In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2025, we take a look at the main changes to our district’s high streets this year.

The Harrogate district’s high streets have seen a lot of change this year.

With rising costs and increased business rates, 2025 has been one of the toughest years for businesses.

But it has not all been negative – some of the area’s organisations have thrived.

We have put together a round-up of the biggest changes around the Harrogate district this year.

Harrogate

The majority of the high street changes that the Stray Ferret has reported this year have come from Harrogate. And there have been some big shake-ups.

Maybe the biggest shake-up – for us, at least – was the announcement that the Stray Ferret would be relocating from its Cambridge Crescent office in March. While we moved to James Street, Rufford’s Country Lifestyle moved into our old workspace. You can read about it here and here.

Another significant relocation came in the form of the Ripley Store. Although it has only moved a matter of meters down the road, the £100,000 relocation has provided the shop with much more breathing space. Read about it here.

Those fond of luxury women's clothes will have one more place to visit in Harrogate after ME+EM opened on Prospect Crescent this month. Read more here.

This year has been a tough one for the hospitality sector, especially. After 27 years in the town, the much-loved Italian restaurant, Sasso, closed its doors for the final time. You can find out why here.

Other notable hospitality losses include the 26-year-old traditional pub, The Old Bell, The Harrogate Arms and, most notably, Lancaster’s Bakery, which made its decision to close after 119 years on Cold Bath Road. You can read about The Old Bell and Lancaster's here and here.

One mystery from this year’s hospitality closures was our coverage of the Wicked Wolf. The bar, located in part of the Royal Baths, abruptly closed in April, just four months after its opening.

Despite countless articles and investigations, the bar has never publicly addressed why the site closed, nor whether it plans to reopen. North Yorkshire Council revealed in July that the tenancy “had not ended,” though. You can read our articles about the bar here, here and here.

Lancaster’s wasn’t the only bakery debacle that Harrogate saw this year. In February, bailiffs repossessed Harrogate train station’s Secret Bakery. But the Knaresborough Road site continued to trade under the same name, despite the company being appointed liquidators. Read about it here.

Although director James Spencer said he was “determined to manage our last shop better,” the last remaining Secret Bakery was listed for sale in August.

However, in lighter news, many of these sites were given new leases of life in 2025. The Old Bell was replaced by the Harrogate Brewing Co., The Barologist took the place of the Harrogate Arms, and Lancaster's has been replaced by an independent bar and restaurant, The Drunken Piglet. You can read about each here, here and here.

This month, we also revealed that The Stone Beck pub in Jennyfields would reopen after over a year. You can read about it here.

Three major Harrogate companies also endured significant changes this year.

Sainsbury’s café closed in April, but was replaced relatively swiftly by Costa Coffee in October, which you can read about here. Between then, though, there were plenty of rumours going around about what may replace it – including a Greggs.

WHSmith also announced it would be rebranding under the name TGJones in March. You can find out more here.

Finally, Homebase was replaced by The Range in March, after the former entered administration in November last year. Our reporter, Flora Grafton, might have had a little bit too much fun in the store on its opening day. You can read her report here.

Knaresborough

Knaresborough high street also saw its fair share of change in 2025.

The Secret Bakery also had a site on Market Place, but was rebranded to 2B Coffee House and taken under the ownership of Murat Baydu.

Last month, many regulars expressed their dismay as Drakes announced that it would be closing its Knaresborough site for good. Find out what boss Jamie Wilkinson had to say here.

Most notably in Knaresborough, though, was the announcement that popular grill and pizzeria, Two Brothers, would close in January, due to reasons beyond its control. You can read more about the closure here.

The Cricketers pub was also forced to close in April due to reasons beyond its control – it burned to the ground in the early hours of the morning. You can read our coverage of the saddening event here, reactions of the community here, and our report of a woman arrested in the aftermath here.

Conversely, though, The Tiger Inn reopened in January after it also set ablaze in 2023. After buying it at auction in 2024, Mark and Clare Oglesby, who also own Goldsborough Hall, refurbished the Coneythorpe pub. You can read about it here.

Ripon

Ripon and the surrounding areas saw a lot of development this year.

Although Masham’s independent butchers, W.S. Rogers and Son, was forced to close in October, our other reports of the area were positive ones.

Well-known pub The South Lodge underwent a £360,000 refurbishment and reopened to the public after around six months in May, but subsequently closed again soon after. The troubled pub appointed new landlords, Will and Natalie Dowd, this month, though, who are determined to make it work. You can read about the pub's reputational history here, and what Mr and Ms Dowd had to say here.

The arcade also saw some positive additions this year. In July, The Greengrocer Ripon and Norton’s Deli opened to the public. You can read more about the joint venture here.

James Potter, owner of the greengrocer section, also established a new cheese shop last month. The Little Truckle sits directly opposite The Greengrocer Ripon and Norton’s Deli, and sells artisan cheeses. You can read our interview with Mr Potter here.