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06
Apr 2024
The independent businesses bringing a new vibe to King's Road
Towards the Skipton Road end of the almost mile-long stretch of King’s Road in Harrogate is a substantial cluster of largely independent shops and businesses.
For decades this row of around 30 businesses has offered an eclectic mix of shops and services. There are hair and beauty salons alongside a carpet shop, a dog groomer and a wedding dress boutique, a cake maker and funeral director.
There’s always been the odd deli or sandwich shop too, a role currently filled by the well-established and popular Little Breads. Food shopping needs have been met over the years by a succession of independents including the renowned Ramus Seafoods and Regal Fruiterers. Graham Sanderson Interiors has been going strong for nearly 60 years.
In recent years, however, some of the biggest and most long-standing names have gone. Ramus closed its doors in early 2020, while the fruiterers relocated to Otley Road in March last year. Victoria Lane ladies clothes shop closed in January after 17 years.
But as these mainstays have been lost, a new group of businesses rarely seen on the street before are bringing a whole new vibe to the area.
Two years ago, within a matter of months, coffee shop Pink Door, café Mamma Amelia, and restaurant and bar Lilypad opened. And with the news last week that a pizzeria is due to launch in the former Regal Fruiterers premises, the street has begun to attract a new kind of lifestyle customer.
"There's nowehere like us this end of town"
As Lilypad prepares for its second birthday celebrations later this month, co-owner Jan Moxham said they’d been overwhelmed by the support of the local community since they opened. She said:
Jan, her husband Roger and son Tom offer South American and Asian inspired dishes, with a menu that’s completely gluten free and mainly vegan. Chef Tom makes all the dishes from scratch and runs special menus such as the ramen-based Tokyo Tuesdays and bao buns ‘baonanza’.
Tom, Jan and Roger Moxham of Lilypad.
Jan said they were pleased to see a cluster of cafés and restaurants developing:
Next door to Lilypad, Becky Keown at the long-established Regal Flowers is looking forward to the pizzeria opening next door. She said:
The florists' new neighbours will be Sally Hall, who grew up in Harrogate, and her Italian fiancé Stefano Dell'oso. The couple are leaving their hospitality jobs in London to open the 50-seat Stefano's restaurant, which will feature a traditional wood-fired pizza oven, in June. Sally said:
"It's close to town but you know everybody"
Mamma Amelia’s owner, Antonio Cavinato, successfully ran his previous venture, Caffé Lago di Como, in the town centre for five years, before looking for somewhere quiet and more relaxed. He said:
Antonio Cavinato and his team at Caffé Mama Amelia.
The former pastry chef and his team serve a selection of cakes as well as a lunchtime menu that includes pasta dishes and meatballs, all of it home made. He welcomed the growing number of food and drink businesses, saying: “Competition is good.”
A positive impact
Dan Brady of The Harrogate Butcher said the new lifestyle businesses are attracting a new generation of customers to the street, which will have a positive impact on the other businesses as people realise they can drop by for everyday essentials as well as a coffee or a beer.
It’s only a few months since Dan opened his business in the former Ramus Seafood shop premises and he has already seen a significant month-on-month increase in customers. He is already planning to add a selection of fruit, vegetables and bread from other local independents to his offering. He said:
Dan Brady of The Harrogate butcher, left, and Robertas Bernotas of Delikata.
Robertas Bernotas at the Lithuanian food store, bakery and cafe Delikata agrees. Since opening two years ago, the store, which serves coffee and cakes alongside cheeses, meats, vegetables and other produce from Lithuania, Ukraine, Latvia and Poland, has had a core of non-English regulars.
But Robert said they had recently seen an increase in English customers too.
"People like to support independents"
Neil Thomson and Natalie Inger’s jewellery and gift shop Shine has been on King’s Road for 18 years. They sell affordable design-led gifts such as bags and scarves, along with greetings cards. Their core offering is silver jewellery, with Natalie herself making some of the pieces and taking bespoke orders as well.
Neil Thomson and Natalie Inger at Shine.
Neil said:
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