Harrogate couple spend 3 days in vain calling Jet2 to rearrange £824 holiday

A Harrogate couple have spoken of their frustration at spending three days in vain trying to call Jet2 to cancel their holiday.

David and Celia Bishop, both 75, were due to fly to Faro in Portugal on Monday. But after realising their passports were about to expire, they tried to rearrange their flights.

The couple said they have been on the phone attempting to get through to Jet2 for about six hours since Monday. They have tried numerous different numbers but have yet to get through.

Mr Bishop admitted his “stupid error” had initially caused the issue but with a week to go and an appointment booked to get new passports next week, he hoped to be able to rearrange the flights.

The couple paid £824 for the week-long package holiday, which included flights and hotel. It would be their first holiday in two years.

Mr Bishop said:

“It was my own stupidity. After two years of lockdown I just forgot to check them until Monday.

“I’ve tried at different times but I also rang bang on 8am Tuesday and Wednesday, when the lines opened, but there was no answer for over an hour. Surely if I ring at the time they open there can’t be an hour’s worth of people ahead of me? I think the system may have crashed.”

Mr Bishop and his wife even drove to Leeds Bradford Airport on Tuesday to speak to a member of Jet2 staff. But they said when they arrived the woman on the desk told them they would have to ring the same number they had been calling.

Read more:

Mr Bishop said the terms and conditions of the deal mean it is possible to change the flight up to the day of departure if an administration fee is paid. There may also be costs for the new tickets.

Automated response

They say they are willing to pay these fees but with no word from Jet2 they are worried they could lose out on the £824 completely. Mr Bishop added:

“For such a huge tour operator to abandon their customers and provide no customer service just struck me as wrong.”

Ms Bishop also tried an email address but received an automated response warning of a 14-day wait. She said:

“We were both really looking forward to this holiday. We understand it was our fault initially but to not answer the phone at all is not on. Hopefully we can rearrange it when our new passports get here next week but I’m not holding out hope.”

Mr and Ms Bishop both said they will continue to call and wait to hear from the tour operator.

Since publication, a spokesperson for Jet2 has responded to say:

“We are pleased to confirm that we have since been in touch with Mr Bishop and the matter is now resolved.”

£500k in carbon reduction cash to be spent on Hydro instead of Convention Centre

More than half a million pounds in carbon reduction cash is to be spent on Harrogate Hydro instead of Harrogate Convention Centre.

The £583,000 was awarded to Harrogate Borough Council for upgraded lighting and air handling units at the convention centre, but the council has now said it won’t be able to complete the works before a funding deadline in June.

The money from the government’s decarbonisation scheme will instead be used for air source heat pumps and solar panels at the Hydro swimming pool.

A council spokesperson said:

“The money has been transferred as owing to market conditions, we cannot deliver the convention centre project within the grant timescales.”

The funding switch comes as the council is pushing ahead with plans for a major redevelopment of the convention centre, with upgrades at the venue’s studio two being made a priority.

These studio two works could start in October after a warning that the venue could miss out on up to £14.9million through cancelled events.

Overall, the full redevelopment plans could cost up to £47million if approved by councillors. The proposals include three exhibition halls being demolished to make way for a new 5,000 square metre hall and a refurbished auditorium.

Read more:

Under separate plans, 1,077 solar panels will be installed at the convention centre in a move which the council said will save 24 tonnes of Co2 each year.

A further 420 solar panels will also be installed at the Hydro swimming pool. The council said these could reduce the venue’s annual Co2 emissions by 577 tonnes.

The Hydro is also in line for a major redevelopment which will cost £11.8million and get underway next month. These plans include a two-storey extension of the building, as well as a new entrance, cafe and reception area.

There will also be a new diving board structure, fitness suite and refurbished changing areas which could all be completed by April 2023.

New environmentally friendly business to open in Ripon

New business opens in Ripon

The Green House, Ripon

A new environmentally and ecologically-focused business will open in Ripon next week 

The Green House, at 11 North Street, is being opened on Tuesday by Patricio Maglio, one of Ripon’s hornlblowers, and his partner Rebecca Crallan.

With a planet-friendly ethos, the store will sell home and garden supplies designed to have minimal impact on the environment. 

Patricio Maglio

Patricio Maglio

Ms Crallan said:  

“Our aim is to make it easier for people in the city and surrounding villages to make greener choices without compromising on aesthetics or function,

“We have done our research on refillables that do the job, along with plastic-free sponges that don’t disintegrate and compostable cloths that have a luxury feel.”

Harrogate start-up launches sustainable skincare range

Anna Daniels

Anna Daniels

Harrogate firm Josie Rose has launched a luxury overnight face mask.

Anna Daniels founded skincare brand Josie Rose in 2019 and has now entered the emerging ‘skin minimalism’ market with its first product: a hydrating retinol overnight face mask.

