very much drawn to that particular style.
But the simple elements of design Justine and Rachael have a lot of appeal.
For example embellishments, like the black taps in their downstairs bathroom and eye-catching blue patterned tiles, made the small space look luxurious.
It is interior design that is accessible.
Justine said:
“We are not trying to be this super duper London-style – very uber cool. Because that doesn’t work up here. But equally we don’t want to be at the blingy, over-the-top end..
“Some people want this very Scandinavian style. We have got loads of people wanting the slightly industrial style. We are doing a barn conversion at the moment where it is very grand, so we are putting a bit of oomph into that. It all depends on the client.”

Compliment

Justine added that they also complimented each other as designers, describing herself as ‘a starter’, who loved gritty building sites and tearing walls down, while Rachael enjoyed adding the finishing touches.
And despite interior designers traditionally been associated with the rich and famous, the pair were keen to stress that anyone could hire their services – even me for my humble 80s semi.
Justine said:
“For example if you wanted to put in a new kitchen or bathroom, or you are looking at flooring or you wanted to knock a wall down, then we are your gals.
“Everybody is doing extensions and creating open-plan living spaces. When you extend and you suddenly have all these masses of space, that’s when you need someone to help you make that work. This is because more often than not, you end up with a very echoey, cold space.

A studio downstairs houses samples, including material, paint and tiles

Stylish

She added that many developers would request neutral schemes, but this could still have a hint of colour, such as a blue or green. This would often lead to properties selling more quickly and for extra money, as they would look more stylish.
I completely agree with this, as, like them, I believe colour can still be neutral. I am definitely not about the magnolia life.
Justine said:
“The whole point for us is we want to be this much more approachable interior design set-up. So it’s not about feeling worried about walking through the door.
“If people come in we will give them a warm welcome and chat about their project and potentials and what they are thinking of doing. That is key really, it feels really intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. It doesn’t have to be really expensive.
Seasonal Affective Disorder: Ripon therapist’s tips on how to survive the dark months

I have yet to meet anyone who is a massive fan of the long nights and short days that we are forced to endure at this time of year.

Actually I tell a lie, a weightlifting coach told me the other day he loved it. He said when it got dark early, it meant he could train and work late without getting FOMO (fear of missing out). Which I suppose makes sense.

And I suppose for some, winter signals a joyous festive season and countless cosy nights in.

I am certainly not in that camp, as I always seem to feel more tired and lethargic at this time of year, and definitely less motivated. And this does increasingly seem to be the case for more and more of us.

And last year’s winter lockdown certainly didn’t help matters – even though many of us actually managed to get outside more.

More serious

While it’s normal to feel a bit sleepy and unimpressed by the gloomy weather, there’s a point where our reaction to the changing seasons can be a sign of something more serious.

Seasonal Affective Disorder, often shortened to SAD, affects around one in 15 people in the UK.

According to the NHS, November marks the beginning of SAD, which can see people suffer from a persistent low mood, linked to a reduced exposure to sunlight.

And as many of us prepare to tackle the dark, winter months, I spoke to Lulu Ferrand, a Craniosacral Therapist (CST), based in West Tanfield, near Ripon, who is part of the Lisa Duffield Centre team, and asked her for her tips on how to tackle SAD.

Lulu Ferrand, a Craniosacral Therapy (CST) practitioner.

Do you have a lot of clients who suffer with SAD?

“I have some clients who come with SAD, but it is rarely the primary reason for their visit. It is usually part of the reason why they need help.

“I have a lot of clients who suffer with depression and when asked if they feel worse in the winter, most of the time they answer yes.”

When do you start to notice it becoming an issue?

“Definitely when the clocks go back.”

How much of an issue is it in terms of how it affects people’s mental health? 

“It goes undetected to begin with. Sometimes people feel lacking in motivation, a bit flat, no ‘get up and go’. This then manifests as a hopelessness and helplessness, then a lack of self-worth, they can feel shameful of their laziness.

“They become disappointed with themselves, which worsens the condition. They then begin to notice that their feeling of being a bit flat is  actually not ‘just a bit’, but they would describe it as ‘feeling flat’.  This then becomes ‘feeling down’ and later ‘feeling depressed’.  This can develop over weeks or as quick as a day.

