Lightwater Valley will reopen next weekend, with new attractions and activities to attract families of younger children.
The adventure park near Ripon said visitors can expect a new discovery woods, dodgems, new food outlets, a hall of mirrors, an old-school amusement arcade and a new character for children to meet.
Ebor the Lightwater Dragon will meet and greet visitors and have his photo taken.
The friendly dragon is part of the park’s re-brand towards younger children aged up to 12 and will be at the centre of the daily entertainment programme throughout the year.
Discovery Woods will include a lakeside nature trail, a mud kitchen and cloud gazing.
Read more:
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- More children’s activities announced for Ripon Cathedral Spring Show
The park would not be complete without its rides, of which it has more than 35.
Some old favourites like the Eagle’s Claw, Skyrider and the Lady Bird rollercoaster will reopen alongside some gentler rides such as the carousel and the Lightwater Express train.
The Eagle’s Claw
The park has not confirmed if larger rides like the Ultimate will reopen but with its focus now on younger children some rides no longer fit the brief.
Treetop Trails, where visitors can walk across trampoline nets high above the park, will reopen.
Harrogate gran in tears after being wrongly accused of stealing in Sainsbury’s
A Harrogate grandma was left in tears after a Sainsbury’s shop worker accused her of stealing an item she had already paid for.
Pam Forster has shopped at Sainsbury’s on Wetherby Road in Harrogate for more than 20 years but said she won’t be going back after her experience on February 27.
Ms Forster was leaving the store when the security barriers started beeping and a shop worker asked to see her receipt. But because she had used the self-checkout machines and chosen not to get a receipt, she didn’t have one — she had bought a pair of wellies and some food and didn’t expect to have to return any items.
Because Ms Forster didn’t have a receipt, the member of staff asked her to accompany her to the till so they could print a receipt. The shop worker then looked through Ms Forster’s bags, matching items with items listed on the receipt.
During this, she said a packet of salmon had not been paid for but Ms Forster insisted it had. The shop worker left Ms Forster to speak to a colleague and later returned to say “you really should get a receipt next time, sweetheart” and walked away.
Ms Forster’s receipt
The Harrogate office manager was left “mortified and very upset”, adding she didn’t know if she was free to leave at this stage because she was left standing near a till.
‘Humiliating experience’
Ms Forster eventually left and “cried the whole way home”. She knew she hadn’t stolen anything and, after checking, found the salmon was indeed listed on the receipt.
Ms Forster said:
“She just walked away and left me, I was mortified. All she needed to say was ‘sorry love, you were right I just missed it on the receipt’ but instead she just left me standing there. It really wasn’t a good experience.
“I imagine she was embarrassed that she’d missed it on the receipt but if she’d just apologised I’d have drawn a line under it. Instead I was left feeling humiliated.”
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Ms Forster said she previously visited the shop every week and that “98% of her wardrobe is from Sainsbury’s” because it’s so easy to get it all from one place.
She called the customer care line the same day and managed to speak to a phone operator, who said someone would be in touch. Her daughter also tried to contact the retailer but no one responded.
Since the Stray Ferret contacted Sainsbury’s about the incident, the supermarket has been in touch with Ms Forster to offer a £15 gift card as a gesture of goodwill. Ms Forster said she rejected it because she won’t be going back.
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said:
Knaresborough alleyway cleaned after council receives complaints“We are in touch with Ms Forster to apologise and reassure her that we’re investigating this experience.”
An alleyway off Knaresborough’s Market Place has been cleaned after the town council received numerous complaints about its condition.
The passage, next to William Hill bookmakers, is often used by drinkers on their way home and is scattered with litter.
Knaresborough Town Council paid for a team from Harrogate Pressure Washing to clean the passage yesterday.
Local residents have told the Stray Ferret that, amongst the litter, there is always often a foul smell and broken glass.
Knaresborough town councillor Andy Bell was amongst those calling for the alleyway to be cleaned. He said:
“Over the last months myself and other Knaresborough Town Council councillors have received complaints about the state of the passageway next to William Hill bookmakers.
