Business Q&A: Lee Bellwood, Major Tom’s Social

This week, we spoke to Lee Bellwood, owner of Major Tom’s Social in Harrogate.

Tell us in fewer than 30 words what your firm does. 

We make fresh pizza and source some of the best beer you can get in the UK and abroad. We do cocktails as well, and in the next couple of weeks we’ll be starting to do lunches and brunches.

What does it take to be successful in business? 

You need a good team behind you, consistency, and a USP (unique selling point). Ours is that we’re a ‘youth club for grown-ups’. We wanted to create somewhere to go where we felt comfortable, and where you could bring your kids. That’s the ‘social’ side of Major Tom’s Social.

What drives you to do what you do every day? 

Basically, I just want to be in a business where I can enjoy work and not have to answer to anyone else. I like food and I like drink, so this is something I really love doing.

What has been the toughest issue your company has had to deal with over the last 12 months? 

My business partner, Toby Smith, left the business to do something else, so I’ve taken it over from him. Before, I was more hands-on, but now I’m a lot more involved with payroll and VAT returns.

I’ve just opened a new bar in Otley, the Curious Hop Bière Café. It’s a bit tricky at times – it’s going well, but I just have to balance my time between the two.

Which other local firms do you most admire, and why? 

I admire any independent business that can keep its head above water after covid. It was such a difficult time.

Baltzersen’s brought out its bakery just as covid was hitting and did very well out of that.

Stuzzi have done well with their gins, and opening a new site in Leeds.

Paradise Tap & Taco is doing very well too – owners Josh and Ellie were both my old managers for about five years.

Photo of Lee Bellwood, owner of Major Tom's Social in Harrogate, behind the bar.

Lee Bellwood, owner of Major Tom’s Social in Harrogate.

Who are the most inspiring local leaders? 

I don’t really admire any local leaders, to be honest. I struggle to answer that question.

Anyone, locally or further afield, who works to combat racism and climate change, I take my hat off to.

What could be done locally to boost business? 

Any time there’s a big event going on, I find it difficult to find out about it. I normally find out at the last minute. For example, if there’s a craft fair in the Valley Gardens, I may only find out about it the day before, but businesses like mine need plenty of notice about these things.

There needs to be a really good social media group – on Facebook or Instagram – to share information about these events so we can plan ahead.

Best and worst things about running a business from Harrogate? 

That’s quite hard! The people we get in here are really nice and friendly – our customer base is great. We also get a lot of visitors to the town, which helps us, and it’s also great to work above Steve [Elvidge] in Space [the vintage and retro shop on The Ginnel].

The sense of community between all the independents in Harrogate is really nice: Starling, Paradise, Cold Bath Brewing Co, and Thug Sandwich Company. If I run out of pizza boxes, I can always borrow a load from one of the others, and we all have our staff do’s in each other’s places.

The worst? The parking fees. Also, the amount of licences the council gives out to premises nearby. Since we’ve been here, there have been eight or nine places given alcohol licences within 100 yards of here.

What are your business plans for the future? 

We hope to introduce slightly longer opening hours over the weekends, with brunches and lunches, and we want to use the space as more of an events centre. We already have pop-up painting on Sundays, but I’d like to see more exhibitions and talks as well, giving it a real community feel. I want it to be open to everyone too, so it’ll be quite inclusive.

What do you like to do in your time off? 

I love hiking, paddleboarding, travelling, hanging out with my family – and not eating pizza!

Recently I went paddleboarding on Coniston and that evening we saw the Northern Lights. It was almost like a religious experience: the best day ever!

Best place to eat and drink locally? 

Obviously here. Apart from us, though, Paradise is nice, Stuzzi is good, and Baltzersen’s is good for coffee and cakes.

But my favourite is the Wild Plum Café on Hookstone Road. I go there with my mum and mother-in-law. The food is always interesting, with lots of foraged ingredients, and it’s all tasty and inventive.

This is the latest in a regular series of weekly Business Q&A features. If you’d like to suggest someone in business in the Harrogate district for this feature, drop us a line at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

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Harrogate business donates to charity in memory of former partner

A Harrogate wealth management firm has honoured the memory of a former partner with a donation to a Starbeck mental health charity.

Williams Investment Management LLP has given £1,000 to Wellspring Therapy & Training charity in memory of Robert Ash, who died last September.

Mr Ash was a well-known figure in the Harrogate business community. He was a stockbroker with 35 years experience and joined the company in 2005, a year after it was set up.

