Harrogate district tattoo artists get back to work

Have you been planning a tattoo design during lockdown?

Tattoo parlours across the district are now open, following similar safety guidelines to nail bars and beauty salons.

One Knaresborough artist has told The Stray Ferret that it’s great to open but that it’s been “frustrating” having to stay shut longer than hairdressers – especially since they have long been required to have measures in place to prevent cross-contamination.

However, they were not allowed to open on July 4 because of the amount of physical contact often for a long period of time.

Man giving a tattoo

James Mellors, Owner of Wild Style Tattoo Knaresborough

James Mellors, who co-owns Wild Style Tattoo in Knaresborough, had his first customer through the door yesterday, after four months of being closed. He said:

“My first customer is in all day today, it’s a lot of geometric patterns, so it’s quite mind-boggling after four months off, but I’ll manage.

“We were ready to open on July 4… so it has been very frustrating, tattoo artists felt like we were at the bottom of the pile really.

“We wear masks and gloves anyways so we understand how to operate in a Covid-secure way… but we’re open now which I’m very pleased about.”

Wild Style is only taking advance bookings and having one person in the studio at a time, so “you can’t walk off the street unannounced”.

Richard Suddaby, Owner of Fired Up Tattoo, Harrogate

Richard Suddaby, co-owner of Fired Up Tattoo Studio in Harrogate, has also welcomed his first customer back to the studio. He said:

“I have just done a design this morning for someone whose father passed away during lockdown so I have done a memorial tattoo for them.”

He added:

“The diary is filling up, but some people are cancelling as they still worried about the virus. I have only been here since the end of last year, so I felt I was just getting going then had to close, but we will get there.”

New manager for top Harrogate hotel faces ‘very tough’ year

Andy Barnsdale has taken over the helm of The DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel & Spa.

He is the top hotel’s new general manager and said that the hospitality sector is facing a “very tough” next 12 months.

The Majestic was just a week away from officially opening its new £2 million spa and wellness centre, called The Harrogate Spa before the coronavirus lockdown.

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That new project has still not been given the go ahead to open but, in the meantime, they have opened a new dining concept called Majestic Weekends.

It had remained open throughout the pandemic for key workers before it reopened to the general public on July 4.

The DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel & Spa

The DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel & Spa.

When Mr Barnsdale started his role 90% of the staff were on furlough but now they are bringing them back. He said:

“Thanks to the Cairn Group’s significant investment, The Majestic has regained its place as one of the finest hotels in the Harrogate District. Coronavirus has had a major impact on the hospitality sector, and we are facing a very tough 12 months. However, I believe we are well placed to pull through; we have a fantastic product and the Hilton brand is recognised and respected worldwide. Events and conferences are rebooking, and guests are coming back.”

Andy Barnsdale started his career in hospitality 25 years ago with Haven Holidays and over the next 11 years, he worked at six different holiday parks at general manager level before he moved onto hotels – namely Nidd Hall for six years.

Harrogate Costa drive-thru to open next month

A Costa drive-thru will open next month near Pannal after coronavirus delayed construction works.

The coffee company has not yet pinned down a specific date but will open the Leeds Road drive-thru in August.

It’s the first time Costa has announced an opening date with much of the external works already complete.

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Harrogate Borough Council approved the demolition of a petrol station and shops for the development despite concerns over traffic.

A Costa Coffee spokesperson, told The Stray Ferret:

“We’re delighted to be safely opening new stores across our estate, aswell as reopening existing stores in line with government guidelines – returning the Nation’s Favourite to customers by serving them a perfectly handcrafted cup of coffee.”

Knaresborough swings into action with new plan

Knaresborough Unlocked is the action plan, set up by Knaresborough Chamber of Trade, to help the town reopen following lockdown.

After months of planning by chamber members, the Knaresborough Unlocked initiative was formed. Its main aim is to support local businesses as they make preparations to reopen.

The plan has a number of action points including engaging with voluntary organisations such as Knaresborough delivers to arrange a coordinated response from several of the town’s businesses.

The scheme has also allowed the chamber to keep businesses informed on funding opportunities, including discretionary grants, to ensure they receive all the necessary support. The main message that has been promoted throughout planning has been ‘shop local stay safe’.

