Legendary chef Marco Pierre White started his culinary career in Harrogate four decades ago.

Since then, Marco has gone on to lead the country’s restaurant scene and helped kick-start the careers of chefs including Gordon Ramsay and Heston Blumenthal.

Later this month he is returning to the town he calls one of his “spiritual homes” to host a three-day food festival.

He spoke to the Stray Ferret about learning the trade in Harrogate, favourite Yorkshire restaurants and… tripe.

‘First break in life’

Forty five years ago a young Marco Pierre White was instructed by his dad to go and search for work in Harrogate. This was because it was less than 10 miles away from his Leeds home and crammed with hotels.

So one morning in March 1978, sandwiches in hand, he caught the bus to the town, went to the St George Hotel, on Ripon Road, and knocked on the kitchen door.

He said:

“I was there for about a year. I didn’t learn much about cooking. That’s the truth. But what I did learn was how to use a knife well. I learned how to absorb pressure, I learned to be organised. I learned to work hard. Very hard.

“I also used to stand and watch the chef, Stefan Wilkinson, do the pass. He was the greatest at doing the pass that I ever saw. He gave me my first break in life for which I’m very grateful for.

“I learned a lot there, but not about food.”

Marco said his time at the Harrogate hotel was very important as it prepared him for his role at The Box Tree in Ilkley.

The famous Yorkshire restaurant opened in 1963 and was one of the first four restaurants in the UK to hold two Michelin stars.

Marco began working in the kitchen at the age of 17 in 1979, where he remained for two years.

He said:

“In those days it was one of only four restaurants in Britain to have two Michelin stars. A lot of people regarded it as the best restaurant in Britain at the time.”

‘Spiritual home’

While he hasn’t visited Yorkshire since 2019 as a result of the pandemic, he is looking forward to returning to Harrogate on October 28 for his three-day food festival.

He said:

“I always say Harrogate is one of my spiritual homes.”

And while he hasn’t dined out in the region for almost four years, he credits his favourite Yorkshire restaurant as the Cleveland Tontine, Northallerton.

He said:

“I’ve been there many, many times. My friend Eugene has left there and now he has got the Crathorne Arms, just outside Northallerton. He’s a very good chef and cooks food you want to eat.

“But when I was a boy, Harrogate had restaurants like the Drum and Monkey (which is still open today) and we had Oliver’s and Number Six. The first ever posh restaurant I took a girl to was Oliver’s in Harrogate. We both had beef wellington and a langoustine cocktail.”

Marco also recommends Simon Shaw’s tapas restaurant, El Gato Negro, in Leeds, where he plans to dine ahead of the food festival.

The Great White Food Festival

The Great White Food Festival will be held at the Harrogate Convention Centre and Royal Hall from October 28-30 and is expected to attract around 15,000 visitors.

Marco said:

“It’s basically a celebration of food and there will be lots of artisan producers who make things like salami, pork pies and black pudding.

“There will be produce like smoked salmon and haddock. In my opinion Alfred Enderby, from Grimsby, smokes the best smoked haddock in the world and they are coming.

“Redefine Meat are coming who make vegetarian steaks.

“Pierre Koffmann, Simon Shaw, Jean-Christophe Novelli and I will be doing masterclasses. There are a lot of chefs doing them.

“But it’s a celebration of Yorkshire really and all those individuals who contribute to it being wonderful.”

And his favourite Yorkshire dish?

“Tripe. Tripe is one of the most delicious things on earth. There used to be a tripe shop in Leeds Market. They used to hang it in all the butchers’ shops. People used to eat it cold with malt vinegar, black pepper and salt.”

• For more information about the Great White Food Festival and to book tickets, click here.

There is set to be some glitz and glamour injected into Sunday evening as Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK sashays into Harrogate.

The tour of the popular BBC Three show is hitting the convention centre at 8pm, with all 12 queens from series three appearing live on stage.

