Sean Donkin dropped out of university to run a pub, much to his father’s dismay.

Now chief executive of the Inn Collection Group, he has overseen the acquisition and renovation of three well known hotels in the district — the St George in Harrogate, the Dower House in Knaresborough and the Ripon Spa.  All recently re-opened as the Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon Inns after multi-million pound renovations.

We talked to Mr Donkin at the reopening of the Ripon Inn about his vision for the hotels and the group’s investment in the district.

The Ripon Inn

Why did the Inn Collection target this area for 3 new hotels?

When we first sought to come further into Yorkshire it was not about creating one singular site.  It’s about creating a nucleus so we can create our own culture on the site but also within the area.

So the manager here (the Ripon Inn) being alone wouldn’t be a great thing for him but having Harrogate and Knaresborough links them together really well.

We don’t want to set up sites in isolation.

The Ripon Inn is your biggest investment – was it a bigger restoration than expected?

When we first saw the property, we thought that’s one hell of a property, understanding that it’s gone through years of deterioration.

We’ve done 30 of these now so development wise it doesn’t really faze us but we do take a few knocks along the way.  In this case the roof, the walls, the windows, everything’s brand new. We’d anticipated about two-thirds of that to be case but when it’s closed for such a long period of time you only get one chance to do it properly so the budget was blown out of the water to give the building best chance it has taking a long term perspective.

Inside the Harrogate Inn

The three hotels have been landmarks. How did you approach renovation work?

People get very nostalgic about buildings which is lovely but we have to look forwards not backwards. You have to modernise them and treat them with respect as well.  At Ripon we lost the ballroom for an extra 10 bedrooms. The reality is without the extra bedrooms the building might not be viable at all.

There were people who were worried about what we going to do with Harrogate – I think the quality of the fit-out shows that we are there for the longer term.

By repurposing,  we are encouraging more people to do more things in the area they’re visiting. We do rooms, food and beverage. I’ve always been an advocate for being the best you can be within the boundaries of what you understand.

Have you struggled to recruit staff?

We haven’t had any issues, we honestly haven’t.  People have their own views about hospitality. But it gives people opportunities. You can learn and go other places – we’ve got sites in the Lake District, North Wales, Northumberland and there are genuine opportunities to further your career.

The Knaresborough Inn

Are you confident the group’s investment in the three hotels will pay off? 

We’ve proved it 27 times so far!  To do it individually I can’t see how that’s sustainable, but having a cluster is where you get the real benefits. You get knowledge of the local area and team knowledge. We want to incentive the team, so we do nights off all together. So how do you do this without shutting the place? We move staff between sites. All our processes are the same so we can do this.

I don’t know if people realise this but we started at Lindisfarne. The history between Lindisfarne, Durham, York and Ripon is huge. It’s following the path of, dare I say it, early Christianity. These are the tracks that people have trodden for hundreds of years and almost unknowingly we are following these tracks too.

Read More:

• The Ripon Inn opens today after multi-million pound refurbishment
• Sneak Peek: The Knaresborough Inn boosts town’s flourishing hospitality appeal
• Sneak Peek: Transformed Harrogate hotel to re-open on Monday

A career burglar and “persistent thief” has been jailed for two years for a series of raids, while he was on a suspended sentence, for breaking into Harrogate hair salons.

Anthony Fraser, 38, targeted three premises including a bar and a restaurant in Harrogate town centre just three months after receiving a suspended prison sentence for raiding two hairdressers, York Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Kelly Clarke said that on April 26 the “recidivist” burglar raided North Bar in Cheltenham Parade after using a crate to smash a glass door. He then stole £500 of items including £198 of alcohol.

About a month later, he targeted a property under renovation at Princess Square after scaling the rear brick wall. He tried to force the door open but was unsuccessful and ran off.

On August 7, he stole more than £500 from a safe at the Estabulo restaurant on Albert Street after breaking in through a rear fire door. CCTV captured him looking around the office for a key to the safe before stealing the contents and riding off on a pushbike.

Fraser, of Swan Road, Harrogate, admitted two counts of burglary and one of attempted burglary with intent to steal. All three offences were in breach of his eight-month suspended prison sentence for three burglaries committed in January.

