Today’s strong winds are having an impact on local attractions on Christmas Eve.

The ice rink at Crescent Gardens in Harrogate announced on social media it would be closed for the second time in recent days due to wind.

It said:

“Due to the Met Office yellow warning for today being wind gusts up to 61mph, it will be unsafe conditions to ice skate.

“It is with great regret that we have therefore made the difficult decision to close the ice rink for Christmas Eve.

“We plan to reopen the ice rink as usual on Boxing Day but please keep an eye on our social media.”

RHS Garden Harlow Carr has also closed due to the weather. It posted on social media:

“Unfortunately due to the forecast of strong winds, the garden will be closed all day on Christmas Eve. Betty’s will be open from 8am and the garden centre (except the glasshouse) will be open as usual.”

Mother Shipton’s in Knaresborough has said it will be closing slightly earlier than scheduled on Christmas Eve due to the weather warning.

A yellow weather warning is in place with gusts of up to 66mph forecast in the Harrogate district.

Read more:

• Tesco reveals latest plans for Harrogate site
• Harrogate woman at forefront of campaign to protect XL Bullies

This week, we have a selection of photographs showcasing some Christmas scenes across the Harrogate district taken in the December snow.

Photo of the Week will take centre stage from January 2 in our new-look nightly email newsletter. The newsletter drops into your inbox every evening at 6pm with all the day’s stories and more. 
To subscribe click here.

Erica Johnson

Heather Middleton

Jeannette Wilson

Photo of the Week celebrates the Harrogate district. It could be anything from family life to capturing the district’s beauty. We are interested in amateur and professional photographs, in a landscape format.

Send your photographs to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk for a chance to be featured next week, we reserve the right to adjust and crop images to fit into our format.

Tesco has revealed its latest plans for the firm’s forthcoming Harrogate supermarket.

The company received outline planning permission in February to build a store, petrol station and a 209-space car park on the site of the former gas works at the junction of Skipton Road and King’s Road.

It has now submitted details of the measures it proposes to take to mitigate against the ecological impact, as well as a flood risk assessment and a risk assessment relating to a high pressure gas pipeline on site.

The ecological mitigation plan, compiled by Oxfordshire firm Aspect Ecology on behalf of Tesco, says “initial vegetation clearance works are proposed to be undertaken during January to March 2024”, prior to the bird nesting season. It adds:

“The majority of the habitats present within the site are of limited ecological value, and a large proportion of these habitats are to be replaced by development or landscaping under the permitted development.

“The mature trees, woodland and watercourse are of greater ecological value and will be largely retained within the permitted scheme.”

The report says measures will be implemented to safeguard species such as hedgehogs.

An artist’s impression of how the Tesco will look.

Oak Beck runs along the eastern boundary of the three-hectare site, which will be accessed off Skipton Road.

The flood risk assessment prepared by London firm Pinnacle Consulting Engineers on behalf of Tesco assesses the flood risk to be low on the majority of the land but high on a ‘proportionately small area in the north of the site’.

It says the area is currently a mixture of asphalt, concrete, and grassed surfaces.

The report concludes:

“The site is at a low risk of flooding from all sources except for fluvial flooding in the north and south of the site.

“The fluvial flooding in the north of the site will not pose a significant risk to the development. The fluvial flooding in the south is associated with an old gas tank and will be regraded as part of the development and therefore will no longer pose a flooding issue.

“Overall, the proposed development is appropriate from a flood risk perspective and the sequential test.”

Read more:

• Tesco agrees to pay £50,000 for Harrogate bus stop improvements
• Still no start date for work on new Harrogate Tesco
• Harrogate woman jailed for chasing supermarket staff with drug needle

The gas pipe assessment, conducted by Essex firm MJC Environmental Services on behalf of Tesco, concludes “risk levels are considered to be as low as reasonably practicable and further risk mitigation is not required”.

The latest details have been submitted to North Yorkshire Council as reserved matters planning applications.

