Large floral displays will once again be installed around Harrogate this summer.

Harrogate Business Improvement District announced today it is bringing back its floral summer of celebration.

A trail of displays will be placed in locations around the town, allowing visitors to celebrate the town’s floral heritage.

This year’s theme is friendship, which has also been adopted by the Royal Horticultural Society for its 60th anniversary celebrations in 2024.

Last year’s BID displays told the story of Harrogate’s twinned towns and multi-national co-operation.

Last year’s floral celebration focused on Harrogate’s twinned towns.

Harrogate BID’s floral celebration won gold in the BIDs, town centres and city centres category at the Britain in Bloom awards.

Harrogate BID manager Matthew Chapman said:

 “We are incredibly passionate about promoting Harrogate as a floral destination in our own unique way – and we were thrilled to be crowned with the gold award at Britain in Bloom last year.

“We cannot thank the partners we work with, including Harrogate in Bloom, enough and look forward to welcoming hundreds of people and the In Bloom judges to our trail later this year.”

The floral event is part of the BID’s work  to maintain Harrogate’s floral offering including planters and barrier baskets.

Further details of the event are yet to be announced.

Here are some of last year’s displays.

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Barely a month passes without a new planning application to create flats in Harrogate town centre.

This week we reported on plans to turn the offices on the first, second and third floors of 5 Cambridge Road into three flats.

Planning permission has been previously granted to create flats in buildings that used to host the Kings Club strip club and the main post office, among others. And, in a few weeks, the former River Island unit on Cambridge Street, will open as Trinity House, a 14-flat development incorporating retail units. It’s hard to think of a more central location.

Town centres are changing from places to shop to places to live — and Harrogate appears to be at the forefront of the trend. Is this good or bad, and what challenges does it present?

The former Kings Club

The Stray Ferret sat down this week with Tariq Shah, chief executive of Vigo Group, the property developer behind Trinity House, and Matthew Chapman, chief executive of Harrogate Business Improvement District, to discuss the trend and whether it posed a threat to retail.

Mr Shah, whose company is based in Doncaster, said Harrogate was particularly attractive to developers because it was seen as a desirable place to live and has good transport connections, which lessened the need for cars in town centres.

He said Harrogate had reasonable short-term accommodation for tourists and conference centre delegates but a shortage of town centre flats for living, adding:

“Harrogate is a town centre in transition. We are seeing more people from outside Harrogate wanting to come here.

“Trinity House has attracted more interest than any other scheme we have done. We would like to do more here.”

Cambridge Street

Trinity House flats will be marketed from £300,000 and although a nice town centre pad might suit some people, what impact will it have on retailers and on people who live here who regard the town centre predominantly as somewhere to shop?

The BID is funded by town centre businesses but Mr Chapman is not opposed to the change.

He said:

“A collaborative approach with landlords and developers is key. If people are willing to put something back into the community then we welcome it. Where I struggle is if buildings are owned by offshore investors, like Debenhams.

“Every town has probably had too much retail space for a long time. It’s an emerging trend but there needs to be a long-term vision for the town centre.”

Besides the 14 upper floor flats, Trinity House includes the existing Body Care shop and has additional room for a storage facility or small dance or yoga studio, as well as a kiosk space for a start-up business wanting a town centre presence.

Mr Shah said his company had agreed to improve lighting at the rear of the building, put up security cameras and create an internal bin storage area to improve safety and appearance and reduce the risk of vermin and fire. He said these were examples of the firm’s commitment to town centre improvement as well as profit.

He added having more people milling around at night added to the vibrancy and created “natural surveillance” at night in empty town centre streets where some people feel unsafe.

Mr Chapman said many of the units being converted to flats were first and second floor offices that had been unused for years, adding:

“If you have spaces that people live in and take pride in, it has to be better than having them crumble away.”

Despite his overall positivity, Mr Chapman said there was probably a ceiling on the trend and there were dangers. For example, he said converting ground floor retail units on the fully occupied James Street to flats “would be seen as a threat”.

Mr Chapman said the system of determining business rates needed reviewing to adapt to the trend, which he said would see an increasing shift towards “experiential activities” in town centres. He added:

“Whether it’s a cool independent retailer or axe throwing, people will want to experience something in town centres.

“Harrogate needs to be forward thinking and unique.”

Health services are being made available in Barnsley town centre.

So what will Harrogate town centre look like in 10 or 20 years?