In those raids, Fraser stole thousands of pounds’ worth of products from the Hart & Hart hair salon and Nathan Cosgrove Barbers, both on Commercial Street, on the same weekend.

CCTV showed him smashing a window at Hart & Hart in the early hours of the morning, evidently with a brick. He then left but returned a few hours later and reached in through the smashed window to steal hair straighteners worth over £300.

He left the Nathan Cosgrove salon a “mess” after ransacking the place and stole about 30 items worth £6,851. He also took the till.

The following day, police raided a “drug den” in Mayfield Grove, Harrogate, where they found Fraser and a suitcase containing a “large amount of barbering equipment”.

Fraser had over 30 previous convictions for 50 offences, the majority for theft and kindred, dating back more than 20 years.

Read more:

• Bogus police officers steal puppy in Harrogate, say owners
• Harrogate police arrest six in national County Lines crackdown

He appeared for sentence for the new offences via video link yesterday after being remanded in custody.

Addicted to Benzodiazepine

Defence barrister Danielle Gilmour conceded that Fraser, a drug addict, was an inveterate burglar who “goes around looking for (opportunities) to burgle”.

She said that Fraser, who had been living in a hostel in Harrogate after being spared prison in March, was addicted to the prescription drug Benzodiazepine.

Recorder Dafydd Enoch KC branded Fraser a “recidivist burglar” with an “appalling” record.

“You have a very long history of burglary and other dishonesty offences,” added Mr Enoch.

“Most, if not all of it, is born out of a long-standing drug problem.”

He criticised Fraser for targeting yet more premises in Harrogate just three months after receiving the suspended sentence, including a “small business” from which he stole £500 cash.

Fraser was jailed for two years, of which he will serve half behind bars before being released on prison licence.

Homes are at risk of flooding, travel is disrupted and attractions have closed as rain affects the Harrogate district. Follow our live blog for Storm Babet updates.

Please send storm news from your area to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

6.10pm: RSPCA urges pet owners to keep animals safe

RSPCA water rescue teams are on standby.

RSPCA inspectorate commissioner Dermot Murphy said:

“In areas affected by flooding owners should be looking to bring small animals inside and move them upstairs, while livestock should be taken up to higher ground with enough emergency supplies for their needs. If householders do have to leave animals behind when they evacuate properties then they should keep them inside an upstairs room with plenty of food and water.

“Wild animals can also struggle in stormy weather but people can help them too. For example, they could leave some extra food out for hungry birds above ground level and perhaps even provide shelter for ground-nesting birds.”

5.48pm: Patio flooding in Killinghall

Reader Simon Beckett has sent us this photo of his patio in Killinghall, where standing water is beginning to accumulate.

If you have photos showing the impact of the storm please send them to us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

5.18pm: Northern warns of ‘ongoing disruption’ on trains

Rail operator Northern has urged people to check here for service updates before setting off.

4.51pm: Environment Agency warns of more flood warnings

The Environment Agency has just issued a press release saying more flood warnings are expected to be issued, including in Yorkshire in the next 24 hours.

It says:

People are being urged to prepare for the risk of significant flooding for the rest of this week. The public should sign up to flood warnings and check the latest safety as heavy downpours are likely to fall on saturated ground.

4.16pm: Don’t visit the coast, urges North Yorkshire Council

In case you were thinking of heading to Scarborough, North Yorkshire Council has issued a press release advising against it.

Marine Drive was closed today due to overlapping seawater and street furniture being blown around in high winds.

A decision has also been made to cancel this evening’s two shows at Scarborough Spa as Spa Road will be closed due to the risk of overtopping. The cliff lift is also out of action because of the high winds.

3.45pm: Plane skids off runway at Leeds Bradford Airport

Emergency services are at the scene. You can read more here.

3.05pm: Persistent rain forecast until 4am

The amber weather warning for the Harrogate district is in place until 6pm tonight but the Met Office is still forecasting rain until 4am tomorrow morning followed by more intermittent lighter rain until 11am tomorrow.  The sun may make an appearance on Sunday.

2.12pm: Flood warning removed for Pannal and Burn Bridge

The Environment Agency has removed its flood warning for parts of Pannal and Burn Bridge alongside the River Crimple — also known as Crimple Beck. It was issued at 4.14am. However, a less severe flood alert remains in place in the wider River Crimple catchment area.

