After another long lockdown, both charities are excited to reopen open their doors and get the tills ringing once again. Public donations are very welcome – but due to covid precautions, people may have to take extra care when dropping off items.

Saint Michael’s and Cancer Research UK shops reopen locally
Saint Michael's Hospice and Cancer Research UK's charity shops in the Harrogate district will be opening their doors next week as they try to recover from financial losses during the pandemic. The two charities rely heavily on money raised from the shops and are eager...

District breweries ready to deliver as bars reopen
Beer orders are on the rise ahead of hospitality reopening on Monday. District breweries have said they’re eager to get back to supplying local bars and restaurants.

Harrogate district restaurants already fully booked ahead of reopening
Restaurants across the Harrogate district have seen an influx in bookings ahead of the April reopening next week. Some said they have seen more demand coming out of this lockdown than those in 2020.

Knaresborough pedestrianisation still on agenda despite 10 month wait
Traffic cones, which were installed as a temporary social distancing measure in June, remain in place 10 months later as non-essential shops prepare to re-open on Monday.

Did you make the cut? Beauticians predict full bookings for April
Few businesses have been more missed during lockdown than beauticians and hairdressers. We speak to some companies about how they are preparing for their busiest weeks ever, and the huge demand for bookings.

From Knaresborough’s Aspin estate to playing cricket for Yorkshire
Jonny Tattersall, who will be playing alongside Joe Root for Yorkshire at Headingley on the opening day of the cricket season, talks to the Stray Ferret about his journey from Knaresborough to become a professional cricketer.

Gyms: Excitement mounts but group classes still limited
Thousands of people in the Harrogate district are set to return to gyms on Monday but ongoing social distancing restrictions mean group training classes won’t be available. We talk to gym owners in the district.

Union concerns about Harrogate council staff having to use public toilets
Council staff working in Knaresborough Tourist Information Centre are due to move to the town’s Courthouse Museum where Unison fears the lack of toilets will force them to use public lavatories on Cheapside.

Knaresborough’s Yorkshire Cancer Research shop reopening next week
The charity, which aims to help 2,000 more people in Yorkshire survive cancer every year, says it has suffered ‘a significant loss of income during the coronavirus pandemic’.

‘Don’t waste our time’: Knaresborough vaccine centre hits out after 450 no-shows
Homecare Pharmacy Services, which has vaccinated 10,000 people in five weeks, criticises people who don’t turn up for appointments after another 219 fail to show yesterday.

Locations of 34 electric vehicle charge points revealed
Sites in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge have been identified – but none in Boroughbridge and Masham.

Knaresborough free parking extension to end as shops reopen
The length of time cars can park for free on Market Place doubled from 30 minutes to an hour last summer. But this temporary measure will end on April 18 – six days after non-essential shops reopen.