As the Stray Ferret enters its fourth year of providing the best media coverage of the Harrogate district, we have given our daily newsletter a makeover.
The newsletter provides a round-up of what our journalists have been up to. The new look makes it easier than ever to get a snapshot of what is happening, with links to all the articles.
It includes a nightly introduction from Stray Ferret editor John Plummer as well as a round up of our daily news content, plus Photo of the Week, lifestyle features and in-depth topics.
Mr Plummer said:
“We hope the fresh new look appeals to readers. We are very grateful to everyone who reads the Stray Ferret and hope you continue to support independent local journalism in 2024.”
You can sign up here to the newsletter to keep up to date and get the latest news straight to your inbox.
Read more:
- £300,000 upgrade of The Woodlands in Harrogate to begin next week
- Harrogate trains cancelled as flood threat remains
- What has happened to Knaresborough’s new £6 million primary school?
Christmas Markets: a guide to the Harrogate district
The festive season is fast approaching, so we’ve collated a list of all the Christmas markets taking place across the Harrogate district.
If you know of one that we have missed, please email contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we can add it.
Harrogate
Harrogate Christmas Fayre
The 17-day Christmas market will return to Cambridge Street this year.
There will be a variety of traders, selling festive foods and gifts, as well as live music and entertainment.
It will run from December 1 to December 17 and will be open daily.
The market will take place from 10am – 7pm from Monday to Saturday, and 11am – 4pm on Sundays.
Harrogate Ice Rink at Crescent Gardens
The fairground and ice rink will return to Crescent Gardens this year.
There will be a carousel and a collection of small rides for children to enjoy, as well as some market stalls.
It will run from December 1, 2023, to January 7, 2024.
The ice rink and attractions will open from 11am to 7.30pm on weekdays and 11am to 8.45pm on weekends.
Harrogate Festive Artisan Market
The Valley Gardens will also host a Christmas market again this December.
Little Bird Market has arranged for vendors to sell a range of food and drinks, as well as Christmas gifts.
Market days are Saturday (10am – 5pm) and Sunday (10am – 4pm) between December 2 – 17.
Christmas Market at Harrogate Horticultural Nursery
The Harrogate Horticultural Nursery will run a two-day Christmas market in November.
On Saturday, November 25 and Sunday, November 26, there will be a range of Christmas plants, gifts and Christmas trees on offer.
It will be open 9.30am – 3.30pm and entry is free.
St Wilfrid’s Church Christmas Fair
St Wilfrid’s Church, on Duchy Road, will host a Christmas fair.
Gifts, art, clothing and food and drink will be on offer.
There will also be a free film screening for families from 4pm, with a welcome drink and snack for children.
It will run on Sunday, December 10 from 11am – 4pm.
Entry is free.
Email bookings@stwilfrid.org to reserve a place at the film screening.
St Wilfrid’s Church – Christingle-making
St Wilfrid’s Church is also hosting a christingle-making session.
The event will be held in the Parish Hall and will be followed by a crib service at 5pm.
It will begin at 4pm on Sunday, December 24.
Email bookings@stwilfrid.org to reserve a place at the christingle-making session.
North Bar Christmas Market
North Bar is hosting a “keep it local” Christmas Market.
Stalls will be inside the bar with 20 traders selling a range of art, knitted and crocheted good, jewellery and more.
There will also be charity stalls to raise money for Harrogate Cat Rescue.
The event will include a table ran by Artventurers of Harrogate and Knaresborough for children to enjoy.
Mulled wine and food will be served accompanied by live music.
The event is free and will take place on Sunday, December 3 from 11am – 6pm.
Country Living Christmas Fair Harrogate
Country Living is holding a Christmas Fair at Harrogate Convention Centre.
The fair will include gift stalls which will include artisan designers, independent producers and small businesses.
There will also be workshops and a food hall.
The event will be held from November 30 to December 3.
