Performance cycling business Prologue is to open the bike equivalent of a “luxury car showroom” in Harrogate tomorrow.
The showroom will display some of the finest quality bikes on the market, ranging in price from £3,000 to £15,000.
The showroom is based in Wellington House, the former hotel on Cold Bath Road.
John and Rachael Reid opened Prologue in another unit in Wellington House in 2014 — the year the Tour de France came to the Harrogate district.
Since then Prologue’s distinctive yellow branding has become a feature of Cold Bath Road. It has a shop selling cycling gear and clothing, a workshop, a bike fitting area and a café open to everyone.
But it doesn’t sell many bikes simply because there isn’t space.
The new showroom, in the former White Stone Ski and Sports Store, will address that by stocking up to 40 bikes.
The white lines of a road have been painted in the middle of the showroom and bikes will be displayed there, as well as hung from the walls to create a high end feel.
Mr Reid said:
“It will provide that same level of experience you get in a luxury car showroom.
“If you’re buying a high quality bike you want to enjoy the experience of going through that process of looking at it and trying it and getting that personal service.”
Prologue is expanding on Cold Bath Road.
Harrogate’s cycling hub
Scottish-born Mr Reid, who previously worked in software sales, opened Prologue eight years ago when he was looking for a change of career and lifestyle.
A keen cyclist, he and his wife, who used to work in the same building on Cold Bath Road when it was home to Harrogate Interiors, funded the business themselves.
They now employ eight full-time staff and several part-time and the shop only closes three days a year.
The business has benefitted from a surge of interest in performance cycling and British success in the Tour de France but the couple have worked hard to create a social hub as well as a business.
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They quickly forged links with local clubs Harrogate Nova and Cappuccino Cycling Club, whose members often converge outside. They also host talks on subjects such as nutrition and training and have even hold film screenings.
A launch event for the new showroom at Prologue tomorrow will feature a bike belonging to Tom Pidcock, the Leeds cyclist who represented Team Ineos, the leading British cycling team, at this year’s Tour de France.
Prestigious building on Harrogate’s James Street put on the market
A landmark building on Harrogate’s prestigious James Street has been put on the market for offers over £3.85m.
The freehold of the property — home to the Harrogate branch of department store Hoopers — is being marketed by Green & Partners.
The particulars say the retail business has a remaining lease of two years and eight months, due to expire or be renewed in March 2025.
The description says:
“The property comprises a retail store arranged on ground, basement and three upper floors. Sales accommodation is offered over ground, basement and two upper floors with ancillary accommodation at third floor level.
“There is a main staircase and customer lift to the rear of the property which connects all five levels. The property is serviced to the rear with deliveries taken into the basement level via Market Place. The property lies within a conservation area and is not listed.”
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The building, at 28-32 James Street, extends to 1,904m sq and currently generates an annual rental income of £350,000 on a full repairing and insuring lease.
It was previously sold in 2010 for £5.95m, according to the Land Registry. If the guide price is achieved, it would represent a drop in value of more than 35% in the last 12 years.
The sales particulars state that James Street is viewed as “the prime retailing thoroughfare” and cite brands including Oliver Bonas, Joules, Hotel Chocolat and Whistles as examples of its “higher end boutique” shops.
The information also advises that options for the building include negotiating a new lease to Hoopers, or securing vacant possession in order to redevelop the site. The description says:
“Neighbouring properties have achieved planning permission to convert and extend upper parts into residential flats and we believe the subject property lends itself to a full redevelopment (STPP [subject to planning permission]). The property benefits from large and regular floor plates with good natural light.
“The property is also well situated in the town centre for residential occupiers as in close proximity to the train station, which would suit commuters to Leeds and York extremely well. Harrogate house prices are some of the most expensive in Yorkshire highlighting the popularity to live in the area.”
The Stray Ferret has approached Hoopers for a comment but has not yet received a response.