“We were pleased to allocate some funds to get it deep cleaned and are very happy with the work done by Harrogate Pressure Washing. Let’s hope it stays that way for a while.”
Read more:
- Knaresborough unveils blue plaque to celebrate its ancient market
- Pure Gym to open in former Knaresborough supermarket
At the beginning of the year, the local business group Knaresborough Business Collective purchased a street sweeper for businesses to take out and keep areas of the town clean.
Sneak Peek: New cocktail bar with a ‘cool vibe’ opens in HarrogateA new cocktail bar that opens tomorrow on Parliament Street promises to bring something different to Harrogate nightlife.
Anyone familiar with Leeds nightlife may have heard of Roland’s and Domino Club; both are popular drinking spots that have grown a cult following.
The owners are promising to bring the same “chilled out, relaxed vibe” and premium drinks menu to their new venue in Harrogate, which is also called Roland’s.
The new bar has taken over the three-storey unit on the corner of Parliament Street, at the top of The Ginnel. The Ginnel is home to several much-loved bars including Montey’s, Major Tom’s Social and Foundry Project and Roland’s is hoping to capitalise on this.
The bar is kitted out with brown leather booths and seating for up to 60 people. It’s industrial finish with sanded wood and a huge iron chandelier gives it a trendy and cool feel.
Simon Vickery, general manager at Roland’s in Harrogate, said:
“The plan is to take Roland’s Leeds and mix in some aspects of Domino as well and bring it here. In Harrogate, there are a lot of chains which are all kind of similar and I think Roland’s will become a bit of a hub for people working in the hospitality industry.
“I know I’m biased, but I think it’s what a lot of people have been looking for without even realising. We’re hoping the quality of our product and the atmosphere we will create will mean people will spend their whole evening with us.”
Mr Vickery said people can expect a premium cocktail menu, an array of spirits and draft beer.
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- Three new restaurants and bars opening in Harrogate in next few days
- New Harrogate bar for craft beer lovers could be coming soon
Roland’s also has its own gin distillery, called Wolfe Bros. Gins will be stocked behind the bar alongside beers from Harrogate-based Cold Bath Brewery.
Roland’s originated in Leeds in 2014 and if the initial launch is a success it plans to extend into the upstairs, which will offer more seating and a potential events and live music space.
Mr Vickery said:
“Roland’s is very much an independent and we’re excited to be surrounded by so many others. Roland’s has been wanting to come to Harrogate for while but we just needed to find the right spot, and when this became available it was too good to let it go.”
Mr Vickery added there were still jobs available for full-time and part-time staff.
Three new restaurants and bars are set to open in Harrogate town centre within the next few days.
Roland’s Bar, Samsons brasserie and The Giggling Squid restaurant are all set to add to Harrogate’s already-extensive hospitality scene.
Some locals may recognise Roland’s from its current venue in Leeds. The cocktail bar is owned by the same people, who also run the Domino Club in Leeds.
Based in the former Moss Bross shop on Parliament Street, it promises a “cool and relaxed” vibe.
Roland’s is open for bookings from tomorrow and is based on the top corner of the ginnel next door to All Bar One.
Samsons is a brasserie-style restaurant opening in the former Bistrot Pierre, above Sukhothai on Cheltenham Parade.
The kitchen team is headed up by executive chef Josh Whitehead, who is known for his work with the Harewood Food and Drink Project. He was also a semi-finalist on the TV programme MasterChef: The Professionals 2016.
The site — named after local philanthropist Samson Fox — will open on Monday.
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- Ripon pub set to close this weekend
- Sneak Peek: The new instagrammable, family-friendly Harrogate coffee shop
Giggling Squid will welcome its first customers in the unit next to Banyan on John Street on Monday.
This will be the Thai restaurant chain‘s first venture in Yorkshire.
The tapas restaurant will offer the opportunity to eat indoors, outdoors or at home through click and collect and delivery services.
Look out for sneak peeks of new venues in the coming days.
Knaresborough unveils blue plaque to celebrate its ancient marketKnaresborough Civic Society and town representatives unveiled their 23rd blue plaque yesterday to celebrate the town’s ancient market.
