A new pancake house is opening in Harrogate today and the owner has promised that it will taste flipping good.
Tossers Pancake Shack, based at 53 Bo Grove on Grove Road, will open for the first time at 12pm today. Just in time for Pancake Day next Tuesday.
It will serve up mini Dutch-style pancakes as well as the more traditional crepes. Each can be served with a variety of sweet and savoury toppings.
The name of ‘Tossers’ has already proved a little too crude for some.
So the owner has challenged readers of the Stray Ferret to pick out a better one. The winner will receive a full tray of Dutch pancakes with all the trimmings.
Comment on the Facebook post where we shared this article with your entries.
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Kyrensa Bentley, owner of 53 Bo’Grove, told the Stray Ferret ahead of the opening:
“We just want to inject a little bit of fun and laughter into people’s lives. Also, we’ve kept the prices really reasonable so everyone can come and take part.
“So it will just be a nice, relaxed atmosphere. We like the thought of street food, where people can just come in and pick up some food and maybe go for a walk.
“We focus on using fresh fruit and vegetables which we get from the wholesale market in Leeds.”
Would you like to spread the word about your shop opening? No matter how small the shop get in touch with the Stray Ferret.
Warning that home food entrepreneurs in Harrogate risk hefty finesSome Harrogate entrepreneurs have made the most of lockdown by selling everything from brownies to burgers made from their home kitchen.
However, new businesses have been warned they face being sent to court and fined if they don’t register with the council.
Food businesses who plan to operate for five or more days in any five consecutive weeks must register with Harrogate Borough Council 28 days before starting trading. A food safety officer will then check whether the kitchen is clean.
Steve Pepper runs food safety courses for people in the Harrogate district. He told the Stray Ferret that home cooks risk an unlimited fine at the magistrates’ court if they fall foul of the law.
He said:
“A lot of people think, I’m a good cook so I will just sell some brownies.
“But some people know they wouldn’t meet the hygiene regulations so they carry on regardless, or they have ignorance of the law.”
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Whilst a food hygiene certificate is not compulsory, businesses need to also inform HMRC that they are self-employed.
Mr Pepper said kitchens must be adapted to meet hygiene standards. This includes making sure plants and pets are in different rooms.
The council also requires two sinks with one used only for washing hands.
Mr Pepper is concerned some people might be looking to cut corners due to falling on hard times due to covid. He has been running workshops to help educate people on what steps need to be taken before launching a new business.
He added:
Solar farm proposed for Spofforth“It is happening. Covid has cost people their normal jobs and they will do things they wouldn’t normally do”.
Yorkshire Water could build a solar farm on its wastewater plant near Spofforth.
The company has submitted an environmental impact assessment to the council for its site on Ribston Road, near the village.
The plans are still in their early stages and it has not been decided how much space to allocate for the solar panels.
Yorkshire Water, which is the second largest landowner in the county, plans to develop energy at 150 of its sites as part of a plan to become carbon net-zero by 2030.
A spokesman for the company said the sewage farm would continue to operate alongside the solar panels.
He added:
“Many of Yorkshire Water’s treatment works include land that could be used for different purposes, such as ground mounted solar arrays.
“These allow us to maximise the value of otherwise unused land, while providing renewable energy to offset the consumption of existing on-site assets.”
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In November the company submitted proposals for a similar solar scheme at its sewage works in Bilton.
The plans attracted concern from Leeds Bradford Airport, which said in its consultation response that the panels could dazzle pilots.
Knaresborough’s first Aldi set to open tomorrowA new Aldi is set to open in Knaresborough at 8am tomorrow, Thursday 28.
The 8,000 square metre site has been built on Swallowtail Way, near the Manse Farm housing development on York Road.
The store will employ 38 staff and in addition to the usual Aldi products have a food to go section.
The site includes 114 car parking spaces, plus two motorcycle bays and two spaces for electric cars.
The site has 114 car parking spaces.
The planning application, which was supported by 69 people, was approved in May.
One supporter said it could mean fewer people going into the town centre for their big shop, limiting congestion.
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Store manager Matthew Washbrook said:
“We’re really looking forward to opening the first Aldi store here in Knaresborough.
“It’s set to be a great day and it’ll be lovely to welcome our new customers into the store and provide them with access to affordable, high-quality food.”
The store plans to work with local charities and food banks in Knaresborough.
The company has asked interested food banks to contact Neighbourly, a community engagement platform, to allow them to collect surplus or perishable food.
Charities wanting to work with the store are asked to email aldi@neighbourly.com.
Harrogate M&S faces complaints about non-essential salesHarrogate’s central Marks and Spencer store is facing complaints from residents and traders about its non-essential sales.
