5 minutes with… Michelin-accredited chef Josh Barnes, Swinton EstateIs it worth the money? A spotlight on Aldwark’s new £3 million fine dining restaurant, ChartwellCouncillors grant licence for ‘elegant’ bar and restaurant in former Knaresborough bank

Councillors have granted an alcohol licence for a new bar and restaurant inside Knaresborough’s former Natwest bank, despite concerns from nearby residents about late-night noise.

North Yorkshire Council’s statutory licensing sub-committee met this morning at the Civic Centre in Harrogate to consider an application by Jaime Wilkinson for a new venue called 1858 Bar and Restaurant inside the former bank, which closed in 2017.

The venue on the town’s High Street will be run by Kim Lancaster, who was previously a manager of So Bar and Eats in the town centre for six years before working with Mr Wilkinson at the Drakes fish and chip shops that he owns.

Ms Lancaster told councillors the venue would be based around “elegant fine dining” which is something she believes Knaresborough is currently lacking.

She said they want customers to spend long periods inside enjoying food and drink instead of being a “Wetherspoons quick in-and-out” type experience.

Ms Lancaster also said on Bed Race day in June, which is traditionally the biggest day of the year for the town’s bars and pubs, customers would have to pre-book and if they show any signs of trouble they’d be asked to leave.

She added:

“We want people coming in not just for alcohol but for coffee and lunch. We’re trying to bring back something to Knaresborough that people can’t wait for. People are going to Harrogate [instead]. We’ve spent a lot of money and want to do it right with the right clientele.”

Residents who live to the rear of the building had objected to the application as the plans said people would be allowed to drink outside, close to their homes.

But these plans were amended before the meeting to ensure that alcohol is only consumed inside, which satisfied the five objectors who attended the meeting.

Mr Wilkinson proposed the new venue is able to sell alcohol from 10am until midnight seven days a week and each of the five residents spoke to raise objections to these hours.

Toby Woodhall said revellers leaving the venue late at night could impact on family life so he wanted conditions attached so alcohol would stop being served earlier in the evening.
He said:

“I myself am planning a family, really enjoy the town and want to ensure we can live undisturbed.”

However, the three councillors sitting on the committee ultimately decided to approve the proposed hours and the conditions already agreed between Mr Wilkinson, North Yorkshire Police and the council.

They added conditions to ensure all windows and doors are closed after 11pm, the rear area is not used by customers except during emergencies and there are no external speakers placed outside the premises.

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63rd+1st: A taste of Manhattan in Harrogate town centre

This story is sponsored by 63rd+1st.

Harrogate’s answer to a Manhattan cocktail bar, 63rd+1st, launched in November last year and has continued to grow in popularity on the town’s dining scene.

We visited after work on a Monday evening and it was a perfect way to start a busy week.

Decked out in trendy dark blue and gold, and featuring lots of greenery, the restaurant, lounge and bar on Albert Street gives off a relaxed and welcoming vibe.

The menu is inspired by Manhattan street food and features small plates to enjoy with a cocktail or mocktail.

The restaurant area.

It includes a signature burger, steaks and seafood, as well as plant-based and vegetarian dishes and loaded fries.

The idea is you choose a few dishes each and order more if you fancy it – like an American-style tapas.

To start, I had seared king scallops, black pudding and pea puree (£12). The scallops were cooked perfectly and melted in the mouth like butter. The pea puree provided a refreshing accompaniment to the saltiness of the black pudding. My partner went for the Maryland crab bon bons and crab mayo (£10), which had a light, crispy coating and were perfect for sharing.

Scallops.

We followed this up with a mozzarella corn dog on a stick – just like you have in New York – and a sirloin steak. I’ll admit, I’ve never had a steak sharing dish before, so I was delighted to be able to pinch a bit of my partner’s sirloin (£14). It was perfectly cooked and came with a tangy chimichurri sauce. You can also choose a topper to add to your steak from options including garlic and chilli prawns, seared scallops and short rib croquettes.

Sirloin steak.

We decided to order loaded fries with chipotle mayo and crispy onions to accompany our dishes (£5). We could have kept going, but decided to save room for a dessert instead.

If there’s one thing Americans know how to do, it’s dessert. And it did not disappoint. We chose a banana taco, which was served with salted candied pecans, caramel and vanilla ice cream . It was essentially like a banana pancake and the salty pecans added the perfect crunchy texture to the dish. Ridiculously good. Other desserts include peanut butter and jelly donuts (£6) and an NYC baked cheesecake (£7).