The building was previously home to Marshall & Snelgrove. The late historian Malcolm Neesam wrote about its history for the Stray Ferret’s history walks, available by clicking here.
Firefighters deal with blaze in planter outside shopping centreHarrogate firefighters were called out last night to deal with a fire in a planter.
A planter on Station Parade, outside Victoria Shopping Centre, caught fire at about 10.45pm.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident log said the fire was smouldering when Harrogate firefighters arrived.
It added:
“Crews used buckets of water and gave advice to on site security staff.”
Harrogate firefighters also dealt with a fire in the open on Jenny Field Drive yesterday morning at 10.22am.
The incident log said:
“This was a fire to a downed tree. Crews extinguished this using a bucket of water and small hand tools.”
The Harrogate district, like much of the country, is currently rated ‘very high risk’ in the Met Office’s fire severity index.
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Plans submitted to add more bedrooms to Harrogate mental health hospital
A two-storey extension could provide additional bedrooms at the Cygnet Hospital on Ripon Road in Harrogate.
Plans have been submitted to add four en suite bedrooms along with two offices to the rear of the building, in addition to the existing 36 beds .
As a result, the mental health hospital would increase its overall floor space by 115.5m sq, bringing the total size of the four-storey building to 1692m sq.
Supporting information submitted with the plans said:
“The Cygnet Hospital Harrogate is a well managed establishment and provides an important function for the community.
“It is essential that this critical piece of healthcare infrastructure can continue to provide the bedspaces required to support the demands of the community and help reduce the national shortage of bedspaces.”
The hospital has two wards – one mixed gender and one female – which both provide 24-hour care for people with acute mental health needs. Patients are referred to Cygnet from both the NHS and private practices.
The plans propose installing a temporary fire escape from the first floor while the work is carried out, which would be removed on completion.
One extra car park space would be created in the grounds as a result of landscaping under the plans for the former hotel.
To view or comment on the application, visit Harrogate Borough Council’s planning website and use reference 22/02799/FUL.
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Refilling Station eco-shop in Harrogate to close
The Refilling Station is to close after three years of trading in Harrogate.
The plastic-free shop attracted a lot of goodwill when it opened because of the way it promoted sustainable shopping.
Customers bring their own containers for products to reduce packaging waste.
The business initially welcomed customers on Grove Road before moving to larger premises on Cold Bath Road.
Owner Kirsty Dodds said it had a core of loyal customers, but wider support had dwindled over the last two years.
She said the Refilling Station did well during covid when people were reluctant to go to supermarkets and it was able to source products, such as flour, which were in high demand.
“When covid was at a peak people described us as a lifesaver but unfortunately many people didn’t stick with us.
“As soon as the supermarkets caught up they went back to their old shopping habits.”
Ms Dodds said she had really enjoyed running the business but the outlook was bleak for independent shops. She said there was a misconception that supermarkets were cheaper and this, combined with their convenience, made it difficult to compete. She said:
“A lot of people have supported us in concept and on social media but not in person. It is sad but we do have staff and overheads to pay.
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Ms Dodds, who lives in Leeds, said the Refilling Station will probably close mid-September but she had yet to finalise a date. She will then focus on another business venture outside Harrogate.
She said she still thought Cold Bath Road was the ideal location for a business like hers. But she feared for the future of independent shops in Harrogate.
“I walked through the town centre recently and yes it was bustling but the shops weren’t that busy and the rents would be far more expensive than Cold Bath Road.
“I find it difficult to imagine a world where independents will survive. A lot will find the next 12 months tricky.
“The outlook is terrifying. I have family too and I feel the pinch. It’s a bleak picture if things keep going the way they are.”
Hosepipe ban introduced for Harrogate district
The Harrogate district will be covered by a hosepipe ban from August 26.
Yorkshire Water announced this morning it was introducing the measure as England teeters on the brink of a drought.
It will be the area’s first hosepipe ban since 1995.