Acclaimed for its impressive production values, the audience can “expect the unexpected in this glittering tour”, which will include series three finalists Kitty Scott-Claus, Krystal Versace, Vanity Milan and Ella Vaday.

Ben Hatton, director of theatre touring for event promoter Cuffe and Taylor, said:

“RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is an exciting show and it will undoubtedly be an incredible and outrageous night of live entertainment.”

Tickets are available here.

Read more:

• Council explores move to protect Harrogate Convention Centre with limited company status
• Bill posters from Harrogate’s Royal Hall reveal varied past

This story is sponsored by The Hearing Suite.

The Hearing Suite’s new clinic in Ilkley is proving to be a major success following its launch last month.

Located at No 6 The Grove, the state-of-the-art practice has a dedicated wax removal room on the ground floor, along with a full testing suite on the first floor.

Founder Emily Woodmansey set up the Ilkley site following rapid growth at the Harrogate branch on East Parade.

The business has continued to expand and now offers a team of three audiologists and an ENT consultant.

Emily Woodmansey, managing director of The Hearing Suite.

Having grown up in Ilkley, Ms Woodmansey recognised that many of the town’s residents were making the journey to Harrogate and a closer practice would be more convenient.

She said:

“Our Harrogate practice is thriving. Our ethos is firmly grounded in having a small group of very happy people, and I thought it was about time Ilkley had its own full-time, dedicated audiology practice.

“The pandemic has reminded people how precious communication is and it has been exciting to share our brand of audiology with the people of my home town.

“Since opening a few weeks ago, we have been quite overwhelmed with the number of people wanting help with their hearing. The local business community has been really welcoming too. We are just so grateful for everyone’s support.”

The Hearing Suite’s employee Olivia, a former NHS senior audiologist, has been appointed as the practice’s head of audiology.

The new branch offers the same services as Harrogate, including wax removal, hearing consultations, tinnitus management and hearing aids.

An unusual charity dinner at Harrogate’s Rudding Park next month will see diners eat their main course blindfolded.

The event is being organised to raise money for Guide Dogs UK in Harrogate and to stimulate what dining out is like for people with a visual impairment.

Dine in the Dark will take place at the hotel on November 11.

Guide dog owner Kim Murphy said:

“Having my guide dog Jango has completely changed my life and events such as this are crucial for raising funds so that somebody else with sight loss can get a life changing guide dog like Jango.”

Nicola Ridgway, community fundraising manager for Guide Dogs UK in Harrogate, added:

“Dine in the Dark gives you the opportunity to enjoy great company and to have fun while experiencing the sensory effect of eating food with no vision.

“It will give you an insight into how visually impaired guide dog owners experience life on a daily basis.”

Tickets are £53.30 each (Inc booking fee) and are available here.

All funds raised will be donated to Guide Dogs UK.

Harrogate Poppy Appeal is urgently searching for volunteers to help out with the distribution and collection of poppies.

This year organisers from the Royal British Legion aim to deliver an appeal on a similar level to pre-covid, with a full delivery schedule and street collections.

They will be operating a poppy office and distribution centre from Harrogate fire station from October 20 for pick-up of stock and wreaths between 10am and 2pm.

About 600 boxes of poppies need delivering from there to selected retail outlets by November 1. From November 14, the boxes will need to be collected.

Read more:

• Knaresborough flowerbed marks Royal British Legion centenary
• Royal British Legion’s Nidderdale branch in danger of closure

Michael Comerford, Poppy Appeal organiser, told the Stray Ferret its number of volunteers had dwindled during covid and it was hoping to recruit about a dozen people who are able to drive around the district distributing and collecting boxes of poppies. He added:

“We are desperate for new and old volunteers to help out in distribution and collection of retail poppy boxes from October 20 and collecting back in from Monday, November 14.

“We are also looking for street collectors from Thursday, October 27 to Saturday, November 12.

“We have cadets from all three services on the streets on Saturday, November 5 and 12, plus junior soldiers on the 12th.”