Five other flood alerts remain active in the Harrogate district, including this one for the Middle River Nidd catchment area.

1.16pm: Mother Shipton’s to close tomorrow

Mother Shipton’s in Knaresborough has posted on social media:

“Due to the ongoing extreme weather conditions, we have made the decision to close the attraction on Saturday, October 21.”

12.47pm: ‘Do not ignore road closed signs’, say firefighters

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has issued a social media post urging drivers not to drive into floodwater or ignore road closed signs. You can read more here.

11.58am: Met Office upgrades local weather warning to ‘amber’. 

A yellow weather warning has been in place for the Harrogate district until tomorrow morning. But the Met Office has now upgraded to a more severe amber alert from midday until 6pm today.

It said persistent heavy rain was likely to lead to some flooding and disruption.

11.22am: Power cuts in Great Ouseburn

Northern Powergrid’s live power cuts map currently shows 52 homes in Great Ouseburn and Little Ouseburn are without power. But this appears to be the only part of the Harrogate district affected right now.

10.44am: Fountains Abbey and RHS Harlow Carr closed

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, including the deer park, are closed all day. RHS Harlow Carr announced yesterday it would close today and its autumn garden weekend had also been cancelled.

10.30am: Current flood alerts and warnings

Here is the current Environment Agency map showing flood alerts and flood warnings in the Harrogate district. You can read more about each incident here. If you live near any and can provide any updates and images email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will share the information.

10.21am: Harrogate to Leeds trains ‘returning to normal’

Rail operator Northern has posted on social media that the line between Harrogate and Leeds has reopened and services are returning to normal. The line closed due to flooding. However, Northern adds some services may still be delayed or cancelled.

10.11am: Flood alerts all along the River Nidd

The Environment Agency currently has flood alerts in place for the upper, middle and lower River Nidd. There are also alerts for the Lower River Ure at Ripon, the Lower Dunsforth Access and the River Crimple catchment. A more serious flood warning remains in place for the River Crimple at Burn Bridge and Pannal.

An 18-year-old has pleaded guilty to obstructing police on duty following an incident outside McDonald’s in Harrogate yesterday.

Alfie Stevens, of Coates Street, Bradford, appeared before York Magistrates Court today.

He was charged with obstructing a constable in the execution of their duty and breaching bail conditions, however, the latter charge was withdrawn by the court.

Magistrates took Stevens’ guilty plea into account and closed the case after concluding his time spent in detention in custody was sufficient.

A 16-year-old girl was also charged with obstructing a constable in the execution of their duty, as well as obstructing a person assisting a constable in execution of their duty.

She is due to appear at Harrogate Youth Court next month.

The incident took place at 1.40pm outside McDonald’s on Cambridge Road.

Read more:

• Man arrested after incident outside Harrogate McDonalds
• Police investigate car crashing into fence on Harrogate street

Leeds Bradford Airport has closed after a plane arriving from Corfu came off the runway this afternoon.

The TUI Airways flight is believed to have overrun the runway and veered onto the grass taxiway at around 1.53pm.

Emergency services are at the scene. No injuries or fires have been reported.

Leeds Bradford Airport issued a statement saying:

“We can confirm the airport is now closed.

“We ask passengers to contact their airline to check the status of their flight before travelling to the airport.

“There are no reported injuries from today’s incident and all passengers have now safely disembarked the aircraft.”

Pic: pipsqueek01/cat_cutmore/BantamDxn on Twitter.

A spokesperson for TUI added:

“We are aware of an incident at Leeds Bradford Airport this afternoon, in which upon landing flight TOM3551 slightly veered off while turning into the taxiway.

“There are no reported injuries, and our ground team are on hand to support passengers as they disembark.”

The aircraft landed amid Storm Babet – a weather warning of wind and rain that has hit the UK.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said in a statement at 1.57pm:

Read more:

• LIVE: Heavy rain causes flooding and travel disruption
• Leeds Bradford Airport announces £100m terminal regeneration plan

An eight-week-old puppy was stolen by two people posing as police officers at Harrogate bus station yesterday, according to her owners.

The incident occurred between 4pm and 5pm.