Duncan Williams, founding partner of Williams Investment Management, said:

“We miss Robert tremendously; especially his inimitable wit and charm, We had worked together for more than 30 years at this firm and elsewhere and he was both a dear friend and a valued business partner.”

“It seemed appropriate to honour his memory with a donation to Wellspring Therapy & Training, which does fantastic work in the Harrogate and district community, providing private counselling at affordable rates, easing the overwhelming demand on the NHS mental health services, and providing hope for children, families and individuals who are struggling with mental ill health and associated distress’.”

Wellspring Therapy & Training is based on Starbeck High Street. The charity was founded in 2003 and provides affordable short and long-term counselling for the Harrogate and district community.

Nick Garrett, interim chief executive of Wellspring, said:

“We are very grateful indeed to Williams Investment Management for their donation in memory of Robert. It is reassuring that something positive can emerge from such a tragedy and this money will enable us to provide much-needed mental health support for our clients.

“Demand for our services in the Harrogate region has never been greater, with the lingering effects of the global pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis combining to make life very challenging for so many people. The support of local firms such as Williams Investment Management is absolutely crucial in helping us to provide the mental health services that are badly needed.”

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Research study launched in Harrogate district to improve children and families health

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) has announced a research study has been launched in the district to help improve the health of children and families.

Pregnant women are being invited by their midwife to join the research programme which aims to find out what influences the health and wellbeing of families.

HDFT has become the latest NHS Trust to join Born and Bred in (BaBi), a network of local birth studies that work together to link existing data across health, education, and social care to create a picture of families’ lives over time.

The data will highlight any inequalities in the region and help to shape local services, creating a healthier environment for families.

If mothers to be wish to participate their routine health data will be recorded by the health services they access themselves or for their child.

Health researchers then link together routinely collected data from parent and child, such as such as blood pressure measurements or the details of baby’s height and weight to see how health care and services could be improved.

This helps researchers to create a bigger picture of the challenges within the district. It will give insights into what works well and what can be made better to improve local services for the future.

They may identify relationships between things that happen in pregnancy and a child’s future health, or highlight if childhood conditions such as asthma, are more prevalent in one particular area of the district.

One of the first local mums to sign up to the study was Georgina Fogarty, whose son, Freddie, was the first BaBi Harrogate baby. Georgina said:

“Babi Harrogate is a great research project, providing helpful data that will help us to learn more about the health and care of mothers and babies living in the district.”

Leanne Likaj, associate director of midwifery, at HDFT said:

“We are delighted to launch the BaBi research project in Harrogate following on from its success in other maternity units across the region. We are passionate about babies having the best start in life and collecting BaBi data will be a great help.

“This is a really exciting development and we are looking forward to seeing the impact of joining this information together to improve the health of children and families in the future. Anyone who is currently receiving care from our Harrogate maternity service and is interested in taking part should speak to their midwife about how to enrol.”

The BaBi concept began in Bradford. The network now consists of 11 trusts, including Leeds, York and Scarborough, Doncaster and Hull.

More information about BaBi Harrogate is available here.

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Labour and Greens select Wetherby and Easingwold election candidates

Labour and the Green Party have revealed candidates to stand in the Wetherby and Easingwold constituency at the upcoming general election.

Voters will head to the polls to elect 650 MPs to the House of Commons on July 4.

The new Wetherby and Easingwold constituency, which includes parts of Harrogate, will be contested for the first time at the election.

Ben Pickles, 29, a Bradford schoolteacher, has been announced as Labour’s candidate to contest the seat.

Mr Pickles said:

“I’m a proud council estate kid, grew up with a single mum, and was the first in my family to go to university.

“I was a teenage parent myself, and know full well how difficult it is to simply pay the bills at times.

“My two children shape my values and view of social justice – giving every child the opportunity to succeed is my primary goal.”

Meanwhile, the Green Party has selected Anna Jacobs to stand in the constituency.

Ms Jacobs, a lawyer who has lived in Wetherby for the last nine years, said:

“I want to be a part of the change to make our Wetherby and Easingwold a better place. 

“We are so lucky to live in beautiful surroundings, but that doesn’t mean that it is without its problems or cannot be improved. I want to use my skills to properly represent residents, to really listen and help individuals to take action and make a difference to the quality of lives. That would be a privilege.”

