Swimwear has been made compulsory for all sessions at Turkish Baths Harrogate following a complaint to the police.

Until this week, clothing was optional at two single sex sessions for men and women each week. It is compulsory at mixed sessions.

But a spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council, which runs the Victorian venue, said:

“Following a complaint at Turkish Baths Harrogate, an operational decision has been made that swimwear is now compulsory at all bathing sessions.

“The complaint related to an incident which due to its serious nature has been reported to the police and is currently being investigated.

“We have a duty of care to our customers and staff members, and in order for all single sex sessions to operate in a safe environment, it has been decided that swimwear must be worn until further notice.”

The Moorish design

The council issued the statement after a bather, who regularly attends men-only sessions unclothed, alerted local media to the change.

The person, who asked to remain anonymous, said recent attendees of single sex sessions received emails yesterday informing them of the change with immediate effect, with no consultation.

He also pointed out the ‘bathing etiquette’ section on the Turkish baths’ website had been amended to say ‘swimwear is compulsory at all sessions (including single-sex sessions)’.

The person said the majority of people at male-only sessions preferred not to wear clothes because they found them uncomfortable.

He added he would monitor the situation in light of the complaint to see whether the unclothed option was reintroduced.

The baths, which has Islamic arches and screens as part of its Moorish design, opened in 1897 and have been fully restored with a plunge pool, steam room and sauna as well as rooms of various temperatures to relax in.

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Clothing retailer M&Co is set to shut its Ripon branch.

The Scottish company, which sells clothes and homeware, went into administration for a second time in December last year.

The Ripon store had previously been saved from closure in 2020 when the firm went through a financial restructure.

However, M&Co is set to close all of its outlets after the sale of the retailer to AK Retail Holdings did not include physical stores.

The closures were announced in social media posts by individual branches across the UK.

It said:

“Unfortunately we haven’t received the news we would have hoped for during our administration period, and would like to share this news with you.

“As we haven’t received any funded, deliverable offers that would result in the transfer of the company’s stores or staff to a potential buyer, this means that all of our stores will close.”

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• M&Co store in Ripon saved from closure
• Graveley’s fish and chip shop to reopen in Harrogate tomorrow

The company has 170 stores nationwide and employs some 1,900 staff.

Joint administrators Gavin Park, Adele MacLeod and Rob Harding of Teneo Financial Advisory Limited were appointed to oversee the retailer in December 2022.

Speaking at the time, Mr Park said M&Co had seen increasing costs at a time of decline in “customer confidence”.

He said:

“Like many retailers, the Company has experienced a sharp rise in its input costs, which has coincided with a decline in consumer confidence leading to trading challenges. 

“Despite a very loyal customer base, particularly in local markets, and a well-recognised brand, the current economic outlook has placed increasing pressure on the Company’s cash position.”

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Boroughbridge-based online women’s fashion retailer and brand Kit and Kaboodal is set to expand into the United States and Australia.

The company, founded in 2013, has posted a 48% increase in revenue on the same period the previous year, 20% ahead of target.

It’s now on track to surpass its annual target of £8m for the full 2022/23 financial year.

The retailer has now made the decision to trial international expansion and, from this autumn, it will launch specific sites and products in the US and Australia.

Helen Marsden, co-founder and buying director, said:

“We’re a family-run and family-owned business that began by making all our decisions around the kitchen table. Now we’re watching the orders grow daily and we’re reaching entirely new markets and customers.

“We’ve focused on building strong relationships with suppliers and customers and that has helped us navigate some of the most disruptive years in history and come out the other side with a strong business that’s fit for the future.”

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Harrogate district nursery supplies plants to luxury resort

Johnsons of Whixley are supplying plants to The Springs.

Johnsons of Whixley has supplied plants worth £135,000 for a multi-million-pound renovation at the 133-acre The Springs Resort & Golf Club in Oxfordshire.

The plants have been used to enhance the grounds of the Tudor-style hotel building, clubhouse, golf course and spa grounds and most recently used to landscape the modern lodges which include private outdoor areas with hot tubs and landscaped decking.

Johnsons has supplied a large number of hedging, shrubs, herbaceous, trees and grasses with varieties including mixed native hedging elements, Choisya, Geraniums, Heleniums, Hebes, Hydrangeas, Heucheras, Ilex, Lavender, Magnolia, Prunus, Stipa, Taxus, Viburnum and more.

Eleanor Richardson, marketing manager at Johnsons, said:

“We are pleased to be working with Darwin Escapes once again, and are honoured to be their principal plant supplier. It’s great to see our plants adding the finishing touches to this ambitious project, the grounds look fantastic and will certainly entice people to stay.”

A new Harrogate based childrenswear brand is due to launch at the Great Yorkshire Show in July.  

The high-end country style clothing store will be online, but will also have stands at various country events and shows.

It plans to sell a variety of sustainable products, from tweed coats to hand-knitted cashmere boots.  

Eleanor Charles’ tweed range

Mum of two and former solicitor Katie Heptonstall started the plans for Eleanor Charles after the pandemic hit.  

After moving from London back to Harrogate when her father-in-law suffered a heart attack, Mrs Heptonstall and her husband chose to stay in the town after the birth of their children, Elle and Charlie, who the business is named after. 

She said:  

“I am really excited to bring together everything we have been working so hard on over the last few months and to bring Eleanor Charles to life at the Great Yorkshire Show. 

“It has been a complete change for me in my career, I have learnt so much over the last few months and I have enjoyed every second of it.” 

