We want to hear your opinions on all things Harrogate. From public transport to shopping, parking to nightlife.

The town is known for its independent shops and wide range of bars and restaurants, ass well as its beautiful scenery across the Stray and beyond.

But, even without covid, times are changing, and some businesses have struggled. The Stray Ferret has reported on several well-known shops having to close down in recent months, with existing struggles compounded by lockdown.

Our big Harrogate survey is still open to everyone over 18 from across the district who uses the town centre for work or leisure.

By clicking here to complete this survey you have the opportunity to give your views on what the town needs, what it can change and what you love about it.

The survey takes about 10 minutes and everyone who takes part will be entered into a prize draw with free gifts – a Stray Ferret umbrella or a 12 pack of special Stray Ferret beer brewed by Harrogate-based Roosters.

The results will be published on The Stray Ferret website to continue the debate about the future of our town.

Stray Foodie is a bi-monthly food review written by Michelin-starred chef, Frances Atkins. 

In 1997, Frances opened the Yorke Arms near Pateley Bridge, where she was the owner for 20 years. During her ownership, she held her Michelin-star status for 16 of those years.

Vista View Bistro, How Stean Gorge, Nidderdale 

It was a dreak night and I was in one of the most beautiful parts of deepest Nidderdale; How Stean Gorge is a place of such outstanding natural beauty, especially on clear sunny days of which we rarely have. This was not the case on this occasion, as we bumped along a windy road to our destination. Ahead of us rose an amazing, stilted building that towered over dramatic turbulent water with lustrous jungle land and deep vegetation.

A vision of creative owners, Mr & Mrs Stanley Beer who have developed their Gorge with great dedication over many years to its current acclaim. What a beautiful place to live and continue to develop a business. Full of exciting opportunity in this new world of hospitality that we find ourselves in. Exciting outdoor pursuits with fresh, tasty, good food seems to be the order of the day.

The glass viewing area at How Stean Gorge.

My old man and I were there for an early dinner and we felt lucky, as How Stean – as it is known locally – is not often open in the evenings. Like a lot of people, it was the first time out for us for some time. As we entered, the feeling of cleanliness was exemplary and made us feel very safe.

Would you like Frances to review your restaurant or cafe? 

From pop-up to fine dining, Frances would like to hear from you. If you’d like her to write a review on your food, send her an email to: foodie@thestrayferret.co.uk.

My old man’s face was a picture of sheer contentment as he devoured a very beautiful Prawn Cocktail. I examined a starter of vegetables and thought, here we have some style. Jowayne, a young and ambitious Chef has given his food a lot of love shown by a neat, clean hand and a good balance of flavour. Although I would have been happy to see or feel more colour and excitement with the menu. Having said that, to find such honest food in the depths of this fine country is a plus. Maybe I was being over-influenced and relaxed by the Spa-themed music during dinner which was ethereal and stark.

Two Vista View Bistro chefs pictured, including its head chef, Jowayne Marshall (left).

The time to visit is obviously during the day with all the lovely Autumnal hues. You will sit and gasp at the extraordinary views over a glass or savour the very good and satisfying local beef or feel spoilt by what’s on offer on the menu; something for all tastes, I am told. Let’s hope Chef puts his Fruit Mousse Spoon on the dessert menu – something I have come across before – and of course it was well worth the drive up the Dale.

Whenever you decide to visit, which is a must during these times, you will be rewarded by friendly Yorkshire hospitality that stimulates you and gives you the good feeling of being British. My little journey for dinner x2, three courses and a glass of wine each cost £85.20 excluding service. Don’t be afraid, there are more economic ways of enjoying this treasure.

To find out more about Vista View Bistro click here.

To read more about Frances’ fantastic career click here.

Harrogate parents’ group Ready Steady Mums has been given the green light to resume its weekly walks, as they fit under the “support group” category within the government guidelines.

The group was forced to call a halt for the second time in early September when the “rule of six” came into place, which meant that, in most circumstances, groups of more than six could not gather.

However, after making contact with the office Andrew Jones MP to ask if it could keep going, Ready Steady Mums has been reassured it isn’t breaking any rules as it is a support group for new parents. The group split into ‘bubbles’ of seven parents with babies plus one volunteer and headed out onto the Stray again yesterday morning, in line with the limit of 15 people gathering for organised outdoor events.

