A branch of the café-bar chain Lounge is expected to open in Ripon this autumn.
Loungers, which owns the Lounge and Cosy Club brands, is currently refurbishing the building on Market Place formerly occupied by NatWest.
It is next to Ripon Town Hall, and the planned opening in September is set to create 25 jobs.
Sophia Stancer, community coordinator for the Loungers group, told the Stray Ferret:
“Recruitment is an ongoing challenge within the hospitality industry.
“At present, we are aiming for September for opening. All our vacancies are, or will, be listed on the Lounge website.
“We’d love to encourage local people who know and love their community to apply – as community really is at the very heart of what we do.”
The Lounge will have a distinguished neighbour in Ripon Town Hall
Loungers was founded by friends Dave Reid, Alex Reilley and Jake Bishop, who wanted to create a neighbourhood café-bar that they would want to go into themselves.
The trio, all of whom had previous experience of working in the restaurant and bar trade, opened their first venture in Bristol in 2002.
They describe the Lounge brand as “a café/bar combining elements of a restaurant, British pub and coffee shop culture”.
Now the group has approximately 150 restaurants and cafés in England and Wales.
The Loungers group was valued at £185million before its listing on the London Stock Exchange Alternative Investment Market, which lists smaller growing businesses.
The hospitality sector was hit hard by the coronavirus lockdown in March 2020 and all of the group’s restaurants were temporarily closed.
Loungers secured a £15million revolving credit facility from its banks, designed to assist the company during the covid-19 disruption.
Ripon’s hornblowers will make their keenly awaited return to Market Square on Monday night.
Ripon City Council has organised a special gathering to mark the occasion, as all three members of the hornblowing team will be on duty for the city’s 9pm ritual.
Council leader Andrew Williams told the Stray Ferret:
“We believe that the ceremony, which dates back to 886AD, is the world’s longest unbroken daily tradition.
“It has been a continuous feature of Ripon life since then and is a key element of the city’s proud history.”
The ceremony is carried out around the four corners of the Obelisk on Ripon Market Square
He added:
“To ensure that the return of the hornblowers is properly celebrated, all of them will play a part in the ceremony at the obelisk.
“We said that we would have them back as soon as covid restrictions allow and the city council is keeping that promise.”
Social distancing requirements announced by the government in March 2020 meant that Wayne Cobbett, Alison Clark and Richard Midgley could not perform the ceremony in public.
Instead, the hornblowers, who are employed by the city council and work on a rota basis, kept the tradition alive behind closed doors.
The ‘setting the watch’ ceremony was conducted at their respective homes and was live-streamed on Facebook every evening.
Before the covid lockdown, the nightly event involved them blasting the horn at the four corners of the obelisk and giving a brief talk on the history of Ripon.
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The city council welcomes public attendance at Monday’s event, but attendees will be required to observe social distancing during the ceremony and subsequent history talk.
During summer months in particular, the ceremony attracts large crowds.
Bishop speaks out after more vandalism in RiponThe Bishop of Ripon has spoken out about vandals after another incident in the city.
Dr Helen-Ann Hartley’s comments come after she saw the Welcome to Ripon sign on the North Bridge approach to the city had been vandalised.
She told the Stray Ferret:
“I was greatly saddened to see the Welcome to Ripon sign smashed up.
“Sadly, a minority are clearly intent on inflicting harm on our local community.
“While I appreciate there are many challenges that people face today, destroying things of value is not the answer.
“I hope whoever is doing this, can pause to reflect on how their actions hurt others, and think again before they smash something else up.”
Destroyed and discarded — the sign was torn down and thrown off the bridge.
The sign, bearing the words: ‘Welcome to Ripon, Stay Awhile Amid its Ancient Charms’ was erected in 1986 by the city’s civic society, in memory of former member Catherine Elmes.
Dr Hartley said:
“I remember early on when we moved here, I walked into Ripon and stopped at the sign and took a photo of it.
“I felt pleased to be in our new home here.”
The plaque in memory of Catherine Elmes on the vandalised sign
The North Bridge ‘welcome’ sign is one of two on the approaches to the city centre — the other being at the junction of Harrogate Road and Quarry Moor Road.
Vandalism, alongside other anti-social behaviour, is a recurring problem in Ripon.
The cabmen’s shelter — a rare heritage item and listed building on Market Square — had its windows smashed twice in the space of three months.