The market has been a rich part of the town’s history since it was first mentioned in 1206. Edward II confirmed Wednesday as market day in 1310.
The market has changed significantly in the 800 years since it started but to this day it is still held on a Wednesday and the bells of St John’s Church continue ring on Tuesday night to remind people the following day is market day.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by deputy mayor Cllr Hannah Gostlow, Peter Lacey and Charlotte Gale from Knaresborough Chamber of Trade and staff from the Tourist Information Centre.
The blue plaques are organised by Knaresborough Civic Society, which said this one — the town’s 23rd — had been in the pipeline for over a year. Andy Grinter, secretary of the society, said:
“We have a celebrated market and as a town it’s something we’re very proud of. It’s about time the market was recognised with a plaque.”
The plaque is located on Butter Lane, to the left of Caffe Nero, close to Market Place.
Other notable places and people that are recognised by plaques include Knaresborough Zoo, which is remembered at the site now occupied by Henshaw’s Arts and Crafts Centre, Dower House and celebrated local man Blind Jack of Knaresborough.
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Mr Grinter added the society was looking for new members. He said projects like this could happen more frequently if more members signed-up.
He also said a higher membership number would strengthen the society’s support or objection to local planning applications.
For an interactive map of all of the town’s blue plaques, click here.
Ripon Arcade signs contract on final two unitsRipon Arcade signs contract on final two units
Ripon Arcade is now fully occupied after Yorkshire Physio and Gladrags Ripon signed contracts on the final two units.
The arcade, in the heart of the city, recently underwent a £100,000 refurbishment. The 16,484 sq ft arcade was bought by Bradford-based property development and investment company Frank Marshall Estates off a guide price of £2.2m from the Westcourt Group in 2019.
Other occupiers of Ripon Arcade include North Yorkshire County Council and retailers, such as Scriven Opticians, Home Bargains, the British Heart Foundation and Westwood’s Barbershop and Social.
Edward Marshall, director of Frank Marshall Estates, said:
“It gives us great pleasure to welcome our two new tenants to the arcade and to announce that the arcade is full. We believe our sensitive refurbishment has given the arcade a new identity, making it much more visible and more of an attraction.
“Ripon is a sleeping giant and we are delighted that our attractive, new-look development has given the city centre the game-changing regeneration boost it needed.”
“Retail has suffered the worst period in history over the last two years but we are now seeing a strong recovery, especially in the smaller towns and cities like Ripon. People want to shop locally and, in a place like Ripon, this means in the Market Square and the Arcade.”
Harrogate law firm offers free wills in return for charity donations
Harrogate law firm LCF Law is offering people the chance to make a will for free in exchange for a donation to a local charity.
Throughout April, the law firm will draft wills in support of Saint Michael’s Hospice. It is part of the charity’s ‘make a will month’ fundraiser, which LCF Law has supported for the past four years.
The law firm hopes to raise a significant amount for the hospice. Head of personal law, Neil Shaw, said:
“According to various polls, around 60% of adults don’t have a will, so we hope that our offer to draft a will for free will help those who haven’t got one, as well as supporting the wonderful work that Saint Michael’s Hospice does. So many of us have family, friends and colleagues who have been supported by the hospice and we are more than happy to play a part in raising vital funds.”
The fundraiser also give people the opportunity to leave a donation in their will to Saint Michael’s Hospice. One in five of the charity’s patients are cared for thanks to gifts left in wills.
The Black A Moor Inn near Ripon is to close on Friday after six years under the current landlords.
The inn, based in Bridge Hewick, announced its impending closure on social media today.
In a Facebook post, it said:
“To all of our lovely supporters, it is with a heavy heart that we have to announce that we have made the very hard decision to close.
“We’ll be open for a few drinks on Friday evening at 7pm for a last hurrah and we hope to see as many of you as we can. We’ll be in contact with upcoming reservations over the next few days.
“Thank you to everyone for all your support over the last 6 years.
“Love from all of the team.”
The inn’s website is no longer live but on its social media, it describes itself as a “relaxed, family-run pub and restaurant”.