The new product has already appealed to local retailers, such as Hoopers in Harrogate, and sells direct to the consumer via its website.

Anna Daniels, managing director and founder said:

“Multifunctional products such as our overnight face mask deliver great results due to the concentrated formulas, this enables a simpler skincare and beauty routine, saving customers time and money and of course meaning less products, which is a more sustainable option.

Harrogate firm wins major NHS contract

A Harrogate-based company has won an NHS contract to scale up remote patient monitoring across Scotland.

Under the three-year contract, Inhealthcare will provide technology to enable people to record relevant information in the comfort of their own homes and relay readings to NHS teams for analysis.

inhealthcare CEO Bryn Sage

The technology is being rolled out across Scotland’s health boards. The service can be used to manage illnesses including hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, heart disease, diabetes, depression, malnutrition, cancer and Covid.

Georgia Nelson, senior business development manager at Inhealthcare, said:

“Winning this contract represents another major validation of technology-enabled care and provides the foundations for many more citizens to benefit from improved health and wellbeing at home and better quality of life.”

Send your business news to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

New Harrogate bar for craft beer lovers could be coming soon

The owners of Husk Beer Emporium in Harrogate hope to open a bar this summer that showcases the best craft beers from the UK and abroad.

Danny Duckworth and Tom Gill, both 33, opened the shop on King’s Road just before the first covid lockdown. It sells a wide array of craft beers with idiosyncratic branding and flavours.

They said the next step is opening their own bar and they recently submitted plans to Harrogate Borough Council to do this.

The bar would be in a unit that was previously home to Greek restaurant Souvlaki on Station Square, opposite the Queen Victoria monument.

If all goes to plan, they said the venture could open by May. It will offer live music, meet the brewery nights, food, outdoor seating and an ‘Aladdin’s cave’ of unique beers.

The bar would open in this empty unit on Station Square

‘Weird and wonderful’ beers

The friends met as students at St Aidan’s Church of England High School and are excited by the prospect of moving into a more prominent location in the town.

Mr Duckworth believes craft beer can offer a more immersive experience for drinkers than traditional real ale, due to its taste combinations and flavours.

He said variety was the key to what they offer.

“We pride ourselves on weird and wonderful beers”

As well as selling more traditionally brewed craft beers, Husk also has a well-stocked range of alcohol-free and gluten-free options.

Mr Duckworth said:

“People come here on a Friday and buy eight bottles of beer and they will all taste different.”

Inside Husk Beer Emporium

Read more:

Craft beer trail

Craft beer muscled its way onto the drinking scene several years ago and the trend has proved that it has staying power.

Harrogate was once not known for alternative, DIY-style bars, but Mr Duckworth said Major Tom’s Social opened the door for places like the Disappearing Chin, North Bar and themselves.

Mr Gill said he hopes Husk bar can be part of a Harrogate craft beer trail, boosted by the Station Gateway scheme that would see the outside area at the end of James Street pedestrianised to allow for al-fresco summer drinking.

He said:

“More and more people are seeking places like this out.”

Mr Duckworth added:

“The craft beer scene in Harrogate is buzzing for us to open, we hope they can support us.”

Harrogate’s new vegan restaurant venture collapses

A vegan restaurant chain that planned to open a location in Harrogate has ceased trading.

Vertigo took over the space on Station Parade next to Farmhouse in July 2021 and advertised in its window that it was ‘coming soon’.

Since then there has been no sign of movement. The building has remained vacant with only Vertigo branding visible to passers-by.

When the Stray Ferret sought an update in January, we were told the company couldn’t confirm a date for the Harrogate opening due to covid uncertainty.

However, Vertigo has now posted on social media that it has now gone out of business. It said:

“It is with a heavy heart we have to announce Vertigo is no more.

“Sadly, we have ceased trading at all of our sites. The pandemic really took its toll on us, and trade is still well behind what it was pre-March 2020; and now with significantly increased costs (especially utilities) it is no longer viable for us to operate.”

The chain operated three eateries in Manchester.

Read more:

 

TV architect George Clarke will bring buildings to life at Harrogate’s Royal Hall

TV architect George Clarke will share stories from a ‘Life in Amazing Architecture’ at Harrogate’s Royal Hall.

He will visit the town on October 18 as part of his debut live tour, which will give fans a glimpse behind the scenes of Mr Clarke’s hit series, including The Restoration Man, Amazing Spaces and Remarkable Renovations.

The live show will include audio-visual features, as Mr Clarke shares tales from his childhood, how he was inspired to pursue architecture, and how he stumbled into TV, as well as talking audiences through some of the architectural highlights of their local area.

