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10
Sept
Harrogate Conservative Club rebrands
One of Harrogate’s oldest social clubs has changed its name as part of a relaunch exercise.
Harrogate Conservative Club, which has occupied the same premises on East Parade for over a century, is now called the Park View Club.
Club secretary Brian Parkhill said that the change of name was first suggested by members and had been under consideration for a while.
The club still offers the same attractions.
The club owns the whole block in which it stands, including the Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative Association building, where Andrew Jones MP had his office until he lost his seat at last year's general election.
Mr Parkhill said:
We kept a cap on the name change idea while he was in office out of respect, but now that he’s out of office, it seems like a good time.
The old name seemed to say ‘You can’t come in here if you don’t vote Tory'. But that’s ridiculous – it’s 2025!
The new name has its grounding in local history. There used to be a park just over the road, where there is now a car park, and the road opposite is still called Park View.
The oak tree standing in the corner of the park in this old photo is still there - but in a carpark.
What else might change other than the name is still up for discussion, and the club’s officers – Mr Parkhill plus the president, chairman and steward – are due to meet tomorrow morning (September 11) to hammer out a course of action.
One issue still to be decided is whether or not to break with the Conservative Party. Mr Parkhill said that it would be a matter for members to decide on, and added that he did not detect any appetite for a realignment with Reform UK.
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