The inn also has five en-suite rooms and hosted functions.
The Stray Ferret has approached the inn for a comment but hadn’t received a reply by the time of publication.
Read more:
- Proceeds from the sale of Ripon’s Spa Baths ‘must not go to Harrogate’
- Ripon man auctions 255 bottles of whisky for Falklands veterans
Harrogate still a ‘top priority’ for bus improvements despite funding warning
Harrogate will remain a top priority for bus service improvements, a council official has said despite warnings the region could be left with little or no funding from the government’s Bus Back Better scheme.
Michael Leah, assistant director for transport and environment at North Yorkshire County Council, told an executive meeting today it was “unlikely” the authority would receive all of the £116million it bid and there was a possibility it could get no funding at all.
This comes after the government wrote to councils in January highlighting how its £3billion budget to “transform” bus services had more than halved to £1.4billion.
Mr Leah told today’s meeting:
“The overall availability of funding has reduced and therefore expectation has dampened across the county.
“If we are to get a number, it will unlikely be £116million.”
Mr Leah explained that any funding received would be prioritised to areas where the county council believes it is needed the most, including Harrogate which has the worst traffic congestion in North Yorkshire.
Ripon and Masham also ‘high on list’ for support
He said the on-demand bus service, YorBus, which allows app users to book and track journeys in Ripon and Masham, would also be high on the list for financial support. He added:
“If we were to not get any funding, there are still parts of our enhanced partnerships scheme which we could see through, such as better bus timetable information and more coordinated work with operators.
“It’s not just about the money.”
The county council unveiled its Bus Service Improvement Plan in October with proposals for more bus lanes, cash support for existing and new services and a simpler ticketing system.
Crucially, the aim is for services to cover the whole of North Yorkshire – something which has been described as an “enormous challenge” for England’s largest county.
It is hoped these targets will be also met through so-called enhanced partnerships where the county council will agree to infrastructure improvements in return for better services from bus companies.
Electric buses
Separately, the county council has also bid for £8million of government cash to make all of Harrogate Bus Company’s fleet electric.
If successful, the company’s parent firm Transdev would contribute £11.5million towards the costs of buying 39 zero-emission buses.
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The different plans are all part of the overall aim to solve Harrogate’s congestion woes by encouraging people out of their cars and onto public transport.
But the scale of the challenge can be seen in figures which show just 6% of short commuting trips within Harrogate before the pandemic were on a bus – and that this was decreasing year-on-year.
And while Harrogate is the most populated area in North Yorkshire and is being seen as a priority for investment, the county council has been urged not to forget other parts of the county, particularly rural communities.
Councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at the county council, responded to say improvements to rural bus services have formed the “backbone” of the Bus Service Improvement Plan:
Three teens on Harrogate Theatre roof plead guilty to causing £800 damage“There are huge challenges in providing affordable transport to a county as large as our own.
“But without question, one of the priorities we have is to improve bus services in rural areas, whether by traditional or more modern means as has been the case with YorBus.”
Three teenagers have pleaded guilty to causing £800 worth of damage after climbing on to the roof of Harrogate Theatre.
Police arrested the youths on January 25 after being called to reports of young people on the roof at the 122-year-old theatre on Cheltenham Parade.
The three males, who are aged 14, 15 and 17 and can’t be named for legal reasons, were sentenced at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Friday. They all live in Harrogate.
They all admitted damaging scaffolding to the value of £300 and causing £500 damage to a Ford transit van belonging to nearby Scandinavian cafe Baltzersen’s.
The 15-year-old was referred to North Yorkshire youth offender panel for 12 months and ordered to pay £200 compensation.
The 17-year-old was referred to North Yorkshire youth offender panel for six months and ordered to pay £200 compensation.
Read more:
He also breached a 12-month conditional discharge order received in October for driving without insurance or due care and attention. No action was taken on this breach.
The 14-year-old received a six-month conditional discharge order and ordered to pay £200.
Harrogate firefighters and police attended the 4am incident on January 25.
The theatre is undergoing a £1 million refurbishment that is due to be completed this month. Scaffolding remains in place.