Mr Shah said besides a more diverse mixture of retail and living, there would be more short-term leases, more leisure opportunities due to the higher population, more food halls and even community healthcare facilities. He cited Barnsley Council’s decision to work with partners to create a health and wellbeing hub in the Alhambra Shopping Centre as an example of how health managers will increasingly take services into towns.

He said:

“When it comes to long-term planning and thinking about these issues on a local level it’s important that a variety of partners are involved in these discussions and that is also a real strength of Harrogate, as a number of organisations are already open to having these conversations about how we can reimagine town centre usage.

“It’s not about drastically changing what is here but everyone working together with what we already have to bring clear economic and social benefits and secure our town centre for the next 30 years and beyond.”

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The opening of this year’s Harrogate Christmas Fayre was the town’s busiest day for six months, Harrogate Business Improvement District said today.

New footfall data shows that on Friday, December 1 — the launch of the fayre — 126,522 people passed through the town centre.

The data, which is based on locations settings on mobile phones, also suggested the town centre has had a busier 2023 than 2022.

It showed 23,246,734 passed through Harrogate up to December 9 this year, compared to a total of 21,631,852 throughout 2022.

Harrogate BID is working with place monitoring platform HUQ to analyse data on the town’s footfall and dwell time over specified periods.

The BID will use the data, which covers 98% of the population, to develop strategies to encourage more people to visit the town centre. Town centre businesses voted in favour of continuing to pay a levy on their business rates this summer to fund the BID for another five years,

Santa was among the visitors to the fayre.

The data is believed to be more accurate than that used previously to measure footfall at Harrogate events because a person is only counted once if they re-enter the specified area.

Matthew Chapman, manager of the BID, said:

“We are very excited to get our teeth stuck into HUQ, which is used in many towns and cities around the UK.

“The system allows us as the BID, along with partners, to look at high street trends and results to evidence even more return on investment from the projects we deliver.

“Understanding where people come to Harrogate from, as well as how long they spend here,will allow us to promote our town more strategically at targeted periods throughout the year.”

Ed Horner, Harrogate BID’s new PR and communications officer, will analyse the HUQ figures to inform future projects, campaigns and events.

Density data statistics allow the BID to track the movement of people in the BID area and create a map showing the most frequently visited sites.

Green indicates less busy areas, while red highlights hotspots.

Cambridge Street, where the traders and stalls were located, was among the fayre hotspots.

The data also allows the BID to track where visitors are coming from and how long they stay in the town centre.

Unexpectedly, according to the BID, visitors have spent the most time in the town centre on Sundays in 2023 so far, with an average of 2 hours and 50 minutes.

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Entries have opened for Harrogate’s annual Christmas shop window competition.

Harrogate Business Improvement District, which aims to boost town centre footfall, is organising the contest in partnership with the Rotary Club of Harrogate.

Last year Weetons food hall on West Park was named the overall winner.

Harrogate BID, which is funded by a levy paid by town centre business, said in a statement it “hopes to exceed the record number of entries from last year and make Harrogate the place to be this Christmas”.

Participating businesses have until November 28 to dress their windows. The judges will be looking for illumination, innovation and the spirit of Christmas.

The awards evening will be held on December 7.

Matthew Chapman, Harrogate BID manager said:

“Alongside the Christmas lights, which the BID fully fund, the Christmas fayre and other attractions in the town, we feel that the competition really adds to the Christmas offer and creates a great first impression to both visitors and residents coming into town over the festive period.”

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Last year’s winners

Helen James Flowers won the Christmas window shop for medium retailers last year.

Weetons took the overall title and West Park Hotel, Bettys and Mama Doreen’s Emporium were highly commended in the large shops category.

Helen James Flowers on Station Parade won the medium shops category and The Yorkshire Soap Company was highly recommended.

In the small shops category, Harrogate International Festivals finished first. Sophie Likes, Foxy Vintage and Interiors, Susie Watson Designs and Bijouled were highly recommended.

Harrogate’s Christmas lights will be switched on in three weeks’ time — but once again there won’t be an official event marking the occasion.

The event, which traditionally drew a crowd to the town centre to mark the start of the festive season, was halted due to covid.

It has not returned since and Harrogate Business Improvement District confirmed in a social media post the situation has not changed. It said:

“Harrogate BID are excited to announce that the Christmas lights will be switched on from Thursday 16th November in the town centre to kick start the festivities.

“As previous years, there will be a ‘soft’ switch on and no official event.”

The Stray Ferret asked Matthew Chapman, chief executive of the BID, why the big switch-on wasn’t happening this year.