The outline permission granted in February established the principle of development for the site; the reserved matters applications determine the layout and design.

The council must now decide whether to accept the reserved matters applications.

A Harrogate woman is at the forefront of the campaign to protect XL Bullies in the wake of a government ban.

On October 31, XL Bullies became the fifth breed added to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

By the end of this month, XL Bullies must be kept on leads in public, wear muzzles and be microchipped. By January 31, owners must apply for a certificate of exemption to be registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs.

Failure to conform could lead to a criminal conviction and even a prison sentence, and dogs could be put down. This has led to an increase in the number of abandoned XL Bullies.

Horrified by what’s happening, Anita Tryc has joined the UK Dog Protection Team, which is a rapid response animal welfare group that is focusing on helping XL Bullies in the run-up to the exemption deadline.

Relaxing with Ronnie

As the group’s Yorkshire representative, Anita is on the frontline of rescuing and rehoming any dogs found abandoned. She could get in her car at 3am if she gets a call saying a dog has been found tied to a lamppost in Pudsey and then help to rescue and rehome it and ensure adequate aftercare.

Anita, who owns a two-year-old rescue XL Bully called Ronnie, is also supporting a campaign to fund the barrister John Cooper’s legal challenge to the XL Bully ban.

She says the government legislation is doomed to fail and cites as evidence there being thousands of Pit Bull Terriers in the UK more than 30 years after they were banned as dangerous dogs.

Anita, said the UK Dog Protection Team “wants to see breed-specific legislation removed and licenses introduced”, adding:

“We are absolutely heartbroken that this is happening. We don’t want to see any attacks. But if somebody is a bad owner then we agree they should be punished — don’t let them have dogs for the rest of their lives.”

Anita, who besides working for a dental firm in Harrogate is also an international bodybuilder, owns a rescue American Bulldog cross called Lola as well as Ronnie, who weighs a solid 55kg.

Anita with Lola (left) and Ronnie.

She said:

“I’ve always loved big dogs and have always loved Bullies. They are big and powerful but they weren’t bred to fight like people say. Pitbulls were bred to fight. Bullies were bred as family and companion dogs.

“Lots of people are worried about this. If you get a criminal record you could be thrown out of your home and lose your job. That’s why so many dogs are being abandoned.

“Whatever happens, I’m not giving up on them. They are not a dangerous dog — we want them to be in a safe environment with owners who understand the breed and who will love them.”

Read more:

• Knaresborough man issues puddle warning after dog dies
• Rare mother of pearl clouds above Harrogate and Knaresborough

Yemi Adelekan is a food writer and blogger who was a semi-finalist in last year’s BBC TV’s Masterchef  competition.

Every Saturday Yemi writes on the Stray Ferret about her love of the district’s food and shares cooking tips – please get in touch with her if you want her to review a restaurant, visit your farm, taste the produce you sell or even share a recipe.

As wonderful as Christmas Day is, there’s no denying it can be stressful for the designated cook in the house.

But, we can all still enjoy the festivities – even if we’re cooped up in the kitchen for a while.

Today, I’m running you through a few tips which help me keep Christmas running smoothly.

Breakfast

Breakfast is often a forgotten part of Christmas Day.

We all rush downstairs in anticipation, and everyone is looking forward to the main meal later in the day, but breakfast can still be made special without unnecessary hassle.

I’d recommend buying a lovely fresh loaf – perhaps one you wouldn’t usually splurge on – to make bacon sandwiches, or preparing some pancake batter ahead of time. You could also get some good quality orange juice to make mimosas if that’s your drink of choice!

Another nice addition would be a small pie from the butchers – perhaps a good quality pork one – with some tomato chutney to enjoy it with.

That way, it still feels like a special morning, but people can come down and make what they please in their own time.

The (dreaded) turkey roasting

We’ve all had to avert a Christmas Day kitchen disaster at least once in our lives.

I know turkey can seem quite intimidating – especially for first-time Christmas hosts – but following the cooking instructions really is crucial.