We also had some fabulous cocktails to accompany our meal from the (very) extensive cocktail menu, including an old fashioned woodford rye (£15).

If you fancy a drink and a few nibbles after work, this is a great place to visit as you can order as much or as little as you want.

There is also a bottomless brunch available on a weekend for just £20 per person down from £35 with a special Stray Ferret voucher offer. Get your voucher now!

Harrogate’s Frog restaurant forced to change name after legal challenge

Frog bar and restaurant on King’s Road will change its name to Lilypad after a legal challenge from a London restaurant with a similar name.

Frog opened in April by friends Charlie Moorby and Tom Moxham to rave reviews.

The area is not known as a foodie hotspot but they have hopes it could help turn King’s Road into a destination hub.

But around a month ago they received legal contact on behalf of Michelin-starred Frog by Adam Handling Restaurant Covent Garden, which said the Harrogate eatery had used its trademark.

The news came as a personal blow to the owners as they named the bar and restaurant after their favourite amphibian and there are around 70 images of frogs around venue. Mr Moorby told the Stray Ferret:

“Frustrating is one way to put it. We named it Frog because of personal connections.”

He said they were aware the London restaurant owned a trademark on the name ‘Frog’ before they opened, but said: “we did not think we would be perceived as a worry or would be confused with themselves.”

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Whilst the owners will shortly be removing all signs with the name Frog, Mr Moorby says the new name, Lilypad, retains the DNA of its former title.

He assured customers that nothing about the restaurant will change, except the name.

Mr Moorby added:

“We’re a fledgling business so it wasn’t welcome, but we’ll take the challenge on and roll with the punches.”

The Stray Ferret contacted Frog By Adam Handling Group for a response but we did not receive one at the time of publication.

Masterchef finalists to launch pop-up restaurant in Harrogate

Two Masterchef quarter finalists are teaming up to launch a Christmas pop-up restaurant in a tipi at a Harrogate hotel.

Jo Mills, from Leeds, who appeared on the BBC cooking show in 2021, met Chris Hale from the 2016 series on a Facebook group for former MasterChef contestants.

The two chefs will take over Cedar Court Hotel’s Tipi on the Stray for two weeks from Thursday, December 9.

Chris, from Wakefield, who runs his own catering company, and helps Masterchef contestants to gain experience in cooking for events, said:

“We just wanted to do something different really in Harrogate.

“I do a lot of pop-up restaurants, so we turn venues, like cathedrals, into restaurants. So the tipi is aligned with what we do. For me it’s not just about the food, it’s about the whole experience. It will feel cosy and relaxed and I’m all about the chill vibes.”

Festive tapas, including turkey and sage bon bons with cranberry dip and mini nut roasts with candied carrots, will be served from 2pm to 10pm from Thursday to Saturday in collaboration with Magic Rock and Harrogate Tipple. On Sunday it’s a two-course bottomless brunch and on Monday to Wednesday, afternoon tea.

Then on December 20, 21 and 22 Afternoon Tea with Elsa, the character from Disney’s Frozen, will take place for families.

Chris said:

“I think we have got a really nice balanced menu. I like tapas because you can get as much or as little as you want.

“The desserts are particularly theatrical. For me it’s the end of the meal, and it’s the bit people take away with them.

“There is an edible Christmas wreath, which is our festive take on an Eton mess, with meringue, ginger, cinnamon, pomegranate and molasses.

“We are also doing a panettone tiramisu garden, which will be presented as a snowy garden scene and will feature meringue mushrooms and edible snow and flowers. Those are the two that are probably the most Instagrammable.”

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The December residency will offer additional dining options at the busy hotel and is aimed at Harrogate residents, as well as guests.

The tipi, which can hold up to 38 people, opened on July 4 last year as a result of covid dining restrictions, and has now become a permanent fixture due to its popularity.

The Tipi on the Stray at Harrogate’s Cedar Court Hotel.

Jo, whose passion for tapas has inspired the menu, said:

“Tapas has been my kind of thing or a long time. When friends come over it’s just nice to have one of those sociable ways to eat, so it’s something I have always cooked. We thought it would be fun as it’s a nice casual atmosphere in the tipi. It lends itself really well to that style of dining.”