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Prior to this, vandals also broke windows at Ripon Town Hall and the Ripon Cathedral office and deliberately damaged the protective rubberised surface of the children’s playground in Grove Lane.
North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Philip Allott visited the city last month and pledged investment in policing to address the spike in anti-social behaviour.
He said he intended to give local officers the resources they needed, including a phased investment in the city’s combined police and fire station on Stonebridgegate.
Halls name proves a hit for Ripon department storeMore than a thousand customers visited Halls of Ripon when the department store opened on Saturday.
Hedley Hall, who, with Liz and Mike Cooper, has brought the former Wrens building in Fishergate back to life, told the Stray Ferret:
“It was fantastic and we were busy all day.”
He pointed out:
“The decision to use the Halls name proved a real winner, as it resonated with people.”
Mr Hall, added:
“The Hive coffee shop also proved very popular.”
Hedley Hall (left) with customers at his antiques and collectables stall
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Department stores of different names have been at 20, Fishergate since 1950 – most recently Wrens, which closed before Christmas.
Prior to that, the Philip Hall store occupied the site for 53 years. With its new look and mix of 22 retailers, Halls is building on the concept introduced by former Wrens owner Mark Butler.
He provided low-cost space to bring together independent retailers under one roof. For 15 of those now trading at Fishergate, it’s their first experience of running a retail unit in high street premises.
Among them was Emma Crossley of Bud Floral Design.
She said:
“The Halls of Ripon opening was highly-successful for me – I was selling all day and also took orders.”
As well as being a base for sales, the high street location has provided Ms Crossley with a showcase for her floral design skills.
David Ward of The Hive Coffee Shop, which he runs with partner Keeley Buller, added:
“We were serving people from the moment we opened and there was a steady flow of customers.”
Mayor of Ripon to continue in office until September
The Mayor of Ripon will continue his duties until September 15, when the city council will hold its civic annual meeting.
Cllr Eamon Parkin was elected to the mayoralty in May 2019 and his period in office has been extended because of the coronavirus crisis.
His deputy, Cllr Charlie Powell, will also remain in post for the next two months.
The city council’s first face to face meeting since March 2020, was preceded by its annual meeting.
Before the unanimous vote confirming his continuance in office, Cllr Parkin was thanked for his service.
Council leader Andrew Williams, said:
“In spite of a very difficult mayoral year, limited by covid, Cllr Parkin has continued to represent Ripon with great dignity.”
The mayor, who chairs council meetings, has been conducting them virtually via Teams, since social distancing requirements came into force.
The city council will hold its civic annual meeting at Ripon Town Hall on 15 September
The coronavirus crisis brought the cancellation of civic events that would have come within the mayoral year.
These include the celebration of the 75th anniversary of VE Day, Battle of Britain Day, Remembrance Sunday and the annual St Wilfrid procession.
As a publican operating in Ripon, Cllr Parkin has personally experienced the difficulties that lockdown brought for small businesses in the city.
However, he has remained optimistic about the future and in his New Year message, told the Stray Ferret:
“Against this backdrop of hardship and heartache, Ripon’s independent spirit has shone through
“Though the civic year has been severely curtailed by covid, I have either witnessed or been told of hundreds of acts of kindness across our proud and ancient city.”
A new mayor and deputy mayor will be elected to serve from September.
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Pyramid artforms at Fountains Abbey bring echoes of the past
Striking contemporary art, with echoes from the past, has been installed at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal water garden.
Visitors to the 800-acre UNESCO World Heritage site, will see a visual transformation, brought about through the work of Steve Messam.
His three thought-provoking installations titled These Passing Things, have been designed to prompt another way of looking at landscape and historic buildings.
Drifted – 12 Floating pyramids in the canal – takes its inspiration from a lost pyramid folly, designed as a memorial monument to honour John Aislabie, the original designer of the water garden.
Following Aislabie’s death, in June 1742, his son William commissioned a 16-metre-high funerary pyramid.
Bridged, reflected in the waters of the river Skell, stands out in the landscape with the abbey ruins providing a stunning backdrop.
However, despite archive records of scale drawings and detailed costings for the piece, no further mentions of it were ever made and no record or evidence exists of this mysterious pyramid ever being built
Mr Messam’s second artwork is Bridged – a scarlet contemporary bridge sitting across the river Skell, close to the site of a lost iron bridge from the 18th century.
The Drifted and Bridged installations will be on display throughout the summer, while Spiked – an inflatable artwork – will be making occasional appearances.