Ripley Christmas Market
A Christmas market run by Real Markets will be held in the grounds of Ripley Castle.
The event will take place on Sunday, December 10, from 10am until 3pm.
It will include 40 independent and artisan traders, as well as festive carols from local school children and craft activities.
The market is free to attend.
Harrogate Hospital & Community Charity — Outdoor Pop up Christmas Market at Harrogate Railway AFC
The Christmas market will offer a range of stalls offering arts, crafts and handmade jewellery, as well as food and drink vendors.
There will be live music, donkeys and even a Father Christmas grotto to enjoy.
The event will be held on Sunday, November 26 from 10am – 3pm at Harrogate Railway AFC.
All proceeds will go towards supporting staff, patients and families at Harrogate District Hospital.
Tickets are available now for a donation of £5 per adult and £2 for children over three — U3’s go free.
Tickets include a drink and a mince pie on arrival.
Starbeck Christmas Fair
Starbeck Christmas Fair, which will be held at St Andrew’s Church, will offer more than 30 stalls selling festive goods.
St Andrew’s Choir will be singing, followed by a performance from the Summerbell Dance Academy.
The Starbeck Christmas lights will be switched on just before 6pm, where mince pies will be handed out.
Harrogate Theatre Choir will then lead a festive sing-along.
It will take place on Saturday, November 25 from 2pm – 6pm.
St John’s & St Luke’s Churches Christmas Fair
St Luke’s Church, in Franklin Square is hosting a Christmas fair this December.
There will be a range of stalls selling jams, plants, jewellery, books, gifts and more.
Light refreshments will also be on offer.
The fair will take place on Saturday, December 2 from 10:30am – 1pm.
Admission is £3 and includes coffee and cake. Accompanied children go free.
Bilton Area Methodist Church Christmas Fayre
The church will host 16 craft stalls for its Christmas fayre.
Coffee, cake, festive sandwiches and soup will all be on offer.
There will also be a Christmas hamper raffle and a lucky dip for children.
The event will take place on Saturday, November 25, from 10am – 3pm.
West Park & St Paul’s Churches Community Carol Service
A community carol service will take place at the West Park United Reform Church, on Victoria Avenue, in December.
There will be plenty of carols to sing followed by coffee and mince pies.
Anyone is welcome.
The service will be held on Friday, December 22 at 5pm.
Ripon
Ripon Cathedral Christmas Food and Gift Fair
The cathedral will host more than 100 stalls during its Christmas fair.
There will be hot turkey sandwiches, mulled wine and Christmas gifts on offer.
The event will take place on Friday, November 24 and Saturday, November 25, from 9.30am – 4.30pm.
Tickets cost £5 for adults and U16s go free.
There is also a free park and ride available.
Little Bird Christmas Artisan Market
Little Bird will offer a variety of stalls in the Market Square.
There will be homewares, personalised gifts, toys and food and drinks on offer.
It will take place on Sunday, November 26 from 10am – 3pm.
Ripon Community Christmas Craft Fair
A Christmas market will be on offer at Ripon Community House.
There will be handmade gifts, local produce and arts and crafts.
There will also be a visit from Father Christmas for young ones to enjoy.
All proceeds from the tombola and refreshment area will go towards the Community House.
Entry is 50p and the event will take place from 10am – 3pm on Sunday, November 19.
Late night Christmas shopping
There will also be a late night shopping event around Ripon.
Traders will stay open until 8pm.
It will take place on Thursday, November 30.
Festive Winter Warmer Cruises & Local Makers Market at Canal Basin
The Pride of Ripon will be running festive cruises on the canal this Christmas.
The boat ride, which will be 30 minutes in total, will also include mulled wine, hot chocolate and nibbles – including brownies and mince pies from The Secret Garden.
Local traders will also have stalls running alongside the boat rides.
It will take place on Saturday, December 16 and Sunday, December 17 from 11am — 3pm.