A further focus of the action plan was to offer expert health and safety advice for smaller businesses who may not have formal training. The chamber partnered with local health and safety experts Cenheard to create a coronavirus safe pack which offers free health and safety training, guidance and posters for all local business owners.

These measures have been rolled out throughout the town to encourage its visitors and workers to social distance. Bill Taylor added:

“There’s still work to do and people’s behaviour towards the 2 metre distance is changing. There are so many questions about the distance and even though it might change its so important to keep it in the front of people’s mind. We’ve encouraged our shop owners to take part in the formal health and safety training to make sure the return is as safe as it can be.”

The Knaresborough Unlocked scheme aims to keep business owners and visitors safe.

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To promote their ‘shop local’ message further, the chamber has offered their support to a ‘Shopappy’ initiative set up by York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, which will be live in the coming weeks. This scheme gives the town a portal in which local businesses can sell their products or services online.

Bill Taylor, Secretary and Treasurer of Knaresborough Chamber of Trade told The Stray Ferret:

“Shopappy allows customers to buy direct from them or arrange to click and collect from the store. The local enterprise partnership supports towns such as Knaresborough and offers the portal for free for a year. It is great because those businesses without an online platform are given the chance to get orders online.”

 

 

Is the future of Harrogate town centre more homes, less shopping?

As the government lines up plans to overhaul the UK planning system, could we see less shops and more homes and offices in Harrogate town centre as a result of the changes?

The town centre already has around 10% of its retail units sitting empty and an impending economic downturn could see that number increase.

But proposals lined up by the government could change how developers react to the loss of shops and what to do with them.

Ministers are to press ahead with measures which would see permitted development rights extended to empty outlets. It means that developers could demolish empty stores and replace them with housing without the need for a planning application.

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Further measures would see change of use rules relaxed, meaning unused shops could be turned into offices or homes.

James Tyreman, of Nicholls Tyerman estate agents, said the move would fit with an already popular town centre area to live in and converting a building would depend on its location.

He said: “It would depend on the right building and the right address.

“The town centre area is popular to live in and Harrogate has a lot of very attractive buildings. But it is very much a case of the right address and right location.”

Meanwhile, James Hobson, managing director at JEH Planning, said the reuse of vacant units will be crucial in helping the local economy after the pandemic.

He said: “Serious consideration will need to be given to the potential re-use of vacant retail premises and other commercial space for other uses, something that can be a controversial topic in Harrogate.

“However, if planners do not grasp and act on this issue, we could be preventing economic stimulus at a time that we have never needed it more.

“As part of this, we need to be completely realistic as to how much business and commercial space can be viably re-provided on site, and indeed how much affordable housing can be funded as part of mix use redevelopment proposals.”

He added that greater flexibility in the planning system would be key for those changes and to help high streets flourish.

The town centre has a Masterplan drawn up by the borough council, that was published four years ago. Critics argue that times have changed with increased online shopping and now the impact of coronavirus lockdown on the town centre.

 

The masterplan suggests the pedestrianisation of James Street which is the source of real concern to some traders

The Stray Ferret contacted Harrogate Borough Council leader, Richard Cooper, in advance of this article to request an interview on the vision for the town and traders concerns, but received no response.

Independent Harrogate have already made their voices heard and called for a rethink of the plan.

In its manifesto, the trade association said the town centre faces a crisis amid the pandemic and described the plan as “outdated”.

The publication of the manifesto was another example of the growing frustration among traders who feel the town’s future and its high-end shopping, which it is famous for, is at stake.

A spokesperson for the group said:

“We are terribly worried, there are various businesses that have already closed.

“The government have been supportive, but the local authority have got to be supportive too.”

At this critical juncture, there is a responsibility on policymakers to shape plans for the future. But there is also a responsibility on us to shop local if we want the stores we like to survive.

French firm gets approval for Harrogate Water takeover

The UK competition watchdog has given a French food firm the green light for its proposed takeover of Harrogate Water.

Danone said it planned to acquire a majority stake in Harrogate Water back in February but it was subject to approval.

The Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) has now cleared the anticipated takeover for an undisclosed fee.

Harrogate Water’s current majority shareholders, the Cain family, will remain as minority shareholders under the deal.

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Last year Harrogate Water recorded sales of more than £21 million. It will now join Danone’s other water brand Evian and Volvic.

