Boroughbridge restaurant wins top award

Shahi Raj Indian restaurant has won a TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice award while working to try and recover after lockdown.

The award is based on customer reviews which have placed Shahi Raj in the top 10% of restaurants worldwide.

Since reopening last week, the restaurant is trying to rebuild its success despite decreased bookings. Capacity has had to be halved to meet safety guidelines, and some evenings only three tables have been in use.

The family-owned restaurant has been a part of the Boroughbridge community for 20 years. Restaurant manager Shahenur Rahman said:

“When I first received the award I was shocked because, in the present situation, we were still working hard to make sure the restaurant is safe for our customers. It was difficult at the beginning: before we were doing 10 to 15 sit-down meals a night during the week but that had to be halved for safety. Dining is still in decline as people are wary but we just have to make the best out of the situation.

“I don’t think it’ll get back to how it was for six to 12 months. We can’t just throw the towel in when things get tough.”

Interior of Shahi Raj restaurant, Boroughbridge.

The Indian restaurant has struggled since lockdown but hopes that as people gain confidence they will return.

During lockdown the restaurant was delivering meals to members of the community who were in need of help. A takeaway was also set up to continue to generate funds whilst the restaurant had to remain closed.

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Councillor urges rejection of £47m spend on Harrogate Convention Centre

An Independent  Ripon councillor is urging fellow councillors representing outlying areas of the Harrogate district, to vote against plans for a £47m redevelopment of Harrogate’s conference and exhibition facilities.

Councillor Pauline McHardy claimed:

“If this gets the go-ahead, it will be a financial burden around the district’s neck for years to come.”

The three-times Mayor of Ripon added:

“I think it’s totally wrong for Harrogate Borough Council to even be considering spending money of this magnitude, while there are so many other things that need support in places such as Boroughbridge, Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge, Spofforth and here in this city.”

Photograph of Councillor Pauline McHardy

Councillor Pauline McHardy

Cllr McHardy said many areas require more council investment such as  social housing, particularly for the elderly, more town centre parking provision to accommodate the increase in cars brought by new housing developments and community bus services for those in rural areas who do not have alternative transport.

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She pointed out:

“We keep being told that the Harrogate Convention Centre brings economic benefit across the whole of the district, but I don’t see evidence of that and people I speak with here and in Knaresborough feel the same.

“It’s time for councillors of all political colours, particularly in the outlying areas, to think first about the people who elected them, before putting their hands up for more spending on the convention centre.”

The proposals for Harrogate Convention Centre were set out at a virtual extraordinary meeting of the Harrogate Borough Council cabinet last Wednesday, when centre director Paula Lorimer said:

“We need this redevelopment not only to drive more conferences, but for the district and the community. We run school events, remembrance events, entertainment, orchestras and community groups.

“We do a great deal to support the community and the revenue we provide goes back into the council. What comes into us ripples out into the district. We need a successful HCC.”

This evening, a virtual extraordinary meeting of the full Harrogate Borough Council will be held at which elected members from across the district will vote on the HCC spending plans.

 

Developer offers 5% new home discount to key workers

Houses at a newly completed housing development at Kirby Hill, near Boroughbridge, are being offered to key workers with a 5% discount.

Developer Caedmon Homes says the discount will be applied to three and four bed houses and could add up to a £19,000 reduction on the price.

The Priory Meadows site is a development of 34 homes ranging from two-bedroom bungalows to five-bedroom detached homes, with prices starting at £377,500. James Baker of agent Preston Baker said:

“As the world slowly gets back to normal after the global pandemic, we have hosted a number of open weekends at Priory Meadows and the reaction has been phenomenal. We were so incredibly busy last weekend that we opened on the Monday as well – and that was equally stacked out.

“The upshot is that we have agreed four sales since lockdown, which is a superb return – and a massive endorsement of this stunning development. There are now only 12 houses left to buy.

“As a special thank you to the selfless key workers during Covid-19, we are offering them a five per cent discount on this site for two three/four bed houses, which are the same house type as the show home. That equates to a discount of almost £19,000.”