The Poppy Appeal will be opening Garden of Remembrance, which will allow people to place small remembrance crosses near the war memorial in central Harrogate, from 11am on Friday, October 28 and will be observing a two-minute silence on Armistice Day – 11/11/22 – with the sounding of the last post at the memorial.

To volunteer email poppyharrogate@gmail.com or call 07935 596762.

Books that support the mental health of teenagers have been put in libraries across the Harrogate district.

The North Yorkshire’s library service initiative coincides with today’s World Mental Health Day.

The pandemic’s disruption to young people’s lives, alongside issues such as growing concern about global warming, has increased uncertainty about identity, position in society and future plans.

In 2020, almost half of young people said they did not feel in control of their lives and almost a third felt overwhelmed by feelings of panic and anxiety on a daily basis, according to North Yorkshire County Council.

They cater for a wide range of reading levels and formats to support less confident readers and encourage engagement.

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for libraries, Cllr Greg White, said:

“Our libraries have embraced the Reading Well scheme for some years, already focusing on mental health, dementia and issues facing young people.

“This latest collection adds another strand to the support that young people can find at their library, again showcasing their important role in maintaining the health and wellbeing of the communities they serve.”

Every library in North Yorkshire, including Harrogate, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge and Ripon, will be displaying titles from the new collection and any title which is unavailable can be requested and borrowed free of charge.

The Reading Well collection is curated by The Reading Agency in partnership with experts from organisations and professionals including NHS England, leading mental health charities and library staff.

More information about the Reading Well collection can be found here.

This story is sponsored by Revo Kitchens.

A new German kitchen superstore aimed at making stylish designs an affordable luxury has opened its doors in Harrogate.

Revo Kitchens is a new showroom concept created by the family behind Inter Ceramica, which they launched in Harrogate more than 30 years ago.

It is based in a 10,000 sq ft unit at Hornbeam Park and offers Germany’s number one kitchen brand ‘Nolte Kuchen’, alongside an expert design service and superior customer support.

Adam Challis, owner of Revo Kitchens, said:

“Essentially we splintered off from Inter Ceramica and Revo is it’s own lone-standing concept that is born out of our experience from doing kitchens at Inter Ceramica. We felt it was ready to stand on its own two feet as a really strong offering.”

Family business

Mr Challis is the eldest of three children, along with brother Ed and sister Amy, who work in the business. His entrepreneurial father set-up Inter Ceramica in 1990 and over the years the “Harrogate born and bred” family have all played a part in helping to run the company.

He said:

“My dad is an inspiration. He genuinely leads from the front, never stops and always keeps everyone happy. He is non-stop, but in a very good way. He got this place launched and got us to where we are.

“It is a proper family business, but the Revo side of things is on the next sort of professional level from that. We want it to come across as a really slick operation – because that’s what it is.”

Mr Challis also runs a company called Robica Project Interiors, which is aimed at developers and features tiles and bathrooms from Interceramica and kitchens from Revo.

He said:

“Another exciting pathway from the Revo side is this is only one third of the total showroom space. So we have got a whole other concept to follow for the remaining two thirds.

“It’s being kept secret for now, but it will be extremely unique and we will be the only people doing it. We will be launching it in the New Year and will hopefully be somewhere the people from Harrogate and further afield can come and visit as a bit of a destination.”

The perfect blend

Revo Kitchens is aimed at being a blend of the family company-based caring approach, featuring in-depth knowledge and product quality, alongside the benefits offered by bigger corporate brands. This includes finance options, a delivery team with a large fleet of vehicles and an installation service.

Mr Challis said:

“So it is hopefully ticking every box. I don’t think there is too much more we could have done.”

The German kitchens range from £3,000 upwards and finance is available from £29 per month.

Mr Challis added:

“Some people want to spend £30,000 to £40,000 on a kitchen. Whilst we do offer this, I’d say we lean a lot more towards the affordable side of things. I think that’s what is needed. All the products are amazing quality whatever the budget.