Harrogate Spring Water is the original British water brand, with a spa history dating back to 1571. It was first bottled in 1740.

James Pearson, Managing Director, Danone Waters UK & Ireland, said:

“I am thrilled to welcome Harrogate Water to the Danone family. This move will expand our offering in the UK and help to meet growing demand in sparkling water and on-the-go consumption.”

James Cain OBE, Harrogate Water CEO, said:

“We are delighted to have found the right partner to take Harrogate Water forward on its journey, while respecting and celebrating our history and heritage. Danone and Harrogate Water have a shared ethos and approach to community and sustainability.”

Can Harrogate compete with Leeds as shops reopen?

Yesterday, we reported on the anxieties of shoppers returning to clothes stores in the district. Given the fear expressed by many of stepping foot back onto the high street, is Harrogate doing enough to entice them back in?

As part of examining what the town is doing to win over shoppers, we looked at Harrogate’s closest retail rival and a city which attracts a lot of shoppers from the district.

16 miles down the road in Leeds, the city is putting in place a range of measures to bring customers back and encourage them to part with their hard earned cash again.

The city is offering free car parking for another month, as well as deep cleaning the streets and offering hand sanitiser on demand.

The city council has worked with the local BID to come up with measures to entice shoppers in and also offer reassurance, including one way systems and more outdoor space for street cafes in areas like the Corn Exchange and Park Row.

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Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, said the measures were important to get the city back up and running again.

She said: “Getting our city centre and district centres back open again will be a key priority in the weeks ahead, however it needs to be done in a careful and controlled way in order to keep everyone safe.

“I’d like to thank everyone involved in creating and implementing this plan, and I’d like to again thank the people of Leeds for their resilience and ask that it continues in terms of following the rules and adhering to the two-metre social distancing especially.

“Things may look a bit different in our public spaces, but if everyone follows the rules they will be safe places to work and visit as we start the process of recovery in Leeds.”

In light of the measures being put in place, can Harrogate compete and win over the anxious shopper?

Harrogate Borough Council was handed £141,000 from the European Union to help reopen and advertise the high streets, but a plan of how the money will be spent has yet to be revealed.

Meanwhile, the authority’s decision to reintroduce car parking fines left local trade associations frustrated and deeply disappointed.

Harrogate BID launched a deep clean of the town centre earlier this week.

Harrogate BID has also outlined its own plans to make the town centre attractive to shoppers again and started to put measures in place.

A deep clean is already underway and the group is in negotiations with a supplier to introduce high street daytime hosts and nighttime street marshalls in a couple of weeks.

The hosts will be tasked with giving shoppers peace of mind as lockdown is eased by welcoming them to the town centre, giving out information and noting hotspots that need to be cleaned.

Areas like James Street have already had pavements widened and retailers have also been offered social distancing posters to reassure shoppers that their experience will be safe.

Floor stickers will help to show customers where to stand two metres apart.

Sara Ferguson, acting chair of Harrogate BID, said the organisation was aware of the challenges that face retailers in the district but added that she was optimistic of shoppers coming back.

She said: “We are trying to make it as welcoming as possible.

“I feel like people are a bit sick of lockdown and there will be changes on the high street for sure, but people will have time to shop.

“I’m hoping that people will feel a bit more relaxed.”

Tomorrow in our final report, we look at the longer term plans for Harrogate.

Harrogate Monsoon store saved from closure

Harrogate’s Monsoon Accessorize store has been saved despite the company announcing a string of store closures after falling into administration.

Monsoon brought in administrators late on Tuesday before being bought out by Adena Brands Ltd through a pre-pack deal which was announced this morning.

Administrators FPR Advisory secured the deal with Adena, which is owned by Monsoon’s founder Peter Simon, which will see 450 jobs transferred over to the company.

But, 35 stores will still close across the UK and 545 staff will be made redundant.

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Harrogate’s Monsoon Accessorize store on James Street is not included on the list of closures released today.

The news comes as non essential retail, such as clothes stores, will reopen on Monday after lockdown is eased.

Mr Simon has promised to inject £15 million into Monsoon so it can continue trading and will work with administrators to negotiate leases on 162 stores and secure more than 2,300 retail jobs.