Mr Chapman said:

“Whilst we totally understand and respect how popular the Harrogate Christmas lights switch-on used to be, taking feedback from our members on the return on investment it offered, it was decided to utilise our festive budget in more impactful ways as well as funding events throughout the year such as the Harrogate Celebration of Fashion, Harrogate Music Weekender and recent Britain in Bloom gold award-winning Floral Summer of Celebration.

“As with all projects at Harrogate BID, we are constantly reviewing and will do so again in 2024.”

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Harrogate Business Improvement District has won gold at the RHS Britain in Bloom awards.

The organisation, which aims to increase footfall in the town centre, was successful in the BIDs, town centres and city centres category.

It was recognised for its Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration campaign, a fortnight-long initiative that celebrated the town’s international connections through a series of town centre floral designs.

The summer of celebration was in addition to Harrogate BID’s regular floral offering of almost 200 barrier baskets, shop doorway planters and hanging baskets.

One of the gold-winning displays.

Matthew Chapman, the manager of Harrogate, said:

“Three years ago this award was a huge aspiration of Harrogate BID and after winning gold in last year’s Yorkshire in Bloom awards and then being entered as an RHS Britain in Bloom finalist, we are absolutely thrilled to have been awarded a gold award.”

“This summer’s Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration was the second year of the campaign and it was a huge success, increasing footfall, spend and first impressions with visitors and residents alike.”

Pictured receiving the award from left to right: Pam Grant (Harrogate in Bloom), Bethany Allen (Harrogate BID), Matthew Chapman (Harrogate BID), Kitti Johnson (Harrogate BID) and Nick Smith (Harrogate Flower Shows)

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The line-up has been revealed for the first Harrogate Music Weekender, which begins in seven days.

Thirty events will take place from Friday, October 13 to Sunday, October 15 and feature everything from rock and acoustic to Ibiza anthems and throwback hits.

Fifteen venues including Manahatta, Husk Beer Emporium, Artizan Café, Piccolino, The Den and Foundry Project will take part in the music extravaganza.

Harrogate Business Improvement District, which is funded by local businesses to increase the number of town centre visitors, has organised the event.

It hopes the event, along with next week’s Visit Harrogate Restaurant Week and the ongoing Harrogate Comedy Festival will provide a town centre boost in the pre-Christmas lull.

DJ Mark Green will kick off the weekend at the Yorkshire Hotel at 6pm on the Friday night with an Ibiza-themed closing party.

As well as the events across the weekend, Harrogate BID will have a walking DJ booth and street performers in the town.

Matthew Chapman, Harrogate BID manager said:

“We are looking forward to making this a successful annual offer in the Harrogate events calendar and hopefully bring people from far and wide into the town to experience the vibrant live music offer that we have.”

Here is the line-up.

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Friday, October 13

Opening event – 6 – 8PM – The Yorkshire Hotel Sky Bar – DJ Mark Green

5:30pm – 7:30pm – Foundry Project – Robbie Miller

7pm – 9pm – Doubletree by Hilton Majestic Hotel & Spa – DJ in Fredericks Lounge

7pm – 11pm – West Park Hotel – DJ & Sax

7:30pm – 9:30pm – Artizan Café – Musical Empowerment, a local inclusive band

8pm – 10pm – Piccolino – DJ

8pm – 10pm – Manahatta – North Road live band

8pm – 10pm – Husk – Biz & Jason band

8pm – 10pm – The Yorkshire Hotel – DJ Dean Snowdon

8pm – midnight – Doubletree by Hilton Majestic Hotel & Spa – Abba Tribute Night (ticketed)

8pm – late – Foundry Project – DJ Patrick Wood

10pm – midnight – The Den – The Robbie Miller Band

Saturday, October 14

2pm – 4pm – HMV, Victoria Shopping Centre – Ade Payne

2pm – 6pm – Harrogate Theatre – Ember and Matt Edgington

3pm – 5pm – The Den – Biz Denton

3pm – late – West Park Hotel

Opening event – 6pm – 8pm – The Crown Hotel – Singo Bingo

7:45pm – 9:15pm – The Den – The Henri Gaston Experience Nigel Clark

8pm – late – Revolucion De Cuba – Mariachi Band and DJ

7pm – late – Manahatta – DJ Max Czernik

8pm – late – Foundry Project – DJ

8pm – late – Piccolino – DJ Josh Farcas

9:45pm – 10:45pm – The Den – Jonny Skinner

11pm – 12:30am – The Den – Nigel Clark (90’s front man from Dodgy)

Sunday, October 15

12pm – 4pm – Husk – Husk’s Sunday Wax – Bring Your Own Vinyl and we’ll play at least 1 side!