Current Elmet and Rothwell MP, Alec Shelbrook, will contest the constituency for the Conservatives.

Mr Shelbrook’s current seat is among those being abolished as part of the boundary review which proposed the new constituency.

Meanwhile, Reform UK will field Mike Jordan as its candidate and James Monaghan will stand for the Liberal Democrats in the new constituency.

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Saint Michael’s midnight walk set to return to Harrogate after nine years

Harrogate’s midnight walk in aid of St Michael’s Hospice is set to return this year after a nine-year break.

The event, the Midnight Glow Walk, will be held on September 21 and will start at 10pm from Ashville Sports Centre.

The 10km route will take supporters across the Stray, around Harrogate Town Centre, and through Valley Gardens, with walkers finishing around midnight, again at the sports centre.

St Michael’s Hospice is a care charity that provides care and support to people affected by terminal illness in the Harrogate district.

The charity is hopeful that over 1,000 walkers will join the walk. It will be in tribute to the thousands of families Saint Michael’s supports each year.

The event is open to everyone and can be walked in tribute or just for the fun. Hospice supporter, Philippa, will be taking part in the Midnight Glow Walk in tribute to her husband, Ivan, with the couple’s two daughters Sofia and Liliana aged 10 and six.

In 2016, aged 45 Ivan was diagnosed with terminal bone cancer. By the time the diagnosis was confirmed, the cancer was too advanced for treatment

Philippa said;

“It was the hardest part of our lives but that five weeks at Saint Michael’s enabled us to have special time as a family. We felt very fortunate. Ivan used to say ‘Don’t count the days – make the days count’’ and Saint Michael’s helped us to do that. Saint Michael’s Hospice is a very special place for us.

“The care they gave Ivan in his last five weeks was fantastic and really took the pressure off; it let us be a family and make some very happy memories – for this we will always be very grateful.”

“We can’t wait to take on the Midnight Glow Walk. Taking part in events for Saint Michael’s and raising any amount of money is really important. The hospice doesn’t just take wonderful care of the patients they really are there for the whole family immediately and for however long you need their support.”

Ivan (left) and Phillippa with their daughter Sofia.

The event hub at Ashville Sports Centre opens from 8.30pm, with pre-walk entertainment and refreshments. The walk will begin with a staggard start from 10pm.

The event is non-competitive and is not timed, and participants are encouraged to take their time and soak up the atmosphere.

Saint Michael’s vital services includes caring for people living with terminal illness in their own homes, and at their Hornbeam Park-based Crimple House Hospice. Specialist bereavement and emotional support service Just ‘B’ is part of their family of services, supporting children, young people and adults across North Yorkshire.

Sign up to take part here.

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Harrogate florist wins third gold medal at RHS Chelsea Flower ShowYorkshire law firm shares top tips to help family businesses flourish“I’m in it to win it,” says Labour candidate in Harrogate and Knaresborough

You’d be hard pressed to find a parliamentary constituency in the north of England less traditionally Labour than Harrogate and Knaresborough.

The party has never finished higher than third at a general election, polled just 9.6% in 2019 and even finished fourth behind UKIP in 2015.

But the landscape has changed: nationally, the party is riding high in the polls and Labour’s David Skaith was elected mayor of York and North Yorkshire this month. Is Harrogate and Knaresborough, however, a bridge too far?

The party unveiled Conrad Whitcroft as its candidate hours before Rishi Sunak announced the general election would be held on July 4.

Labour has designated Harrogate and Knaresborough a non-battleground seat, meaning it won’t be deploying too many resources. Don’t expect to see Keir Starmer posing for photos outside Bettys.

Mr Whitcroft is aware of the rumours. He jokes:

“I’ve been told I’m a paper candidate so many times I can actually hear myself rustle.”

But he insists he isn’t making up the numbers:

“I am a candidate on the ballot paper so of course I’m in it to win it. It would be foolish of me to run and not want to win and I will absolutely be trying my hardest to convince the people of Harrogate and Knaresborough to have a Labour MP.”

The Lib Dems claim it is a two-horse race between them and the Conservatives. Even some Labour supporters are thinking of voting tactically for Lib Dem candidate Tom Gordon as the best way to oust Conservative Andrew Jones.

But Mr Whitcroft says the area would be better served by him rather than Mr Gordon as MP:

“Labour, I hope, will be the next party of government. It’s not just about getting the Tories out. The question now is what is going to come next. Having a candidate from the party of government would be a key advantage.”