It bursts through the columns of The Temple of Piety, with a statue of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, looking on from the lake.
Steve Messam is pictured with Spiked, which provides the opportunity to reflect on the contrast between classic and contemporary artforms
The Aislabie family, created many follies to surprise and delight their 18th century guests and Mr Messam hopes his contemporary works will attract similar attention.
He said:
“I guess the overall thing is identifying with the whole concept of follies – architectural oddities of no specific function, other than their visual aesthetic.
“While, over time, we may invest them with meaning or stories, at their core they’re just there – large-scale artworks in the landscape. As an artist that’s what I’ve been interested in for the past 20 years.
“I’m also interested in the role that follies play in creating focal points in constructed views of the landscape.”
Justin Scully, general manager at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, said:
“Studley Royal water garden is a designed landscape; a living work of art.
“By working with artists, responding to this legacy, we’re helping to bring the water garden to life for our visitors today.
“We hope that These Passing Things will get our visitors thinking and start a conversation about the connection between the past and the present, whilst offering people a relevant, fresh experience of the Georgian garden.
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Through its Trust New Art programme, which is supported by Arts Council England and the Arts Council of Wales, the National Trust aims to connect more people to its places through contemporary arts.
More details can be found at nationaltrust.org.uk/fountainsabbey
Italian Ripon restaurant owner thinks England will win
Ripon restaurateur Franco Fantoni has got the blues when thinking about the Azzurri’s chances at Wembley on Sunday.
The owner of Prima Ristorante Italiano in Kirkgate is pessimistic as he prepares for the big match.
He believes that Roberto Mancini’s team will be beaten by Gareth Southgate’s golden boys.
Mr Fantoni told the Stray Ferret:
“Sadly, I think we’re going to lose.
“England have played better football than us and I predict they will win 2-0.”
Will Gareth Southgate’s team have the last laugh against Italy on Sunday?
The lifelong football fan comes from Bergamo in the Lombardy region of northern Italy and is a seasoned student of football in his native and adopted countries.
Back in the place of his birth, he supports Serie A team Atalanta BC, but he also enjoys the English version of the beautiful game and said:
“Since moving to England in 1973, I’ve followed Leeds United and have been a season ticket holder for more than 30 years.”
Mr Fantoni, who has owned the multi-award-winning Prima Ristorante for 36 years, is convinced that his countrymen will taste defeat, but the four-times Fifa World Cup winners go to Wembley with an unbeaten run of 33 games behind them.
They were also the 1968 Euro Champions.
In contrast, England have just the 1966 World Cup win to their name in major international tournaments and are attempting to bring 55 years of hurt, disappointment and under-achievement to an end.
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The Azzurri have been tactically astute when the heat has been on, most noticeably in the pressure-cooker atmosphere of quarter and semi-final games against Belgium and Spain respectively.
If Italy can serve up yet another winning Euro performance in the three lions’ den, Mr Fantoni will have to eat his words – but it’s a dish he will happily swallow.
Sneak peek: The return of Ripon’s department store
A new-look independent high street venture opens in a familiar Ripon setting at 9am tomorrow.
Halls of Ripon is in the Fishergate building that formerly housed the Philip Hall and Wrens department stores.
The coronavirus crisis signalled the end for some retailers in towns and city centres, but four former Wrens tenants kept their dream for independents alive.
Linda Liversidge at her Legs & Co stall, where she sells classic and vintage fashion for women and men
Mike and Liz Cooper, Hedley Hall and Lloyd Sheard devised a plan while selling their respective goods from a temporary location in Queen Street.
Tomorrow, their dream becomes reality.
Mr Cooper told the Stray Ferret:
“We are home to 22 small retailers – 15 of which are coming to open in high-street premises for the first time.
“The demand for space has been phenomenal and we have attracted a great mix of businesses, selling items ranging from hand-made gifts and home furnishings, to womenswear and jewellery.”
Keeley Buller and her partner David Ward will be selling cakes, beverages and other refreshments at The Hive coffee shop within Halls of Ripon
He added:
“Our aim is to take independent retailing in the city into a new era, while creating a department store experience with a level of service that is attractive to customers.
“Each retailer has their own facilities for debit and credit card transactions.”
Traders who also want sell online can call on Ben Butler, who is running his e-commerce sales and marketing business at Halls of Ripon.
Goods on sale include famous-name model vintage cars
Mr Hall’s antiques, collectables and vintage model business was in the former Wrens department store from the day it opened.