Some recipes call for you to roast the bird uncovered, especially if you are cooking bronze turkeys that are reared for tenderness. They cook quickly, so it can be tempting to take it out once they’re golden but, really, it is undercooked inside.

If you do cook your turkey (or goose) uncovered and the crown shows signs of heavy browning, just move it to a lower shelf in the oven and loosely place some foil on the area that’s browning. This will shield it from the direct heat and help the inside to catch up in the cooking process.

If you don’t already own a meat thermometer, I can assure you it will become your best friend at Christmas. Don’t panic, there’s still time to get one on Amazon.

Gravy mishaps

Everyone has their own gravy recipes, but one thing we can agree on is how easy it is to mess it up.

Over-reducing it can lead to it becoming very salty and grainy, but there are several ways to redeem it.

In this instance, it’s moisture that has been lost, which is easy to get back. You can loosen the gravy by simply adding some warm water and keep checking for the consistency and flavour.

If it’s too runny, you can add some corn starch mixed with water or by making a roux.

To do this, just add equal parts butter and flour in a small pan and cook over a low heat until the raw flour taste is gone. It sounds fancy, but it’s very simple.

Then, just loosen the roux with some warm water before adding it back into your gravy. Fingers crossed, this should solve the problem!

Forgetting a part of the meal

I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t woken up bolt-upright panicking about forgetting an element of the Christmas meal in previous years, which I’m sure many people can relate to.

Firstly, it’s really not the end of the world if you do.

But if you’re worried about forgetting to cook or serve any part of the dish, why not try using a menu planner? It sets out what you need to do and when to cook each element to ensure is served hot.

I use a planner which has a list of all the dishes in one column. Next to it, I write how long each take to cook and the oven temperature required.

In the final column, I put down the time each element needs to go in the oven, so they all finish at a similar time. It really does help!

Also, make sure to consider the rest time of your roasts. I tend to leave the turkey to rest for around 30 minutes after roasting to let the fibres relax and the juice distribute – otherwise you run the risk of having a dry bird.

Just cover it with foil and place a clean tea towel over this.

Managing stress in the kitchen

There is no shame in asking for help, ever.

So, if you’re feeling the heat in the kitchen, don’t be afraid to ask family members to help. Alternatively, if you don’t want to be distracted in the kitchen – which I can empathise with – delegate some tasks to the people around you.

Finally, don’t panic! It’s supposed to be a day of love and happiness, so just enjoy it. Have a drink and a chat and all will be fine – it’s a labour of love, but definitely worth it.

Whether you’re in or out of the kitchen, I hope you all have a very merry Christmas.

Read more:

• Yemi’s Food Stories: Spice up your Christmas dinner
• Yemi’s Food Stories: My inexpensive kitchen gadget Christmas wish list

Readers of The Stray Ferret have been sharing their memories after we reported that an original poster for The Beatles’ only Harrogate show fetched £3,000 at auction.

Among several comments from people who had been in the audience that evening were: “Didn’t pay much attention to the Beatles, just dancing to their music” and “you couldn’t hear anything but screaming”.

Sandra Reed told us her memory of the night is rather hazy, although she does remember the “lovely atmosphere” and the dancing which was “such good fun”. She added:

“And the noise! The Beatles were so much louder than any performer. Girls were screaming … they were the start of boy bands.”

‘The Sensational Beatles’

The Beatles played their only Harrogate gig, billed as ‘Dancing for Teens and Twenties’, at The Royal Hall on March 8, 1963. They had been booked the previous year by Derek Arnold, an astute music shop owner from Halifax who also acted as a promoter for some of the Harrogate bands. Derek organised many of the shows that took place in the town around that time, and bagged a date from The Beatles after seeing their first UK single, Love Me Do, sell like hot cakes in his record shop on its release in October 1962.

By the time John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr came to Harrogate just a few months later, The Beatles were beginning to make a name for themselves. Their second single, Please Please Me, had reached number 2 in the charts in January 1963. Their first number 1 would come just a month after their Royal Hall show with their April 1963 single From Me To You.

