Vicky Carr, Author at The Stray Ferret

Introducing Smiths of Harrogate: the new brand with 115 years of history

This article is sponsored by Smiths of Harrogate.

A family business in Harrogate is set to step into a new era this Autumn.

For more than 115 years, Smiths has been recognised as a leading retailer of furniture, beds and upholstery across the Harrogate, Yorkshire and beyond.

Its familiar building on Dragon Road and its blue delivery vans have borne the name “Smiths The Rink” since 1935, when the Smith family took over the former roller rink which became its home.

However, the fifth generation of the Smith family has decided now is the time to update and move forward, ensuring the brand is recognised even by those who don’t know its history.

Company director Olly Smith said:

“The link to the roller rink was such a long time ago and for a very brief amount of time compared to the business’s history, which goes back to 1906.

“There are very few people who recognise the reason for the name these days – most people assume it was an ice rink.

“We’ve been changing the business significantly over the last five to 10 years into what it is now, and this is the final piece of the jigsaw.”

The new name, Smiths of Harrogate, maintains the historic family link as well as serving to continue the company’s reputation for quality, trustworthiness and style.

Updated branding

That service includes a huge showroom and knowledgeable staff with 70 beds and impressive displays of sofas, chairs and more. Its furniture range covers everything from bedside tables to dining sets, while the flooring department has carpets, wooden flooring and luxury vinyl floors.

Smiths Of Harrogate offers an impressive range of brands to suit all tastes, including Ercol, Amtico, Duresta, Himolla, Parker Knoll, Hypnos, Vispring and many more.

Once customers have selected their furniture, it is delivered by Smiths’ own team in their recognisable vans – now carrying the new name and logo.

The Smith family is looking forward to introducing the refreshed business to customers old and new over the coming weeks and months. Olly added:

“Anyone who comes through the door is wowed by the scale of the building and our product offering.

“We have a lot of people coming to us from some distance away, having found us online. This is a great opportunity for local people who only know our old brand to meet the modern business and see for themselves what’s behind the doors.”

Crown court trial for man charged with Harrogate town centre attacks

A man will face trial at York Crown Court after allegedly carrying out a series of attacks in central Harrogate.

Vaughn Ellis, 40, of Grove Park Terrace in Harrogate, appeared at Harrogate Magistrates’ Court this morning facing six charges relating to incidents on April 19 this year.

He has been charged with two counts of assault by beating against two people in Oxford Terrace, as well as criminal damage to a door in the same location.

He also faced two charges of attempted robbery, to which he indicated not guilty pleas, on West Park, along with one count of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress, also on West Park.

Magistrates ordered that Mr Ellis be sent to York Crown Court for trial on all six counts. He was given a preliminary date of November 14, when he will be asked to enter formal pleas.

In the meantime, he was bailed and ordered not to make direct or indirect contact with any of the alleged victims.

Police appeal as investigations continue into Cold Bath Road cyclist collision

Investigations into a collision between a car and a bicycle on Cold Bath Road are continuing, two months after the incident happened.

North Yorkshire Police said a woman in her 50s was arrested and released under investigation while officers continue to make inquiries.

It follows the collision at the junction of West Cliffe Grove on Friday, August 12, between a white Vauxhall Viva travelling up Cold Bath Road from the Crown roundabout and a pedal cyclist coming down the road in the opposite direction.

The cyclist – a man in his 50s from the Richmond area – was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

An air ambulance landed on the Stray and most of Cold Bath Road was closed for several hours while police dealt with the scene.

At the time, officers appealed for the driver of a dark-coloured hatchback who stopped at the scene to come forward. They have now said they have traced the driver.

However, they are continuing to appeal for information from anyone who saw either the car or the bicycle.

Witnesses to the collision or anyone with CCTV or dash cam footage is asked to call North Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 122201422867. Alternatively, email 001282@northyorkshire.police.uk quoting the same reference number.

Cycle path, housing and more on agenda for Harlow Hill residents

Residents of the Harlow Hill and Pannal Ash areas of Harrogate will gather tomorrow night to discuss the issues they face as a community.

From housing developments and cycle lanes to the upcoming reorganisation of local government in North Yorkshire, Harlow and Pannal Ash Residents’ Association (HAPARA) has a busy agenda for its AGM.

Chairman Rene Dziabas said the long-delayed West Harrogate Parameters Plan – setting out a plan for infrastructure to support thousands of new homes in the area – was likely to be among the topics generating the most interest.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“We still have over-riding concerns about the infrastructure for these successive developments – public transport, paths, cycle paths, hospitals, schools.

“We work with a number of parish councils and they hold similar views to us.”

