The new owners of The Coppice guesthouse on Studley Road have reopened it with a twist – it will be the first in Harrogate that caters primarily to coeliacs.

Coeliac disease is a condition where the immune system attacks human tissue when the body eats foods containing gluten, which can include bread, pasta, and cereals.

Coeliacs have to follow a strict diet but finding hotels that offer an exciting menu of appropriate food is difficult, as Joel Thompson and Mindy Shergill discovered on a road trip a couple of years ago.

The couple are both coeliacs and moved up to Harrogate earlier this summer after pursuing careers down south in HR and publishing respectively.

Joel said:

“We went on a very beautiful road trip of northern England and Scotland. It was our first experience driving through the country. 

“But even if you get basics right, you’re not being spoilt or celebrated with choices that you do get with. You feel like a burden.

“So we had a desire to set up a gluten-free guesthouse.”

Mindy said non-coeliacs will be welcome too, but every ingredient that will come from the kitchen will be gluten-free to avoid cross-contamination.

She said there is often a lack of understanding about the condition:

“A lot of people are undiagnosed, it can affect you quite badly. Symptoms vary – it can get quite serious and you have to be quite strict.”

Read more:

• ‘We’re not giving up on our Harrogate B&B dream’
• Andrew Jones calls for long-term support for ‘severely impacted’ Harrogate events sector

They will cook up everything you’d expect from a four-star B&B, including continental breakfasts, porridge and cereals, but all no ingredient will contain gluten.

They may even open up their kitchen for gluten-free takeaways to non-hotel guests if the demand is there.

Joel said he believes their refurbished Coppice is one of around 12 gluten-free hotels in the country, and he hopes he can win everyone over with his nutritious and unique fare.

“It might enlighten people. We’re very good at making gluten-free food, we might convert a few people!”

The guest house is open for bookings now. To enquire, contact info@thecoppiceharrogate.com or call Joel on 07858 840789.

Harrogate Town have signed two more players ahead of their second-ever campaign in League Two.

The former West Ham left-back Lewis Page has joined Simon Weaver’s squad after spending last season at Exeter City in League Two.

Versatile midfielder and former Liverpool youth player Nathan Sheron joins after four years with League One outfit Fleetwood Town.

The 25-year-old Page signed for West Ham aged nine and made his first-team debut in July 2015, playing in a Europa League qualifying round.

He was unable to break into their Premier League team and has since played for Cambridge United, Coventry City and Charlton Athletic.

He said:

“I would say I’m the ‘modern day’ type left-back. Obviously I pride myself on my defending, I try to do that first and foremost but then getting forward is a bonus.

“I like to get forward a lot and put crosses in and try and affect the game by making assists.”

Read more:

• Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver signs new contract
• Harrogate Town manager looks up to ‘principled and honest’ Gareth Southgate

Twenty-three-year-old Sheron signed for Liverpool aged seven and spent 10 years in the Anfield club’s famous youth system before joining Fleetwood in 2016.

He said:

“I’m an honest player and I’ll play wherever the manager puts me. I wear my heart on my sleeve and won’t shirk out of a tackle so hopefully I can play as many games as possible and try to kick us up the league.

“It’s an upcoming club so hopefully there’s a lot more to come.”

Weaver had already bolstered his squad with five new signings: Mark Oxley, Rory McArdle, Luke Armstrong, Danilo Orsi and Alex Pattison.

Town welcome Premier League team Newcastle United to the Envirovent Stadium for a pre-season friendly on Sunday.

Conservative MP for Harrogate & Knaresborough, Andrew Jones, has called for long-term support for the events sector, which he said has been “severely impacted” by covid in Harrogate.

Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr Jones said it was “fantastic to see” the Great Yorkshire Show taking place this week but warned that the events industry will take some time to get back on its feet.

He mentioned Harrogate International Festivals, which is due to host the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival next week. The charity’s chief executive Sharon Canavar told the Stray Ferret last month she has had to make some “nerve-wracking” decisions due to uncertainty over when restrictions will be eased.

