It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. Our next networking event is lunch at Manahatta, on June 29th at 12.30pm.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

Harrogate’s growing reputation as the “padel capital of the North” has been boosted with the launch of a new clothing and apparel company devoted to the sport. 

Padel Boyz, which sells T-shirts, hoodies, shorts, skirts, socks and sweatbands for men and women, is the brainchild of former PE teacher Sonja Bancroft. 

Ms Bancroft, a former Rossett School pupil who later taught at Boroughbridge High School and Boston Spa Academy, said: 

“I’m thrilled to be bringing Padel Boyz to the market, and I feel like there has never been a better time to be promoting padel tennis in the UK.  

“We’ve worked tirelessly to develop a range of sportswear that reflects the passion and energy of this dynamic game, and we’re confident that our customers will be delighted by the quality and fit of our range.” 

We started Padel Boyz to get away from traditional tennis wear – we wanted a cooler, younger look. We’ve started simple, but we plan to add more colours and more lines, such as jumpers, later in the year.”

Padel is a sport similar to tennis but played with a solid, stringless racquet, in an enclosed court like squash. It was invented in Mexico in the 1960s, and is now one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. 

It is gaining increasing numbers of fans in our area as more opportunities to play are created. Harrogate Sports and Fitness Centre, on Hookstone Wood Road, launched its first outdoor padel court in 2019, and then Surge followed in 2022 with six Adidas-branded indoor padel courts at its centre on Hornbeam Park.

Last summer, Ripon Tennis Centre opened two new outdoor padel courts, and just last month, Harrogate Spa Tennis Club opened two new outdoor courts at its home off Claro Road and has seen players book sessions from across Yorkshire. 

Sonja said:

“Padel is growing in popularity in this country so fast, now seems like the perfect time to launch a brand like this.

“My aim is to create a successful, growing business, but we’ve only just launched and we’re still small, so we’ll see how it goes.”

Harrogate company achieves industry recognition

A Harrogate company has been awarded an industry recognised certificate for environmental performance.

Net zero consultancy Flotilla, based on Station Parade, achieved B Corp status, which is certified by not-for-profit organisation B Lab.

It recognises companies which meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

(Left to right) Flotilla team Mark Woodward, Grant Walker, Caroline Linford, Dan Cox, Sara Snow, Sally Wood, Helen Fox, Anthony Bagshaw, Jess Morris, Francesca Woodward, John Rastrick and Joe Hobbs.

In order to achieve the status, Flotilla went through a rigorous assessment process which examined the impact of company decisions on employees, customers, suppliers, the communities the business serves and the environment.

John Rastrick, chief executive of Flotilla, said:

“Receiving B Corp certification is an outstanding achievement for everyone here at Flotilla.

“Not only does it honour our commitment to a better future, but it provides a framework for continuous future improvement.”

Read more:

• Business Breakfast: Harrogate beauty brand appoints chief executive
• Co-op submits plans for new store in Boroughbridge

A Harrogate woman has unveiled a giant blanket embroidered with her family’s final message from the Holocaust.

Michelle Green’s grandparents, Gisela and Josef Schwarz, and her uncle Kurt were all killed in a Nazi concentration camp.

With the help of artist Laura Fisher, Michelle has created a piece of artwork to commemorate their communication to their family. She said:

“Holding the blanket felt like hugging the grandma I never met. I really didn’t expect to feel such strong emotions.

“The blanket dominates the room from floor to ceiling and it won’t let you ignore it. It makes you think about a telegram that was once written and had so much love poured into it – a last vestige of hope that a family could one day be together again.”

The Red Cross telegram was sent to Michelle’s aunt Aranka and was the last message they received from her family still in Nazi-occupied Vienna. Translated from German, it read:

“Dearest children,

“(I’m) very worried. Last message in March. Thank God we are well. Hope you are. Message from Papa (received).

“Millions of kisses also from your brother,

“Mama.”

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Michelle, now 70, went on to be head of learning support at Ashville College in Harrogate. This experience taught her that hearing people speak isn’t necessarily enough to embed knowledge.

That understanding inspired her decision to make the blanket.

Artist Laura Fisher created the giant woven blanket as part of an artists’ residency at Holocaust Centre North in Huddersfield. It is on display at the centre until July 27, along with a number of other artworks as part of a free exhibition called Memorial Gestures.

It is open from Monday to Thursday from 10am to 5pm.

Laura said:

 “When I first visited Holocaust Centre North, I was initially overwhelmed and the scale of the tragedy felt incomprehensible.

“I remember feeling a pit in my stomach, like nothing I could do would possibly be enough. How could I create art that would make those affected feel seen, cared about, witnessed?

