This is the latest in a regular series of Business Q&A features published weekly. This week, we spoke to Rick Jones, owner and restaurateur of the Water Rat on Bondgate Green and Valentino's on Westgate, both in Ripon.

Tell us in fewer than 30 words what your firm does.

The Water Rat is a public house and restaurant overlooking the River Skell, and Valentino's is an Italian restaurant with hotel rooms that produces everything from scratch, from pasta to gelato.

What does it take to be successful in business?

From my point of view, it's having a team of employees around you that we constantly curate. We train our team so they're stronger and better at what they do, and as a result they often stay with us for a long time.

We have 40 staff across the two businesses, and I have employees who have been with me for 20, 12 and eight years. Holly, for example, started as a pot wash and was pub manager at the Water Rat by the time she was 22.

I started work at Valentino's at the age of 15 and bought it when I was 30.

What drives you to do what you do every day?

It has to be our customers. I get to meet all these interesting people and be part of a community, because we're part of people's lives.

The reason we're always so busy is that people feel safe here. We're as much a part of their lives as they are of ours.

What’s been the toughest issue your business has had to deal with over the last 12 months?

Like all businesses in this industry, we're constantly fighting rising costs. That includes National Insurance and wage increases, but also price increases of produce, because climate change is affecting the growing seasons.

You've just got to keep smiling and cracking on.

Which other local firms do you most admire and why?

We're very lucky in Ripon that there are so many independent businesses – they're flourishing here.

We're right next to the Little Ripon Bookshop, and round the corner from cycle shop Moonglu and Storehouse Bar and Eatery. We're really fortunate to be around them, and we all support each other.

Who are the most inspiring local leaders?

I work on the board of Ripon Business Improvment District (BID), which is constantly working to improve the city. 

Its manager, Lilla Bathurst really listens to people when they talk about their issues, from roadworks and traffic lights to planning problems, and she does what she can to help. She really speeds things up.

What could be done locally to boost business?

We don't have many empty shops in Ripon, tourism is up, and I really think Ripon is pulling together and working to make things better.

The hotel is full and the restaurant is full pretty much every night, so we're not complaining. The staff have a smile on their face and everyone has a good time. We're blessed.

The one thing that would improve things hugely would be a nice big carpark, but those don't happen in just a few months.

Best and worst things about running a business from Ripon?

I don't really see any negatives. We have a wonderful community, and our customers share their lives with us – their births, weddings and funerals. 

I've been doing this for 19 years, and we've been through lots of challenges along the way – road closures, recession, covid, but we're still smiling.

What are your business plans for the future?

Over the last couple of years we've been able to develop staff a lot more and bring more juniors in, and it's great to be able to help them build up their skills and confidence.

We could always expand, but space-wise we've grown as much as we can, and we don't want to move anywhere – I'm where I want to be.

So I'm just content cooking and enjoying what we do.

What do you like to do in your time off?

I like to swim mainly, but go running and to the gym if I can. I love spending time with my family too, of course – it's rare, but it's good when it happens.

Best places to eat and drink locally?

I would absolutely recommend the One-Eyed Rat, Storehouse and Realitea. The One-Eyed Rat is a community pub which really takes a pride in its beers and looks after them.

Charlotte and Sean at Storehouse have done amazing things – they've worked really hard and do things to such a high standard. You can tell they really care about the business.

And Sarita at Realitea is just amazing. She always has a smile on her face, and is constantly creating interesting food with fantastic ingredients.

Really, there's nowhere bad in Ripon.