The shop will launch at the Great Yorkshire Show , which runs from Tuesday, July 12 to Friday, July 15, where the clothing stand will also have a sofa for breastfeeding, a baby changing area, a colouring table and a photo wall.

The Alice Hawthorn pub wins three regional awards for architecture 

The Alice Hawthorn pub in Nun Monkton has won three regional RIBA awards for Yorkshire, celebrating its architecture and sustainability.  

The hotel and pub won the regional Yorkshire award, the Yorkshire sustainability award and the Yorkshire client of the year award at the ceremony held in London.  

Twelve new guest bedrooms were recently designed by De Matos Ryan, with the aim of preventing the pub from closing.  

Since four local taverns closed down, The Alice Hawthorn is the only remaining pub in the village.  

The new timber frame buildings include the sheds, field barn, stables and tack room

De Matos Ryan director Angus Morrogh-Ryan said: 

“We are delighted that this project has been recognised by the RIBA Yorkshire jury in this way.  

“It has been an honour to collaborate with such a brilliant client and contractor team, and together ensure that this village pub will continue to sustainably service its community but also welcome visitors from afar.” 

The ensuite bedrooms were designed with sustainable elements including timber frame buildings, low energy lighting and a heat pump for hot water and heating. 

The Alice Hawthorn has now been shortlisted for the RIBA national awards, which will take place later this year.  

HGTE collaborates with BrewBar for Harrogate Homeless Project

Sara Shaw, owner of HGTE clothing, is collaborating with BrewBar cafe in Harrogate to help the homeless.

A portion of the profits raised from the sale of the clothing will go to the Harrogate Homeless Project.  The company has already raised over £14,000 for the charity since Christmas 2016.

Ms Shaw explained that the idea of HGTE is to not just to raise funds, but also to raise awareness about homelessness in Harrogate.

“The aim is to support a vital local charity with a quality product that is ethical.

“BrewBar is situated right in the heart of Harrogate, and Simon has such a loyal customer base due to his teams brilliant customer service – I couldn’t say no.”

Simon Somerville-Frost, owner of Brewbar, added:

“In our collaboration we provide a space for Sara’s vision to take place. To see the benefits of these contributions to the community is truly humbling, and we look to continue to give back to the community.”

HGTE started as a one-off, with Ms Shaw printing 25 sweatshirts with the logo. However, it continues to grow, with pieces being posted internationally.

From law graduate to part-owner of Harrogate Family Law: Laura Mounsey 

Laura Mounsey who only became a qualified solicitor at Harrogate Family Law in 2019 has now become a partial owner of the firm.

Andrew Meehan, managing director of HFL, said:

“I am delighted to announce that Laura Mounsey is now a part owner and director of Harrogate Family Law. Laura joined HFL in 2015 and will be a key part in taking the firm from strength to strength as it continues to grow.”

Ms Mounsey was awarded the Cohen and Career Guarantee Scholarship at BPP Law school and was recognised with a ‘Safe Pair of Hands’ award for her ability to help people.

Ms Mounsey wrote a series of columns for the Stray Ferret in 2020:

• Laura’s Law: Is your ex weaponising your children?
• Laura’s Law: Leaving an abusive relationship
• Laura’s Law: How to prepare yourself for getting divorced

Provenance Inns wins ‘Best Food Offer’ at Publican Awards 2022

Provenance Inns and Hotels has won a national award for ‘Best Food Offer,’ after being recognised for its consistent, high-quality dishes.

The North Yorkshire based company was up against competitors such as well-known Farmhouse Inns which owns 70 sites across the UK.

Group executive chef, Jason Wardill, said:

“To beat off every other pub company in the UK is testament to our fresh food, and our hard-working chefs who deliver the menu to the same standard every day across all seven sites.”

The company continues to expand across North Yorkshire, having acquired The Coach and Horses in Harrogate last year which it hopes to refurbish.

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A Harrogate clothing store has raised thousands of pounds to help homeless people by selling charity jumpers.

Sara Shaw, who owns womenswear shop Violet on Cheltenham Mount, created the “HGTE” brand and regularly updates the range with new colours and styles.

The shop donates £10 from each sale to the Harrogate Homeless Project, which has benefited to the tune of more than £10,000 so far.

The local charity uses the money for accommodation costs and to help homeless people get back on their feet.

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Not only has the clothing range raised funds but it has also sparked other charitable activities, such as bike rides.

It all started as a one-off for Christmas in 2016 but Sara told the Stray Ferret that sales have recently started to ramp up:

“We are now selling lots of the jumpers. It is just word of mouth really because people like the quality of the product.

“I also genuinely love it if I am driving into work and I let some people cross the road and they have got one of these jumpers on.

“We also give £10 from the sale of each sweatshirt which is a lot of money to give to charity, so people really feel they are making a difference.”

The sweatshirts cost £60 and the hoodies cost £75. They are unisex and only available to purchase from the Violet store in Harrogate.

An independent designer menswear store in Ripon city centre will close this month for the final time after more than 40 years of business.

Jon Barrie, in Market Place, is selling its remaining stock as well as its fixtures and fittings. The manager expects to be closed permanently by September 19.

Not only will the Ripon store close but the Keighley shop will as well. The Pontefract and Castleford shops will remain open.

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Anna Simmonds, the Ripon store manager, told the Stray Ferret it will be a sad day when it closes in a couple of weeks:

“We simply cannot continue to trade when the economy is like this after so many months of lockdown. It is absolutely gutting, it is going to be awful on that last day.”

Jon Barrie sells a range of designer mens clothes such as Fred Perry and Pretty Green as well as designer accessories.