“The idea behind it is, it all arrives pre-built. It is as simple as fitting a kitchen can get. We do genuinely get retail customers who fit the kitchens themselves.”

Latest trends

Mr Challis said colourful kitchens were currently on-trend, with customers wanting a combination of unique colours and natural finishes.

He said:

“We do a lot of the real metal, concrete and wooden doors. Texture is really popular. It’s also fairly even between modern and traditional. Usually it is way more modern, but currently it’s a blend of the two.”

As part of the launch, Revo ran a competition to win a dream kitchen, worth up to £10,000, which was run via social media, in-store and in partnership with the Stray Ferret.

The winner, who entered via the Stray Ferret, was announced as Angela Ratcliffe, who lives near Wetherby. Her name was drawn from more than 1,000 entries.

She said:

“I still can’t quite believe it. We are really looking forward to working with Revo on planning our new kitchen. A kitchen refurb has been on the to-do list for a long time and is well overdue. This win will make it a reality. We can’t wait to get this project going.”

Excited to finally get the family-friendly showroom up and running after lots of planning and hard work, Mr Challis said:

“It means a huge deal to us to open. It’s what we have been picturing. I think it will do really well and I think the next phase of the plan is even bigger and better and we can’t wait to launch that. We are really excited and really proud.”

Opening offers

Revo Kitchens is currently running the following opening offers:

• For kitchens priced over £12,000, including VAT, customers can choose from a free upgrade from laminate to quartz worktops, a free Quooker tap, a free Bosch wine cooler or a £1,000 discount off tiles at Inter Ceramica.
• For kitchens priced over £6,000, including VAT, customers can choose from  a £500 discount off tiles at Inter Ceramica or free 40mm Nolte bespoke laminate worktops.

How Stean Gorge is urging people to head outdoors in an effort to improve mental health.

The advice comes ahead of  World Mental Health Day, which takes place across the globe on Monday.

The Nidderdale visitor attraction, carved out over thousands of years by waterflow, features an 80ft-deep chasm and underground cave network.

Recently, it has welcomed yoga and wild swimming to its outdoor activities, which include rock climbing, canoeing, abseiling, caving and gorge scrambling.

Above the gorge it also boasts the only Via Ferrata – a series of high wire and zip wires– in Yorkshire; one of just three in the UK.

Tony Liddy, director of How Stean Gorge, in Lofthouse, said:

“It’s proven that children and adults who spend more time in nature are healthier, happier and more resilient. It may be clichéd but it’s proven that nature does have healing qualities, it is our Natural Health Service.”

Studies show being in nature helps to reduce blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension and the production of stress hormones.

Mr Liddy said:

“We’re becoming a bit of a hot spot for natural detoxing, offering a complete escape. Our upcoming Springtime Cleanse will include yoga, wild swimming and gorge walking, whilst our Flow Back to Nature Weekend Retreat offers yoga, Stand Up Paddleboarding and bushcraft. The perfect antidote to stressful, hectic lives.”

Some experts are urging cold water outdoor swimming to be adopted as a public health measure, as it’s proven to help reduce inflammation, which is linked to health issues ranging from heart disease to depression.

Read more:

• How Stean Gorge set to build luxury cabins for groups and families
• New mental health event for men to launch in woods near Harrogate

Outdoor activities generally can advance motor skills, lower body mass index, improve muscle strength and generally boost overall health. Mentally, outdoor challenges can improve self-confidence, independence and self-esteem.

Mr Liddy said:

“Taking on physical challenges has huge mental health benefits. Our team of trained adventure instructors encourage visitors of all ages and skill-levels to take the opportunity to push themselves, mentally and physically. It boosts confidence, helps you overcome fears, and is a fantastic stress-buster. Ultimately, it’s about having fun.”

Other proven benefits include better resilience, being present in the moment, boosting creativity and problem solving.

The gorge has recently undergone a major face-lift, expanding its 20-pitch campsite and installing six new eco-friendly chalets with hot tubs and wood burning stoves.