“Often clients cannot remember when it all began. By the time they come to me, it is the depressed stage.

“I do wonder if some of the depression diagnoses started with SAD and then spiralled downwards.

“I know that the way we speak and think is an energy in itself. It will affect the way our bodies function. The more we talk in a negative way of how bad we are feeling, the worse we feel. And we can pick it up from what we are exposed to – like other people.

“I am not saying that this can help everyone, or that everyone can actually do this.  But we can do a lot to help ourselves.

“Notice how you are feeling without becoming neurotic about it. Get to know yourself, what makes you feel better.

“It may be exercise, yoga, meditation, being in nature, eating certain foods.

“Notice what is not benefiting you and eliminate or reduce them from your life – like certain people, particular TV programs, social media.”

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Is it something that is becoming more of an issue due to people looking at screens all day and not going outside as much? 

“I think the lack of contact over the past two years has created a bigger issue with anxiety and depression in general, not just SAD.

“In the 1960s babies were left without human contact in cots and the death rate was high. They discovered that if they had human contact the survival rate increased. 

“We have mostly suffered with lack of contact due to lockdown. The fearful news reporting has also played a large part.

“Anxiety and depression is palpable in the world around us. This is what we are fighting currently. And yes, increased a lot recently.”

How do you help people with SAD in terms of treatment? 

“Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is about rebalancing the body and mind as a whole.

“It can clear out and rebalance the nervous system. It is a hands-on gentle treatment and when the client feels safe and ‘held’ the body will let go of whatever is holding it back.

“Sometimes it is recent issues or traumas; sometimes we go right back to birth. Sometimes it releases as an emotion, a shimmer, a tingle or even a shake.

“Often clients with SAD or depression will say that they feel a blackness, a sort of shadow in their heads and during the session they feel the blackness turning to grey and then into white light. This has happened during sessions, many, many times.

“This does not mean that everyone with depression can be helped this way. Other times the client may improve to a certain level and then may need psychotherapy or hypnotherapy to deal with a deeply-held belief.

“Each client is treated as an individual.  Generally they require around six sessions to really get to the bottom of whatever it is that is preventing them from being in optimum health, sometimes quicker, sometimes longer.

“The sessions and the releasing afterwards can go on for several days and be very profound.

“Everyone is different and will respond and release in an individual way.  We work together to discover what suits best – a bespoke package. A journey of discovery.”

What are your top tips to help people to cope with SAD?

What methods do you use to help tackle SAD? I would love to hear about them. Email me at nina@thestrayferret.co.uk

Harrogate Grandmother’s story of unbreakable love of neglected granddaughter

This article is sponsored by Berwins

 

Six days before Christmas in 2006, Elizabeth’s four-year-old granddaughter came to live with her in Harrogate.

She was wearing clothes that were too small for her and was a shadow of the little girl who had once been full of life.

Two weeks earlier Elizabeth was contacted by a social worker and asked if she knew Grace had been put into care.

Shocked and devastated, she demanded that her granddaughter came to live with her. 

She invited me to hear her incredible story of heartbreak, sacrifice, resilience, but most importantly the unbreakable bond between a grandmother and her grandchild.  In this article I have changed all the names to protect their identities.

When I met Elizabeth, I instantly warmed to her. I could tell she was tough, but also incredibly kind, by the way she told me to relax as I perched stiffly on the edge of her sofa.

As she started to tell me her heart-wrenching story, the raw emotion of the trauma both she and Grace had been through was etched on her face.

She said:

“I was contacted by social services to say that Grace had been put into care because her mother had wanted to put her up for adoption.

After a bit of toing and froing I said she could come and live with me, and on December 19, 2006, along came Grace.

She was four-and-a-bit. She was very introvert, which is a sad thing because when we were together, before she went off with her mother and this person, my granddaughter was beautiful and was full of life.”

Elizabeth explained that her daughter and Grace had come to Harrogate from Reading to live with her in 2003 after her daughter had left her partner, Grace’s father.

Her daughter eventually got her own flat, but Elizabeth regularly looked after Grace, who was born in 2002.