“I hope the work I have created as part of Memorial Gestures helps others to understand the depths of what was lost during the Holocaust-what was stolen from families whose lives were irrevocably changed.”

A Pateley Bridge man who was selected to stand for the Yorkshire Party for Mayor of York and North Yorkshire has resigned from the party.

Keith Tordoff announced his candidacy for the role just over a week ago.

However, in a statement, he said he had decided to resign from the Yorkshire Party “with immediate effect” in order to stand as an independent.

Mr Tordoff, a former police officer, detective and specialist fraud investigator who owns Tordoff Gallery in Pateley Bridge, said the move would allow for “freedom and flexibility” in his campaign.

His statement said:

“The freedom and flexibility of being an independent candidate allows for Keith to appeal to all sections of society and members of all political parties as well as deliver on all relevant issues affecting the people who live, work or visit North Yorkshire.”

The move comes after Mr Tordoff, 67, released a list of pledges last week, which included giving 2,000 households three chickens each.

He said this would save 100 tonnes of food waste each month and improve the health of poorer households.

Mr Tordoff also said his priorities would be to make North Yorkshire an economic powerhouse; improve transport links and connectivity, especially for rural communities; making North Yorkshire a safer place to live, work and visit and to make North Yorkshire a world leader in sustainability.

Read more:

• Pateley Bridge man to stand for Yorkshire Party in mayoral election
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The 67-year-old, who was born and raised in Leeds, was awarded an MBE in 2018 for services to business and the community.

Mr Tordoff has also previously stood as an independent candidate in both 2021 North Yorkshire Police, Fire Crime Commissioner elections, finishing in third place.

Zoe Metcalfe, the current North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner who lives in Aldborough, has announced she hopes to be selected by the Conservatives in the mayoral election.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones has said he will vote to accept the recommendations of the parliamentary investigation into Boris Johnson.

The seven MPs on the House of Commons Privileges Committee today found the former Prime Minster deliberately misled parliament over lockdown parties.

The cross-party committee said the former PM had committed repeated offences and it would have recommended a 90-day suspension from the House of Commons had Mr Johnson not resigned as an MP last week.

MPs are expected to vote on Monday on whether to approve the committee’s recommendations.

Mr Jones said:

Speaking in a Commons debate on April 21 last year on the referral of Mr Johnson to the committee, Mr Jones said:

“When there are questions about the conduct of any Member in this place, it is right for the Committee of Privileges to take a look at that case. It is right for it to investigate, it is right for it to make a judgment and it is right for that to happen whoever the Member is.”

He added he wanted to “see more focus on standards across parliament”.

Local Lib Dem says Tories in ‘full-blown civil war’

Tom Gordon

Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said today voting against the committee’s recommendations  would be “an insult to bereaved families who grieved alone while Boris Johnson partied.”

Mr Gordon added:

“This report is completely unprecedented. Never before has a former British Prime Minister been found to have lied to parliament and treated the public with such contempt.

“The Conservative Party is now in a full-blown civil war, while people struggle to afford to pay their mortgage or get a GP appointment.”

Read more:

• Tories and Greens name candidates as local by-election looms
• Andrew Jones MP says new police powers will help tackle Traveller issues in Knaresborough

Selby and Ainsty Conservative MP Nigel Adams, a close ally of Mr Johnson, also resigned last week, triggering a by-election.

The Conservatives and Greens have named their candidates to fight the seat, which includes numerous villages close to Harrogate, Knaresborough and Boroughbridge, including Spofforth, Follifoot, Kirkby Overblow, Goldsborough, Little Ouseburn, Nun Monkton, Green Hammerton and Kirk Hammerton.

Labour is expected to name its candidate tonight.

Plans have been lodged to built four new commercial units in Killinghall.

The proposal, which has been tabled by IB Planning Limited on behalf of Mr and Mrs JG Bellerby, would see the units constructed on Manor Dairy Farm on Crag Lane in the village.

According to documents submitted to North Yorkshire Council, the units would be open plan in order to “provide maximum flexibility for future occupiers”.

The plans would match the current units in terms of appearance.

Developers said in documents to the authority:

“The proposed development would be complimentary with the surrounding land use and would be a more efficient use of the site which is in a sustainable location.”

North Yorkshire Council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.

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Northern Energy has started construction on new headquarters in the Harrogate district.

The company is currently based in Hampsthwaite, where it has operated for more than half a century.

The firm distributes domestic, commercial and agricultural oil and liquified petroleum gas across the north of England.