The store has closed off a large section of the store and the upper floor. But it still has some clothing, beauty and homeware on sale.
Parts of the menswear section is now on the Cambridge Street floor, which has traditionally been solely for womenswear.
The store only has parts of the store open which customers need to use to get down to the food section on the lower floor.
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This has been a national debate during the three lockdowns. Supermarkets can sell non-essential goods alongside food.
Welsh supermarkets came under scrutiny after some sectioned off parts they deemed non-essential, including women’s sanitary products.
Some residents and sole-traders believe it is unfair for any stores to sell non-essential goods while small independent stores cannot – especially a store in the town centre.
Local David Andrews wrote a letter to the chief executive of M&S and shared the letter with the Stray Ferret. He said:
“I believe this [is] contrary to the guidelines and has given [M&S] an unfair advantage over competitors.
“It was permitted to open because of the food hall on the lower ground floor, served by its primary access from Oxford Street.
“Why does M&S need to open the Cambridge Street entrance at all when the Oxford Street entrance accesses the food hall directly?
“One might say it wants to continue trading in clothes and this loophole about secondary access allows them to do so.”
A sole trader based in Harrogate, who wanted to remain anonymous, also told the Stray Ferret:
“Somebody must be able to as this is so unfair. I am sole trader and this inconsistency is driving me mad.
“Why can you not get them to follow the guidance which suits this store to a tee as it’s actually states non-essential floors should be closed.
“What’s the point of having guidance if it can’t be used. I’m sure it was written for a reason.”
M&S disputes any allegations that it is not following the rules. A spokesperson said in response:
Harrogate repair shop launches iPad appeal for kids“Our M&S Foodhalls remain open to provide our customers with the essential items they require during this time.
“In line with Government guidelines, we’ve closed our non-food floors except where they provide access to our Foodhalls.”
The owner of an Apple repair shop in Harrogate has launched an appeal for faulty iPads that will be refurbished and given to local school children.
Tom James, owner of Howard Conrad on Leeds Road, was spurred to act after reading news reports about parents not having the technology for children to study from home during lockdown.
Mr James told the Stray Ferret:
“You see it in the news with children learning from home. Some don’t have access to what they need. We repair iPads and thought we could help the children of Harrogate”
The shop has an agreement to donate iPads to Red Kite Learning Trust, a charity that operates several schools in the district, including Harrogate Grammar School, Western Primary School and Rossett Acre Primary School.
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Mr James said old iPads tucked away in a drawer could be refurbished, as could ones that have had their screens smashed or simply broken down.
Howard Conrad is only able to accept Apple iPads rather than other types of tablet.
The iPads need to be running the operating system iOS 11 or newer to be compatible with the learning apps and must have the linked iCloud account removed.
The company is able to accept the following models:
12.9-inch iPad Pro (2nd generation)
12.9-inch iPad Pro (1st generation)
iPad Pro (10.5-inch)
iPad Pro (9.7-inch)
iPad Air 2
iPad Air
iPad (6th generation)
iPad (5th generation)
iPad mini 4
iPad mini 3
iPad mini 2
To donate an iPad, click here.
Staff let go as Harrogate Debenhams will not reopen
Debenhams has announced today that its store on Parliament Street in Harrogate will not reopen and staff will therefore lose their jobs.
It marks the end of the department’s store’s long history in Harrogate.
Debenhams had planned to reopen all of its stores to sell off stock but has changed its plans in light of the third national lockdown.
Harrogate is one of six sites where the company has been unable to agree a lease extension and its store will therefore close.
A total of 320 staff across the six sites will lose their jobs. The Stray Ferret has asked Debenhams how many staff are affected in Harrogate but had no response.
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Debenhams announced on December 1 that it would wind the business down after entering administration in April.
FRP Advisory, the administrator for Debenhams, said it was continuing to engage with third parties about the sale of all or parts of the business.
Geoff Rowley, a joint administrator to Debenhams and partner at FRP Advisory, said:
Third lockdown threatens Knaresborough retail revival“We continue to engage with interested parties over alternative proposals for the future of Debenhams.
“Inevitably the latest lockdown has had an effect on our plans for the wind-down of the business.
“We regret the impact on those colleagues affected by today’s announcement.
“We would like to thank all those who continue to keep the business trading in very difficult circumstances.”
The prospect of a lengthy third lockdown with no firm end date in sight is causing serious concern among Knaresborough retailers.
Knaresborough has seen a boom in new businesses lately but the current uncertainty is putting new and old shops in jeopardy.
The town’s streets have been eerily quiet this week after non-essential shops were forced to close again. Many are moving online to try to reduce financial losses.
Additional financial support has been offered by the government but shops say this isn’t enough to cover the money they would have made by staying open.