Tony Wright, joint administrator and partner at FRP, said: 

“We had to move quickly and decisively to secure the future of Monsoon and Accessorize, as many jobs as possible and the presence of these two iconic brands on the UK high street. After assessing a range of options this deal achieves those goals with least disruption to the business in an already challenging retail environment.

“We are now committed to working with Adena Brands as they enter talks with landlords to agree future terms across their store portfolio and look to transfer more jobs to the buyer. We’ll also be working with the Redundancy Payments Service to support all affected employees through this difficult time.”

Many in district still fearful of shopping for clothes

Will shoppers return to the high street on Monday?

Since the lockdown easing was revealed by the Prime Minister, a number of major and independent outlets have already announced that their doors will be open on June 15.

But once shops are open and the store lights are on, the focus will shift to how customers react after 10 weeks of closure and increasingly more people shopping online.

The Stray Ferret went around the district and asked people in town centres whether they were uneasy about returning to shops.

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In our video above, people raised concerns over changing rooms in clothes stores and shops reopening too early.

Melanie Lancaster, from Ripon, said it was not necessary for the city’s high street to reopen yet.

“I’m not going to shop when the shops open.

“I know that they are saying that they are going to quarantine clothes, but I would still not feel comfortable doing that.”

Sandra Watkins, from Harrogate, said she was concerned with younger people and whether they would be mindful when shops reopen.

She said: “I’m more concerned perhaps with my teenage daughter still being quite young, are they going to be mindful going back into places like Primark?”

Some smaller traders do not expect customers to be stepping through their doors immediately, but bigger retailers have a challenge.

Shop space which once saw customers move freely around will be altered by one way systems, two metre distances and limited customers.

Esther Pugh, a retail expert at Leeds Beckett University, said the experience of shopping will be changed by social distancing, but added that she remained optimistic about customers returning to the high street.

She said: “Stores use their layout to help navigate the space and move around.

“But it will be a challenge because the guidelines will effect the experience.

“I am optimistic and I think people need to feel positive. I think the shops need to be innovative and turn this into something new for shoppers.”

Tomorrow, we will report on what is being done to entice shoppers back onto Harrogate’s high street and into retail stores.

Harrogate retail prepares to fight for survival

As nearly 10% of Harrogate town centre’s retail spaces sit empty, traders prepare to fight to survive as lockdown is eased.

After 10 weeks of closure, retailers and independent boutiques now face the task of making up lost ground, earning a living and protecting their customers at the same time.

Non-essential shops, such as clothing outlets, can reopen from Monday. But the aim for some is to see if they can survive the challenge that comes with social distancing measures and the cost of the crisis.

As an economic downturn looms, Harrogate’s outlets face an uphill task in surviving. During lockdown, among those retailers to leave the town’s prestigious James Street is Jack Wills.

Among traders’ concerns ahead of Monday include:

Despite support from government and the local authority, it may not be enough as traders face the difficult decision of whether to open up or not on Monday.

Sophie Hartley, who owns Sophie Likes boutique on Beulah Street in Harrogate.

One of the shops reopening is lifestyle boutique Sophie Likes, which has been operating on Beulah Street for the past six years.

Sophie Hartley is the owner and sole employee in the store and has prepared for social distancing. But she said it will be difficult for local traders to make a living after lockdown.

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The closure of the shop left Sophie’s family without some of their income. She received a government grant but still hopes to have discussions with her landlord to help make it through until the end of the year.

She said: “It’s been pretty scary.

“All of a sudden you have the close the shop and you have no income.

“We are still not sure of our opening hours because we do not know how busy it is going to be.”

Another store owner, who did not wish to be named, said she had been “stung” financially by the lockdown and may have to close the store in future due to a lack of customers.

She said she had to seek advice after discussions about rent support with her landlord broke down and that Harrogate was a “ghost town” and the financial situation may lead her to reconsider the future of the store.

She said: “I cannot just keep going for face value.

“The high street is suffering and Harrogate is already a ghost town.”

Despite these difficult times, there is no place for small businesses to turn to for support when negotiations with landlords prove to be difficult.

Retail in Crisis

This week we report on Retail In Crisis as stores prepare to reopen after lockdown.

Over the coming days, we will look at the fear of shoppers returning to the High Street, how trade associations are working to entice customers into Harrogate and the long view of the future of retail in the town.

Tomorrow, we look at shoppers anxieties over returning to shopping in town.