Obituary: Brian Dunsby OBEHarrogate businessman and campaigner Brian Dunsby OBE has diedGALLERY: Festivities begin at Harrogate Christmas Fayre‘An appalling waste of £100,000 of taxpayers’ cash’Council makes key decision on Harrogate Christmas FayreHarrogate Christmas Market on Montpellier Hill won’t return this year

Plans to bring back the original Harrogate Christmas Market on Montpellier Hill this year have been abandoned — but it could return in 2024.

The organisers have had all their suggested dates rejected by the council, on the grounds they clash with events like the Knitting and Stitching Show at Harrogate Convention Centre and the Stray bonfire.

Harrogate Christmas Market was held annually on Montpellier Hill from 2012 to 2019 until it was halted by covid.

Organised by local people, it had 170 traders and 53 coaches booked to attend in 2021 when Harrogate Borough Council refused to grant a licence.

Instead the council organised its own Harrogate Christmas Fayre in conjunction with Market Place Europe, a specialist market company based in Greater Manchester.

candy cane express

The new Christmas market includes an ice rink and the Candy Cane Express road train.

The organisers of the Montpellier Hill event hoped the abolition of Harrogate Borough Council would lead to a change of fortune under the new North Yorkshire Council.

But in an email to supporters today, co-organiser Brian Dunsby confirmed the event will not go ahead this year.

Mr Dunsby said the company submitted an updated event management plan to North Yorkshire Council in April, adding:

“I am sorry to report that in spite of our very best efforts, North Yorkshire Council has finally rejected all our efforts to gain a licence for a resumption of the traditional Harrogate Christmas Market on Montpelier Hill and St Mary’s Walk on any date in November or even the end of October – due mainly to alleged conflicting events.”

He added “some personnel at the former Harrogate Borough Council” appeared to be  “doing all they can” to convince the new council not to allow the event to return.

Harrogate Christmas Market on Montpellier Hill in 2019.

He said Harrogate Christmas Market was told the final two weekends of October would not work because of nearby roadworks; the first weekend of November clashed with the bonfire; the second weekend clashed with Remembrance Sunday; the third clashed with the Knitting and Stitching Show and the fourth clashed with the council’s Harrogate Christmas Fayre.

Mr Dunsby, however, said he had finally secured a meeting with the new council to discuss plans for a market in 2024 after five months of trying to arrange a date.

He said he was confident this year’s event would have attracted 200 stalls — which would be considerably more than the number the new event has attracted so far.

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Christmas market on Harrogate’s Montpellier Hill bids to return this year

The original Harrogate Christmas Market on Montpellier Hill could be set to make a comeback this year.

Brian Dunsby, co-organiser and founder of Harrogate Christmas Market Ltd, confirmed it had submitted an event management plan to North Yorkshire Council to stage the event from November 2 to 5.

The event was held annually from 2012 to 2019 until it was halted by covid.

Harrogate Borough Council then scuppered its prospects of returning by refusing to grant a licence and organising its own town centre Harrogate Christmas Fayre in conjunction with Market Place Europe, a specialist market company based in Greater Manchester.

But Harrogate Borough Council was abolished last weekend, with the new North Yorkshire Council taking its place.

The original Christmas market, which was organised by local people, had 170 traders and 53 coaches booked to attend in 2021 when the rug was pulled from under its feet.

By contrast, last year’s town centre fayre only had about 50 stalls, and some people have said there were too many food outlets and not enough craft stalls.

The fayre was accompanied by a giant Ferris wheel near the war memorial, an ice rink in Crescent Gardens and the Candy Cane Express free road train, which were popular with many visitors.

Some people welcomed the decision to hold the event in town rather than on the muddy Stray. Others said the new event lacks charm compared to Montpellier Hill.

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Destination Harrogate, a tourism organisation within North Yorkshire Council, issued a press release yesterday saying this year’s fayre would be extended from 10 days to 18 and run from December 1 to 17.

Because the dates for the seasonal events do not clash, there is the possibility that both could take place this Christmas.

Mr Dunsby declined to comment beyond confirming Harrogate Christmas Market Ltd had submitted its event management plan for what he hoped would be a similar event on Montpellier Hill to those staged up to 2019.

Too many food stalls?

Yesterday’s news release by Destination Harrogate announcing this year’s market extension did not mention North Yorkshire Council.

The Stray Ferret asked Destination Harrogate who was in charge of the market now Harrogate Borough Council no longer existed, who authorised the fayre extension and what response it had to claims that last year’s event had too many food stalls.

It said in a statement:

“The Harrogate Christmas Fayre has always been an event owned and operated by Market Place Europe and Destination Harrogate will continue to support them at a local level.

“The decision (to extend) was based on feedback from many of the town centre retailers, hoteliers and hospitality businesses, following the impact that the market made on their December trading. After taking on board the feedback from those sectors in particular, and following discussion with Market Place Europe, we’ve been able to agree the addition of the extra week and weekend.