So when they came to Harrogate as part of a series of promotional dates across the UK in advance of their USA tour, the poster for the show described them as ‘The Sensational Beatles… The recording stars of Please Please Me’. They were supported by two of Harrogate’s biggest local bands of the time, Barry Corbett and The Mustangs with their backing singers The Chinchillas, and Ricky Fenton and The Apaches.

Mustangs memories

Lead guitarist John Whitley is the only surviving member of The Mustangs who performed with The Beatles in Harrogate.

Now 82 and living in West Yorkshire, John recalls how ordinary the soon-to-be megastars were. They were even paid the same amount for the show – £75 – as their support acts. Travelling to Harrogate by train – deemed the most reliable mode of transport during the famous Big Freeze of 1962/3 – The Beatles arrived at the afternoon soundcheck about ten minutes after John and his bandmates. John said:

“We were all backstage together with The Beatles and we just talked to them. We did look up to them a bit for getting successful, but we weren’t starstruck. We’d played The Royal Hall before with people like The Searchers and Freddie and the Dreamers, so it wasn’t such as big deal to us. Personally, I’d been more impressed with Freddie because he was very funny. But I have to say The Beatles were very good on the night.”

John remembers the crowd being similarly nonplussed by this up-and-coming foursome whose longer hair, Beatnik ‘art student’ appearance and different, less polished sound was in stark contrast to the groomed image and cleaner sound of their support bands. But it didn’t really matter too much who was playing anyway, he said:

“Most people were there because it was a show at the Royal Hall, which were always popular. There weren’t that many shows in Harrogate for kids so when one came along, everybody went.”

“We want Barry”

The Apaches were up first, followed by The Mustangs with The Chinchillas. The Mustangs had formed in 1960 and were made up of John, Barrie (stage name was Barry) Corbett, bassist John ‘Billy’ Bolton and drummer Johnny Lockhead. The Chinchillas were Barrie’s wife Eileen and John’s fiancee at the time, Gill Evans.

The Mustangs with The Chinchillas in the original programme for The Beatles concert at The Royal Hall. Top row from left: John Bolton, Johnny Lockhead, John Whitley and Eileen Corbett. Front: Gill Evans and Barrie Corbett.

In 1963, Barry and The Mustangs were top of the pile among a multitude of young local bands including The Crestas, The Escorts from Bradford and The Ensigns from York. Mainly performing covers of songs from the Top 20, The Mustangs were playing gigs two to three times a week in pubs, clubs and youth clubs around the area. Some of the local venues they appeared at were the Lounge Hall and the Connaught Rooms in Harrogate, where there were dances every Friday night, and the Assembly Rooms in Ripon. As lead singer of The Mustangs, therefore, Barrie had quite a following. John said:

“Barrie was Harrogate’s pop star. He was very well known in the town. He was a good singer as well as being one of life’s gentlemen.”

So it’s quite possible that John’s memory isn’t playing tricks on him when he recalls that after The Mustangs had finished their set, The Beatles took to the stage to chants of “We want Barry” from the audience.

John left The Mustangs in 1965 when he moved to Australia. He returned to Harrogate in the late 1970s, and teamed up again with Barry from 1980 to 2000, performing The Smurfs songs with him under the name of Evergreen.

In 2013, the four members of The Mustangs reformed for a special concert at the Royal Hall to mark the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ appearance in Harrogate.

The Mustangs reunited for the 50th anniversary in 2013. Pictured from left are John Bolton, John Lockhead, John Whitley and Barrie Corbett.

John has fond memories not just of that one night at The Royal Hall which has gone down in Harrogate history, but of the whole music scene in the town during the 1960s that he, Barrie and The Mustangs were privileged to be a big part of. He said:

“In hindsight, it would have been an even better story if we’d gone for a drink with The Beatles after the show or something, but at that time they were just another group so we’d probably have declined anyway… Who knew! But even so, that era of pop music was a very special time for everyone.”

