Editor’s Pick of the Week: Harrogate wows 80s star and exciting times at Lightwater Valley

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We’ve published several articles lately, including this and this, about how tough times are for local hospitality venues. 

The rhetoric turned to reality this week when the Wild Swan at Minskip, a destination for lovers of food and beer gardens, closed suddenly. A sad start to the year for the local country pub scene.

Goldsborough Hall, near Knaresborough, found a niche way to diversify its income last year when a production company transformed it into boxing promoter Frank Warren’s home for the film Giant, which came out yesterday (January 9). 

The film tells the story of ex-world champ Prince Naseem Hamed and his trainer Brendan Ingle. Older readers may remember the exterior of Goldsborough Hall also featured as the home of fictional Conservative MP Alan B’Stard, played by Rik Mayall in the sitcom The New Statesman, in the 1980s and 1990s.

Talking of the 1980s, who remembers Sinitta? The So Macho singer, who later appeared on The X Factor, has been staying in Harrogate during her panto stint in Bradford. She posted a video on her Instagram page this week about how much she loved the town. “I have been charmed beyond my imaginings, everyone and everything is just lovely,” she said. I suspect she hasn’t driven on Skipton Road at 8am on a weekday.

The district attracted more celebrity visitors for the filming of the Emmerdale / Coronation Street soap crossover Corriedale, which was broadcast this week. A multi-vehicle pile-up was filmed on a disused road just outside Harrogate, although ITV was careful not to disclose the precise location.

The prospect of summer became even more appealing this week when new owners were confirmed for Lightwater Valley, that theme park beloved by generations near Ripon. Mellors Group, which also owns Fantasy Island at Skegness, pledged new rides and to diversify the age appeal, after previous owners Brighton Pier focused on under-12s. 

They probably don’t have over-50s in mind, but no doubt many local people of all ages who remember The Ultimate will be hoping to go back for some terrifying thrills.

A more likely day out, in the meantime, is a trip to the local tip. That’s set to become a bit of an obstacle course too, thanks to incoming new rules that will require residents to register and restrict the number of commercial visits. Judging by the comments on our website, it won’t be a popular move.

Finally, preliminary work is finally due to get underway on Monday to redevelop the former Harpers building in Starbeck. This prominent burned-out wreck has been a blight on the High Street for a decade, and this feels like it could be a significant moment for the area’s regeneration.