1pm – 5pm – Cedar Court Hotel Tipi on The Stray – Nathan – So ‘n’ So Music

4pm – 7pm – Banyan – North Road lead singer and drummer double act

4pm – 11pm – Husk – Harrogate’s Indie’s Block Party DJ Takeover featuring Pizza Social, Husk, Lillypad & Mabgate Bleach on the decks

7pm – 8:45pm – The Den – Jake Pattinson

9pm – 11pm – The Den – Hobo Chic

People driving to Harrogate will be able to park for free in the Jubilee Multi-Storey Car Park from 4pm on each day next week.

Harrogate Business Improvement District is funding the initiative to give traders an autumn boost before the busy Christmas period.

It is timed to coincide with three events next week. They are Harrogate BIDs Harrogate Music Weekender, the Visit Harrogate Restaurant Week and Harrogate Theatre’s Comedy Festival.

Free parking will be available from Monday, October 9 to Sunday, October 15 from 4pm until the car park closes, which is at 11pm from Monday to Wednesday and on Sunday and at midnight on Thursday to Saturday.

The initiative follows on from the free parking after 3pm scheme Harrogate BID ran in the lead up to Christmas last year.

Matthew Chapman, Harrogate BID manager, said:

“This is just one of the examples of how Harrogate BID is supporting town centre businesses and partner events.

“By providing free parking in Harrogate during this exciting week of events, we are giving residents and visitors an added incentive to come into town to shop, eat, drink and enjoy three great Harrogate initiatives.”

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Natalie Rawel, marketing manager at Harrogate Theatre, said:

“Free parking for this week of the comedy festival will be brilliant for our audiences as it means they can drive into the centre of town without having to think about where to park and how much it might cost.”

The photo shows (left to right) Matthew Chapman, Harrogate BID manager, Natalie Rawel, Harrogate Theatre marketing manager, Helen Suckling, partnership and commercial manager at Destination Harrogate and Bethany Allen, marketing and business executive at Harrogate BID

Hotels, shops and schools were among those recognised for their floral displays at the Harrogate in Bloom awards last night.

The annual awards ceremony, which was held at West Park Hotel in Harrogate, honours individuals and businesses who use flowers to make the town more attractive.

Pam Grant and Chris Beard organise the judging each year on behalf of Harrogate in Bloom, which is a voluntary group formed in 1989 to support council efforts to maintain the town’s reputation as a floral town.

The winners included Helen James Flowers, which won the shop window competition, the White Hart Hotel, which won the hotels and guesthouses category and Richard Taylor Church of England Primary School, which won the schools contest.

(from left) Matthew Chapman, Pam Grant and Chris Beard at last night’s awards.

The awards were organised by Harrogate Business Improvement District, which runs various floral-themed initiatives, including the Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration. It also provides floral displays as part of its mission to encourage more people to visit the town centre.

Ms Grant, president of Harrogate in Bloom, said the support of the BID meant there was “a real opportunity to bring back the halcyon days when Harrogate was the floral capital of northern England”.

Nick Smith, director of Harrogate Flower Shows, which stages the annual spring and autumn flowers shows in Harrogate and at Newby Hall near Ripon, compered the awards ceremony.

Harrogate in Bloom winners 2023

HAMMOND MANN TROPHY – SCHOOLS COMPETITION

Richard Taylor C of E School

Mc CRINDLE TROPHY – SHOP WINDOW COMPETITION

Helen James Flowers

CROWTHER TROPHY – HOTELS AND GUESTHOUSES

The White Hart

HARROGATE IN BLOOM SHIELD – COMMUNAL GROUNDS CATEGORY

Royal House – Laxford Ltd

PARKS DEPT ROSE SHIELD

The Winter Gardens

BETTY’S TEAPOT – RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY

Swan Court

CHAMBER OF TRADE AND COMMERCE TROPHY – DISCRETIONARY AWARD

Open Country

PRESIDENT’S AWARD – DISCRETIONARY AWARD

Refuse Collection Team

MAYOR’S TROPHY – DISCRETIONARY AWARD

Carolyn Rothwell

EDGAR SCHOLEY SHIELD – BEST ALLOTMENT SITE

Pine Street Allotment Site

HARROGATE COUNCIL TROPHY – BEST ALLOTMENT PLOT

Peter Walker – Pine Street Allotment Site