She said:

“Every day I used to pick them both up. Before I went to work I’d take my daughter to work and my granddaughter to nursery and then at the end of the day, I’d do it all again in reverse.”

Controlling

However, when her daughter met her new wealthy partner on the internet, she began to distance herself from her friends and family as he became more and more controlling.

And when she eventually married the man, who lived just outside Scunthorpe, in 2005, Elizabeth was completely cut out of their lives.

She said:

“The day of the wedding, the agreement was I was going to bring Grace back with me so they could go on their honeymoon. I had Grace with me and we were on a flight of stairs and I reminded him to get his rings back, as they would need them.

“It was a different person completely, he totally blanked me. He gave Grace a look that if it could have killed, it would have done. And he turned his back and walked away. Up until that point he had been fine with me. It was like Jekyll and Hyde.”

Elizabeth didn’t want to stop seeing her granddaughter and would stubbornly tell her daughter and new husband that she was going to pick Grace up.

Maniac

But when she rang she wasn’t allowed to speak to anyone and was forced to accept that she would have to close the door, as the inconsistency was doing her granddaughter more harm than good.

It later emerged Grace had been told her grandmother had moved to Spain, which was why she could no longer see her.

Elizabeth said:

“He didn’t want somebody else’s child basically. The man was a maniac. He took all of my daughter’s things. For example he gave her a very expensive leather purse for Christmas and told her to go and get her old purse so she could transfer everything into this beautiful new purse he had bought.

“Later that afternoon he took the old purse and some other items and set fire to them. So he was burning and getting rid of her past.

“She had a lot of friends in Harrogate as she was quite an easy-going girl, so he tried to rub out her past. And the only way he could see to do it was to ignore a situation or burn things.”

After a year of not seeing her granddaughter, Elizabeth received a call from a woman called Jackie Crawford, from child services in Scunthorpe. She had been given the wrong spelling of Elizabeth’s name and an old address.

‘Bring her to me’

However, Jackie, who Elizabeth described as “worth her weight in gold”, persevered and got in touch with North Yorkshire County Council to help track her down.

Elizabeth said:

“In October 2006 I was sat at my desk, I got this phone call saying ‘do you know your granddaughter is in care?’. And we went from there.

“I was shocked, angry, horrified and didn’t know what had happened as I had no background to this.

“Jackie asked if she could come and meet me and we chatted. She told me Grace was not a happy child or in a happy place and she needed to have something solid.

“And I said bring her to me, just bring her to me, I’ll look after her.”

At this stage, Grace had been put into foster care, where sadly she was not given the love and support the little girl so desperately needed.

When her grandmother went to pick her grandaughter up, she was wearing clothes and shoes that were too small for her and she had no coat.

Instant connection

Elizabeth said there had been an instant connection between her and Grace, from the moment she first met her in the hospital after she was born.

She said:

“So when I went to pick her up from the foster home she had been sent to, this poor little thing had come home from school and it was a different child. She seemed smaller.

“She had a couple of Asda bags with some stuff in it and a backpack and that was it. I had to buy her shoes and a coat as she had nothing that was decent. She came to me in her school uniform.

What soon began to unfold was that Grace had suffered at the hands of her mother and stepfather in the year Elizabeth had not been in her life.

Excluded

Elizabeth said:

“She was excluded. She wasn’t allowed to partake in family life, for example she would have to sit in a different room on her own with a sandwich and crisps while they had a family meal. If they went out she wasn’t allowed an ice cream, yet her half-brother, who was born in 2005, was allowed one.

“A lot of the toys I had given my granddaughter ended up being given to her half-brother.

Elizabeth said Grace was frightened of everybody and everything.

On Grace’s first night at her grandmother’s, after an evening playing and a bedtime story, Elizabeth was sitting in the lounge watching TV when she heard a tap at the door.

She said:

“I opened the door and she’s standing there, saying ‘I’m lonely’. I took her back to bed, read her another story and from that day on it just grew and grew.

Inseparable

From this moment, the pair were inseparable and eventually Grace started to regain her confidence and self-worth thanks to the support of her grandmother.

The little girl went on to join a local stage school, where she flourished and won all sorts of competitions.

