Wild West-themed soft play business appeals for support to help relocate and prevent closureThree-storey boutique ‘wellness venue’ set to officially open in Harrogate town centre

A three-storey boutique “wellness venue” is set to officially open in Harrogate town centre tomorrow.

Ebru Evrim will offer daily classes and workshops in yoga and Pilates in the former Laura Ashley premises, on James Street.

It follows a 4,000 sq ft refurbishment thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign, which saw more than £300,000 raised.

A launch party, featuring food from Hustle & Co, took place at the venue last night and guests were given a tour around the building.

The third floor.

Ebru Evrim is the name of the brand’s founder and owner, who moved over from Istanbul in 2015.

She began to teach  yoga and pilates in village halls in the Yorkshire Dales, before launching her first studio in Skipton.

Apparatus in one of the studios.

Following its success, Ms Evrim looked to Harrogate as a vibrant spa town already famed for championing wellness.

Ms Evrim, who also runs wellness holidays and yoga retreats, said:

“I’m so happy I think we are unique and I’m super excited to bring some healthy living to Harrogate. And I’m excited to introduce ourselves, our teachers and our services. I think it’s going to be great. I can’t wait.

“I was so lucky to find this place. We still have some work on the building to complete, but it has all been done by local tradesmen.

“The location is amazing. I’m so grateful to be given the opportunity to open this venue. Life is short and I want to give something good to this place.”

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On the ground floor shop-front, Ms Evrim’s own-branded boutique fitness clothing is on sale.

On the second floor, state-of-the-art Pilates reformer apparatus will be in place. The machines are being made in California and were expected in April. However, they are now unlikely to arrive until September as a result of shipping delays.

Apparatus in one of the studios.

The apparatus will be alongside a space for working with clients requiring specialist therapy for conditions such as lower back, scoliosis, arthritis and osteoporosis. The floor also features showers and changing rooms.

The third floor, complete with industrial-style exposed brick walls and ambient lighting, provides space for yoga and Pilates classes with 30 mats and underfloor heating.

There will also be a cafe on the ground floor, offering snacks and healthy food, which is set to open in a month’s time.

Classes will begin tomorrow from 9am.

The sport ‘anyone can play’ that has exploded across the Harrogate district

A mashup of tennis and squash that originated in Mexico, padel has been described as one of the world’s fastest growing sports.

It is played between four players on reduced-size tennis courts. Competitors use paddle racquets and can bounce the ball off walls.

Since November 2020, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has been the national governing body for the sport when it was officially recognised as a discipline of tennis. This has opened the door for greater recognition, support and funding.

Admittedly, I had never even heard it until around a year ago and since then, it seems to have exploded across the Harrogate district.

Ahead of the curve

Harrogate Sports and Fitness Centre, on Hookstone Wood Road, was ahead of the curve, launching its first outdoor padel court in 2019, followed by a second glass-enclosed court in 2021 due to popular demand.

The only courts of their kind in the region, they saw people travel from Hull, Liverpool and Manchester to play.

 Padel tennis at Harrogate Sports and Fitness Centre.

The club’s manager James Gaston said:

“It has grown in popularity very quickly and we have approximately 250 padel players.

“It is popular because it is very easy to play compared to tennis and it is great fun as doubles and close together on the court.

“It’s a great game and everyone should try it.”

James Gaston outside Harrogate Sports and Fitness Centre.

Then in January Surge Padel, the largest indoor padel tennis centre in the UK with six courts, opened its doors at Hornbeam Park. The International Padel Federation is already considering it as the potential host of its European Championships.

Plans for eight new centres

CEO Stuart Perrin said it had already proved to be so successful in Harrogate, he was now planning to launch minimum of eight additional centres in the UK this year.

One of the padel courts at Surge.

Speaking about why he chose Harrogate to locate his first padel centre, he said:

“There are two reasons really.

“Firstly, I’m a local resident and know the local health and fitness market well. Operating in the town with success previously meant I had a path once trodden that could be replicated and improved on.

“Secondly, the demographics of Harrogate really lend themselves to those of racket sports, giving us a head start on the education piece, with padel being a relatively new sport to the UK.