Tickets start at £8.95.
Knaresborough
Knaresborough Christmas Market and fireworks
Knaresborough Christmas Markets will take place around the town’s Market Place.
There will be almost 60 stalls, including festive food, clothing and Christmas gifts.
Live music and entertainment will also be on offer, with performances from a Ukrainian Dance Group, Knaresborough Choral Society and Harrogate Spa St John’s Church Choir.
There will also be a free park and ride for the weekend from the GSPK car park (postcode HG5 8LF) on Manse Lane to Chapel Street, close to the market square. Buses will run from 8am to 5.30pm throughout the weekend.
A firework display at the Castle grounds will bring the market weekend to a close.
The markets will run on Saturday, December 2 and Sunday, December 3.
Nidderdale
Pateley Bridge Late Night Shopping
Pateley Bridge will hold a late-night shopping evening on Friday, December 8.
Local shops will be involved and hand out samples, while children can enjoy the santa’s grotto.
It will begin at 6pm.
St Nicholas Fair at St Cuthbert’s Church, Pateley Bridge
A Christmas fair will be held in Pateley Bridge on Sunday December 2.
There will be a range of stalls selling jewellery, cakes and gifts, as well as a festive tombola and a raffle.
The Summerbridge and Dacre Silver Prize Band will also be performing from noon until 1.30pm.
Admission is £3 and includes a hot drink and a mince pie.
Soup and a roll will be available from noon.
The event starts at 10.30am.
Christmas Big Sing at St Cuthbert’s Church, Pateley Bridge
To continue the festivities, a “big sing” will be held at the church later in the evening on December 2.
Tickets cost £5 on the door and there will also be a raffle.
Tables of 4 or more can be booked in advance by emailing me.mitch@btinternet.com
The bar opens from 6.30pm and the event will run from 7pm – 9pm.
Masham
Masham Christmas Fayre
A traditional Christmas fayre will be held in Masham Town Hall this year.
There will be a variety of gifts available to buy.
The event will take place on Saturday, December 2, from 10am .
SYD Christmas Craft, Vintage and Collectables Fayre
An eclectic Christmas Fayre will be held in Masham Town Hall this year.
There will be two floors of handmade craft, vintage and collectables stalls.
It will take place on Sunday, December 3 from 10am.
Boroughbridge
Late night Christmas shopping
A late-night Christmas shopping event will be held across Boroughbridge.
Shops will stay open late and will compete in a window display competition.
There will also be festive street stalls, a hog roast, choir performances and children’s rides.
Children can also expect a visit from Father Christmas.
The event, which will take place on Wednesday December 6, will be kicked off by the official light switch-on at 5.30pm.
Christmas Fayre — Minskip Village Hall
A Christmas Gift Fayre will be held in Minskip, near Boroughbridge, this month.
The event, which will be held in Minskip Village Hall, will run from 1pm – 4pm.
It will feature a wide range of local traders selling festive gifts, food and homeware, as well as a tombola and refreshments.
All proceeds will go to the local church.
The fayre will be held on Saturday, December 9.
Entry is free.
Villages
Lovingly Made in the Dales — Hampsthwaite
An artisan Christmas market will be held in Hampsthwaite village hall.
There will be more than 20 vendors selling locally-crafted gifts.
Tickets cost £10, which includes a glass of wine and a raffle ticket, and money raised will go towards the Roddy Scott Foundation.
It will take place on Thursday, December 7, from 6pm – 9pm.
Artisan Christmas Market — The Inn at South Stainley
The Inn at South Stainley will host three-days of Christmas markets in November and December.
It will host a range of local sellers.
There will be mulled wine and bratwurst on offer while shopping.
The event is free to attend and will take place on Wednesday, November 29 from 4pm, and December 6 and 13 from 8pm.
The Christmas Kitchen — The Washburn Heritage Centre
The Washburn Heritage Centre will be hosting a Christmas market in December.