He said:
“Mark Butler’s highly innovative and award-winning concept sadly suffered because of the covid lockdowns at key trading periods last summer and pre-Christmas.
“We have taken his ideas forward and, by continuing to provide affordable space with no strings attached, have created a platform designed to help small businesses to succeed.”
A broad spectrum of retailers have joined the department store
Because of its long history, heritage and natural attractions, Ripon in non-covid times has benefited from year-round trade brought by tourists and the local population.
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Mr Sheard pointed out:
Is it coming home? Ripon pub regulars give their verdict“There has always been the demand for a department store of this nature in Ripon.
“It is attractive to traders like myself, because it is in a fantastic location for footfall.”
The roars from Ripon’s Hornblower Tavern will be heard across Market Square if the men with three lions on their shirts beat Denmark tonight.
According to legend, Alfred the Great gave Riponians a ceremonial horn In 886 AD as thanks for seeing off a Viking foe.
Since then the Ripon hornblower’s nightly blasts have reassured generations of citizens that they are as safe and secure as the England defence.
Now, it’s up to Gareth Southgate’s well-marshalled team to defeat modern day Scandinavian invaders on Wembley’s hallowed turf .
Regular football fans at Ripon’s sports-mad pub will be behind England all the way as they battle to join Italy in Sunday’s Euro 2020 final.
For Shelly Burrell, who runs the pub with husband John, that would be a special birthday present, though she pointed out:
“I was going to take the day off, but there’s no way I could do that if we are in the final.”
Hornblower Tavern regulars Ian Dewsnap (left) and Steve Ambrose, predict the score in England’s favour.
But will England fall at the penultimate hurdle?
Mr Burrell points out:
“Denmark are a good side, they will be playing to win this for Christian Eriksen.
“It’s going to be a close game, but I think we’ll do it.”
Tonight’s attendance at Wembley will be 60,000, while the Hornblower Tavern’s will be limited to 70 to meet social distancing requirements.
To ensure regulars can find the space to safely watch, Mr and Ms Burrell have five televisions, plus two large projector screens strategically located throughout the premises.
Adding to the pre-match build-up, they will be playing Baddiel and Skinner’s Three Lions, along with Fat Les’s Vindaloo.
So far, for the white and red flag bearers, it has been a happy and glorious unbeaten route to the semi-finals.
The question is, can the winning run continue?
‘Yes’, say two Hornblower Tavern regulars.
Ian Dewsnap predicts England will repeat the 1966 World Cup winning score that saw Sir Alf Ramsey’s team beat West Germany.
He said:
“I think we will win 4-2, but Denmark will be playing for Eriksen, after what happened to him in their opening match of the tournament.”
Steve Ambrose believes there will be fewer goals and England will win 2-1.
He added:
“After that, all will be to play for in the final.”
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One thing can be predicted without the assistance of Freddie the Ferret or Mystic Meg. For regulars of the Hornblower Tavern, it’s going to be a game of more than two halves, as they cheer on their heroes.
Bid to open Lidl in Ripon wins support of city councilPlans for a Lidl supermarket in Ripon have won the support of the city council.
Council leader Andrew Williams described a planning application by the German supermarket chain as a ‘win, win, win, situation’.
He said:
“It will bring 40 new jobs, increase choice for Ripon’s residents and also serve our growing population, with the new homes that we have coming on stream.”
Cllr Williams was speaking at last week’s full city council meeting at which he and fellow members supported Lidl’s planning application.
Lidl will join M&S Food at St Michael’s Retail Park if its plans are approved.
Harrogate Borough Council will decide whether to accept Lidl’s application to open a 1,100 square metre store at the £10 million St Michael’s Retail Park.
But the backing of Ripon City Council suggests there is support locally for the plan.
The Rotary Way site, off the bypass, is already home to a Marks & Spencer Food outlet, which opened last July.
Ripon, with a population of 17,000-plus and growing, is well-served by supermarkets, with Aldi, Booths, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s also trading in the city.
Lidl put forward its Ripon proposal following an online consultation.
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Following the consultation, a spokesperson from Lidl GB said:
“Many people have welcomed the proposed Lidl store, which would bring competition, increasing choice and providing a boost to the local economy through job creation.
“Many also mentioned that a store on this site would reduce the need to travel out of the city to shop and therefore keep expenditure in Ripon.”
The supermarket has also submitted an application to open its first Harrogate store on the site of the former Lookers car dealership on Knaresborough Road.