Mr Jones said:

“There are other important events and event organisations, such as Harrogate International Festivals, that have been severely impacted.

“I am aware that we have talked about this sector before, but events and circumstances are evolving, so could we have please a further debate on long-term support for the events industry? It adds so much to the quality of life in the United Kingdom and it may need extra help in the future.”

Read more:

• First events at Harrogate Convention Centre to be government pilot

• Andrew Jones MP should be ‘shaking in his shoes’, says local Lib Dem leader

Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg responded by saying that the Harrogate Convention Centre is to host two test pilot events for conferences next week, which will help inform how the sector moves forward.

He added:

“The government know how badly the sector has been hit by the pandemic and will continue to encourage and engage with people to monitor the situation and try to support a recovery plan.

“I accept that this will be a longer-term effort, but I think that beginning to get back to normal from Monday will begin to be helpful.”

Back in February, Mr Jones also called for a debate on the sector which he said was “central to the economy” of both Harrogate and Knaresborough.

The Hydro swimming pool in Harrogate is set to have 420 photovoltaic solar panels installed on its roof to produce renewable energy for Harrogate Borough Council.

The council, which owns the facility, this week submitted a planning application for the panels. It says they will help to improve energy efficiency and cut emissions at the ageing facility, which replaced the old Coppice Valley pool when it opened in 1999.

The council successfully bid this year for funding from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy‘s public sector decarbonisation scheme, which will help fund the panels.

A total of £1.8m will be spent at The Hydro to install the solar panels as well as replace gas boilers with air source heat pumps and put in place new energy monitoring and control systems.

Read more:

• Harrogate diving talent ready for Olympics

• Council to upgrade 20-year-old booking system in leisure centre overhaul

An council spokesperson said the council didn’t anticipate it would have to close the pool whilst installing the solar panels.

Kathryn Daly, head of place-shaping and economic growth at the council, previously said:

“We have ambitious plans to ensure our own operations and buildings will be clean, efficient and have a net zero carbon economy by 2038.

“This government funding provides a significant step to allow us to achieve this.”

The Stray Ferret is running a live blog of the Great Yorkshire Show brought to you by Lister Haigh. We will keep updating this page with stories from the showground throughout the event. 

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, lit up the Great Yorkshire Show today.

The royal couple arrived at lunchtime and were greeted by visitors at the sell-out event.

This year’s show will run for an extended period until Friday. It will mean that the maximum capacity of 26,000 a day can spread out for social distancing.

Visitors are encouraged to take a lateral flow test before they arrive to prevent the spread of the virus.

4.30pm – a bird’s eye view of the show

The Stray Ferret took a trip in the Ferris wheel to get a bird’s eye view of the showground before heading home. Thanks for joining the live blog today.

4.00pm – The world’s largest combine harvester

There are some expensive machines at the show, including the world’s largest combine harvester which will set you back a cool £625,000. Prince Charles stopped for a look earlier today, but a man from John Deere told the Stray Ferret afterwards that small scale farming is more of his thing.

3.40pm – Charles and Camilla set to leave Harrogate by helicopter

A crowd has gathered on the Stray to bid Prince Charles and Camilla farewell after their trip to today’s Great Yorkshire Show.

3.25pm – Gin makers at this year’s show

The Great Yorkshire Show is not just about agriculture and cattle, it also hosts some of the plenty of hospitality exhibitors.

The Stray Ferret caught up with some of them today.

2.41pm – Marching through the show

A marching band is currently making its way through the Great Yorkshire Show this afternoon.

1pm – The Royal couple have begun their tour of the Showground

12.45pm – Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall arrive at Great Yorkshire Show

Prince Charles paid a surprise visit to the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate today.

The Prince of Wales, accompanied by his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, wowed onlookers when they arrived shortly before 12.30pm on day three of the sell-out event.