There will be a range of stalls selling homemade seasonal goods, including jams, alcohol and sweet treats, baked by the centre’s volunteers.
The Tea Room will also be serving a seasonal menu with hot soup, turkey rolls, mince pies and Christmas cake to enjoy.
The Fewston Musick singers will be performing at the event.
It will take place on Saturday, December 2 and Sunday, December 3 from 11am – 4pm.
Copt Hewick Christmas Fair
A festive market will be held in Copt Hewick village church and hall on Saturday, December 2.
There will be craft stalls, a tombola and raffle, food and drinks, and even a visit from Father Christmas on a horse-drawn sleigh.
The event will run from 11am – 3pm.
Admission is free.
Read more:
- Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal 2023: Dementia Forward is a ‘godsend’ for husband, says wife
- Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal 2023: It is our ‘honour’ to be part of the journey, says Vida Healthcare
Boroughbridge out-of-school club receives glowing Ofsted report
A Boroughbridge breakfast and after-school club has received a glowing Ofsted report.
Roboodles, which operates at Roecliffe Church of England Primary School, was described as “wonderful” by inspectors.
An inspection was carried out at the club in November this year.
Ofsted inspector Jan Batchelor said in a report just published:
“Leaders create a wonderful out-of-school club.
“[Children] chat together as they make jewellery, they concentrate as they paint Diwali pictures, and they use their imagination as they create imaginary worlds with dinosaurs.”
The inspection report found Roboodles consulted a nutritionist in providing healthy food for club members.
Ms Batchelor said:
“Children confidently explain to the inspector that they are allowed a drizzle of honey on their toast, not a river.”
Meanwhile, the report found that children were well behaved.
Ms Batchelor said:
“They know they must not run around outside ‘like headless chickens’, but they also know that the most important club rule is to have fun.”
Claire Bennett and Lianne Conroy, Roboodles business partners, said in a statement:
“Our recent Ofsted visit was our first.
“We are delighted with the inspectors report, which captures perfectly how Roboodles operates everyday.
We love what we do and feel very privileged to be able to share our time with the children in our care.”
Read more:
- Harrogate parents join special needs education protest
- Harrogate school invites ex-pupils to 50-year landmark carol service
- Knaresborough father fights for autistic son to join twin brother at SEND school
Roboodles is based in Roecliffe, near Boroughbridge, and accepts children from reception to year 6.
The breakfast club runs weekday mornings between 7.30am to 8.50am.
The afterschool club runs Monday-Thursday between 3.30pm and 5.30pm, and on Fridays between 3.30pm and 5pm.
Ripon tinsel tractor run raises £1,500 for Yorkshire Cancer ResearchThe Nidderdale Charity Tinsel Tractor Run, which took place around Ripon last weekend, raised more than £1,500 for Yorkshire Cancer Research.
17 tinsel-covered tractors departed from F Tate & Sons Garden Centre.
In sub-zero degree temperatures, drivers followed a 21-mile route which passed through Bishop Monkton, Roecliffe, Boroughbridge and Skelton-on-Ure before returning to Ripon Market Place at around 6pm.
Simon Dickinson, who founded the tractor run, said he “couldn’t have wished for it to go any better”, adding:
“It was just absolutely fantastic.
“People were stood in the middle of nowhere to watch and cheer.
“I was really nervous in the morning, thinking ‘will my tractor get stuck’ but it was great.”
Entry cost £15 per tractor and donations were collected at different points along the route, including Morrisons in Ripon and Boroughbridge.
Caffè Nero, in Ripon, also stayed open late to serve the drivers free hot drinks upon their return.
Mr Dickinson, who is from Ripon but now lives in Northallerton, founded the Nidderdale Charity Tractor Run last year.
It attracted more than 55 vehicles and raised more than £2,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance service in June this year.