Laura Brett, a former mental health midwife who founded the group, said:

“It was so good to be out again. It’s not a lot different to what we usually do – people often split into smaller groups as we go along – but it’s just being intentional about it. We give it a good two or three minutes between each group setting off to keep a certain amount of distance, and we stayed in those groups even for tea and biscuits afterwards.”

In good weather, the group sits out on the Stray for a socially-distanced picnic after the walk

Formed in 2016, Ready Steady Mums provides people with the opportunity to stay fit and socialise during the early weeks and months of parenthood. 

The group usually meets at St Mark’s Church at 10am on Friday, walks together around the Stray and then enjoys tea, coffee and cake inside the church. Resuming after lockdown, the refreshments became a picnic outside, in line with social distancing requirements.

From her background in mental health midwifery, and her new role in fundraising and promotions for Harrogate charity Wellspring, Laura said the group is even more important now than ever. New mums and dads don’t get as many chances to meet and talk to others in the same position, and people are finding their mental health is suffering.

“I’m very serious about the whole covid thing – I had it and I know how awful it is – but I think the mental health epidemic and isolation are also really worrying.

“I walked with one woman today who said, ‘I love it – it’s free, I don’t have to commit, and it’s just so inclusive’. She had moved into Harrogate over lockdown with a new baby.

“Even if we just do it for her, it’s so worthwhile.”

Read more:

• Dementia charity warns of impact of second lockdown
• WATCH: Are people in Harrogate ready for another lockdown?

Uniting Harrogate’s town centre businesses with a common voice is one of the biggest challenges facing Harrogate BID as it approaches its second anniversary.

With numerous groups and organisations representing different elements of the town, the BID hopes it can find common ground and bring different factions together to make progress for the benefit of all.

However, even within its own membership, there is no consensus on what the town centre needs. BID ambassador Jo Caswell said it is surprising how wide the range of opinions is on matters like pedestrianisation.

“It’s very mixed. A lot of it is to do with the demographics of the outlet and their customer base and what suits them as a business.

“We’re here to get feedback and put all that information together and put some kind of strategy together as a consequence of it. We’ve been very proactive – I’ve got a good feeling about what Harrogate BID will deliver if we know it’s the right thing that the retailers and general public want.”

Having been in post for five weeks, with the official title of Harrogate Host, Jo has spent a lot of time going from business to business, finding out what they need to make their lives easier in such difficult times.

A Harrogate resident for more than 20 years, she feels a sense of loyalty to the town and is enjoying being able to “put something back” by supporting the town centre. But she has been surprised by the lack of a sense of community across the town centre.

“There’s not as much of a community hub as I thought there would be. Why that is, I’m not sure.

“In a way, that excites me, because I think the initiatives that we’re putting forward are addressing that directly: networking with the councils, meetings with the homeless project. Our responsibility is to bring all those people together, give a bit of cohesion to it and represent those views.”

Harrogate BID’s new project manager, Dawn Gennery

Jo will be joined by a second Harrogate Host next week, as well as project administrator Dawn Gennery, who is supporting acting BID manager Simon Kent in his work.

Alongside liaising between organisations and business owners, the BID is aiming to provide a practical boost for local businesses over the coming months. A £100,000 investment is being made in Christmas lights – compared to around £30,000 raised in previous years through donations – to drive visitors into the town centre.

With retail and hospitality facing the most challenging times in most businesses’ histories, the BID is also working on more schemes to increase footfall and improve the environment of the town centre over the coming months. Measures including additional street cleaning and new planters to brighten up shop frontages through the winter months.

Read more:

• Second lockdown would see Harrogate businesses face battle to survive, says chamber
• Conference sector ‘cut adrift’ says Harrogate events company

Since it was launched in early 2019, Harrogate BID has faced its own challenges. Board members have come and gone – including the resignation of its first manager after less than four months last year, and the departure of four board members including the chairman in April, citing undue influence from local authorities and an inability to make progress on important projects.

Jo recognises the challenges still facing the organisation, but said the reception so far for her proactive approach has been reassuring.

“Generally, I’m finding it very positive. Because Harrogate BID has been quite invisible so far, there’s a bit of scepticism sometimes, but when you talk things through and talk about initiatives, I’ve had very little negative comeback.”