There have been several visits to the show by senior royals in recent years. In 2008 the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh met exhibitors and inspected livestock.

12.10pm – Clementine the goat scoops award

Ripon farmer Emily Turner has won ‘Best Female Kid’ with her Golden Guernsey Goat Clementine.

10.54am – Only Fools and Horses’ Boycie visits the show

Boycie from the iconic show Only Fools and Horses was at the show this morning.

John Challis, who played Boycie, was signing copies of his new book and posing for pictures with visitors.

John Challis, who plays Boycie in Only Fools and Horses, at day three of the Great Yorkshire Show.

10.27am – ‘Athletic’ and gladiator-like ferrets

Simon Whitehead brought his rabbit-hunting ferrets along to the show.

They may look cute, but he described them as “athletes and gladiators”.

9.50am – Sun is shining on the showground

Visitors are gathering at the show this morning.

Temperatures are expected to reach 21 degrees today with sunny intervals and gentle breeze.

8.30am – A recap of a second glorious day at the show

As visitors are set to arrive for day three, here’s a recap and some pictures of day two at the show.

Harrogate Rugby Union Football Club have appointed former player Sam Fox as their new head coach.

The club, which is currently in its 150th year, plays at Rudding Lane after moving from their old home on Claro Road in 2014.

In September they will begin a new campaign in the semi-professional league National 2 after being promoted last season.

Fox previously spent two years as head coach of the club’s academy.

He said:

“I am incredibly excited to be coming onboard as head coach for the 2021-22 season. It’s a hugely exciting team with lots of talented young players coming through the academy as well as a strong core of senior players to drive us forward.

“After the past 12 months I know everyone is itching to be back and have a ball in hand. We understand the challenge of going in to National 2 this season and are working incredibly hard behind the scenes to ensure we bring everyone back in, in a safe way.

“I’m very excited to get started and back out on field and look forward to seeing everyone back down at Rudding Lane soon”.

Read More: 

• Harrogate rugby league club raises money for South Pacific island
• Harrogate Railway organises ‘rugby prom’ for charity

Harrogate RUFC director of rugby David Doherty added:

“Sam is a wonderful coach and we are delighted to announce his appointment. His philosophy and passion for the game aligns perfectly with the HRUFC core values and our belief in supporting people reach their potential.”

Campaigners in Knaresborough fighting a leisure centre and swimming pool being built on a park have accused Harrogate Borough Council of “not being honest” about the location of the new site.

A photo taken yesterday appears to show exploratory work for the new facility taking place on Fysche Field, next to the current swimming pool.

The council plans to build a new leisure centre to replace the town’s existing pool and begun drawing up designs earlier this year. A public consultation found over 80% of respondents were in support of the site, which is now the council’s preferred location.

However, some residents have criticised the consultation process and launched a campaign to protect the playing field next to the leisure centre from development.

They believe the consultation was flawed because it did not make it clear that the field next to the current pool could also be built on.

Campaigner David Hull, who set up a website against the development, took a photo that appeared to show drilling rigs and piling machines, which are used to drill holes.

Mr Hull told the Stray Ferret he believes the photo shows the council is intent on pressing ahead with its plan to build on the park.

He said:

“It is now abundantly clear to everyone that the intention is to build on the green park and not the existing pool site.

“We’ve had enough of this and this park will be lost unless we speak up.

“The council are being disingenuous and not being honest with people”.

Read more:

• Knaresborough’s grass verge vigilante fed up with council
• Green Party attacks Knaresborough leisure centre plans

A council spokesperson said:

“The current facility in Knaresborough is nearing 30 years old, only provides a swimming pool and has a number of on-going maintenance issues which are not resolvable without significant investment.

“As part of the design feasibility work, we are currently carrying out ground investigations across the entire existing site. This is normal for a project of this scale and does not pre-empt any preferred design or layout for the new leisure centre.

“When plans have been submitted they will be subject to the normal planning application process.