Mr Dickinson, who is a member of the West Yorkshire Vintage Tractor & Engine Club, told the Stray Ferret he chose to raise money for Yorkshire Cancer Research this time after his brother-in-law had bladder cancer.
“Luckily, he’s in remission now, but so many of my customers have prostate cancer too.
“It’s just everywhere.”
Mr Dickinson said the event was a great success and he will “definitely do it again” next year.
Read more:
- Organ donation brings £350,000 instrument to Ripon church
- Snow transforms Ripon into a winter wonderland
GALLERY: Late night festive fun in Boroughbridge
Hundreds of people turned out last night for the annual Christmas late night shopping in Boroughbridge.
The event is organised by Boroughbridge and District Chamber of Trade to give businesses a pre-Christmas boost and to foster community spirit.
About 45 shops in a town with a high percentage of independent traders stayed open late.
A visit by Santa Claus, courtesy of Boroughbridge Lions, plus Christmas carols, mulled wine and roasted chestnuts created a festive feel.
The Christmas tree lights were also officially switched on.
Besides shops in the town centre, the nearby Tap on the Tutt pub on Horsefair took part by hosting about a dozen market stalls outside their premises.
Hairdressers Watkins Wright beat 20 other entrants in the shop window display competition, which adopted the theme ‘Christmas chart hits – with a Christmas theme’.
Here are some photos from last night’s event.
Read more:
- New bar could open in Knaresborough industrial estate
- Business Breakfast: Boroughbridge firm Reed Boardall returns to profit
The hog roast sold out.
Carol singers
The Crown Hotel looking festive.
Hundreds of people turned out last night.
The Christmas tree lights were officially switched on.
The Tap on the Tutt hosted about a dozen stalls.
North Yorkshire Police are appealing to find the owner of nine goats which were found near Boroughbridge.
The force said the herd was found in Thorpe Underwood and is “currently safe and being well cared for”.
In a statement, police said:
“This certainly isn’t a sentence you say every day, but if you’re missing nine goats or know anyone who is, we’d love to hear from you.
“Please email david.mackay@northyorkshire.police.uk
“You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for PC1452 David Mackay.”
Quote reference number 12230218867 when passing on information.
Read more:
- Police say Seb Mitchell murder sends ‘clear message’ on knife crime
- Ripon murderer dies of natural causes, report finds
Car on roof after two-vehicle collision in Minskip
A car flipped onto its roof following a two-vehicle collision at Minskip, near Boroughbridge, this afternoon.
Roads policing sergeant Paul Cording alerted people on social media at 1.20pm about the incident on the A6055, which is the main road through Minskip.
Sgt Cording said one person involved in the collision was taken to hospital with “minor injuries”.
The road reopened at 1.47pm.
No further details, including the status of the other vehicle and passengers, have been revealed.
Read more:
Campaigners step-up fight against Allerton asphalt plant
More than 1,000 residents have now objected to plans to build an asphalt plant next to the Allerton waste incinerator, between Knaresborough and Boroughbridge.
Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, joined about 100 campaigners fighting the proposal at Marton cum Grafton village hall on Saturday.
Mr Jones told the meeting organised by Communities Against Toxins he too was against the proposal, adding:
“The reasons are two-fold and to do with both head and heart. The heart brings the community together to show this is not welcome, and the head tells you that the dangers of pollution – both air pollution and water pollution – are major risks.
“Campaigners have done an incredible job marshalling the arguments and I hope when councillors come to consider the application they act on these concerns and turn the application down.
“This is the wrong idea in the wrong location.”
Campaign organiser Michael Emsley (left) talks to Andrew Jones.
Campaigners at the meeting.
Tynedale Roadstone Ltd plans to build the asphalt plant at the Allerton Waste Recovery Park.
A 22.5-metre exhaust stack would emit fumes containing carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and lead.
The group fears people living within a three-to-nine kilometre radius of the site would be affected by potentially harmful pollutants.