Sophie, who is a cross between a Jack Russell and a Chihuahua, had only been with Michael Stuart and his partner since Tuesday, October 17.

Mr Stuart posted on Facebook this morning:

“My partner had our puppy stolen from her on Thursday evening at Harrogate bus station by two people posing as police officers.”

He told the Stray Ferret his partner, who is Hungarian and speaks little English, became confused when approached. He said:

“She could not understand them – they were posing as the police.

“She panicked and handed the dog over to them.”

The couple reported the incident to the police last night. However, the dog has now been returned to its owners.

Mr Stuart said:

“A couple found the dog nearby and took her home last night. They saw the Facebook post and contacted police.

“We are so very lucky.”

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said the “incident is now closed” following the return of the puppy.

Read more:

• Harrogate police arrest six in national County Lines crackdown
• Visitors barred from Harrogate hospital after ‘security incident’

Firefighters from Harrogate and Knaresborough used breathing apparatus to tackle a factory fire in Birstwith.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service was alerted to reports of a fire in a flour drying unit measuring 60 metres x 20 metres at Kerry Ingredients at 12.29pm yesterday.

Its incident report said:

“The fire caused 30% fire damage and 50% smoke damage to the drying unit only.

“The cause of the fire was overheating product in the dryer. Crews used two breathing apparatus, one hose reel jet, a thermal imaging camera, a triple extension ladder and small tools to deal with the incident.”

It is not the first time firefighters have been called to the three-storey former mill.

In August last year, Ripon and Knaresborough crews used breathing apparatus to tackle a blaze in a drying plant.

The cause of the incident was not revealed.

Read more:

• Firefighters called to blaze at factory in Birstwith
• More parking fines issued at Valley Drive than any other Harrogate street

The Environment Agency has urged people in Pannal and Burn Bridge to act now to avoid the impact of flooding.

The government agency issued a flood warning for areas alongside the River Crimple at 4.14am this morning.

Flood warnings are more severe than flood alerts and indicate flooding is imminent.

It said:

“River levels are rising rapidly on the River Nidd due to rainfall associated with Storm Babet.

“Areas most at risk include properties on Station Road, Malthouse Lane and Crimple Meadows. Further rainfall is expected throughout the day.

“Our incident room is open and we are closely monitoring the situation.”

A less severe flood alert has been issued for the Upper Nidd Catchment area (see above).

Rain is predicted all day before drier weather tomorrow.

The Environment Agency said:

“Avoid using low lying footpaths and any bridges near local watercourses and do not attempt to walk or drive through flood water.”

Read more:

• Visitors barred from Harrogate hospital after ‘security incident’
• Harrogate police arrest six in national County Lines crackdown

What to do if you get a flood warning

This is the Environment Agency advice.

A flood warning means you need to act: flooding is expected. You should do all the actions for a flood alert, but also:

• move vehicles to higher ground if it’s safe to do so
• move family and pets to safety
• move important items upstairs or to a safe place in your property, starting with cherished items and valuables, then furniture and furnishings
• turn off gas, electricity and water supplies if it’s safe to do so; never touch an electrical switch if you’re standing in water
• if you have property protection products such as flood barriers, or air brick covers, use them now
• keep track of the latest flood risk situation

Police in Harrogate have made six arrests – including a 15-year-old boy – during a national week of action to target County Lines drug dealing. 

North Yorkshire Police made a total of 26 arrests across the county, seizing cash, suspected drugs, mobile phones and weapons including two machetes, three samurai swords, two knuckledusters and a pistol.

The week of action took place from Monday, October 9 to Sunday 15 and was coordinated by the National County Lines Coordination Centre.

Across the county, officers executed 14 warrants, seized over £70,000 in cash suspected to be linked to criminality, as well as several class A, B and C drugs, including 1-2 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of £70,000 from one vehicle in Scarborough. 

Teams from across the force carried out proactive enforcement against people with suspected links to drugs offences, as well as patrols at rail and bus stations with a specialist drugs dog. 

A plain-clothes police officer on a County Lines drugs raid.

Harrogate arrests

In Harrogate, the County Lines Intensification Week saw five incidents result in arrests.