Local priorities

Mr Whitcroft began campaigning for the Labour Party aged 16 in his native Northampton. He moved to York to study politics at university and has remained there since. He is now a propositional development manager at insurance firm Aviva.

He was elected as a City of York councillor last year and will be just 25 years old on polling day. He was too young to vote for or against Brexit but says he would have opted to remain.

There has been an influx of twenty-something politicians of various political colours since the start of last year. The Lib Dems selected Mr Gordon as its candidate; Labour’s Keir Mather won the Selby and Ainsty by-election and Conservative councillor Keane Duncan overseas highways on North Yorkshire Council.

Mr Whitcroft says many people of his generation were politicised by the seriousness of covid, adding:

“It’s important to have young people represented in politics. I think it’s improved markedly over the past few years.”

Mr Whitcroft with party supporters.

A member of Harrogate-born Mr Skaith’s mayoral campaign team, he applied to be a Labour parliamentary candidate anywhere in North Yorkshire. Two weeks ago he was told to expect to be chosen for Harrogate and Knaresborough, subject to confirmation from the party’s governing National Executive Committee.

He was formally adopted in front of 30 or 40 party members at St Robert’s Club in Harrogate on Tuesday night last week.

Mr Whitcroft cites cleaning the River Nidd, hospital waiting lists, congestion, potholes and establishing a municipal bus service as priority issues. What about the Harrogate Station Gateway?

He says he supports the emphasis on active travel “but the implementation has been really poor”, which he says is symptomatic of “Conservative-run incompetence” in local government.

He enthusiastically backs Mr Starmer’s plans to build 1.5 million houses over the course of the next parliament:

“I think that’s a cracking idea and I hope to buy one. I’m a member of Generation Rent. By the time my dad was my age he had bought his first house. It doesn’t feel like even people in higher income brackets in my age group have a hope.”

He talks about this being the start of building up Labour locally:

“When the Harrogate Town Council is properly formed we will have a campaign machine in place so we can start winning Labour councillors once more.”

But short-term, is the idea of Labour winning in Harrogate and Knaresborough fanciful?

“David (Skaith) proves that’s wrong. Harrogate and Knaresborough is now under a Labour combined authority. I don’t think anyone could ever have imagined saying that.

“Labour is definitely the party that is going to be able to bring the best opportunities in Harrogate and Knaresborough.”

He insists he is the man to do it and says his City of York council victory in Fishergate over a long-standing Green councillor “proves I can win”.

“People have written me off before and have written me off at their peril. Don’t let my youth make you think otherwise. I’m definitely capable of being a candidate people of Harrogate and Knaresborough can be proud of and I’ll be doing my absolute best to be their MP.”

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Council to stay neutral on any future BID votes

North Yorkshire Council has announced it will not use its voting power to influence ballots on the creation of business improvement districts (BIDs). 

The purpose of BIDs is to boost economic activity within their area, and they are funded by an additional levy on local business ratepayers. In Harrogate, the 1.5% levy raises more than £500,000 a year. 

BIDs are created following a majority vote by these ratepayers, which include local authorities. Because councils own so much town-centre property, they typically wield considerable voting power.

Harrogate BID was first created in 2018 after business ratepayers voted for it, and the result was in part due to the support and votes of Harrogate Borough Council. Ripon BID was created in 2021, also in part due to the support of the council. 

But when Harrogate BID came up for renewal in 2023, North Yorkshire Council – Harrogate Borough Council’s successor – chose not get involved, leaving it to businesses to decide. That vote went through with 76% in favour; the council’s backing would have added a further 12% to that figure. 

In its latest announcement, which was prompted by a vote on the Yorkshire Coast BID, North Yorkshire Council has maintained that stance and formalised it. 

A decision of the chief executive published this week stated: 

“The council is aware that due to its rateable value across North Yorkshire, that if it were to vote there is a risk that it could have a disproportionate impact on the outcome of the ballot. It is estimated that North Yorkshire may hold around 10% of the voting value for the YC BID. 

“The council therefore intends to abstain in the forthcoming Yorkshire Coast ballot, or other future BID levy ballots across North Yorkshire, to limit its influence and ensure it is businesses who determine the outcome.” 

Locally, the decision affects Harrogate and Ripon, where BIDs are already in place, and may in the future affect Knaresborough, if businesses there decide to create one. They narrowly voted against the idea in 2021. 