Fighting back the tears, Elizabeth recalled:

“When Grace was five or six, she did a performance at Harrogate High School. It had to be something they wrote themselves. We wrote a poem between us called ‘what did I learn today?’.

“It was a big, dark stage with dark blue curtains. Over the speaker came ”and next is Grace with her own poem”.

“She was wearing a top with sparkles on the shoulder. The curtains opened and the light hit her. She took a deep breath and she did the poem. I just fell apart. I was so proud of her.

“These are the things the mother never saw. She will never know. The things that little girl has achieved, it has been through sheer determination.

“Her determination to prove to herself that she is worthy.

“Some of the things that the stepfather would say is “you’re not worth anything”. If she walked into a room, he would walk out.

“So she began to feel she wasn’t worth anything. And you have to build that back up again.”

Grace attended a primary school in Harrogate, where she received the headmaster’s shield for resilience, which Elizabeth proudly keeps in a display cabinet.

Resilient

She said:

“I’ve always thought Grace is very resilient. Very stoic.

“I never had any drama with her at all. She’s also had her problems. She suffers from a thing called Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER), which is when the body makes too much acid. So when she was doing her A-levels she was also attending the hospital and having cameras stuffed down her throat and she still came out with an A* and As and Bs.”

Grace, now 19-years-old, did four A-levels at a Harrogate secondary school and is now studying English Literature at university in Newcastle.

Amazing bond

Elizabeth said:

“My idea was to get her up and out and move her on because I’m an old lady and very stuck in my ways.

“She’s had to live with my rules and regulations.

“She is now sharing a house with two other girls and just loving the freedom of it.”

At this point Elizabeth’s phone started ringing and it was Grace. Even just listening to the affectionate way they spoke to each other on the phone, I could sense their amazing bond.

Sheepdog not a sheep

Elizabeth said:

“One of the things I tried to teach her, because she was so vulnerable, is you are a sheepdog not a sheep. You have a voice. Use your voice. Don’t go in antagonising everybody. Don’t go in shouting. But if something is wrong explain clearly and precisely what you expect them to do about it.

“And bless her heart, she has managed to do all sorts of things. This is the one who would stand behind me when people would stop me in the street to stay hello.

“And slowly slowly she has grown and developed. She has got her problems, like all teenagers do. Although apparently she’s an adult now!

“The upside is all the lovely times we have had together, learning to ride a bike, playing football on The Stray and her shouting “gandma [sic] gandma get your legs out. Doing all sorts of outrageous things, having picnics in the rain and, as things got tight financially, finding things we could do that didn’t cost a lot of money.”

As Elizabeth didn’t officially adopt Grace due to her being a family member, she didn’t receive any financial support from social services. Support that she would have received if she had adopted or fostered a child.

Precious time

It meant that Elizabeth eventually had to sell her car and move to council accommodation. This was after she made the decision to cut her hours at work as she didn’t want Grace to be in nursery full-time, as their time together was so precious.

Elizabeth said:

“I had no time with her. Where is the point in having a child if you spend all your time saying ‘I’ll be with you in a minute. I haven’t got time. We’re doing it later’? I wanted to enjoy her. She wasn’t something pretty to sit on a shelf. She was alive and full of mischief and full of fun.

“All that loveliness that was there when I first knew her got knocked out of her the year she lived with her stepfather. And then to come back to me, to get that back again was wonderful.”

Best friends

Elizabeth said she lost quite a few of her friends when she started caring for Grace, as she was unable to socialise with them as often.

However, this didn’t bother her as she felt her granddaughter was her best friend.

She said:

“We could sit in the room side-by-side and read books or watch a film and not say a word. Because we didn’t need to. We were just comfortable. She said one of the things she misses now being away at university is curling up with a box of chocolates and a DVD. That’s not a bad relationship to have with your granddaughter.

“I think it’s the most wonderful thing I ever did. Every morning when I opened my eyes and she had either climbed into bed with me, or I knew she was pottering around or when she was in her room, was just wonderful.

“The biggest wrench was when she went off to university to find an empty room.

“She’s such a lovely child. It sounds like I’m blowing my own trumpet, but the pleasure and joy you get from this is phenomenal.