This will be the first time HAPARA has held an in-person AGM since 2019, thanks to the covid pandemic. In the intervening three years, many new households have arrived in the area, and the group is keen to welcome them alongside long-standing residents.

Though it encourages people to sign up as members, anyone can go along to the AGM and, unlike a parish council, it has no defined geographical boundary, so is open to anyone who wants to join.

As well as the changes that have taken place in the area in recent years, the group will look at what is ahead for local residents.

While phase one of the Otley Road cycle path has been largely completed, and phase two is scheduled to begin “shortly”, according to North Yorkshire County Council, phase three – from Harlow Moor Road to Cardale Park – remains contentious among residents, according to a survey of residents by HAPARA this year.

Mr Dziabas said he hoped the new North Yorkshire Council would keep to its word of engaging added:

“We are also trying to introduce some local issues. A couple of residents are doing a presentation on low traffic neighbourhoods.

“If we can get something like that, an idea from grass roots, and if we can make the beginnings of something, that would be nice.

“Money is going to be tight and there is going to be less money around over the next few years than there is now.

“If you engage with local organisations, the people you are engaging with are doing it for free and there’s a lot of knowledge and a lot of professional people in those organisations. If you keep an open mind, you can tap into it.’

The HAPARA AGM takes place at Harlow Community Centre (The Green Hut) on Harlow Avenue on Wednesday, October 12 from 7pm. The full agenda is available here.

Former solicitor breached restraining order in Harrogate

A solicitor from Harrogate has been remanded in custody after breaching a restraining order preventing him from contacting his ex-wife.

Richard Wade-Smith, 66, appeared at York Crown Court this morning via video link from HMP Hull to be sentenced after pleading guilty to the breach at York Magistrates Court last month.

The court heard he had previously been sentenced to a community order and restraining order on September 15, after ramming his car into his ex-wife’s house at Slingsby Walk, near the Stray in Harrogate. He had admitted harassment causing fear of violence, damaging property, and drink driving.

Just four days after being sentenced, he breached the order, turning up at his ex-wife’s house as well as visiting her neighbour.

Prosecuting, Kelly Sherif said:

“[His former wife] said that ‘I knew that when Richard was released, that he would not abide by any orders and here we are, four days later…

“I sit in my house with the curtains closed, too scared to venture outside in case I see him’.”

The prosecution said Wade-Smith had knocked on his ex-wife’s door at 8.15am, but left when she failed to answer. He then returned at 10.30am and knocked, as well as calling to his wife and saying it was “Susie” at the door.

When she recognised his voice and again did not open the door, he went to the neighbouring house. The neighbour answered the door but told him he should not be there because of the restraining order.

Wade-Smith said he had nowhere to go, but the neighbour repeated that he was not allowed to be near his ex-wife’s home.

In mitigation, Alasdair Campbell told the court Wade-Smith had been unable to access temporary accommodation following the sentencing on September 15.

It had taken a long time for arrangements to be made for him to leave HMP Hull, by which time Harrogate Borough Council’s offices had closed and he was unable to get a place at a homeless hostel.

He slept rough that night and the next night, then paid “a lot of money” for a hotel the third night. He slept rough again the following night, but woke up in hospital, having been drinking and apparently been robbed, with his bank card and cash taken.

Recovering alcoholic

Wade-Smith, a recovering alcoholic, admitted breaching the restraining order, though he argued he had only visited his former wife’s home once.

Mr Campbell said:

“When I asked him why he did that on that particular occasion, my instructions are that, faced with what he was going through, [he chose] the option of breaching the restraining order to get himself locked up so he had somewhere to stay that night…

“In hindsight, it may have been a foolish option.

“If someone is prepared to breach a serious court order, it does give one some idea of the desperate position he perceived himself to be in.”

Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York — who heard Wade-Smith’s original case in September — adjourned sentencing until November to allow a full victim impact statement to be taken from Wade-Smith’s former wife.

He told Mr Campbell that Wade-Smith should have gone back to the council the day after his release to access the hostel place that had been arranged for him by the court.

He added:

“He isn’t stupid, this man. He should have gone the next day.”

Wade-Smith is due to be sentenced on Friday, November 18.

Residential conversion plan submitted for upper floors of Harrogate estate agency

Plans have been put forward to convert part of a town centre estate agent’s office in Harrogate into a two-bedroom flat.

The premises on Albert Street is occupied by North Residential, previously Knight Frank, but under the proposals part of the first floor and all of the second floor would be changed to residential use.

The prior notification documents submitted to change the use of the premises state that other than a meeting room to the rear, the upper floors have been out of use for some time.

The application states:

“The upper floors of the premises were ceased to be part of the commercial use following the refurbishment of the building at the rear 18 months ago.