In Harrogate, town centre businesses will next be able to vote on whether or not to fund Harrogate BID for a third term in 2028. Ripon BID comes up for renewal in 2026.

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Business Breakfast: Harrogate based Homes For Students welcomes new £17m shareholder

Harrogate-based purpose-built student accommodation company, Homes For Students (HFS), has welcomed a new major shareholder.

International real estate company Far East Orchard Limited has bought a 49% stake in the business in a deal worth £17.6 million.

Founded in 2015, HFS operates over 40,000 beds in more than 50 university towns and cities in the UK and Ireland.

Far East Orchard moved into the development and investment of purpose-built student accommodation in the UK in 2015. Legal firm Raworths, also based in Harrogate, advised HFS on the deal, having represented the company since its inception.

Martin Corbett, chief executive officer for Homes for Students said:

“The shareholders and I are pleased to welcome Far East Orchard as a new principal investor to the Homes for Students team following their purchase of 49% of the share capital from four of our exiting investors.

“Since May 2023, we have been operating Far East Orchard’s PBSA property and already established a successful partnership. We very much look forward to continuing to grow our enterprise together, investing in our people, technology and new business streams.

Far East Orchard was represented by CMS and the exiting investors were advised by Walker Morris and Dentons.

Harrogate architects become a B Corp

S+SA Architects has announced its certification as a B Corporation (or B Corp).

Verified by B Lab the certification assesses the entirety of a business’ operations and currently covers five main impact areas: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers.

Joel Smith, director of S+SA Architects, said:

“Over the past 10 years, our practice has grown, establishing a modern practice ethos that has people at the centre of its purpose. We pursued B Corp Certification to join like-minded businesses meeting high standards of social and environmental impact.”

Harrogate Hotel win TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2024

Cedar Court Hotel Harrogate team

Cedar Court Hotel Harrogate team

Cedar Court Hotel has been recognised in TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards for 2024.

Cedar Court Hotel Harrogate hotel has celebrated its second consecutive win, while the Bradford branch recorded its first win.

Wayne Topley, managing director of Cedar Court Hotels, said:

“We are so proud of what our teams have achieved; these awards are a testament to the significant investments and renovations each hotel has undergone and the focus on the teams and our customers that is now very much part of our DNA.”

Oliver Stott, hotel manager for Harrogate, said:

“This has been a real journey. In 2019, the hotel ranked 25th in the Harrogate Market on TripAdvisor. I am so proud of the team and that they receive daily positive recognition for their efforts.”

Yorkshire audiologists introduce new clinic:

Bayfields Opticians and Audiologists has introduced a specialist service as the number of tinnitus cases in the UK continues to rise.

According to Tinnitus UK, prevalence of the condition has increased by 50 per cent in the last 15 years. Bayfields new Tinnitus Clinic, introduced to tackle the condition will include a free 15-minute tinnitus hearing health check.

Patients who are diagnosed with the condition will then be invited to an in-depth 75 minute personalised examination to determine the extent and cause.

Sarah Griffiths, tinnitus specialist audiologist at Bayfields Opticians and Audiologists, said:

“We’re seeing a real increase in clients who are suffering with the effects of tinnitus in recent years, and it’s affecting people of all ages. Modern life and the increased use of technology such as headphones, coupled with a faster paced lifestyle and higher stress levels can all play a role in the development of tinnitus.

Harrogate company become official on-seller of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix tickets

Tom Hesketh, Chloe Goodall, Luke Edwards, Joe Aikman from Impulse Decisions at the desert experience

Harrogate-based events company Impulse Decisions is one of only five companies in the UK to be official on-sellers of tickets for this years Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The event takes place on 5th-9th December this year.

Currently based in Windsor House in Harrogate, but moving to new offices soon, Impulse Decisions also offer a range of other sporting events and corporate hospitality in addition to their charity auctions.

Grantley Hall to sponsor Ebor Fashion Lawn 

Megan Nicholls pictured outside Grantley Hall

Grantley Hall, Ripon, is set to be this year’s headline sponsor of the Ebor Fashion Lawn.

The event will take place across The Sky Bet Ebor Festival, from August 21-24 at York Racecourse.

The Ebor Fashion Lawn is a catwalk that’s open to all during the races, offering the opportunity for the most stylishly dressed to show off their outfits, whilst a judging panel will then select the best dressed each day of the festival.

Have some news to share about your business? Send it to us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

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