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19
Dec
Harrogate bar owner appeals for support from community to stay open
The owner of District Bar in Harrogate has opened up about the strains on his business over the last year.
Andy Burrows was speaking to the Stray Ferret after we asked him about his application to continue trading as District Bar, but under a different parent company.
District Bar was operated by Our District Ltd, a company Mr Burrows owned with business partner Dan Simpson.
But the two went their separate ways earlier this year and the company went into liquidation. Harrogate Organics, another business they jointly owned, is also currently in administration.
Mr Burrows now wants to continue running District Bar, on Cold Bath Road, under a new company, North Social Ltd, of which he is the sole director.
Mr Burrows told us:
These days, when you open a bar, you don’t really expect it to make loads of money. You just want it to break even, but that’s never really happened. It’s been struggling for years.
I paid my business partner out and am paying off other creditors, such as the suppliers. If I didn’t, I’d lose them.
I’m one of the creditors too – I own the building, but I’ve not been taking any money out of it for years.
I just want to keep the bar going. It’s in my interest, because I’d like to be able to collect some rent.
District Bar first opened in 2020.
He said the challenges the business had encountered included VAT bills, the increased cost of stock, higher taxes, and increased competition.
He said:
This area is much more vibrant than it used to be. There are now another five bars along this road that weren’t here when we opened in 2020.
The budget didn’t help either, but everybody’s in the same boat.
He said he hoped 2026 would herald a turnaround in District Bar’s fortunes, but stressed that he would need help.
He added:
The strain has been awful – I just want a fresh start in the new year. But we need support from the local community.
We do our best for the community – contribute to Western Primary School’s raffle, give discounts to students and the NHS, and we always support local businesses. So we just hope people will show us the same support.
We’re hoping for a good Christmas before Dry January, and then a really good summer.
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