The Sunderland-born architect is no stranger to Harrogate, having filmed a number of TV episodes in the town, including the restoration of The Chapel on Grove Road and the transformation of a 200-year-old dilapidated barn.

Read more:

Mr Clarke said:

“I’m just a storyteller, about people and about buildings. So to be going on tour, to be able to tell my story is amazing.

“I already felt like the luckiest boy in the world to do architecture, but to travel the country talking about architecture and my life – it’s off the scale amazing.”

Tickets for George Clarke’s Life In Amazing Architecture go on sale at 10am on Friday, March 11 from www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Ukraine crisis: Guide to how you can help locally

As the war in Ukraine wages on, the Harrogate district has stepped up its response to help those fleeing the conflict.

The Stray Ferret will be providing updates on where to give donations and how the district is responding to the ongoing war.

If you have any details on where to donate to those fleeing the conflict or any other information, write to us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Harrogate

Ukrainian woman opens house for donations 

Olga Whiting, from Ukraine, is opening up her home so she can take donations to be sent to her Mum’s village in Ukraine.

Ms Whiting now lives in Harrogate but is in regular contact with her mum who has said the items they’re most in need of are:

Ms Whiting has a friend who has been transporting donations into Ukraine every three weeks. Her friend will now add her native village of Nova Borava to his list of drop-off points.

People can drop donations off at anytime at 14 Yewdale Road, Harrogate, HG2 8NF. Ms Whiting has said if no one is in call her on 07307876103 and she will describe a safe place for them to be left.

Tiger Fifty 7 taking donations

The children’s store on Cold Bath Road has opened itself up as a drop-off point for donations.

It is asking for:

For anyone who would rather donate money via JustGiving link, click here.

Boroughbridge

Car dealer accepting donations

Charltons of Boroughbridge is accepting donations for those feeling the conflict in Ukraine.

Items collected will be sent to a large depot at Thirsk and then forward to Eastern Europe.

Organisers will accept:

The dealership has said it is open for donations from 8.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday and Saturday 8.30am to 5pm.

New nursery set to open its doors in Harrogate

This article is sponsored by Children’s Corner Childcare. 

An innovative new nursery – complete with a refurbished loft space and a breakfast bar for parents – is opening its doors near RHS Harlow Carr Harrogate.

Launching in April, Children’s Corner will be based at Central House, on Otley Road, making it an ideal location for parents who work at the business park.

It will also serve commuters to and from Harrogate, as well as those living in nearby villages, including Beckwithshaw and Pannal.

Lesley Anne Dawson, CEO and owner of Children’s Corner Childcare, said:

“This purpose-built nursery is the first of its kind in the area. Bright and spacious, the modern open-plan space will allow plenty of opportunities for children to explore.

“Beyond the welcoming reception area are two large rooms divided into nursery and pre-school, with staff and activities tailored to different ages and abilities.

“We also have a beautifully-refurbished loft space that local baby and toddler classes will be using throughout the week. The nursery also benefits from a wonderful outdoor space which will be used for outdoor learning and play.”

The family-run nursery, set to open on April 4, will be able to welcome up to 50 children from aged six weeks to five, from 7.30am to 6pm all-year-round. It will also offer 15 and 30-hour funded places.

Its many stand-out approaches to childcare include a sustainable, eco-friendly ethos, a focus on outdoor learning and flexibility for parents in a modern working environment.

Lesley added:

“We have commissioned sustainable wooden play equipment for both in and outdoors, and lean towards open-ended natural resources to encourage children to create their own play. There is also a covered area to allow for all-weather play and outdoor learning.

“Spending lots of time outdoors has proven benefits to children’s health and development. Our garden is surrounded by mature trees and we will be encouraging wildlife – the animals and insects we share our home with provide endless opportunities for learning.”

To make drop-off run as smoothly as possible, the nursery’s welcoming reception area is aimed at helping to set families up for a happy day ahead.

Lesley said:

“On arrival, children will go in for breakfast and parents can stay for a coffee while they catch up on emails at the breakfast bar.

“There are ample parking spaces right outside. The Children’s Corner operations manager will also be based onsite, so parents always have a point of contact.

“We are keen to be an integral part of the local community and we are offering our lovely loft space to local baby and toddler groups, who will be offering classes throughout the week. We plan to work with local schools to offer wraparound care.”

Lesley said an emphasis was also placed on mealtimes, which is seen as a chance to sit down with friends, develop communication skills and learn healthy eating habits.

She added:

“Our seasonal dishes are always freshly prepared and we explore different aromas, tastes and textures every day, helping young children understand what good food is, how it grows and that it tastes delicious.”

During the pandemic, the nursery, which has six other branches in Leeds, created a unique ‘Flexi-Day Pass’ to support parents who were juggling childcare and working from home.

Lesley said:

“We wanted to offer parents reassurance during a difficult time of uncertainty.