“Once completed, the new leisure centre will provide energy efficient, state-of-the art facilities that will encourage a healthier and more active lifestyle for our residents and something they can be proud of.”

Knaresborough Pool reopened yesterday after being closed since last summer following a problem with the pool’s filters.

The owner of Harrogate’s only nightclub The Viper Rooms has called the use of vaccine passports in nightclubs “impractical” ahead of reopening next Monday.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told a Downing Street press conference yesterday that the government was now urging nightclubs to ask revellers to show the NHS covid pass app on entry, which shows proof of a vaccination or a recent negative test. However, it will be voluntary. 

Mr Kinsey told the Stray Ferret it was a “contradiction and hypocrisy” to add further requirements to nightclubs, especially after the scenes of football fans embracing each other at bars and pubs throughout the Euro 2020 tournament.

He said the Viper Rooms, on Parliament Street, will be following whatever guidance is suggested by the government but that many customers “can’t see the logic” of restrictions at nightclubs, particularly as some will have come from bars where all restrictions will have been lifted.

He said:

“We can’t enforce a law that doesn’t exist. It will be up to people to use their own judgement when visiting the club.

“The majority of 18-year-olds won’t have been double jabbed. Vaccine passports are impractical.”

Read more:

• Viper Rooms owner: Young people in Harrogate can ‘celebrate life’ again
• Harrogate nightclub owner: ‘Government wants to kill us off’

“Hospital cases may be rising but it’s overwhelmingly people who haven’t been double vaccinated, are older or who have refused vaccines.

“This virus will be present in society. All we can do is manage the game that’s in front of us.”

The Viper Rooms will reopen on Monday with a ‘Covid-19 leaving drinks’ party from 10pm.

It’s offering free entry and free table reservations to all restaurant, hotel and bar workers in Harrogate.

Train services between Harrogate and Leeds were disrupted this afternoon when a tree fell on the tracks.

Rail operator Northern tweeted this afternoon the fallen tree affected the Leeds to Knaresborough and Leeds to York via Harrogate services.

It then tweeted at 4.09pm that the line had re-opened. The National Rail service showed the 4.15pm Harrogate to Leeds was cancelled but the 4.46pm was scheduled to run, which was good news for anyone planning to get home after the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate.

Northern has now said services are back running as normal.

Visit here for the latest train times.

Read more:

• Harrogate to York trains set to be doubled to two an hour
• Harrogate services back on track after person hit by train

Walk-in covid vaccination clinics with no bookings required will take place this weekend in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge.

On Saturday, people will be able to get their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at the Wesley Centre, opposite McDonald’s in Harrogate, from 10am to 4pm.

The Memorial Hall in Pateley Bridge, which is run by Pateley Bridge Pharmacy, will be offering first and second doses of Pfizer from 8am to 5.30pm.

The Memorial Hall in Pateley Bridge

Homecare Pharmacy Services will be administrating first doses of the Moderna vaccine on Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 5pm at the former Lidl supermarket in Knaresborough.

Homecare Pharmacy Services’ vaccination site.

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Read more:

• Knaresborough vaccine centre to hold first walk-in clinic this weekend
• Map shows second covid vaccine rate in Harrogate district

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Sue Peckitt, chief nurse at NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said:

“These walk-in clinics are aimed at those people who have not taken up the opportunity to book their vaccine via the NHS national booking service or NHS 119.

“With many covid restrictions set to be lifted on July 19, it’s important we create a strong vaccine wall of resistance to help keep coronavirus transmission rates as low as possible, protect those who are most susceptible to suffering serious illness and reduce the impact on hospitals and other healthcare settings.”

Covid vaccine uptake in England has almost halved over the past fortnight, particularly among the under 30s.

In the Harrogate district, the latest figures show 118,142 people have had first doses and 97,104 have had second vaccines.

It means a total of 215,246 vaccinations have been given so far.

Public Health England statistics show the district currently has a first dose uptake of 83%, while the second dose rate is 68%.