“The ground floor floorspace was considered more convenient and offered a high quality meeting room. Since that time, the first and second floors have remained vacant in excess of the three month requirement.”

Access to the upper floors is through the estate agency office on the ground floor. However, the proposals state that a separate application will be made to alter the access and provide a self-contained staircase to the flat.

The plans show it would have a living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom on the first floor, with a second bedroom on the top floor.

Supporting information submitted with the plans states:

“The proposed scheme looks to preserve and enhance the character of the conservation area through conversion of its first and loft floor, improving the amenity of the building and bringing the upper floors of the building back into use.”

North Residential began trading last month after a management buy-out of the Harrogate branch of Knight Frank, having been operating it in Harrogate for 15 years.

The business will continue in the ground floor of the Albert Street building, along with a first-floor meeting room to the rear.

To view or comment on the application, visit the planning section of Harrogate Borough Council’s website and use reference 22/03448/PCBSR.

Ofsted finds ‘good’ village school near Knaresborough is ‘like a second home’

A village school near Knaresborough with 78 pupils on the roll continues to be ‘good’, according to Ofsted inspectors.

The latest report found Goldsborough Primary School was welcoming and safe, described as “like a second home” by one pupil when inspectors visited in July.

The new report, published last week, found pupils’ behaviour was “calm and purposeful” and that staff were quick to deal with any bullying at an early stage. It said:

“Pupils are taught how to care for their mental health. Leaders support this through a commitment to the school values of happiness, perseverance, resilience, kindness, friendship and respect.

“The school works closely with the church. Alongside school leaders, church members contribute to thoughtful discussion about a wide range of spiritual and moral topics in assemblies.”

Inspectors found teachers had high expectations of pupils and set a “well-sequenced curriculum”, though said they acknowledged it was not implemented consistently in all classes.

Executive headteacher Zoe Ellis welcomed the report and said the school and Ofsted understood reasons why there was some inconsistency and had a plan to tackle it. She said:

“Ofsted and leaders both recognised that the approach was not always consistent in classes due to significant absences throughout periods of covid.

“Ofsted were positive that leaders were already making strides to improve this and that they had a strong, strategic approach to continue with the positive trajectory witnessed on the inspection day.”

The report highlighted the teaching of reading as a particular strength, along with the development of the curriculum in core subjects such as maths since the last inspection. It also praised the support for pupils with special educational needs or disabilities, which inspectors found helped all pupils to make progress through the school.

Personal, health and social education (PHSE) and relationships and sex education (RSE) were both found to be “a strength within this small school”.

Inspectors also praised the school’s leadership, saying:

“Staff say that leaders are considerate of their workload and well-being. They work hard because they want the best for the pupils in their care.

“Members of staff explained that they enjoy their job and are proud to work at Goldsborough. Governors are supportive of leaders across the federation. They are very proud of what the school has achieved.

“They are dedicated to working with leaders to continue to improve the school further. They work well with leaders to oversee this ongoing improvement.”

Goldsborough Primary School has been federated with Sicklinghall Primary School since January 2017. Mrs Ellis is executive headteacher of both schools and has a shared governing body.

Inspectors said the ‘good’ rating of the previous full inspection in 2012 had been maintained, which under Ofsted’s new framework means a further full inspection is not required.

‘Theatre on your doorstep’ returns to communities across Harrogate district

A touring theatre company is making its return across the Harrogate district this autumn – and doing so on a scale it has never attempted before.

Badapple Theatre specialises in bringing shows to small venues and usually tours three shows a year, with a break between each.

But a “post-covid lag” has left the company putting on three productions almost at the same time.

Two one-hander shows, Yorkshire Kernel and The Land Girl, complete their tour in Harrogate next weekend, just after The Frozen Roman gets under way in Aldborough on Friday. Meanwhile, rehearsals continue for The Marvellous, Mystical, Musical Box, which runs throughout December.

The busy season aside, artistic director Kate Bramley said the company had managed to keep operating during the pandemic, when many arts organisations struggled.

“We have been very lucky, or perhaps enterprising, or both, over the last few years. We went outdoors when we did some filming, some podcasting, we brought the youth theatre back outdoors and then indoors when we could.

“We really had to think very hard about it. Very early on we had to cancel our big tour. The Arts Council have funded us for a long time, now through our projects and they were amazing with the level of understanding about what was happening.”

Kate Bramley of Badapple Theatre

As restrictions began to be relaxed, Badapple was able to respond quickly and take advantage of any change in regulations. It went from online work to outdoor performances to socially-distanced indoor theatre.

What was less possible was performing in its usual small venues: Badapple specialises in pop-up theatre in “your village hall or aircraft hangar or wherever”.