North Yorkshire Police has released video of a high speed case through Knaresborough to catch a man on a stolen motorbike.

This week, Craig Hindson, from Ripon was jailed for 6 months and given a 15-month driving ban. The court had heard that he was driving like a “lunatic” of speeds of up to 80mph in built up areas to escape the police on an uninsured Kawasaki motorbike.

An image taken from the police video of the pursuit of Hindson

Sergeant Julian Pearson of North Yorkshire Police’s Road Policing Group condemned Hindson’s dangerous driving, he said:

“Hindson showed no regard whatsoever for other people’s safety. Such dangerous riding won’t be tolerated in North Yorkshire and I hope he uses the time in the prison to reflect on his actions, the danger he put other road users in and the potential fatal consequences of riding at such speeds.”

Craig Hindson

During the chase, Hindson taunted the pursuing officer by slowing down and “waving with his hand, indicating to pull over” – only to drop down the gears and speed off again.

The video shows how the police vehicle managed to prevent Hindson pulling onto the A1 and instead the Kawasaki was forced into a dead-end, where it came to a halt and Hindson was arrested.

A leading Thalidomide campaigner from Harrogate has paid tribute to Sir Harold Evans, the newspaper editor who championed the cause of the drug’s victims in the early 1970s.

Sir Harold – known as Harry – a former editor of the Northern Echo and the youngest editor of the Sunday Times, has died at the age of 92.

He was instrumental in exposing the Thalidomide scandal, which saw thousands of babies in the UK born with severe disabilities after their mothers were given the drug to cure morning sickness.

Thalidomide victim Guy Tweedy, who lives in Harrogate, became a good friend of Sir Harold, and last saw him at his New York club in July 2019. He said:

“I am very sadden by the news of the passing of my dear friend.

“He was an icon. The world’s greatest journalist, and Harry was, and will always remain, a hero of Thalidomiders worldwide.

“What he did for Thalidomide survivors and their families in the UK was enormous. He trod where no one else did. If it wasn’t for him fighting against the establishment, and having the courage to expose this horrendous scandal, we would never have got any justice at all.

“We owe him a huge debt of gratitude that sadly we will never be able to repay. I hold him up in complete veneration and consider him one of the greatest men of all time. My thoughts are with his wife, Tina, and his family at this very sad time.

“I lit a candle to his memory, which is standing in front of a portrait that I had commissioned of him a few years ago. God bless you, Sir Harry.”

Read more:

• Harrogate District Hospital to increase covid tests for staff
• Women to swim English Channel for charity

Some of the biggest names in literature, politics and broadcasting will be streamed directly into people’s homes thanks to the Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival.

Usually held in the town in October, the event has moved online this year and will see interviews with Simon Mayo, Jeremy Vine, Rory Bremner, Jess Phillips MP and more.

From Friday, October 23 to Sunday, October 25, 17 events will be held online – all free for the public to attend. Sharon Canavar, chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals, said

“2020 has been a journey of discovery and adventure, a theme that trails through our programme. For Harrogate International Festivals, reinvention has come out of necessity to ensure survival of our arts charity and to continue in our mission to bring the very best of our events to audiences.

“Whilst there is no denying that this is a hugely challenging time for the Festival, and for artists, through our exciting digital weekend of events, bottling a taste of our usual Festival, we support authors, creators and suppliers and bring them together with audiences as community in a celebration of literature. For we have never needed stories that explore what it means to be human, more than we do now.”

Read more:

• Harrogate district event venues light up in ‘red alert’
• Horror film festival coming to Harrogate this Halloween

Among the novelists taking part are Bernard Cornwell, Lee Child, Ken Follett and Natalie Haynes. Former Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman and bestselling author Ariana Neumann will share their memoirs, while Hugo Vickers discusses the story of Gladys Deacon, Duchess of Marlborough.

David Lammy MP, Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason and Loyd Grossman are also included in the line-up.

Raworths managing partner Zoe Robinson said:

“The content and delivery may have gone digital, but the inspiration that literature brings will continue to shine through.

“We are once again delighted to be partnering with Harrogate International Festivals and sponsoring the Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival – established as one of the leading literature festivals in the UK.”

The Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival will be streamed through the Harrogate International Festivals website.

The headteacher of one of the largest primary schools in Harrogate has called for extra road safety measures outside the building to help parents and children comply with social distancing.

Tim Broad, headteacher of Western Primary School, said some people were taking risks crossing the busy Cold Bath Road at pick-up and drop-off times to avoid crowding at the nearby pelican crossing.

Mr Broad has asked North Yorkshire County Council to provide a temporary lollipop person outside the school, but the local authority has so far not agreed any action.

Mr Broad, who has worked at the school for 20 years and has been headteacher since January, said:

“This is the first time I can remember feeling deeply concerned that we could have a road traffic accident.

“The first week back was chaotic. We had a meeting on the Friday evening and changed the system as best we can.

“But we still have some children and parents trying to cross the road where it isn’t safe.”

Read more:

• Harrogate’s Christmas lantern parade cancelled for 2020
• Covid case confirmed at Ripon Grammar School

Western has 500 pupils, including its nursery intake, and the sheer volume of pedestrian traffic creates a social distancing hazard compounded by the narrow pavement outside the school and the busy road.

The school has introduced staggered start and finish times and uses three entrances and exits and to ease congestion.

But concerns remain, hence the school’s request for a temporary crossing patrol or signs urging drivers to slow down.

Mr Broad said the council had been responsive to the school’s concerns but it was proving frustratingly difficult to get action.

The Stray Ferret approached North Yorkshire County Council for comment but had not received a reply by the time of publication.

Plans to pedestrianise Montpellier Parade and allow bars and cafes to put tables there may not get off the ground because they appear to contravene the Stray Act.

North Yorkshire County Council told the Stray Ferret on Wednesday it was was considering a request by Simon and Sharon Colgan, the owners of the Blues Bar, to close the highway.

But although Montpellier Parade is a highway it still forms part of the Stray, which is covered by a 1985 Act of Parliament.

The Act says the 200 acres of Stray land should not be used for commercial gain.

Judy d’Arcy Thompson, chair of the Stray Defence Association, which upholds the Act and safeguards the Stray against building, said individuals were free to enjoy a drink on the Stray but commercial gain was prohibited. She added:

“Presumably Harrogate Borough Council will have to do what the Stray Act dictates.”

Read more:

• Council considers plan to pedestrianise Montpellier Parade
• Blues bar denied permission to keep tables on the Stray

A spokesman for HBC, which is responsible for management of the Stray, said: “Montpellier Parade is part of the Stray. We will consider the recommendations provided by the highways authority.”

A spokeswoman for NYCC, which is responsible for highways, said it was still investigating the possibility of closing Montpellier Parade.

The Colgans sent their request to NYCC after HBC ordered it to remove tables from Stray land opposite its premises.

From Monday, weddings in England can only involve 15 people but those in the industry in Harrogate say small ceremonies can still be “beautiful”.

New government restrictions this week will limit weddings to a maximum of 15 people, including the couple.

The decision has left venues and wedding vendors struggling. It also means couples have to decide whether to rearrange for a later date or go ahead with a more intimate occasion.

A celebrant and wedding planner from Harrogate both said they hope to encourage couples to continue with their weddings safely. Both agreed that smaller weddings can still be just as special.

Rachael Meyer, humanist celebrant from Harrogate, said:

“It’s tough on the couples and the venues. I feel so sorry for them and everyone involved in the day. But there are ways to have a beautiful day with small numbers. I’ve done several small ceremonies and they were beautiful. Those couples chose to have limited numbers and everyone is completely involved, which is fantastic. It made them rethink why they were getting married.

There is a feeling of uncertainty but love wins and will go ahead even if it is different.”

Laura Lindsay, a Harrogate wedding planner, said:

“It’s disastrous for everyone in the industry. It’s the yo-yo of rules: we can get married, we can’t get married – it’s not fair. Some people could have a small wedding now and big party next year. There’s still some lovely, beautiful, intimate weddings happening.”

Read more:

• The demand for humanist weddings is rising in Harrogate. 
• Harrogate couple has to cancel wedding for the third time following further covid restrictions. 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the restriction on numbers was part of a six month plan to curtail the rise in covid cases.

No indication has been given yet about whether the restrictions on weddings will change again before March.