However, Northern Energy is set to relocate operations to Limebar Lane, one kilometre from the village of Marton-cum-Grafton and next to the A168.

The plans include 10,000 square feet of office space, a vehicle depot, liquified petroleum gas and oil storage tanks and a new car park.

James Illingworth, director of sales at Northern Energy, told the Stray Ferret:

“The site that we are currently at [in Hampsthwaite], we have been there since the 1950s. We have basically run out of space and it is not fit for purpose anymore.

“The gas storage is what we really need to take our business to the next level and we can’t put it there. That was the main driver for moving sites.”

The move to build the new base comes after Harrogate Borough Council gave planning permission for the site in February 2021.

The company said the new headquarters will provide better access to the motorway and reduce journey times for distribution.

Work being carried out on the new Northern Energy site.

Construction at the site is being carried out by Harrogate company HACS and is being built in two phases.

The first phase, which includes the gas storage site, is expected to be complete by March 2024.

Look for a more in-depth article on Northern Energy’s move to Marton-cum-Grafton on the Stray Ferret this weekend.

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It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. Our next networking event is lunch at Manahatta, on June 29th at 12.30pm.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

Harrogate beauty brand Cloud Nine has appointed a new chief executive.

Danny Emmett joins the company from AO, where he was chief executive for four and a half years.

It means current directors and founders, Martin and Gavin Rae, will become non-executive chairman and non-executive director.

The move comes as Cloud Nine is eying further growth as part of its strategy to double in size and expand into new territories by 2027.

Mr Emmett said:

“I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to lead Cloud Nine, an ambitious brand with fantastic products, a unique culture and sustainability at its heart.

“I am looking forward to working with Martin and Gavin and the rest of the senior leadership team, as well as the wider team – all of whom have done a fantastic job of getting the company to where it is today.”

Harrogate clinic to host open evening

A Harrogate clinic is set to hold a beauty evening later this month.

The Harrogate Clinic, which is based on Prospect Crescent, will host the event from 5.30pm until 7pm on June 20.

It will include a chance to explore treatments such as anti-ageing skincare, facial rejuvenation, skin boosters for menopause, hair rejuvenation and women health packages.

For more information on the event and to register attendance, contact Dr Farzana on info@theharrogateclinic.com or call 01423 637172.

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A chain of antiques markets that claims to be the biggest in the UK has taken over premises in Harrogate’s Montpellier Quarter. 

Montpellier Mews Antiques Market was sold when its owner retired, and has been bought by Antiques on High, which already has centres in Oxford, Sidmouth, Taunton and Bowness-on-Windermere. 

Vincent Page, who co-owns the business with partner Lesley White, said: 

“Harrogate is a beautiful place and suits our trade very well. Our initial goal is to bring some new dealers in from the locality, and indeed many from our other stores have already shown an interest, so I don’t think it will take too long.” 

Antiques on High operates an unusual business model, which, said Mr Page, works “tremendously well”. Antiques traders can rent a display cabinet in one of its centres for as little as £50 in Taunton or as much as £160 in Oxford, and as part of the deal they must commit to working in the centre for three days a month. 

But they may also rent an additional cabinet in any of the company’s other centres for just £10 a month, plus an extra day’s work in their local shop. The business will transport their stock to whichever centre it is to be sold in.

To rent a cabinet at the antiques centre, dealers must pay a monthly fee and work there three days a month.

Mr Page said: 

“We offer dealers something they can’t get anywhere else in the UK, if not Europe. Convincing them can be tricky because typically, they are very protective of their stock, so the idea of us taking it around the country to our different antiques centres can seem bizarre. But the model works; we’ve opened five shops in six years – and that’s with two years out for covid.” 

Harrogate has long been known in the trade as the “antiques capital of the north”, and the antiques market at 11 Montpellier Street has contributed to that reputation. It is currently home to 27 dealers, but Mr Page, who only picked up the keys to the premises on Tuesday, reckons he could accommodate up to 50 if better use was made of the available space. 

There are currently 27 dealers with cabinets at Antiques on High, but co-owner Vincent Page says it could accommodate up to 50.

Ultimately, he says he’d like to bring more younger people into the antiques trade. He said: 

“Traditionally, this business attracts people over the age of 50, and they tend to operate on a one-man, one-shop basis. But there might be loads of people, say, in their 30s who might have been made redundant and have always had an interest in antiques. They could work in the shop for just 10 or 12 days a month and earn a full-time living.

“The antiques business is very unusual. How many sectors do you know where five shops make you the largest high-street retailer in the market?”

