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04
Dec 2024
New bar ‘celebrating women’ opening in Harrogate
A third bar is set to open in Harrogate town centre this weekend.
Hera has taken on the Parliament Street unit formerly occupied by Best Bar.
It is due to open on Saturday, the day after the Wicked Wolf and Irish bar Katie O'Brien's welcome their first customers nearby. You can read about those two venues here.
Hera is named after the queen of the gods in Greek mythology and Cher Newton, a member of the management team, told the Stray Ferret it welcomed people of all genders, but would place extra emphasis on women and their safety.
Ms Newton said staff were undergoing welfare and vulnerability engagement (WAVE) training to protect women.
She added:
WAVE training is available to all bars under the Pubwatch scheme.
We’re focused on celebrating and creating a safe space for women, and we're also doing additional training on top of WAVE.
Hera will offer "good music and good vibes", Ms Newton said.
Ms Newton said she felt Harrogate bars had become quite “male-oriented” and cited an incident at another bar where a woman was sexually assaulted.
She said the staff training, as well as anti-spiking devices such as drinks covers, would set Hera apart and foster a safe and enjoyable environment for women.
Ms Newton told the Stray Ferret the new bar, which has undergone a £20,000 revamp, will also be “very Instagrammable”, adding:
There will be nice cocktails, good music and good vibes. We’ll also have a dancefloor and a DJ on Fridays and Saturdays.
We’ve kept the two marble bars which were put in by Best Bar, but we’re adding a feature wall, a neon sign, a photo backdrop and a VIP area.
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Hera, as well as neighbouring Santorini Express, recently came under new ownership.
Ms Newton said the theme of the bar is Greek mythology, so Greek food will be served, but people can also expect fried chicken, chips and burgers.
There will also be monthly bottomless brunch events, which will be accompanied by entertainment such as drag artists, and cocktail masterclasses.
Hera will open its doors on Saturday, December 7, at 7pm.
The standard opening hours will be 5pm to 11pm, Wednesday to Thursday, and 5pm to 4am on Fridays.
On Saturdays, Hera will operate from 1pm until 4am, and from 1pm until 11pm on Sundays.
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