“Yes it’s hard, but oh my God the rewards. To see a child grow and develop and get rid of all that clankiness that was hanging on them when they first arrived. To stand on a stage, to sing a solo, to paint a mural on a bedroom wall, to sit in a car when its pouring with rain, eat your sandwiches and have a laugh at what’s going on outside. Just stuff.”

Grace’s mother and stepfather, who had a second child together, a daughter, in 2007, have since moved to New Zealand and neither her, nor Elizabeth, have any contact with them.

‘Grace is my daughter’

Elizabeth said:

“I don’t want a relationship with my daughter. I’m afraid she is one of the few people I would quite happily punch. I always thought we were good friends, but apparently not.

“I think it has skipped a generation. Grace is my daughter. She calls me mum.

“So this creature of mine that I thought was my daughter, isn’t. I’ve been asked if I feel sorry for her. Sorry for a woman who packed a small bag and put it in a car and watched her own flesh and blood get into that car and be taken away by strangers? The reason she gave was there was no bond.”

We finished the interview talking about Grace’s cat, Marmaduke, who sat on the arm of Elizabeth’s chair throughout. I liked to think the pet was a source of comfort to Elizabeth and watched over her while Grace was away.

One of Grace’s favourite pictures of Marmaduke.

She is truly a remarkable woman, a strong, determined woman. I couldn’t help but be moved by her story and her incredible relationship with her granddaughter.

Amazing achievements

Elizabeth said:

“I think the thing that makes me pat myself on the back is seeing all of the amazing things my granddaughter has done. Her achievements.

“Everything we have done together has been phenomenal. And that stacked up is higher than all of the grief, the sorrow and the pain.”

Grantley Hall invites local residents to go off-piste at new Alpine dining retreat

It might not be the Alps, but Grantley Hall is set to bring a touch of “chalet chic” to the district with the launch of its new winter drinking and dining venue this weekend.

The luxury hotel, near Ripon, has transformed its summer marquee into a winter wonderland – complete with cozy blankets and sheepskins, twinkling lights, vintage skis and sledges and festive décor.

It is hoped Après at The Orchard will appeal to residents in the local area, rather than just hotel guests, who can combine it with a stroll around the stunning grounds.

Sarah Baines, Grantley Hall’s marketing manager, said:

We want people in the local community to feel like we have an open door and it’s not just an exclusive venue you can’t come and visit.”

Sneak peak

We were invited along for a sneak peak at the new Alpine-inspired winter retreat ahead of a glitzy après-ski night party on Saturday and its launch to the public on Sunday.

If you haven’t visited Grantley yet, it is definitely one for the list. The staff could not be more accommodating and it really is a stunning hotel.

The transformation from a whimsical summer escape to a snuggly winter retreat had just begun when I was shown into The Orchard, a sailcloth marquee located on the West Terrace, boasting sweeping views of the gardens.

The Orchard at Grantley Hall.

Due to an event taking place earlier in the week, the small team was tasked with decorating the venue in just two days. This is no mean feat as it’s a big space. For their sake, I was relieved to hear they didn’t have to cart the huge olive trees out of the marquee, but instead were going to adorn them with twinkling lights.

Up for the challenge

Although a lot of work is involved in the glitzy transformation, the enthusiastic staff were completely up for the challenge. I have no doubt it will look incredible for the glamorous launch party on Saturday, which has around 100 people on the guest list.

Sarah said:

“It’s all very exciting. The thought process for The Orchard was built on the back of al fresco dining, which came on the back of the pandemic.

“We just saw a real opportunity to create a more creative outdoor dining experience. You can just throw the sides open and walk out into the grounds.

“We had the conversation internally about what do we do about it in winter. The Orchard has got a following now and it’s a really nice space and is something we didn’t want to lose.

“This way we can run it all the way through the year.”

Visitors and hotel guests will be able to enjoy some real winter treats from an Alpine-inspired menu including boozy hot chocolates, warming cocktails, a traditional cheese fondue and tartiflette. There is also a melting Valrhona hot chocolate cake with malted milk chocolate sauce and homemade marshmallows on there, which is obviously first on my list.