Porch outside of one of the new houses at Priory Meadows, Boroughbridge

The development has proved popular even over lockdown with 60% of the house already sold.

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Simon Bowler, a Yorkshire-based landscape architect, has crafted three bespoke porches for the development’s flagship houses.

Priory Meadows has been shortlisted for Residential Development of the Year (fewer than 50 homes) in the Yorkshire Property Industry Awards, alongside three other developments – including one other in the Harrogate district, The Chase on Harlow Hill, Harrogate.

 

12 cases of coronavirus in Harrogate district as rates remain low

Public Health England figures show 12 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Harrogate District in the past week, but infection rates across the county remain low.

The data shows a small day-by-day increase in the number of cases between July 20 and 26, with just one positive case since then.

It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the prevalence of the virus is “likely to be rising” in England with some lockdown easing due for August 1 being delayed.

Further data has been released by government, known as the “middle super output area”, which shows the number of cases at a neighbourhood level across the country.

The move follows complaints from local authorities that a lack of data at a local level prevented them from managing outbreaks effectively.

According to the data, four cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the Boroughbridge and Marton-cum-Grafton area last week. However, data for areas where fewer than two positive cases have been reported is not included.

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So far, a total 724 cases of the virus have been confirmed in the district compared with 2,566 in the wider county.

Meanwhile, Harrogate District Hospital announced yesterday that it currently has no positive coronavirus patients for the first time since the pandemic began.

The hospital has also gone 16 days without reporting a coronavirus death and no further deaths were recorded in care homes in Harrogate last week.

A spokesperson for Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said that people “must remain vigilant” in order to keep cases low.

Well done to each and every one of #teamHDFT. pic.twitter.com/zimIENBlfF

— Harrogate NHS FT (@HarrogateNHSFT) July 30, 2020

It comes as last night Matt Hancock, secretary of state for health and social care, announced a local lockdown in Greater Manchester, Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale. Residents in those areas will no longer be allowed to mix with other households indoors, including in pubs and restaurants.

Mr Hancock said the government was placing areas into local lockdowns in order to prevent a second wave of the virus.

The government also announced a delay on reopening of “higher risk” areas, such as bowling alleys and weddings of up to 30 people

However, earlier this month, Dr Lincoln Sargeant, director of public health at North Yorkshire County Council, told senior councillors that the county was not in the same position as those areas with high infections.

Dr Sargeant said figures in the county “remained low” and that rates in Scarborough, which were the highest, were at half the levels of Leicester – which was also put into a local lockdown in June.

He said:

“We are in a situation where the numbers are low and that gives us a good opportunity to consolidate that situation to work effectively with test and trace to keep those numbers low.”

More than 100 Eat Out to Help Out businesses in Harrogate district

From next week people will be able to ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ by taking advantage of a 50% discount on food and non-alcoholic drinks in the Harrogate district.

More than 100 restaurants, cafes, bars, and pubs in the district have signed up to the new government scheme to boost hospitality.

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It is valid all day Monday to Wednesday from August 3 to 31, as long the town or city is not in lockdown.

Customers can get a maximum of £10 off food and drink when they eat or drink in. There’s no minimum spend and it can be used in conjunction with other offers.

The government has released a list of establishments registered for the scheme, which we have compiled by area. If your business is not on the list then get in touch.

Harrogate – 66

Knaresborough – 14

Ripon – 9

Boroughbridge – 6

Nidderdale – 6

Masham – 4

Boroughbridge junior football club calls for girl players

Boroughbridge junior football club is calling for more girls and disabled players to join its teams training resumes  next month.

The club has several successful teams but hopes to increase numbers in the girls and ability for all teams. The girls team need more members aged 7-13 years.

The ability for all team includes children with various disabilities. The club aims to support each child’s needs and give them the opportunity to play a sport that they may see as unattainable.

Each team plays in local junior leagues but children are welcome to train for fun if they don’t feel confident to play in a league straight away.

Boroughbridge all abilities team mid game

The club’s ability for all team are encouraged to enjoy the game regardless of disability.