Read More:

• Beatles poster at Harrogate’s Royal Hall fetches £3,000 at auction
• Rare Beatles Royal Hall poster fetches almost £3,000

Police have issued CCTV images of two men they would like to speak to following a shop theft in Harrogate.

A North Yorkshire Police statement yesterday said two men entered TK Maxx in the Victoria Shopping Centre and picked up a brown men’s gilet, removed the security tag then left the store.

They took the gilet with them and headed towards the railway station.

CCTV images of the wanted men.

The incident happened at 10.05am on November 22.

The statement added:

“Officers are asking members of the public to get in touch if they recognise the men in the images as they believe they will have information that will help the investigation.”

Anyone with any information can email jamie.kennerley@northyorkshire.police.uk or dial 101, select option 2 and ask for PC Kennerley.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Read more:

• Harrogate woman jailed for chasing supermarket staff with drug needle
• Jail for Harrogate man who supplied drugs on electric scooter
• Harrogate paedophile jailed for 13 years for historic sex offences

A Harrogate man who was caught with Class A drugs while riding an electric scooter was jailed for two years and three months today.

James Latham was caught by officers from North Yorkshire Police’s drugs team Operation Expedite on King’s Road on the afternoon of September 25 this year.

A police media release today said officers saw two known drug users being approached by Latham. The three people walked behind a shop and out of view. Within seconds one of them returned and was seen placing an item in their mouth.

Officers suspected a drug deal had just taken place, with Latham supplying the drugs.

Latham, who was riding on an electric scooter, was stopped a short distance away. He was searched and found to be in possession of a large amount of cash and suspected illegal drugs.

Heroin and cocaine

Following his arrest, officers found drugs paraphernalia at Latham’s Harrogate home, along with heroin and cocaine with a street value of over £700, and a significant amount of cash.

Latham, 44, was remanded in custody and brought to court where he pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

Through mobile phone analysis, investigators were able to show Latham was involved in the supply of class A drugs, and had a customer base within the Harrogate area.

At York Crown Court today, Latham was given a custodial sentence of two years and three months.

After the sentencing hearing, PC Christopher Thompson, of Operation Expedite, said:

“The sale of illegal drugs will not be tolerated on the streets of Harrogate. It causes untold misery and suffering, and forces people who are addicted to them to commit other serious crimes to feed their habit.

“Latham was willing to exploit other people’s addictions for his own cruel and selfish gain.”

Read more:

• Harrogate woman jailed for chasing supermarket staff with drug needle
• Harrogate paedophile jailed for 13 years for historic sex offences
• Harrogate heroin and cocaine dealer jailed for over three years

The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2024 are for businesses across all sectors in the Harrogate district.

Over the next few weeks we will reveal what our judging panel is looking for when it comes to each of the 10 categories.

Next up is the Best Use of Digital Award, which is sponsored by ASE Computer Services.

This award is designed to showcase businesses which have embraced the digital world to drive success.

Those looking to enter or nominate need to provide details of the digital initiative/s and the business objectives behind them. As well as statistical information on why the initiative was a success.

Does your business deserve to win the Best Use of Digital Award at the Stray Ferret Business Awards? Entries close on January 19. It’s simple and quick, so enter today!

Click here or the banner below to enter for the Stray Ferret Business Awards, sponsored by Prosperis.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning across the Harrogate district for Christmas Eve.

The forecast shows Masham and Pateley Bridge will see the worst of it, with gusts up to 53mph, while Harrogate will see 51mph winds in the early hours of the morning.

Knaresborough, Ripon and Boroughbridge could see up to 50mph.

The warning, which is active from 8am to 10pm, covers the Midlands, the north of England and Scotland.

It comes just days after Storm Pia brought 60mph winds to the district.

Read more:

• Harrogate district attractions to close amid wind warning
• Trees down as Storm Pia hits Harrogate district