Antiques on High has opened five new centres in just six years. Last year in Taunton, Somerset, it opened a 4,000 sq ft shop with an 11,000 sq ft area to host a Monday antiques market, creating what Mr Page claims is Britain’s largest antiques centre.

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Lauren Crisp is a book editor, writer and keen follower of arts and culture. Born and raised in Harrogate, Lauren recently moved back to North Yorkshire after a stint in London, where she regularly reviewed theatre – everything from big West End shows to small fringe productions. She is now eager to explore the culture on offer in and around her home town.  You can contact Lauren on laurencrispwriter@gmail.com

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a family classic that surely needs no introduction, and Tuesday’s performance by the Harrogate Operatic Players (HOPS) overflowed with all the joy, humour and whimsy you’d expect.

Opening night brought with it some inevitable nerves, but after a few initial hiccoughs, all handled toot sweet and with consummate professionalism (including by the youngest members of the cast), the show went on, proving itself a well-oiled machine.

Always set to be challenging – a flying car alone would have any director scratching their head – the HOPS team were undeterred, delivering suitable magic to their set and staging. Costume, too, was a highlight, the outfit changes seemingly infinite, from white petticoats to regal regalia to samba ruffles. Performing a host of lively choreographed numbers, the cast, chorus and band dazzled with energy.

The stage adaptation is not the 1968 film reincarnate: it has all the classics we know and love, and then some, with a few extra surprises and catchy new numbers to boot. The script does not shy away from the more wicked humour of the film. Indeed, refreshingly, it might just be even more risqué, particularly with the help of two hilarious duos: Rohan Green and Rob Hastings as the court spies, and Chris Cowling and Georgie Gladwyn as the tyrannical Baron and Baroness of Vulgaria.

As for the more sinister threads of the tale? Jack Moran’s Child Catcher is a spine-tingling caricature, sniffing out his innocent prey with zeal and revelling in his role. Stealing a glance at some of the young children around me, they appeared somewhere between captivated and terrified; indeed, I overheard one nervously ask his mother, ‘Can he smell me?’.

Kate Griffiths deserves special mention as Truly Scrumptious, capturing the essence of the sweet but fiery heroine. Lucas MacLeod and Eva Lofthouse played siblings Jeremy and Jemima, and I think it would be fair to say, are probably the hardest-working children in Harrogate this week.

A production filled with charm and heart, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is so suited to the joys of local community theatre, with a huge cast and crew dedicated to putting on their very best show. This is what it’s all about: theatre that makes you smile, at whatever age; that has you humming as you leave, with a skip in your step.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is at the Harrogate Theatre from today (June 14) every day until Saturday, June 17. For more information and to book tickets, visit the theatre website here.

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Junior doctors on strike in Harrogate have pledged to continue to stage walk outs until the government comes to the negotiating table.

Members of the British Medical Association are striking for 72 hours as of today after negotiations with ministers over a pay increase broke down.

Doctors based at Harrogate District Hospital set up a picket line on Wetherby Road this morning.

The move comes as the BMA described the latest government pay offer of a 5% increase for junior doctors as “in no way credible”.

It has called for a 35% pay hike in order to meet successive years of below inflation rises.

Junior doctors from the British Medical Association on strike in Harrogate.

Antony Antypas, one of the junior doctors on strike in Harrogate this morning, said some of his colleagues were considering leaving the profession due to pay.

He said:

“We have got to a position where we have lost a lot of our pay.

“There are staff that want to leave their job and go somewhere else. But we do not want to get to that point.”

He added that staff were “constantly fire fighting” against operation waiting lists and emergency department waiting times. He called for a better offer for junior doctors in order to “retain staff”.

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Mr Antypas, who studied at University of Nottingham and is a second year foundation doctor at Harrogate hospital, added that junior doctors would be “prepared to continue to strike” until their demands are met.

The move comes as officials at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust has urged patients to attend appointments as normal unless contacted to reschedule.

However, the trust warned that some outpatient appointments may be cancelled at short notice during the three-day strike.

A spokesperson said:

“We understand this may cause our patients and their families to worry about how services will be delivered during this period. The safety of our patients is our primary concern and we have developed plans for the proposed action and its impact on our services, patients and staff. We are working hard to prioritise resources to protect emergency treatment, critical care, neonatal care, maternity, and trauma, and ensure we prioritise patients who have waited the longest for elective care and cancer surgery.

“To prioritise emergency care and to keep all patients safe, we are having to make changes to some of our outpatient and theatre services on the days of industrial action. We are aiming to keep as many outpatient appointments and elective activity across the three days of strike action, but there is a risk that these may be cancelled at short notice.

“Patients should continue to attend appointments as planned unless contacted to reschedule.”