Cheese fondue for two.

Sarah said:

“It’s a lot more casual than the rest of the hotel. We really do now have something for everyone.

“The menu is a real mix and it includes small plates, nibbles and flatbreads.

“You can splash out and go for it and make it a full celebration, or you can simply come for a flatbread and a coffee. You could even just come for drinks and have a couple of hot chocolates and a wander around the grounds.”

Since opening its doors in 2019, Grantley Hall has quickly earned a reputation as a top destination for the rich and famous.

It is a stately countryside stay, a glitzy resort, a wellness retreat and a foodie haven. And it is without doubt the place to be you want to show off on Instagram.

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The 18th-century mansion, which has been dubbed by guests as “The Ritz of Ripon”, opened as a hotel after a £70m refurbishment.

It boasts 47 rooms, four restaurants, including one with a Michelin star, and 30 acres of sweeping wooded parkland and grounds.

Booking and opening hours

Après at The Orchard is open to the public from Sunday, November 7 until the end of March 2022.

The opening times are:

Bookings can be made online here, via email at dine@grantleyhall.co.uk or phone 01765 620070.

Top bonfire night foodie treats from across the Harrogate district

Remember, remember the Fifth of November, toffee, parkin and ale…

Yes bonfire night is here! It’s time to wrap-up warm, dig out our hats and gloves, light the sparklers and watch fireworks illuminate the sky. 

With events more or less entirely called off due to covid last year, 2021 is a chance for families to make up for lost time.

And that also includes all the amazing food and drink that comes with the celebrations.

Here are some of our top food and drink picks for bonfire night from across the district:

Farrah’s Harrogate Toffee

Farrah’s Original Harrogate Toffee.

A real British classic, the jaw-breaking treacle toffee, known as bonfire toffee, dates back hundreds of years.

And Harrogate certainly knows how to do toffee with style, with the famous Farrah’s blue tins selling in shops all over the world.

Farrah’s was established in 1840 and the Original Harrogate Toffee was designed to clear the palate of the putrid taste of Harrogate’s Sulphur Water. Fortunately we can now just eat it for pleasure – and it’s perfect for bonfire night!

Natalie Smith, manager of Farrah’s Olde Sweet Shop, said:

“Our world famous Harrogate Toffee has often been comparable to the delicious taste of bonfire toffee. It’s brittle, butterscotch, treacle-like texture is full of flavour and the perfect accompaniment to a bonfire night feast.

Whether it’s the Harrogate or bonfire toffee you’re after, at this time of you they are both a guaranteed sell-out. Be sure not to miss out and visit the shop to grab yours now.”

Betty’s Yorkshire Parkin

Betty’s Yorkshire Parkin.

In Yorkshire, parkin is as much a part of bonfire night as sparklers, toffee apples and hoping that the rain stays away. It’s a real warm, cosy scarf of a cake, deliciously sticky and with a fiery ginger kick.

Like bonfires themselves, the tradition of eating parkin here at this time of year is much older than the Gunpowder Plot. The origins are unclear – they could be pagan or linked to All Saints’ Day – but for centuries it’s been enjoyed at the start of November, usually on ‘Parkin Sunday’.

We have the brisk Yorkshire climate that favours oats over wheat to thank for parkin. Over time the recipe has been sweetened and spiced to become the treat we know today.

And we all know Bettys does a fabulous Yorkshire parkin.

A spokesperson for Bettys said:

“Parkin has been a Bettys favourite for almost as long as Bettys has existed. We love making it because it’s so perfectly suited to its season – sticky, warming, hearty. It’s hard to imagine bonfire night without it.”

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Hustle & Co’s Bonfire bagel and hot spiked apple cider 

Hustle & Co’s Bonfire bagel.

Hustle & Co, on Harrogate’s Station Parade, will be opening a little later on Saturday for those who are on their way to the Stray Bonfire.

And for those who fancy something a little different this year, the independent healthy-eating cafe has created a special bonfire bagel and lots of amazing drinks to keep you warm, including a hot spiked apple cider.

Spiked apple cider at Hustle & Co.

