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15

Apr 2021

Last Updated: 15/04/2021
Business
Business

Harrogate empty shops to reveal town's links to famous faces

by Connor Creaghan

| 15 Apr, 2021
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Have you seen the images of Sir Edward Elgar, The Beatles and Louis Armstrong on the former Hotter store on Cambridge Street? It's the start of a drive to use empty shop windows to tell the story of Harrogate's connections with famous people.

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Empty shops in Harrogate are to get a new lease of life by telling the story of the town's links to famous people.

Harrogate Business Improvement District , which aims to drive footfall into the town centre, has collaborated with Harrogate historian Malcolm Neesam on the project.

It has already installed the first window vinyl in the former Hotter store on Cambridge Street.

The window features Sir Edward Elgar, The Beatles and Louis Armstrong, who all have connections with Harrogate.

The Beatles played at the Royal Hall in March 1963 and Louis Armstrong performed at the same venue in October 1933.

Elgar was a regular visitor to the town. He would often stay at the Crown Hotel and the Majestic Hotel. A walk in Valley Gardens is named after him.




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Over the coming weeks Debenhams on Parliament Street and Swarovski on James Street will also be transformed.

These will tell the stories of Harrogate's connections to Agatha Christie, Sir Winston Churchill and Charles Dickens.

Creative agency The Lift Agency, and signs and graphic experts De-signs are also involved in the project.

Harrogate BID chair Sara Ferguson said:

“I think the first window looks absolutely fantastic, and will help instil pride in our town, and also give people another reason to visit.
"There is nothing worse than seeing empty shops and what we are doing is helping to create a town that is a fabulous place to shop, eat and drink, one that is interesting, and one that is proud of its history and heritage.
“I would like to thank Malcolm Neesam for penning the words, and our two other partners in this project, De-signs, and The Lift Agency for creating these superb vinyl graphics."