Neil Dewis, its director of water, said:
“Parts of Yorkshire have seen the lowest rainfall since our records began more than 130 years ago.
“The hot, dry, weather means that Yorkshire’s rivers are running low and our reservoirs are around 20% lower than we would expect for this time of year.
“We’ve been doing everything we can to avoid putting in restrictions but unfortunately, they’re now necessary as part of our drought planning.
Mr Dewis said Yorkshire Water had reduced water lost by leaky pipes by 50% since 1995/6 but the measure was still necessary.
But he said the “trigger point” for a ban had now been reached.
He added:
“We need to make sure that we have enough supply for the essential needs of people across the region this year and next, as well as making sure we’re able to protect our local environment by limiting the amount of water we have to draw from the rivers.
“Our decision to introduce a hosepipe ban is based on the risk that water stocks continue to fall in the coming weeks and the need to be cautious about clean water supplies and long term river health.”
A hosepipe ban also allows Yorkshire Water to apply for drought permits from the Environment Agency, which means it can abstract more water from rivers.
The hosepipe ban includes:
Watering a garden using a hosepipe
Cleaning vehicles or boats using a hosepipe
Watering plants with a hosepipe
Filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool
Drawing water, using a hosepipe, for domestic recreational use
Cleaning walls or windows of domestic premises using a hosepipe
Cleaning paths or patios using a hosepipe
Cleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces using a hosepipe
People can still undertake these activities without using a hosepipe if they use tap water from a bucket or watering can; or use water that is not sourced from taps such as grey water, rainwater from a water butt, or a private borehole, for example.
Businesses will be allowed to use a hosepipe if it is directly related to a commercial purpose.
There are restrictions on using a hosepipe if not for those essential commercial needs – so using a hosepipe to clean a path outside a business property, for example, would not be allowed.
Blue badge holders, those on Yorkshire Water’s Priority Services register or WaterSure tariff for medical reasons, are also excluded from the ban.
More information is available here.
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Business Breakfast: Harrogate hearing company expands to second practice
Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.
A Harrogate health business is set to expand to a second branch after four years of success in the town.
The Hearing Suite will open a new practice at No 6 The Grove in Ilkley following growth at its premises on East Parade.
Founder Emily Woodmansey, pictured, set up the practice alone but has expanded to offer a team of three audiologists and an ENT consultant.
Having grown up in Ilkley, she recognised that many of her current patients are making the journey to Harrogate and a closer practice would be more convenient for them.
She said:
“Our Harrogate practice is thriving, our ethos is firmly grounded in having a small group of very happy people, and right now Ilkley doesn’t have a full time, dedicated audiology practice.
“The pandemic has reminded people how precious communication is and I’m excited to share our brand of audiology with the people of my home town.”
The practice will have a dedicated wax removal room on the ground floor, along with a full testing suite on the first floor.
The Hearing Suite’s employee Olivia, a former NHS senior audiologist will be the practice’s head of service and it will offer the same services as the Harrogate branch including wax removal, hearing consultations, tinnitus management and hearing aids.
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Ripon BID considers joint trade waste provision
Businesses in central Ripon could benefit from a collective trade waste contract if plans by the city’s Business Improvement District are supported.
The BID is currently asking businesses for their views on the plans, which could also be opened to businesses which don’t pay the levy in exchange for a fee.
In a message sent out with the survey, BID manager Lilla Bathurst said:
“Ripon BID is seeking to save money for levy payers, improve the waste services they receive and enhance the appearance of local streets by procuring a waste collector to offer a high quality, low cost waste and recycling service.”
The organisation said a central contractor could improve reliability and frequency of collections, as well as reduce the costs to BID levy payers. It could also increase the amount of waste sent for recycling instead of going to landfill.
There is also the potential to improve the city centre environment by making more frequent collections and reducing the number of vehicles being used to complete them, said the BID.
