Towards the Skipton Road end of the almost mile-long stretch of King’s Road in Harrogate is a substantial cluster of largely independent shops and businesses. 

For decades this row of around 30 businesses has offered an eclectic mix of shops and services. There are hair and beauty salons alongside a carpet shop, a dog groomer and a wedding dress boutique, a cake maker and funeral director.

There’s always been the odd deli or sandwich shop too, a role currently filled by the well-established and popular Little Breads. Food shopping needs have been met over the years by a succession of independents including the renowned Ramus Seafoods and Regal Fruiterers. Graham Sanderson Interiors has been going strong for nearly 60 years.

In recent years, however, some of the biggest and most long-standing names have gone. Ramus closed its doors in early 2020, while the fruiterers relocated to Otley Road in March last year. Victoria Lane ladies clothes shop closed in January after 17 years. 

But as these mainstays have been lost, a new group of businesses rarely seen on the street before are bringing a whole new vibe to the area. 

Two years ago, within a matter of months, coffee shop Pink Door, café Mamma Amelia, and restaurant and bar Lilypad opened. And with the news last week that a pizzeria is due to launch in the former Regal Fruiterers premises, the street has begun to attract a new kind of lifestyle customer.

“There’s nowehere like us this end of town”

As Lilypad prepares for its second birthday celebrations later this month, co-owner Jan Moxham said they’d been overwhelmed by the support of the local community since they opened. She said: 

“It’s been incredible. We get a lot of people from Bilton and the other side of Skipton Road who tell us there’s nowhere like us at this end of town. We’ve now got a huge cohort of regulars from around age 25 upwards. We are very busy on Thursday evenings, and Fridays and Saturdays are rammed.” 

Jan, her husband Roger and son Tom offer South American and Asian inspired dishes, with a menu that’s completely gluten free and mainly vegan. Chef Tom makes all the dishes from scratch and runs special menus such as the ramen-based Tokyo Tuesdays and bao buns ‘baonanza’.

Tom, Jan and Roger Moxham of Lilypad.

Jan said they were pleased to see a cluster of cafés and restaurants developing: 

“It’s becoming more of a destination to come to, it will be more vibrant. We’re only five minutes’ walk from the conference centre so we need to entice people from the direction of town.”

Next door to Lilypad, Becky Keown at the long-established Regal Flowers is looking forward to the pizzeria opening next door. She said:  

“This end of King’s Road has always been busy but recently there seems to be a new, younger vibe. When Ramus shut it had an impact because they brought a lot of footfall here. Covid didn’t help either, and people are now shopping more online and watching what they spend. But places like Pink Door and Lilypad are bringing people back again.

“We take a lot of orders online now but we do have regular customers and also work with a lot of local wedding venues and funeral parlours. We have a good relationship with many of the businesses on Kings Road and recommend them to our customers.” 

The florists’ new neighbours will be Sally Hall, who grew up in Harrogate, and her Italian fiancé Stefano Dell’oso. The couple are leaving their hospitality jobs in London to open the 50-seat Stefano’s restaurant, which will feature a traditional wood-fired pizza oven, in June. Sally said: 

“We love King’s Road; we think it’s an up-and-coming area. It’s a different kind of vibe, it seems quite young. We also like the outdoor space we’ll have here.” 

“It’s close to town but you know everybody”

Mamma Amelia’s owner, Antonio Cavinato, successfully ran his previous venture, Caffé Lago di Como, in the town centre for five years, before looking for somewhere quiet and more relaxed. He said: 

“Here, it’s still close to town but it feels like you know everybody. You can chat to people, the businesses support each other, and it’s easy and free to park. We get regulars from the local community, as well as visitors and conference guests.” 

Antonio Cavinato and his team at Caffé Mama Amelia.

The former pastry chef and his team serve a selection of cakes as well as a lunchtime menu that includes pasta dishes and meatballs, all of it home made. He welcomed the growing number of food and drink businesses, saying: “Competition is good.” 

A positive impact

Dan Brady of The Harrogate Butcher said the new lifestyle businesses are attracting a new generation of customers to the street, which will have a positive impact on the other businesses as people realise they can drop by for everyday essentials as well as a coffee or a beer.