Communities Against Toxins organiser Michael Emsley wants to put pressure on North Yorkshire Council to scrutinise the proposal’s environmental impacts assessment.
He said:
“We do not believe this plant should be built in this location and we will continue to do all that we can to fight it.
“We will not stop. We will make sure that when North Yorkshire Council sit down to make its decision, they are in no doubt as to what the local communities think and that our concerns regarding the EIA have been addressed.”
Read more:
- Campaign launched against asphalt plant proposal near Knaresborough
- Briggate roadworks likely to last ‘several months’ in Knaresborough
Tinsel tractor run coming to Ripon and Boroughbridge
A tinsel tractor run is to be held around Ripon and Boroughbridge on December 2.
Up to 30 festively-decorated tractors will depart from garden centre F Tate & Sons on Studley Road, near Ripon, at about 2.30pm.
The brightly lit vehicles will then follow a 21-mile route that passes through Bishop Monkton, Roecliffe, Boroughbridge and Skelton-on-Ure before finishing in Ripon Market Place at about 5.30pm.
Simon Dickinson, who organises the Nidderdale Charity Tractor Run each year, decided to stage the event to raise money for Harrogate-based Yorkshire Cancer Research.
Mr Dickinson, a window cleaner who grew up in Littlethorpe and now lives in Northallerton, said he wanted to raise money to help people affected by cancer and had been inspired by tinsel tractor runs held overseas.
He added he had been amazed by the response since the event was announced last night. Fifteen tractor drivers have already signed up.
Mr Dickinson, who is a member of West Yorkshire Vintage Tractor & Engine Club, added:
“I want to get it off the ground this year and then do it year after year.”
Tractor drivers pay £15 to enter and collections will be held at key points along the route.
The Nidderdale tractor run, which Mr Dickinson founded last year, attracted 55 vehicles and raised almost £2,000 this year. Next year’s event will be on June 30.
Read more:
- The incredible rise and rise of Knaresborough tractor run
- Ripon gets set for Saturday’s festive lights switch on
Performance car experts offer free winter health-checks
This story is sponsored by Flat 6 Automotive.
A garage in Boroughbridge that specialises in servicing Porsches is offering free winter health-checks for all makes of car throughout November.
Flat 6 Automotive will check on every aspect of a car’s seasonal roadworthiness, including tyres, brakes, lights, battery and antifreeze, and will carry out any work that needs to be done, if the customer requests it.
Director Richard Nicholson said:
“Keeping your car in top condition is important at any time of year, but in winter it becomes absolutely crucial. A lot of drivers have an overly optimistic view of how prepared their car is for the cold weather.
“For example, tyres can be worn, perished, misshapen or damaged. But your stopping distance doubles if you have just 3mm of tread left on your tyres instead of 6 or 7mm, and that gets even worse in wet or icy conditions.
“The battery check is really important too. It takes a lot more power to start a car in cold weather, so in winter batteries often fail. A quick check can make sure you don’t end up getting stranded, unable to get home.”
Will Mann works on a Porsche engine.
Richard founded Flat 6 Automotive with business partner Will Mann in May this year. Richard was previously a workshop manager at an independent Porsche garage for seven years, and Will completed an engineering degree with the McLaren F1 team.
They met while both working at a local prestige car specialist and now aim to continue working on the high-end vehicles they have a passion for, while also applying their exacting standards to every other kind of car.
Richard Nicholson knows how a well-tuned engine should sound.
Richard said:
“I always wanted to be the best at what I do – the person who people go to when they have a problem. Being workshop manager is the highest position you can get to in a garage, and after-sales is a step up from that. I’ve done both those, so the next step is running your own company. We’re ready for this and it shows – the work is coming in.”
He added:
“I’m a bit of a control freak. It doesn’t matter if I’m working on a 2010 Ford Fiesta or a 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 RS, I give the same attention to detail to every car. We pride ourselves on our attention to detail.”