“The pandemic has changed the way we work. Now that many companies are returning to the office or adopting the hybrid approach, we aim to continue to offer flexible childcare with just 24 hours notice.

“Parents book a minimum of three days per month, and can choose those days flexibly. As long as we have availability we will do our utmost to provide the days requested.”

The nursery follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework and practices ‘in the moment planning’, which means that children are able to follow their interests.

Matthew Dawson, director of Chidren’s Corner Childcare, said:

“We cannot wait to open our first Children’s Corner nursery in Harrogate.

“Our goal is to offer the highest quality childcare to our families whilst also meeting the flexibility requirements parents need in the modern working environment.

“We want Children’s Corner Harrogate to feel like an extension of your own family and we will be running social events for parents who might not have been able to meet other parents because of the pandemic.

“We are a family-owned and operated business and love having that personal connection to all of the families in our care.”

The nursery is holding a series of open days in March, starting with an exclusive Central House show-round on Friday, March 11, where tenants can drop in for lunch between 12 and 2pm and meet the nursery manager.

It will be followed by two events for parents, who can enjoy a tour of the setting, on Saturday, March 12 and 19, between 10am and 2pm.

‘Community goodwill’ helped to overcome anti-mosque campaign, says Harrogate Islamic Association

Harrogate Islamic Association has said the “goodwill” of the local community helped it overcome a campaign against its plans to open the town’s first mosque.

The plans to convert the former Home Guard Club on Belford Road into a place of worship were approved last week after several residents received letters in January which said they should object because the mosque would “only serve one section of the community”.

Bristol-based planning lawyer Gavin Boby – who calls himself “the mosque buster” – also said in a YouTube video that he had been asked to help campaign against the plans.

Harrogate Islamic Association member Zahed Amanullah has now said he believes the support of most residents – and other religious groups – helped the association win approval from Harrogate Borough Council.

Mr Amanullah told the Local Democracy Reporting Service:

“We are very pleased the plans have been approved and particularly grateful to the Harrogate community for supporting us.

“We have spent many years building bridges with other faith groups and we have always felt welcome here.

“We have really relied on the goodwill of community members to address the campaign.

“We have also made sure that we are communicating with everyone effectively through social media. We want to have an ongoing dialogue with our neighbours and I think this really helped.”

Read more:

The planning application was submitted in October 2021 and has proved to be divisive, with 109 people writing to the council in support of the plans and 69 against.

The objections stem from concerns over parking and traffic on Belford Road which is a one-way residential street with a primary school.

The former Home Guard club in Harrogate.

The former Home Guard club in Harrogate.

In response, Harrogate Islamic Association said in its plans that the mosque “would not have an unacceptable impact” on the surrounding roads because it is near the town centre and there are public transport links.

The association – which currently meets in the Quakers’ Friends Meeting House – has been looking for a permanent home in Harrogate for around a decade.

Previous attempts to lay roots at other buildings have fallen through and the group has now raised around £400,000 of the £500,000 needed to buy the former Home Guard club.

The association said it wants to convert the boarded-up building into a space that can be used for religious, community and charitable events.

Mr Amanullah said additional funding will be needed to carry out these works as much of the roof structure and ground floor will have to be replaced.

He said: 

“Purchasing this building has meant raising additional funds to ensure that it is renovated sensitively and appropriately, given its history.

“This means we have to raise more money than we planned for, so we have launched a crowdfunding campaign to help us make up the difference.

“Fortunately, we have had pledges from community members that were contingent upon planning permission.

“However, we will need to raise more than that for emergency repairs, so we have set a target on our crowdfunding page of £200,000 to cover these costs.

“If all goes to plan, we hope to open the building, or at least part of it, by autumn.”

New woodland with 2,000 trees planted in Bilton

Over 2,000 trees have been planted on the edge of Nidd Gorge to form a new woodland for people to enjoy.

Bilton Conservation Group was helped by employees from Belzona Polymerics as well as members of Knox Valley Residents’ Association and the Scout movement to plant the trees at Bilton Fields during February.

Sixteen native broadleaf species were planted, including a specimen of the rare wild service tree.

The woodland is sponsored and paid for by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, a Catholic congregation of women that was founded in 1846.

Scout volunteers planting a tree

Four nuns, representing the order, came from Oxford and France to help on the second day.

Read more:

Bilton Conservation Group has planted over 20,000 trees in Bilton Fields since 1985.

Keith Wilkinson, of Bilton Conservation Group, said:

“We had hoped to plant them last year but the weather and covid got in the way.

“Fringed with blossom species such as wild cherry, crab apple, dog rose, hawthorn, blackthorn and rowan it will be magnificent in years to come, providing food and shelter for birds, butterflies and bees. It will look fantastic.”