Country 2 Western, on Castlegate, sells a wide range of American-themed items from cowboy boots to belt buckles. One of its owners, Christine McLeod, said it relies on venues and music festivals to sell its niche products.
She added:
“We’ve been struggling since the first lockdown in March. We had to change what we were selling, we are keeping the American feel but a little different to normal.
“This lockdown is worrying for the future of our business. If music events are still cancelled this year we’d seriously have to re-think what we sell, it’s having a massive effect.”
Ms McLeod said she will focus her efforts on online sales but added it was vital music events were able to continue in summer.
Read more:
- Knaresborough’s Two Brothers restaurant has sights set on new venue on the high street.
- Knaresborough dog groomers finds new home on the high street.
On the high street, The Clothing Store of Knaresborough only opened a few months before lockdown hit.
Its owner, Rebecca Lombardi, was left “devastated” by the announcement and is worried that the short amount of time she has had to establish the business will impact online sales.
She said:
“There is so much to think about so quickly. It’s scary and there are so many mixed emotions. In the other lockdown we didn’t make much from online sales so this time may not be successful but I’m going to try to build our online presence.
“I’m remaining hopeful for when we do eventually reopen.”
Bill Taylor, treasurer of Knaresborough Chamber of Trade, said:
Knaresborough dog groomers finds new high street home“Many businesses in Knaresborough adapted to survive where they could during the previous lockdowns and it is great to see a similar desire this time round. The town really came together to ensure everyone kept safe.
“Knaresborough chamber will continue to support all of the local businesses however it can, and continue engagement with local authorities to ensure businesses are aware of all of the support that is available.”
A Knaresborough dog groomers is relocating along the high street at the end of the month — but has assured customers its much-loved dog window will remain a feature.
Carol’s Bonnie Dogs is known locally as the “one with dogs in the window”.
The owner, Carol Scanlan, doesn’t put the dogs in cages after being groomed but instead allows the animals to sit by the window as they wait to be collected.
She says the owners, as well as passers-by, like to see the dogs relaxing after pamper sessions.
The groomers is currently at 63 High Street but has been granted approval to relocate to the more spacious 44 High Street.
Ms Scanlan has been based in Knaresborough for three years and said business is going from strength to strength:
“A couple of local groomers closed down and we were being recommended. I’d say it’s tripled in the past three years.
“We needed more space and with the new place being next door to the pet shop it was a perfect match.”
Ms Scanlan hopes to move into the new shop, 44 High Street, at the end of the month.
Ms Scanlan currently employs two groomers, including one who started doing work experience from Askham Bryan College, as well as a part-time weekend member of staff.
She hopes to grow her team this year if business continues to get busier.
Read more:
- Knaresborough’s Two Brothers restaurant hopes to move onto the high street if planning is approved.
- Harrogate businesses could receive grants of £9,000 after government announces further support.
Dog groomers are allowed to stay open during this lockdown. Ms Scanlan said:
“After the first lockdown I was appalled at the condition of some of the dogs. I even sent an email to the Prime Minister. It was a massive relief to hear we can stay open.”
She hopes the groomers can move at the end of this month, with minimal disruption to the business.
Harrogate businesses could get grants of up to £9,000Harrogate businesses could be in line for further financial support as more grants have been announced by the government.
Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, unveiled a one-off top up grant of up to £9,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses amid the national lockdown.
The funding comes as part of a £4.6 billion package and the grants will be based on the rateable value of each business.
The government expects the grants will help to support more than 600,000 businesses.
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- Harrogate district daily coronavirus cases hit another record high
- Business owners share concerns as new lockdown begins
Mr Sunak also announced a further £594 million worth of discretionary funding for local authorities to target those who will not be eligible for the grant but might be affected by the lockdown.
He said:
“The new strain of the virus presents us all with a huge challenge – and whilst the vaccine is being rolled out, we have needed to tighten restrictions further.
“Throughout the pandemic we’ve taken swift action to protect lives and livelihoods and today we’re announcing a further cash injection to support businesses and jobs until the Spring.
“This will help businesses to get through the months ahead – and crucially it will help sustain jobs, so workers can be ready to return when they are able to reopen.”
It comes as businesses in the district reacted to the announcement of a further national lockdown.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday evening that a new lockdown would come into force, with a stay at home order.
Sandra Doherty, chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, said the measures would be difficult but were necessary to reduce transmission until the vaccination took effect. She said:
“It’s going to be incredibly tough for all businesses over the coming months, and sadly not all will survive into the spring.
“Until we can resume life as we knew it in pre-covid days, the Government is going to have to continue its support to businesses, and extend it to those self-employed people who have so far not received any financial help at all.”