The bonfire bagel is gluten free and features dill cheese, seasoned spinach, scrambled egg, smoked salmon and caper crisps. As well as the cider, which will definitely warm the cockles, drinks also include flamed orange mocha, peppermint hot chocolate and a gingerbread latte with ginger spice crunch topping.

Nici Routledge, owner of Hustle & Co, said:

“We’re always doing something a little out of the ordinary at Hustle & Co and this month’s festivities are no different. We’ve got lots of specialty warming hot drinks.

On this week’s specials board we’ve got some great treats, like our bonfire bagel stack, Mak Tok curry bowl, roasted root soup, sharing boards and lots of sweet treats with autumn spice.

“We look forward to welcoming our lovely guests on their way to the Stray Bonfire on Saturday. We are staying open a little later until 6.30pm and we will have out hot spike apple cider ready for you on your way over to the Stray.”

Taylor’s of Harrogate Apple and Cinnamon Tea

Taylors Apple and Cinnamon Tea.

Fancy something warming, but without the alcohol, while you enjoy this year’s bonfire night celebrations?

Taylor’s of Harrogate does an awesome apple and cinnamon tea. It might not be an actual toffee apple, but the inspired flavour still totally conjures up those childhood bonfire night memories.

Abigail Sawyer, brand PR specialist for Taylor’s, said:

“Inspired by apple strudel and toffee apples, this caffeine-free treat is spicy and sweet. It is made with real apple pieces and a warming cinnamon spice blend, making it the perfect bonfire night brew.

Turning Point Brewery’s Heavy Dreams Barley Wine

Turning Point’s Heavy Dreams Barley Wine.

For those who do want something with a bit of a kick, Knaresborough’s Turning Point Brewery does an English-style barley wine, hopped with Godiva, First Gold, and Bullion.

This classic sticky sweet barley wine, with notes of figs, caramel, ripe blackberries, and almonds, is a nice warming drink to swig whilst watching the fireworks.

Aron McMahon, co-founder of Turning Point Brewery, said:

“I guess you could say it is the perfect bonfire or autumnal warmer, for ideally sharing with a friend, or family, before heading out to your favourite bonfire display, or celebrating this date at home.

“It is also a very popular style at this time of year as many folk use barley wine as one of their ingredients for making Christmas pud, in advance of those festivities.”

Harrogate interiors masterclass has boosted my confidence with design

This article is sponsored by Lapicida

As a nation, we have always taken great pride in our homes.

And in the age of Pinterest and Instagram, online shopping and interiors influencers, it has become easier than ever to have a go at being an interior designer.

You only have to look at the continuing success of glossy magazines like Ideal Home, as well as popular TV shows like Changing Rooms and Grand Designs, to recognise we have a huge fascination with transforming our homes.

And in 2021 – after 18 months of being very much at home – we are more obsessed than ever.

Guilty pleasure

Interior design is well and truly having a moment and I am here for it. My guilty pleasure on an evening when the kids have gone to bed is trawling through Instagram and screenshotting all the gorgeous images of people’s homes. I’m also a Rightmove addict and I read every interiors magazine I can get my hands on.

A rear view of Joanie’s renovated home on Wetherby Road.

So when Harrogate interior designer Joanie Mac invited me to join one of her masterclass dayschools at her own incredible home in Harrogate, it was a no-brainer.

While I have tried to absorb every tip and piece of knowledge passed on by designers, I will admit I’m still pretty clueless. I know when something works in my home, but I don’t necessarily know why.

So when I rocked up to Joanie’s house on Wetherby Road on Sunday morning at 9.30am, I couldn’t wait to get stuck in.

Fabulous

Joanie’s home is everything you expect from an interior designer. Completely fabulous. Obviously I couldn’t stop myself having a nosy at all her quirky furniture, artwork, accessories and bold colour schemes. I was like a kid in a sweet shop.

Joanie’s fabulous open-plan sitting area and dining room.

I was joined by four other students from a variety of backgrounds. There was a mum who attended with her art student daughter, an upholsterer and a primary school teacher, who was planning on changing her career.

After a welcome cup of coffee, we all took a seat at Joanie’s white marble kitchen island and began our first lesson of the day on colour theory.