Christopher Fahey, chairman and coach at the club, said:

“We’re currently looking to build our girls and disabled teams. For the girls teams we need girls aged 7-13 years to join and train with us. In time they could join our competing teams in the Harrogate League. If they don’t think they are ready for the league they can just come along and then train for fun.

“Our all abilities team usually trains together. The children have various disabilities and are all aged between 6-15 years. We tell everyone to just come down to train and we will support them.

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The club is hosting a free girls-only session to attract new players on August 1.

The ability for all group will resume training fortnightly on Sunday 9th August. A date for the boys teams is yet to be set as they train on Boroughbridge High School pitches, which are currently not available.

The club can be contacted via its facebook page or website.

Boroughbridge’s size makes customers “feel more than safe”

Boroughbridge was busy this afternoon as the hospitality sector reopened its doors, many of those returning to the town’s pubs and hotels felt safer in the town due to its small size.

Customers enjoyed the sun this afternoon, with pubs seeing groups of people sat outside to have a meal or a drink. All complying with the safety measures, many of the customers were able to regain a little normality as pubs and hotels reopened their doors.

Hospitality workers in the town watched as their new safety measures were complied with by customers. Several customers at the Grantham Arms commented on how safe they felt within the small town compared to how they would feel if they visited a busier area in the district.

Kirsty Lodge told The Stray Ferret:

“I think if you were inside somewhere with a lot of strangers it would be a bit uncomfortable. We know the place so it feels easier there’s lot of things in place but it doesn’t stop you enjoying a drink. I think because its one of those places where you know everyone it’s great.

Sam Stoddart agreed:

“I feel more than safe here. I can think of places I’ve worked before where I know social distancing would be different, but here its good. I’m happy to be back and feel very safe here.”

June Glasper owns a static caravan in the town and was eager to return today, she said:

“I’m feeling apprehensive, we have a static caravan site and that reopened today too. I don’t know if I’d have gone into a pub at home in Sunderland but here I feel safe. Being in a little place like this it makes me feel comfortable.”

The Crown Hotel Boroughbridge with screens at its reception desk.

The Crown Hotel also reopened today with staff and guests happy to be back.

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Tourism is also a big contributor to the town, Tracey Campbell is the duty manager for The Crown Hotel. She was happy with the numbers of people booking rooms eager to return to the town:

“I was nervous and excited I just wanted to reopen The Crown’s doors again to re-establish its place in the community. We’ve put all the measures in but we just want to get the balance right between welcoming the guest and being a little bit clinical, which we don’t want. The guests are more than happy to be back too so it’s just absolutely fantastic.”

Simon Wade owner of Grantham Arms said:

“I was relieved to be opening today because we’ve all been working hard to get it ready. I think it could be a bit confusing for our regular customers because it has changed with the one way system but everyone is complying. It’s going to take a couple of weeks for people to see the reactions to us all reopening, but it shouldn’t take too long for then to find the confidence to return.”

Report of police impersonator targeting Boroughbridge shoppers

Police are investigating after an individual who claimed to be a police officer approached motorists in Boroughbridge, instructing them to pay thousands of pounds in overdue vehicle tax.

The incident took place in the Morrisons car park in Boroughbridge, when the individual is reported to have taken personal contact details from motorists and repeatedly called them the following day. They were told they owed thousands of pounds in unpaid fines and would be arrested if the amount wasn’t paid immediately.

North Yorkshire Police has warned residents to be vigilant in case they’re approached by the same individual. A police spokesperson said:

“If you are approached by someone claiming to be a police officer, they should be happy to show you their identification if asked and you can also confirm their identity by asking their name and ‘collar number’ and calling 101 to verify these details.

“The police will never contact you over the phone, text or email to request payment or to ask you to transfer money to them so if anyone claiming to be the police does so, hang up immediately.”

The police are asking people to call 101 if they believe they have experienced a similar scam.

https://twitter.com/KnaresPolice/status/1277206489971728389

 

Masks and visors for staff serving in restaurants to be new normal

Toilet traffic light systems and pre-booking an arrival time are to become the new normal as pubs and restaurants set to reopen from 4 July.