Junior soldiers graduate at Harrogate’s Army Foundation CollegeJunior soldiers from Harrogate’s Army Foundation College took part in a passing out parade yesterday.
More than 500 graduates, who are all under the age of 18 when they joined, marked the end of their initial training by marching off the parade square.
The event was watched by a crowd of around 4,000 family members and friends.
Lieutenant Colonel Simon Farebrother MC, Commanding Officer of the AFC, said:
“These soldiers represent the very best of our nation’s young people. They are now ready for their second phase of training which will hone the skills learnt here and develop those required for their chosen trade.
“They follow in the footsteps of those who have graduated from the Army Foundation College before them and gone onto great careers in the British Army.”
The mascot of the Queen’s Dragoon Guards with his handler, walk down Sir Tom Moore Walk at the Army Foundation College Harrogate as the graduation parade begins.
Members of the public take photos of their loved ones during the graduation parade at Army Foundation College Harrogate.
The parade not only marked the end of the graduates training, but also the 75th anniversary of Harrogate’s Uniacke Barracks.
The Senior Inspecting Officer, General Sir Patrick Sanders KCB, CBE, DSO, ADC Gen, Chief of the General Staff, said:
“There are some moments in a person’s life that they remember forever. These are the moments that matter. This is one of those moments.
“This is an army that is currently mobilising to prevent the spread of war in Europe. It is a task inherently linked to our core purpose – to protect the nation by being ready to fight and win wars.”
The Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Patrick Sanders, gives a speech.
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Ripon man jailed for arranging to meet underage girls for sex
A Ripon man has been jailed for arranging to meet underage girls for sex and carrying a knife.
Mark David, 32, was sentenced at York Crown Court yesterday after pleading guilty to both offences.
David admitted carrying a lock knife in High Street, Starbeck, on December 15, 2019, which was the same day he had arranged to meet a 14-year-old girl for sexual purposes.
Prior to his guilty plea to the knife offence, David had already admitted two counts of attempted sexual communication with two girls under 16 years of age.
Those offences occurred in Harrogate between November 25 and December 16, 2019. The communication was via Whatsapp and Facebook Messenger.
David, of North Street, Ripon, also admitted the offence of arranging to meet an under-age girl for sex in Harrogate.
He was sentenced to 43 months in prison, placed on the sex offenders’ register and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £181.
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Harrogate Neighbours set to relocate residents to Boroughbridge
Harrogate Neighbours is set to relocate some of its residents to a new home in Boroughbridge.
The not-for-profit organisation, which provides residential and community care, has acquired a new site formerly known as Springfield Garth in Boroughbridge from North Yorkshire County Council.
The site is undergoing refurbishment and will see residents from 28-bedroom Heath Lodge on Pannal Ash Road, Harrogate, moved to the new facility.
Sue Cawthray, chief executive of Harrogate Neighbours, said:
“We have been working very closely with North Yorkshire County Council and the local authorities to identify a suitable site that will allow us to offer and deliver excellent quality care to residents and clients now and in the future.
“The site in Boroughbridge will enable us to grow and develop our services into the community, as well as providing job opportunities within the care sector. We are delighted to be moving to the area and we look forward to being part of a supportive and caring community.
“Heath Lodge residents and their relatives have been updated on the relocation and have all been very supportive on the move. We look forward to welcoming them and new residents to the newly named ‘Heath Lodge Community Haven’ in the next few months.”
Harrogate Neighbours said the new building has larger communal areas, wider corridors and improved facilities.
Heath Lodge Community Haven is due to open November 2022.
Cllr Michael Harrison, North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for Health and Adult Services, added:
“Harrogate Neighbours provides much needed services in this part of North Yorkshire and we have been very pleased to help make sure this very positive development could happen.
“It not only brings a building back into use but offers potential for growth and an opportunity to be more sustainable, whilst caring for older people in the local area, which is of paramount importance for our ageing population.”
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