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Nov
Ripley shop owner looks to make light of disruptive road closure with Sara Cox invitation
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A Ripley shop owner is looking to make light of the disruptions caused to her business by road closures this week.
Main Street, the main road that runs through Ripley, will be closed from 5.30pm to 8pm on Thursday (November 13) as radio presenter Sara Cox passes through the village during her five-day Children in Need ultramarathon.
Unfortunately, for Just Makers owner Helen Barnes, this overlaps with a fundraising event she is putting on.
The artisan crafts retailer had planned to host a Christmas Preview Evening on Thursday from 5–8 pm.
The event would fundraise for The Harrogate Chocolate Factory: a social enterprise providing work opportunities and skills training for young people with learning difficulties and/or autism.
Ms Barnes is worried attendance might be affected by road closures. But the shop owner is determined to make it an event to remember.
She told the Stray Ferret:
This is, of course, an exciting event in the village, but the timing initially couldn’t have been worse for us! I was worried that this clash in events between Children in Need and our event would stop anyone coming to us, but I know it’s too late to cancel now.
Therefore, I'm hoping to turn a road closure into something positive this Thursday evening! Rather than worry, we will instead embrace the spirit of the night, and I’ve contacted the BBC to attempt to invite Sara and the BBC team to pop in for a Bucks Fizz and mince pie on their way through. It would really lift everyone’s spirits at Just Makers at a time when business hasn’t been easy.
The Just Makers Christmas preview evening will go ahead as planned, and Ms Barnes encourages the public to still get involved.
The evening will feature festive drinks, mince pies, and relaxed Christmas shopping from Yorkshire artists and craftsmen. Ten percent of all sales will be donated to the Harrogate Chocolate Factory.
The event will last from 5pm to 7.30pm on Thursday at Just Makers, on the Ripley Castle Courtyard.
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