Mr Liddy added:

“We’ve transformed the site with our ambitious expansion plans to cater to the huge demand for adventure tourism. We want to showcase nature’s stunning playground in this unique gorge that has existed for ten thousand years, since the last Ice Age.”

Graded as a triple Site of Special Scientific Interest, the gorge hosts geological formations, features bats hanging from its caves and fossils frozen in its limestone.

Knaresborough businesses are gearing up for Halloween with a spooky-themed scarecrow trail and window decoration competition.

Scary displays are already starting to appear in shop windows in the historic market town, including Sid Horner and Son and Claro Hairstyles.

The competition, organised by the Knaresborough Business Collective, is being run alongside the Halloween scarecrow trail, which starts on October 21.

Natalie Horner, from Sid Horner and Son, who launched the not-for-profit business group with Annie Wilkinson-Gill, from The Crystal Buddha, said:

“We are running the competition following the huge success of our spring and jubilee window competitions.

“It is aimed at making the town look amazing for our exciting scarecrow trail. The trail will feature 28 scarecrows around Knaresborough, which people can find on a map.

“They are all sponsored and made by businesses and they will all be themed based on what would suit their business. For example, we have a hairdresser doing an Edward Scissorhands scarecrow.”

The entrance to Sid Horner and Son, which has an impressive spooky Halloween window display.

Ms Horner and her team have been working on a Halloween window at Sid Horner and Son for the last few weeks and is inviting people to have a look.

She said:

“We are a bit tucked away on Finkle Keep. It is made from old printer parts and has lots of little surprises.”

Read more:

• Greggs to open shop in Knaresborough
• Business is booming in Knaresborough as empty shop units continue to fill

Specialist spa treatments tailored to people who are battling cancer have been launched at Grantley Hall.

The 17th century luxury hotel, near Ripon, has partnered with skincare specialist Jennifer Young in a bid to make spa experiences more inclusive.

Ms Young provides skincare products that have been created in collaboration with NHS cancer patients.

She has worked with Grantley Hall to train spa therapists in tailored oncology massage treatments.

As a result, the Three Graces Spa is now offering treatments, including facials, massages and reflexology, to clients at all stages of their cancer journey.

The treatments can be tailored to the individual and help ease the common side effects of cancer treatment.

Ms Young told the Stray Ferret that a person going through treatment should still be able to visit Grantley Hall and enjoy a full spa experience.

She said:

“What is really important is normalising the experience for someone going through treatment. If you want to come to Grantley, you should be able to, even though you are in a different place. It’s really important to me that that normality is attainable.

“It has been a joy to work with a team who wanted not only to offer oncology massage, but to make sure that the experience was every bit as luxurious as any other treatment on their menu.

“While all of our oncology touch therapies are designed for enjoyment as well as efficacy, the collaboration with Grantley Hall has enabled us to take the experience even further, creating something really beautiful for anyone visiting the spa following a cancer diagnosis.”

Ms Young has also created bespoke top-to-toe treatments for the luxury spa destination.

Read more:

• A Taste of Home: Grantley Hall’s Shaun Rankin and his triumphant return to North Yorkshire
• ‘The Grantley effect’: Property boom near luxury hotel

Formulated around her collection of wellbeing body oils, the therapeutic body and face experiences focus on nine core objectives including relaxation, sleep, energy, headaches, nausea and calm.

Specialist manicures and pedicures are also being offered.

Emma Button, senior spa therapist and Jennifer Young ambassador at Grantley Hall.

Emma Button, senior spa therapist and Jennifer Young ambassador at Grantley Hall, said:

“We found we had guests coming in who weren’t sure if they could have treatments. As a therapist, it’s quite a scary area, as you don’t want to do anything wrong.

“We can now do treatments on people going through a cancer journey and it’s great that we can offer that.

“If you are going through chemotherapy, it tends to dry out your skin. Your hands and nails also get quite dry. All the products are aimed at helping to relieve symptoms and side effects of treatment. Everything is really well thought out.”