In one, police stopped a vehicle on Cheltenham Parade and searched a 24-year-old man. They found 10 bags of compressed white powder, a knuckleduster, scales, cash and four mobile phones. He was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a class-A drug, interviewed and released under investigation. 

In a separate incident, officers from the force’s Expedite Team witnessed a suspected drug deal taking place on Albany Avenue in Harrogate and arrested a 27-year-old man for being concerned in the supply of a class-A drug. He was interviewed and released under investigation. 

British Transport Police arrested a 15-year-old boy for theft and being concerned in the supply of a class-A drug and a class-B drug. A 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a class-A drug and class-B drug. Both were released on conditional bail. 

Acting on a tip-off, North Yorkshire Police investigated suspicious activity taking place at a property linked to the supply of drugs. They searched a 36-year-old man and found class-A drugs, scales and a mobile phone.

The man was ultimately charged with eight offences relating to the possession and supply of cocaine, heroin and cannabis and remanded in custody to appear at York Magistrates’ Court. 

Finally, officers from the force’s Operation Expedite team stopped a vehicle on Church Lane in Harrogate that had been identified as being linked to drug supply. They arrested a 32-year-old man on suspicion of drug driving and entering the UK illegally. He was released under investigation for the driving offence and passed to immigration officials to be dealt with. 

Safeguarding

County Lines takes its name from the mobile phone lines used by dealers to communicate between towns and advertise drugs for sale. Vulnerable people – including children – are forced to deal drugs and dealers will often use local properties as a base for their activities; this is often acquired by force and referred to as ‘cuckooing’. 

As part of the week of action, proactive safeguarding and welfare checks were conducted at hotels and bed and breakfasts where vulnerable people are known to be living. In total, officers safeguarded 73 people who are known or suspected to be vulnerable to county lines exploitation. 

The force also held County Lines drop-in stalls in public areas for engagement within communities and members of the public. 

Read more:

• Police seize £100,000 cash in crackdown on Harrogate ‘county lines’; drug dealing
• Police arrest five in Harrogate as part of national county lines action
• 18 charged with county lines drug dealing in Harrogate

Detective chief inspector Andrew Simpson, who led the initiative for North Yorkshire Police, said: 

“Last week’s targeted activity demonstrates how we are working tirelessly to disrupt the supply of illegal drugs and protect the young and vulnerable in our communities who are exploited by them. 

“It’s important to stress that this is just one week’s activity, and this type of disruption and safeguarding is taking place in communities across North Yorkshire all year round. 

“As a force we are committed to cutting these County Lines and to protecting vulnerable people. But we cannot do this alone, our work with partners is important and we also need the support of the public.  

“It’s vital that everyone who cares for or knows young and vulnerable people understands the issue and knows the warning signs.” 

Children

To help raise awareness among children, the force worked with Christina Gabbitas, the popular children’s author of the No More Knives and Trapped by County Lines campaigns, to deliver talks alongside neighbourhood policing officers in several schools across the county. 

Christina said: 

“After the success of working together with North Yorkshire Police, I was commissioned to write a sequel story Trapped in County Lines. 

“The story aims to educate children and young people on the dangers of becoming involved with county lines through the power of storytelling. 

“Children and young people can sadly be victims of exploitation from organised crime groups. County Lines is a harsh reality of life, and in my opinion shouldn’t be sugar coated.”

Harrogate District Hospital suspended visiting yesterday due to a “security incident” in the car park.

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust urged people not to visit the emergency department unless it was a severe illness or injury or a life threatening condition in a social media post yesterday evening. It said:

“We are aware of a security incident in the car park at Harrogate District Hospital and are working with the police who are in attendance.

“Please avoid our Emergency Department unless it’s a life-threatening or severe illness or injury.”

Officers from North Yorkshire Police attended the scene and resolved the situation. A police spokesperson said:

“We were called to Harrogate District Hospital at 3.40pm on Thursday following concerns raised about a patient’s car in the main hospital car park.

“Following enquiries, it was confirmed there was no risk to the hospital or the wider public and the matter was resolved without the need for evacuations of patients and staff.”

The hospital trust did not reveal further details of the incident and a spokesperson said they could not add any more detail to the police statement.

Read more:

• Harrogate hospital postpones 41 operations due to strikes
• More parking fines issued at Valley Drive than any other Harrogate street