“The market is open to any trader that wishes to apply to have a stall. We would actively encourage any local traders that would like to be part of the Christmas fayre to apply – as we have done since the new event was introduced in 2021. The variety and volume of stalls are dependent upon those traders that come forward and want to take the opportunity to be involved.”

Charities stall set for Harrogate Christmas Fayre return

Harrogate Christmas Fayre returns from December 2 and so does the stall dedicated to local charities.

Harrogate Borough Council and operators Market Place Europe have collaborated to offer local charities the chance to promote themselves and generate funds.

The number of charities which are set to be featured on the stall has increased from 10 to 11 this year.

Artizan International, Carers Resource, Dementia Forward, Girlguiding North Yorkshire West, Harlow Hill Men’s Shed, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust Community Charity, Harrogate Easier Living Project, Harrogate Skills 4 Living Centre, Harrogate Town AFC Community Foundation, Samaritans of Harrogate and District, and Ripon Walled Garden are all set to use the stall to raise money and awareness.

Carol Chapman from Samaritans of Harrogate and District said:

“We are always delighted with the heartfelt support of our local community and especially at times when we are able to connect with them during events such as this.

“Christmas can be a particularly difficult time of year for people, for lots of different reasons which may trigger feelings of isolation, loneliness and depression to name a few.

“Samaritans volunteers want to raise awareness that they are here for emotional support on a 24/7 basis, 365 days a year.”

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The charities involved were identified via the Local Lotto initiative. This is a council-run initiative to raise additional funds for voluntary or community groups across the Harrogate district.

HBC leader Cllr Richard Cooper said:

“Building on the success of last year, Destination Harrogate is due to be even bigger and better. And with thousands of people expected to visit the town, I’m sure these charities will be able to raise their profile and generate some funds for their worthy cause, at a time when it is needed the most.”

Harrogate Christmas Fayre begins on Friday, December 2 and ends on Sunday, December 11. It will take place on Cambridge Street and Market Place in the heart of Harrogate town centre.

There are several attractions debuting at the fayre this year, including a new ice skating rink, an après ski bar and York’s 32m ferris wheel.

Harrogate’s Christmas ice rink opens for bookings

Harrogate’s Christmas ice rink has opened for bookings.

The rink, at Crescent Gardens, will be open every day except Christmas Day from December 1 to January 2.

One-hour sessions can be booked throughout each day, with the final session at 8pm. A website has been set up for bookings.

Tickets cost £14 for adults and £13 for children aged five to 16. Family tickets costing £37.50, £50 and £62.50 are available.

Parent and toddler sessions and relaxed sessions, catering for parents and carers and children with additional support needs, are also on offer.

The ice rink is among the highlights of this year’s Harrogate Christmas Fayre, which will also include a Ferris wheel, carousel and other fairground rides, Candy Cane Express road train, town centre stalls and an artisan market in Valley Gardens.

The fayre is a joint venture between Harrogate Borough Council, Harrogate Business Improvement District and Market Place Europe, which took over the town’s seasonal activities last year after the council refused to grant a licence to Harrogate Christmas Market, a locally-run organisation behind the previous event on Montpellier Hill.

The bookings website says:

“Harrogate ice rink is magical for all ages, great for families, date nights, catch ups with pals, Christmas parties with a twist, skaters, non-skaters, those who want to learn to skate at our skate school or just enjoy one of the most fascinating spectator sports with a drink and bite to eat.”

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Ice rink will be part of ‘bigger and better’ Harrogate Christmas

Harrogate Christmas Fayre will be “bigger and better” than last year’s, organisers said today.

Destination Harrogate, which is part of Harrogate Borough Council, today revealed further details of the fayre, which will run from December 2 to 11.

Last year’s activities marked a major departure from the town’s previous seasonal offering, with the longstanding, locally-run Harrogate Christmas Market on Montpellier Hill replaced by a town centre offering by the council in conjunction with Market Place Europe, a company that specialises in organising markets.

This year’s festivities will include:

The Candy Cane Express will return.

John McGivern, destination events manager for Destination Harrogate, said:

“We’re building on the success of last year and through working in collaboration with our partners, including Harrogate Borough Council and Harrogate BID, we can look forward to delivering something really special this Christmas.”

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Councillor Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“Once again, Christmas will be coming to Harrogate town centre and I for one can’t wait. Last year’s offer was a great success but I know this year’s will be even bigger and better.”

Cllr Cooper added the ice skating rink “not only offers an exciting opportunity for people of all ages to socialise but also encourages physical activity, in a magical environment”.

Harrogate Christmas Fayre

Nick Rhodes, chief executive of Market Place Europe, said:

“Harrogate is a beautiful and unique destination and the perfect place to enjoy our fantastic Christmas market. We’re really excited to be returning this year with an even bigger Harrogate Christmas Fayre.”