Hospitality businesses in the district are anxiously waiting to hear the reduced one metre distance to be announced during todays’s coronavirus briefing. Even with the new distance in place, the experience previously offered for customers is likely to be different when they reopen.

Jack Woodruff who owns The Disappearing Chin in Harrogate, said the distancing rule has made planning problematic:

“We are offering pre-booked slots for maybe two or three hours but due to our size the distancing is problematic when it comes to the toilets. For example, we couldn’t have one person walking to the toilet and another sat at the bar as they would be too close together so we’ve had to introduce a one-way system to the toilets.

“For the sake of the size of our bar we have also had to order perspex screens to use and we will have to limit contact between staff and customers.”

Simon Wade is the owner of the Grantham Arms in Boroughbridge, like many others he will have to introduce new safety systems once he can reopen:

“We’re now taking orders from tables, those orders will then be placed on large barrels, that are dotted around, for the customers to collect.

“We also have a one way system for the toilets. It’s like a traffic light system, so a person will press a button with their elbow to indicate they’re inside and will press it again as they leave another way to let the next person waiting to go in know they can. We will also have staff constantly sanitising areas and we just hope customers are happy to follow our rules.”

Outdoor spaces are invaluable for pub owners who may be limited to indoor space.

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David Straker, is the co-owner of the William and Victoria restaurant in Harrogate, believes the new dining experience may not be as enjoyable for guests:

‘It will be a lot quieter. The width of the room is about two metres. We could fit four tables in downstairs, then the same in each room upstairs”.

“My biggest reservation is do people want to be served by people wearing masks and visors? It doesn’t lend itself to a nice experience. It’s not going to be forever but we’re going to have to. We have a responsibility to our members of staff and you have to give them the right stuff.”

Nick Rahmen, owner of Cardamom Black in Harrogate, said:

“There will be no toilets open and people won’t be allowed to congregate at the bar. We’ll have thermometers to test if somebody is visibly under the weather. But we cant go too far to offend people.”

Column: Travel agents had unfair bad press in pandemic
This column is written by Peter Cookson, Managing Director of Spear Travels. Spear Travels is a group of twelve independent travel agencies based in Boroughbridge extending from North Yorkshire to Dorset:
The travel industry, like practically every other business in the UK, has been going through hell the past three or so months. But in the travel industry we have had the added intensity of being scrutinised and put in the stocks and pilloried on a daily basis by the press and media regarding refunds. This is for the most part fair in the case of tour operators and airlines, but mostly unfair, in the case of travel agencies like mine.
The general consensus of public opinion is that we, as travel agents, are just holding on to clients’ monies and refusing to pay them back for the sake of our personal cashflow. This is very far from the truth. We cannot pay back what the tour operators or airlines have not given back to us first. 
We started to feel the impact of C-19 on both existing bookings and new enquiries in mid-February and I was in Singapore at the time visiting family. In that country even then, they were well ahead of the game with regards to tracing outbreaks back to the source. 
As soon as C-19 started to bite in the UK in March, understandably staying safe became far more important than holidays. We had numerous people who were trapped abroad all round the world and who took weeks to return in some cases. Some elected to stay put as it was safer where they were. Some are still there now!
We have spent all of our time in the past three months either trying to repatriate clients or sort out their refunds. This is hugely time-consuming which meant that, unlike other industries, we could not furlough all of our staff (currently about 60% are furloughed). So no income coming in but still having to bear a fair proportion of our overhead costs. 
Thanks to furlough pay, CBILS (Government’s Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme), business grants and free rents from most of our understanding landlords for the June quarter, we have kept going. We will come out the other side. After nearly 30 years in this industry, we are not giving up!
Bookings for later this year and 2021 and 2022 are starting to come back, which is great.  This is mostly long haul and cruise, with Canada doing especially well. Our range of holidays includes everything you can imagine from tailor-made travel to family beach holidays and holidays, in the UK are proving popular too. 
Our market research shows that once things return to the new ‘normal’, hopefully by mid-July, there will be a huge upsurge of people wanting a summer break, me included! Our Yorkshire branches will reopen in the next few weeks. The appetite for travel is back!

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