Now, with all restrictions lifted, its small teams of three actors and a stage manager can get back to the kind of venues they are used to. Village halls in Tockwith, North Stainley and Bishop Monkton, along with the Green Hut on Harrogate’s Harlow Avenue, are typical of the places to be visited by the upcoming tours.

Kate said:

“We went back to our theatre roots during covid and now we’re returning to the ‘theatre on your doorstep’ concept.

“I just really like going to places where people don’t expect us to be. It does tend to be a social event, more than a theatre event, and that breaks down some of those misconceptions people have about going to the theatre and how you have to behave and what you have to wear and so on.”

Alongside its performances, the team at Badapple did all they could to ensure the thriving youth theatre was kept alive through the pandemic. Having rehearsed outdoors for some time, its 35 members – all aged between seven and 14 – are now back to their usual weekly classes and ‘play in a week’ summer school.

Badapple’s thriving youth theatre

One of the appeals of the youth theatre is that it is treated with the same respect as a touring production. Full costumes, proper lighting and good set design are all on show when the youngsters put on their performances at Green Hammerton Village Hall.

There are no auditions or casting calls and it is open to all children, whether they are keen to be actors or want an encouraging space to boost their confidence.

The youth theatre may be back to full strength, but Kate said the wider theatre industry is still seeing audience numbers around 20% lower than before. With the company’s 25th anniversary to be marked next year, she is hopeful things will continue to improve.

A tour of Badapple’s popular show Eddie and the Gold Tops will begin in the spring to start the celebrations. Kate said:

“Beyond that, we’re just waiting to see. This autumn and winter season will help everyone figure out what’s best for community delivery and live events. Everyone’s coping with the cost of living and what if covid comes back.

“We just need to see what happens next. I’m hoping it’s a new, buoyant bubble, people keen to come out and have a life and enjoy themselves with friends. We’re low threat, as a theatre event. I’m cautiously optimistic.”

Harrogate town centre restaurant not expected to reopen

A restaurant which opened in central Harrogate earlier this year is understood to have closed permanently.

Samsons began welcoming customers in mid-March, offering fine dining with seasonal Yorkshire produce from the former home of Le Bistrot Pierre in Town Centre House on Cheltenham Crescent.

However, it closed in the summer, when a spokesperson said the closure was temporary for “essential works”.

Now, the Stray Ferret understands, the restaurant will not reopen.

Its website is still taking table bookings, but there have been no new posts on its social media feeds since the end of July.

The company was incorporated in March 7 this year by Thomas Shotton, Duncan Bell and Mark Morris, who was its general manager. Mr Morris resigned as a director on March 23.

On the same date, he resigned as a director of Harrogate Industries Ltd, a company he co-founded last October with Mr Shotton. Mr Bell was then appointed director.

When the business launched, executive chef Josh Whitehead said it would offer “a taste of Harrogate”. He said, having begun his career in Harrogate, he was looking for a new challenge when he saw the Samsons role advertised and it “stuck out like a sore thumb”.

He was joined in the kitchen by his friend and former colleague Andy Castle, previously head chef at the Ox Club in Leeds.

The Stray Ferret approached Samsons for a comment but had not received a response by the time of publication.

Oatlands community artwork to be unveiled in Harrogate this weekend

A ceramic tree mural created as part of a community arts project will be unveiled this weekend in Harrogate.

Oatlands Community Centre was awarded funding from the Arts Council to run the project in June, marking the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

Local ceramic artist Anna Whitehouse ran free workshops at the centre, teaching people about the history of brickworks in the Oatlands area and how to process the locally-dug clay.

They then created pieces of art themselves, putting together a ceramic tree mural which will go on display outside the community centre. Anna said:

“The tree design was chosen for its symbolism, with Oatlands Community Centre being rooted firmly at the heart of the community.”

The centre and its volunteers are the supportive framework; the roots, trunk and branches, but can only grow leaves and flourish through the engagement of the community and their sense of ownership.”

Oatlands Community Centre was previously a Methodist chapel, located near the top of Mount Street, just off Leeds Road. The street used to be the access road to the Harrogate Red Brick Company, which operated from 1860 to 1936.

The church itself was built using bricks from the works, which were taken from the heavy clay which lies in the ground across the area.

Since the workshops were held in June, the ceramic pieces have been dried, fired in the kiln and assembled into a mural ready for the unveiling tomorrow between 10am and noon.

Anna will be on hand to talk about the project, and Oatlands Community Centre will be offering coffee and cake to visitors.

Funding was organised through Two Ridings Community Foundation. Its CEO Jan Garrill said:

“This was a great and very creative way to celebrate Her Majesty’s platinum jubilee. All credit to Oatlands for embracing both the spirit of the jubilee and the Let’s Create funding from Two Ridings.”

Updated branding

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