It’s only a few months since Dan opened his business in the former Ramus Seafood shop premises and he has already seen a significant month-on-month increase in customers. He is already planning to add a selection of fruit, vegetables and bread from other local independents to his offering. He said: 

“It’s been fantastic. We’ve got regulars as well as new customers coming in. There’s a really good community around here, there are nice houses and a lot of young families. We also get visitors who are staying in Air B&Bs.  

“It’s a great location. I looked at a lot of different places in Harrogate but I liked the history here as well as the good mix of shops. Customers can park up outside and all the businesses champion each other.” 

Dan Brady of The Harrogate butcher, left, and Robertas Bernotas of Delikata.

Robertas Bernotas at the Lithuanian food store, bakery and cafe Delikata agrees. Since opening two years ago, the store, which serves coffee and cakes alongside cheeses, meats, vegetables and other produce from Lithuania, Ukraine, Latvia and Poland, has had a core of non-English regulars.

But Robert said they had recently seen an increase in English customers too.

“People like to support independents”

Neil Thomson and Natalie Inger’s jewellery and gift shop Shine has been on King’s Road for 18 years. They sell affordable design-led gifts such as bags and scarves, along with greetings cards. Their core offering is silver jewellery, with Natalie herself making some of the pieces and taking bespoke orders as well. 

Neil Thomson and Natalie Inger at Shine.

Neil said: 

“King’s Road has been its own entity for a long time, but things have changed in recent years. It’s gone from a shopping road to more of a lifestyle road. We get fewer customers who would once have popped in as part of their everyday shopping visit, but we still have our regulars and we’re getting a lot more visitors as there are so many Air B&Bs and guest houses down here.

“People definitely like to support independents, and the fact you can park here too is a bonus.”

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An Italian restaurant has opened in the former Lucia Harrogate site.

Divino opened at 3 Ripon Road last Friday, March 29. The restaurant “is a testament to the rich heritage and impeccable flavours of Italy”, according to its website.

The restaurant’s à la carte menu offers Italian classics with ‘a French twist’, including pasta, pizza and steak starting at around £14.

Lucia wine bar and grill closed on March 10 after trading at the site for 10 years. At the time Lucia operations manager, Darioush Shahidi said the restaurant wasn’t facing difficulties “it was a case of the right buyer with the right offer”.

Giuseppe Gentile, general manager of Divino, said:

“The main changes are that the restaurant has a completely new menu, authentic Italian style with a French twist and the restaurant has been rebranded.

“We decided to open here because we loved the building, loved the interior and loved the Harrogate area.”

Traditional pizza spinning in Divino kitchen

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It’s fair to say we’re a nation of coffee drinkers in the UK – in fact, a 2021 survey conducted by the British Coffee Association found we drink 98 million cups per day.

But not all coffee is created equal, and the difference between a hastily made instant coffee and one presented by a barista can feel worlds apart.

Ezra Henry, from Heal, a wellness spa and café in Montpellier Quarter of Harrogate, has shared some top tips for ensuring your next cup is your best caffeine fix to date.

Start with fresh beans

Instant coffee certainly has its place – but if you’re looking to discover more types and flavours, according to Ezra there’s a clear place to start.

“The most important thing is to buy fresh beans. No matter what type of coffee you’re making, if you get pre-ground the coffee goes off really quickly.

“I’d recommend people get a cheap hand grinder to grind their own, as it’ll help everything taste really fresh. No matter which method you’re using, that’s highly recommended.

“I try to get single origin coffee where I can – Ethiopian is a good place to start. Lots of people think coffee is very bitter but Ethiopian and Kenyan can be very fruity, so that’s a good place to start getting into drinking it.”

Texturising milk is key

(Image: Pexels)

To achieve a silky-smooth texture for speciality drinks like flat whites, cappuccinos and lattes, Ezra recommends learning how to properly texturise the milk. Normally milk in these drinks will always be foamed, and introducing air and heat enhances the texture and taste.

“It can really change the way you drink the coffee and taste it – getting the milk just perfect is the best thing for me.

“Fill up your jug with milk, prep your steam wand and put the tip of the wand just at the top of the jug to create the foam. Then lower the wand into the jug.

“That’s how you can create more foam, by steaming the milk just at the top. It’s also important not to make the milk too hot. If the milk jug is too hot to touch, that’s when you can run into problems such as burning the milk or making it too frothy.”

The right temperature for this is generally considered between 60-65°C – but it’s a balancing act, and this technique can be one of the hardest barista skills to master.