“It has exceeded all expectations so far with no signs of stopping any time soon.”

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Mr Perrin said the club currently had more than 820 members, with half of those using it on a weekly basis.

He added:

“We anticipate this number to grow to north of 1,000 members by the end of June.

“I think it has been so popular as we have delivered the UK’s largest premium indoor padel tennis centre and we are unaffected by the weather.

“Being underpinned by a brand like Coach and associated with Adidas has also cemented us as the market leader within the sector very quickly.”

Surge at Hornbeam Park is the largest indoor padel tennis court in the UK.

Next month, two new padel tennis courts will launch at Ripon Tennis Centre following a successful crowdfunding campaign, which saw more than £30,500 raised in 28 days thanks to the support of residents and businesses.

Membership boost

The project was put forward to help boost the club’s membership in the wake of the pandemic and will see the new courts, plus canopies and flood lighting, built at the centre on Park Lane.

Additional funding has also been provided by Sport England alongside a loan from the LTA.

Carol Tetlow, the club’s honorary secretary, said:

“It’s all very exciting and we can’t wait to get playing.

“Fingers crossed, our courts should be up and ready for play by the end of April. There will be two courts, one with a roof, guaranteeing all year round play.

“Covid-19 took its toll on Ripon tennis club, like many other sporting venues, and we saw membership numbers drop by a fifth and also lost a lot of income.

“Our centre manager, Diane Hutchinson came up with the great idea of not simply trying to recoup our losses but seize this opportunity to expand the centre with a new venture – padel tennis.”

Ripon MP Julian Smith visiting the padel site at Ripon Tennis Centre, with Diane Hutchinson (left) and Carol Tetlow (right).

Ms Tetlow put the sport’s rapid growth and popularity down to it being easy to play and therefore accessible for all ages and abilities.

A game for everyone

She said:

“Even beginners can go on court and enjoy a game, unlike some sports where techniques have to be acquired and learned.

“The less mobile players who find it difficult to get around a tennis court can have challenging games.

“At the other end of the scale, highly experienced players can amaze spectators with their agility and skill.”

Ms Tatlow said the club had recently taken on a new coach, Christopher Stanford, who will coach padel, as well as tennis.

She added:

“We’ve had lots of enquiries as the word has spread and as a result of our crowdfunding campaign. Membership is growing again and I’m sure padel is one of the reasons for this.

“With the nearest courts in Harrogate and Middlesbrough, Ripon has to be the ideal place for more courts.”

‘Really social’

Stuart Jones, from Harrogate, has been playing padel for two years after picking up the sport while on holiday in Spain, which has more than 20,000 padel courts. Behind football it is the country’s second-most-popular sport.

He said:

“I really enjoy the competitive nature of the game, the fact it’s doubles and really social.

“I started to play at the courts at Harrogate Sports and Fitness Centre and now also play at Surge, where they also have coaching for adults, as well as juniors, which is perfect for me as my eldest son also enjoys the game.”

Here are ten facts you might not know about padel tennis, from the LTA:

Stump Cross Caverns campaign nears £50,000 goal

A crowdfunding campaign to save Stump Cross Caverns from closure has almost reached its target of £50,000.

Owner Lisa Bowerman launched the campaign last month by raffling off her prized camper van to raise vital funds. At the time of writing it’s on over £45,000 with 18 days still to go.

She said she expects to reach the goal over this weekend which she said will be a “huge relief”.

“We’re gonna smash it!”.

Lisa said launching the crowdfunder has been “the most nerve-racking thing I’ve ever done” but the response has shown how much the popular ancient limestone cave system is loved.

She said the business has missed out on £350,000 over the past 12 months due to covid lockdowns and restrictions. She was delivered a further blow after being refused a covid grant for cultural venues by the government.

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If the crowdfunding campaign is successful, as expected, they plan to reopen for visitors on May 17.

But if the campaign had failed Lisa said she might have closed Stump Cross Caverns down and returned to her previous job as a children’s nurse.

The draw for the camper van is expected to be made on March 31.

Lisa paid tribute to everyone who has donated so far:

“Without the support we would have had to close. They’ve saved us.”