“Colour is such a powerful thing,” explained Joanie, as she showed us various colour schemes and images and explained why they worked or didn’t.

“Colour changes everything.”

Four seasons

Joanie explained how colours can be broken down into the four seasons. Spring features bright vibrant colours, summer is more muted, soft and “flowery”, autumn is dark and cocooning, while winter, again with its darker tones, has a more “masculine edge”.

Apparently these colours play to our personalities and most of us usually fall into two seasons.

Joanie said:

“The big thing about colour is it can pull everything together – the things you wouldn’t think match. But you have to use it to create cohesiveness not choppiness.”

After another cup of coffee – it was a Sunday after all – Joanie took us on a tour of her house, which she has renovated and decorated to showcase her ideas and methods.

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With her walls painted predominantly in Little Owl, a soft warm grey by Fired Earth, Joanie explained that she had used furniture, accessories and lighting to inject colour and bring her home to life. Her rule is to stick to three colours and use variants of these in each room.

Exhibition

Joanie’s home is like one big beautiful exhibition and it certainly gave me some inspiration – from her mixture of vintage and modern design to the way she had hung a stunning floral dress on the wall as a piece of art.

A pretty floral dress can be used as a piece of wall art.

Importantly she had made everything flow by using the “red thread” concept. The idea is that you use this when decorating your own home to link the spaces and bind them together as a whole house, rather than just a series of rooms linked by passages.

For example you could use a splash of blue in all of your rooms. The idea is you must never decorate a room in isolation but consider the property as a whole.

Patterns and textures

After we had explored her house, including her amazing garden, Joanie spoke about patterns and textures.

She said:

“It’s about the friction between the textures. You don’t want to overload the room, but you want to create friction.”

Joanie takes us on a tour of her amazing home.

She suggested sticking to three textures in the room, using accessories like rugs, cushions, wallpaper and vases, and to also make sure you add plenty of green with plants.

It was then time to get stuck into some practical work. We were asked to cut up pictures from interior magazines of images we were drawn to, as well as fabrics and wallpapers, and stick them down to create a mood board.

Art project

This was actually lots of fun, as I’m so used to doing this sort of thing digitally on Pinterest. It felt so much more satisfying to actually create a board with something tangible. It was like doing a school art project and I found it really therapeutic.

Part of my moodboard.

We were then told to write down the first five words that came into our heads to describe ourselves. And it turns out our moodboards, and the colours and textures we used to create them, actually said a lot about us as people.

Brave

Initially I was quite reserved and almost needed permission from Joanie to go nuts with colour and texture. It turns out this summed up the anxious side of my personality perfectly. Once I relaxed into it, I started adding floral patterns, velvet, metallics and bright pink, and somehow it actually worked. I already felt braver when it came to putting this into practice at home.

After lunch on a naturally beautifully-laid table, featuring wooden serving platters, vintage cutlery and decorated with sprigs of rosemary, we looked at seven iconic design styles and learned about the style elements for each one. These were:

Lunch is served on a beautifully-laid table.

We also learned briefly about lighting and how this can transform your space, before moving on to creating vignettes.

A vignette, in terms of interior design, is a tiny, curated style statement, made up of a group of objects that are displayed on a shelf, a table, or elsewhere in the home.

Vignette

We had been asked to bring five objects from our own houses. Mine included an old framed photo of my great grandmother, an antique cigarette box and a vintage coffee tin.

Joanie then made a vignette using each of these items, as well as some of her own accessories, and her creations were really impressive.

We learned to look at them through a picture frame as an individual piece of art and to also contain some of the items, for example on a tray or under a glass cloche, which was extremely effective. Again it was interesting what we all chose to bring, interior design really is about you and projecting your personality.

One of the vignettes created by Joanie using items from my home.

I finished the day feeling really relaxed, but also motivated and excited about putting all the new skills I had learned into practice in my own home.

I am definitely going to be more adventurous with both colour and texture. If think something is going to work in a space, whether that be a really dark paint, a crazy patterned rug, or a random fabric, I’m going to be more confident to give it a go.

After all, my home is a reflection of me and I now feel brave enough to embrace it.

My favourite styling tips from the day:

 

Learning about colour with Joanie.