Practice makes perfect – and that includes drinking it

Heal is located in Harrogate’s Montpellier Quarter

Youtube videos detailing step-by-step methods to grinding, texturising, pouring and more are an invaluable part of honing barista skills – and even caffeine aficionados can still learn something new.

But trying different types of coffee is also key to understand what your preferences are. This is something that Ezra feels is an important part of appreciating the drink, especially for those who still aren’t sure about the taste.

“I’d recommend trying a flat white first – it’s got milk in but it’s a shorter, stronger latte so you can taste the coffee a bit more.

“Once you feel like you’ve got used to the strength, drinking espressos is a great way to really experience the flavour profiles. Coffee is an exciting industry to be in – there’s so many different varieties.”

Heal is located at 6 Montpellier Gardens, Harrogate.

(Lead image: Pexels)

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French brasserie Côte is set to close its Harrogate branch in the first week of April.

The restaurant is part of a chain specialising in all-day French bistro cuisine. The company has more than 80 restaurants in the United Kingdom and 2,500 employees.

Côte, which has operated on Albert Street for several years in the former Beales Department Stores unit, will close on April 6. It will result in approximately 20 job losses although staff have been offered placements at other Côte restaurants.

Neighbouring Côte restaurants, including one in York, will remain open.

A Côte spokesperson said:

“The restaurant will close on April 6.  Just the Harrogate store is closing, we have reached the end of the tenancy contract and have not found anywhere else to relocate.

“We are trying to find a new location but it will take time, it is unpredictable and we are asking loyal customers to subscribe to our newsletter so we can keep them posted about a new location. We have no further updates at this time.”

Today’s email newsletter read:

“We regret to inform you that our Harrogate restaurant will be closing on the 6th of April. Whilst the site is a permanent closure, we love the city and we have been working hard to find a new location; however, this process takes time, and we want it to be in the right place for our future growth.

“We haven’t been able to find the right spot yet, but we hope to have more news on that in the coming months. We would love for you to remain on our mailing list so we can let you know when we’ve found the perfect place”

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A Harrogate restaurant is set to reopen after being closed for several months.

Saranda Bar and Grill has been on Station Bridge since 2018 and offers Greek, Albanian and Mediterranean meat, seafood and à la carte dishes.

The restaurant was forced to shut in October 2023 due to rising costs and issues with staffing. 

Now, the bar and grill is set to reopen tomorrow (March 21) much to the excitement of its owner.

 Leonardo Mersinllari, who owns Saranda Bar and Grill as well as Espresso House on Beulah Street, said:

“I am really excited to reopen tomorrow and welcome back our lovely customers after a long time away. We’ve not even opened yet but we already have a lot of reservations for the next couple of weeks, so it is great to be back.”

The restaurant won Restaurant Guru awards in 2021 and 2022 for ‘Best Atmosphere in Harrogate.’

Saranda’s website said:

“Saranada Bar and Grill is the perfect place for those seeking a casual, warm, relaxed atmosphere.

“We look forward to welcoming friends, new and old when we reopen on Thursday, March 21.”

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This story has been sponsored by the Provenance Collection.

A former Masterchef contestant has been appointed as the new head chef at the Coach & Horses in Harrogate.

Formerly executive chef at Harewood Estate and a semi-finalist of the 2016 MasterChef: The Professionals, Josh Whitehead will head up the kitchen at the pub on the corner of West Park and Tower Street.

His new menu will see seasonal produce sourced from the Provenance’s own kitchen garden, or from carefully selected partners across the region.

Pizza butter chicken kieve with polenta fries and dressed leaves. Photo: Claire McClean Photography

Josh, who will work alongside his best friend, Andy Castle, who was head chef at the Ox Club in Leeds, said:

“I am really excited about the Coach & Horses, with a great place in the history of Harrogate and a promising future, myself and Andy look forward to cooking up delicious British classics using the best possible produce with love and respect.

“Our aim to is cook dishes that are comforting and familiar whilst drawing inspiration from British pubs, exceptional ingredients and classic cookery, with a typical Josh and Andy flair.”

Starting his career washing pots in nearby Wetherby, Josh quickly shifted to front of house at Restaurant Bar & Grill, Harrogate, where he helped the head chef to prep shifts in the kitchen. Biding his time, he was promoted to commis, his first paid chef role.

