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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‘More needs to be done’ on food education, says Harrogate nutrition coach
A Harrogate personal trainer and nutrition coach says there isn’t a right or wrong answer when it comes to calories being listed on menus.
Lyndsay Wells said one of the benefits of the new regulations was that people might actually change their order to something they would enjoy more.
However, she said it would be more beneficial for people to understand their own needs and the nutritional content of what they ordered, rather than a simple calorie count.
She said:
“There are occasions where someone might assume a dish is low calorie because it’s a salad or fish dish for example. However, by the time you’ve added in oil, butter, cheese or dressings, you might find that a burger is around the same energy value.
“This is where it might help people move away from demonising certain foods and choosing something that they would enjoy more.
“This is again dependent on whether the focus of an individual is to create a calorie deficit or just be more mindful of consumption.
“The other thing to note is that lower calorie doesn’t equal more healthy.
“There are plenty of low calorie, but highly processed, carbohydrate snack foods with little benefit to our body, where avocado or nuts, for example, would be much more nutritious but also much higher in calories.”
Lyndsay’s comments follow a Stray Ferret report yesterday on a top Harrogate hotelier’s views on new rules that mean the calorie count of dishes must be published on some restaurant menus.
Under new regulations, restaurants, cafes and takeaways with more than 250 staff must print how many calories are in meals on their menus, websites, and on delivery platforms.
The new rule, which was brought in at the start of the month, is part of Government plans to tackle obesity by helping people to make healthier choices.
Mrs Wells said she could see it could be problematic in some instances, such as for people with eating disorders.
She also said there was no evidence that it will improve people’s choices when eating out.
She said:
“For this to truly work, an individual would firstly need to know their daily energy needs and be motivated to stay within these parameters, either for overall health and weight maintenance or with a deficit for fat loss.”
Even if people know their energy needs, Mrs Wells said values on menus could be inaccurate and should only be used as a guide.
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She said calorie counts should only form part of the decision, with individual needs and overall nutrition also to be considered.
She added:
“I might still have something with a higher calorie value because I’m focused on eating for health and strength.
“I totally appreciate that my goals are completely individual and we are all different, this is why I feel there’s no right answer.
“But we have to make some changes to encourage restaurants to improve the way they prepare foods and reduce portion sizes, which are often far bigger than they need to be. This is often more problematic.
“We live in an increasingly obesogenic environment. I do think more needs to be done to update education on nutrition guidance and the ‘whys’ of moderation and the benefits of eating more whole foods, protein and vegetables.”
A branch of the café-bar chain Lounge is expected to open in Ripon this autumn.
Loungers, which owns the Lounge and Cosy Club brands, is currently refurbishing the building on Market Place formerly occupied by NatWest.
It is next to Ripon Town Hall, and the planned opening in September is set to create 25 jobs.
Sophia Stancer, community coordinator for the Loungers group, told the Stray Ferret:
“Recruitment is an ongoing challenge within the hospitality industry.
“At present, we are aiming for September for opening. All our vacancies are, or will, be listed on the Lounge website.
“We’d love to encourage local people who know and love their community to apply – as community really is at the very heart of what we do.”
The Lounge will have a distinguished neighbour in Ripon Town Hall
Loungers was founded by friends Dave Reid, Alex Reilley and Jake Bishop, who wanted to create a neighbourhood café-bar that they would want to go into themselves.
The trio, all of whom had previous experience of working in the restaurant and bar trade, opened their first venture in Bristol in 2002.
They describe the Lounge brand as “a café/bar combining elements of a restaurant, British pub and coffee shop culture”.
Now the group has approximately 150 restaurants and cafés in England and Wales.
The Loungers group was valued at £185million before its listing on the London Stock Exchange Alternative Investment Market, which lists smaller growing businesses.
The hospitality sector was hit hard by the coronavirus lockdown in March 2020 and all of the group’s restaurants were temporarily closed.
Loungers secured a £15million revolving credit facility from its banks, designed to assist the company during the covid-19 disruption.
Two cafes in Harrogate and Ripon have earned a coronavirus lockdown boost with new accolades and a Tripadvisor Award.
Caffe Tempo was started by Tina Whincup and her husband Mike, 21 years ago with a mobile unit on Ripon Market – just a matter of yards away from its current home, The Arcade, where the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice award will be on display.
Tina, told the Stray Ferret:
“It has been a difficult year and I was determined that I wasn’t going to let the business we have built up over more than 20 years disappear because of coronavirus.”
The long lockdown days, when customers were not allowed to take their usual seats inside or out, saw early morning starts and late finishes, as Tina turned Caffe Tempo into an order and collect service.
She made brownies, scones, cakes, pastries and other bakery goods, which could be pre-ordered and then left outside her shop door for collection.
This was supplemented by a local home delivery service for customers in self-isolation.
Thug Sandwich in Harrogate also won the Tripadvisor Award.
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Thug Sandwich Co on Albert Street in Harrogate also celebrating after winning the Tripadvisor Award which means they are also in the top 10% in the world.
After the challenging days caused by covid-19, the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award is a cherry on the cake. It is based on customer comments and the number of top ratings that businesses receive.
Ripon’s largest pub re-opens for early risersThe Unicorn, Ripon’s largest pub, re-opened its doors prompt on the eighth chime of the Cathedral clock this morning.
There was a quiet trickle of customers arriving for their first breakfast or coffee at the pub since it went into lockdown in March.
Owned by hospitality giant Wetherspoon, the pub and hotel in Market Place, has put many safety measures in place in readiness for up to a maximum of 135 customers at a time on its premises, which include a beer garden to the rear.
Duty manager Dawn Tull (pictured) told The Stray Ferret:
“We are keeping a count on numbers and if we are at capacity, customers will need to wait outside at social distance until space becomes free.”
On entry, pub goers will be required to complete an NHS Test and Trace form which is designed to assist health professionals in contacting individuals in the event of a local coronavirus outbreak.
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Perspex screens have been fixed at the bar and other locations; a one way system in and out has been introduced and leaflets handed out to customers asks them to keep themselves, other pub goers and staff safe, by following guidelines, which include customers only entering the premises if they feel well; washing hands on arrival with the sanitiser provided; making contactless payments and using an app to order at table, where possible.
Wetherspoon has pointed out on its leaflets:
“Our adjustments follow extensive consultation with employees at all levels and incorporate advice from government, health and safety advisers and UK Hospitality.
“As part of the process, pub managers have carried out a risk assessment in their own pub, leading to a pub-specific operating plan.”
Doors close on the first day back after lockdown at midnight and Dawn, said:
“We look forward to welcoming our customers back.”