Croissant and marmalade bread and butter pudding. Photo: Claire McClean Photography

However, it was during his training at Thomas Danby college, Leeds, he got a taste for working with fine dining restaurant Anthony’s.

Many subsequent roles, including Harvey Nichols, The Tetley, Northern Bloc Ice Cream and then the opening of House of Koko, all helped to prepare him for his role.

It was during this time that he also met his best friend, sous chef Andy, while working at the Ox Club.

While working as executive chef at The Harewood Food & Drink Project, he learnt about various aspects of livestock, wild game, vegetables and foraging.

To try the new menu, book a table at the Coach and Horses by calling 01423 789777 or visit www.coachandhorsesharrogate.com.

This story is sponsored by the Country Living Harrogate Christmas Fair.

Many of us are already in full swing with our Christmas shopping and the challenge is well and truly on to find those extra special gifts.

The Country Living Harrogate Christmas Fair, which returns for its tenth year next week, is the perfect place to find that special something.

The four-day event, on December 1-4, will feature more than 200 small UK independent producers, crafters, and artisan retailers under one roof at the Convention Centre.

There will be a host of unique gifts that can’t be found on the high street.

From handcrafted products, stylish decors, soft furnishings to gourmet cheese, Christmas puddings, sweet and savoury treats, tasty tipples and fine wines, visitors can shop to their hearts’ content while soaking in the festive vibes with live music throughout the day from the Fair’s brass band and choirs.

Fiona Fawcett, from Yorkshire brand Plewsy.

Shoppers can opt for a special VIP experience, including bottomless prosecco and gift bags worth more than £100.

Over the four-days, around 15,000 people are expected to attend the Harrogate Convention Centre.

Dan Sewell, the event director for Country Living’s Christmas Fair, said:

“It shows there’s a really strong appetite for this special tenth anniversary year, with so many new exhibitors bringing fresh, exciting ideas alongside the traditional, festive favourites who return year-on-year.”

The Christmas Fair will be a foodie’s delight

The Country Living Kitchen Theatre will see some of the country’s finest food and drink producers and culinary experts whip up their ultimate festive recipes and seasonal showstoppers.

Demonstrations offer the chance to ask for tips, interact with the experts, and even try a taster or two.

Stephanie Moon will deliver a workshop on ‘Christmas Canapes to Impress with Rudding Park’. Harrogate’s Three’s A Crowd will also be on hand with ‘A Christmas Tipple’, with some unique festive cocktails.

The artisan foodie brand Charlie & Ivy’s will also be on hand to demonstrate how to create simple party food for the festive season.

Visitors can expect tailored chocolate tasting sessions, as well as hands-on workshops from crafting experts where they can create needle felted baubles to unique Christmas table decorations to take home.

Christmas canapes by Charlie and Ivy’s.

Country Living’s Harrogate Christmas Fair promises gifts you can’t find on the high street, while supporting and championing the country’s independent businesses.

Shoppers can also enjoy a Champagne Bar, cocktails or an Afternoon Tea dining experience.

The Stray Ferret is working with Country Living to giveaway two VIP tickets worth £150 and to offer our readers a special two for one ticket offer.

Country Living Christmas Fair will take place on December 1-4, 2022.

Join the mailing list here to be the first to know about Country Living’s Events.

Harrogate’s Starling Independent Bar Cafe and Kitchen has been showing off it’s impressive new space this week following a major renovation.

The restaurant and bar on Oxford Street serves craft beer, hot drinks and pizza, as well as a brunch menu.

The venue, which launched in 2017, now boasts a ground floor three times the size after expanding into the former TSB bank next door.

The refurbishment, which was completed in just three weeks, offers a more fully accessible space and a more vibrant bar atmosphere.

Dan Howard, general manager, said:

“The main idea was we didn’t want to reinvent the wheel. We didn’t consider the concept broken. We just wanted to expand on what we were offering already.

“We offer a great service and a great selection of products that people already liked. We definitely didn’t want to break that.

“We wanted to make sure people who come to Starling already would enjoy what we have done with it and that it would attract a new crowd as well.

“During a testing time in hospitality, we’ve managed to push through with the refurb and now it’s onwards and upwards.”

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Mr Howard said the increased capacity would also allow the upstairs area to be used more.

He said:

“We are looking at putting football on up there. We already get quite a lot of bookings for functions and we now have the space available to allow those to happen more frequently.”

Starling, which is owned by Simon Midgley, will still offer full table service during the day. This will continue upstairs, however from 3pm the new downstairs area will operate as bar service only.

Mr Howard said:

“We are hoping that will just create a bit more of a social environment. It will just create a bit more of a bar vibe on an evening and really get the place buzzing. We will still be offering the same great service we always have done.

“We have got much more of a presence on the street now and when you look in you can see what we’ve got to offer.”

Starling is also well known for its charity quiz nights, with ‘Dan’s Questionable Quiz’, returning this Sunday.

The quiz raises money for the Harrogate Hospital and Community Charity and will now be held in the downstairs bar area.

The owner of The Harrogate Tea Rooms has said energy bills that have risen “five-fold” are having a major impact on his business.

Tony and Carrie Wilkinson have owned the tea rooms in Westminster Arcade for 10 years.

Mr Wilkinson described the price hike as a “nightmare” and said a cloud of uncertainty was hanging over the cafe’s future as a result.

He said his business was currently running at a loss and he couldn’t rule out closure if more government support was not provided. He added:

“Even with the government incentive, our energy bills have gone up five-fold.

“Last month my wife was trying to energy save and she managed to reduce the bills by 22 per cent just by not having the lights on as much and doing baking in the morning. But the bills are still five times higher than they were.

“We are having to change the menu so we are not offering things that take a long time to cook. It’s a real problem.”

It comes after a turbulent period for the hospitality industry, which is still recovering in the wake of the pandemic.

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Last month Ainsty Farm Shop closed due to soaring energy bills and many other businesses are struggling to cope.

Mr Wilkinson said:

“It’s a nightmare really.

“At least with covid we knew where we were and what we were doing. With this, we don’t know what’s coming tomorrow.

“We can’t pass on the costs to the customer. We are effectively running at a loss and for how long I don’t know. It has made a massive difference to us.”

‘Closure is a possibility’

Mr Wilkinson said footfall had also taken a hit due to people cutting down on spending amid the cost of living crisis.

He said:

“Visitor numbers are down. We are just going to have to see what happens and hopefully the shows at the Harrogate Convention Centre and the Royal Hall will help things to pick up.

“It’s a difficult time for anyone in the industry.

“Closure is a possibility if we don’t get more help and support.

“But we battle on. We offer a good service and home-cooked food. We get support from our regular customers. We just need more visitors. We hope things are going to pick up.”

A popular bar and cafe in central Harrogate is set to expand to offer more space for customers.

Starling on Oxford Street will close its doors on Sunday at 3pm to knock through to the neighbouring unit, tripling the ground floor space it currently has.

Owner Simon Midgley told the Stray Ferret that, despite the current economic uncertainty, he was confident the move was right for the business.

He said:

“We bounced back really strongly after the closures and lockdowns. We know what we do is well thought of and we’ve got a good team delivering it.

“It has been a slow burn to get to this point. We first looked next door at the start of the year and it has taken quite a long time to get to the point we are now.

“The world has changed a bit so it brings more challenges than there were 12 months ago. But I’ve done cash flow models working with our accountants, Wild and Co, and they’re doing a fantastic job to support us.

“We’re just really thrilled it has all come to fruition.”

Work has been taking place in the neighbouring building for around 12 weeks already, with the landlord also converting the upper floors into residential space.

Starling is expected to close for around three weeks while the ground floor is completed.

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One of the key reasons for the expansion, as well as extending the ground floor space, is to give a better view of what Starling offers from the street to entice people inside. The bar will be turned around and there will be more seating for customers.

Once it re-opens, more jobs will be created, including full- and part-time front-of-house roles and positions in the kitchen.

Simon said, like many other hospitality businesses, recruiting chefs had proved tricky this year and he was still seeking the right people to deliver the menu of brunches and pizzas to complement the soft and alcoholic drinks on offer.

He said:

“We’re expecting to be significantly busier.

“We aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel. I’ve got every confidence in the team and the sort of food and drink we offer.

“We aren’t trying to recreate what we are so much as create a better ambience and a more comfortable space in which to do it.”

He added:

“There are always challenges. As long as you assess the risk and go at it in a calculated way, when times are hard you’re better showing a bit of spark and attacking that situation than sitting back and being cautious.

“Put your best foot forward.”