Andrew Jones calls for long-term support for ‘severely impacted’ Harrogate events sector

Conservative MP for Harrogate & Knaresborough, Andrew Jones, has called for long-term support for the events sector, which he said has been “severely impacted” by covid in Harrogate.

Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr Jones said it was “fantastic to see” the Great Yorkshire Show taking place this week but warned that the events industry will take some time to get back on its feet.

He mentioned Harrogate International Festivals, which is due to host the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival next week. The charity’s chief executive Sharon Canavar told the Stray Ferret last month she has had to make some “nerve-wracking” decisions due to uncertainty over when restrictions will be eased.

Mr Jones said:

“There are other important events and event organisations, such as Harrogate International Festivals, that have been severely impacted.

“I am aware that we have talked about this sector before, but events and circumstances are evolving, so could we have please a further debate on long-term support for the events industry? It adds so much to the quality of life in the United Kingdom and it may need extra help in the future.”

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Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg responded by saying that the Harrogate Convention Centre is to host two test pilot events for conferences next week, which will help inform how the sector moves forward.

He added:

“The government know how badly the sector has been hit by the pandemic and will continue to encourage and engage with people to monitor the situation and try to support a recovery plan.

“I accept that this will be a longer-term effort, but I think that beginning to get back to normal from Monday will begin to be helpful.”

Back in February, Mr Jones also called for a debate on the sector which he said was “central to the economy” of both Harrogate and Knaresborough.

No final decision on HCC investment until 2022, says council

A final decision on a potential major investment in Harrogate Convention Centre (HCC) is likely to be made next year, council bosses have said.

Harrogate Borough Council outlined plans for a £46.8million project to renovate the centre last July.

Councillors backed a feasibility study ahead of the phased redevelopment of the 40-year-old centre, which will return before the council to approve the investment.

But a council spokesman has said that this final decision is to take place next year when detailed designs and costs will be presented to councillors.

It comes as a major shake-up of local government in North Yorkshire looms, which will see the borough council and the county council scrapped and replaced with either one or two unitary authorities.

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It would mean that control of the convention centre would be handed over to a new council, which the government said it aims to have in place by 2023.

Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, told the Stray Ferret last week that he was hopeful of an announcement from ministers on which model they preferred before Parliament breaks for recess on July 22.

The Stray Ferret asked the borough council how the potential reorganisation of councils in the county would affect the investment in the HCC.

A spokesman for the council said:

“The proposed reorganisation of local government in North Yorkshire and the investment in Harrogate Convention Centre are two entirely separate things.

“That’s why we are continuing with projects and initiatives such as the redevelopment of Harrogate Convention Centre, the leisure investment strategy, etc. so that we can provide modern, fit-for-purpose facilities that our residents and visitors can be proud of.

“A final decision is yet to be made on the future investment in the convention centre, and this is likely to be next year when more detailed design work and costs will be presented the council.”

Convention centre ‘will not survive’ without investment

Last year, the council said in a report that without the upgrade the convention centre “would not survive”.

The council is proposing to refurbish the conference centre, auditorium and two of the main halls. It also plans to divide the space known as Studio 2 to create “breakout facilities” for up to 1,850 delegates.

Work to upgrade the venue would be carried out over two phases.

Last July, a confidential cabinet paper seen by the Stray Ferret showed that the HCC was forecast to lose £710,000 in 2019/20.

The report said the convention centre’s financial performance had “declined significantly” since 2008/9 and renovation was needed to increase income.

Despite warnings over the state of the venue and the need for investment, businesses and councillors outside of Harrogate were left “dismayed” by the project.

Council to host first full in-person meeting at Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Borough Council will hold its first full in-person meeting since the start of lockdown at the town’s convention centre.

All councillors were due to come together at the authority’s Civic Centre headquarters on Wednesday, July 7, but the venue has been changed after the government delayed making the decision to end of all coronavirus restrictions until later this month.

A council spokesperson said the change was necessary because there is not enough room for all 39 councillors to socially distance within the council chamber.

The spokesperson said:

“Due to social distancing guidelines, the meeting of the council on 7 July will now be held at Studio 1, Harrogate Convention Centre.”

Meetings have been held online during the pandemic, but the government ordered all local authorities to hold them in-person from May.

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Wednesday’s meeting will be livestreamed on the council’s YouTube channel and members of the public can attend in person.

Up for discussion is a decision to remove a limit on the number of wheelchair accessible taxi licences despite concerns from cabbies that it will have a “devastating” impact on trade.

Councillors will also be asked to approve the permanent livestreaming of meetings, while Liberal Democrat councillors have tabled a motion asking for the creation of a Harrogate Town Council to be “strongly recommend” under plans for local government reorganisation.

Pay rises for some of the council’s most senior staff are also on the agenda.

The meeting will start at 5.30pm.

Harrogate exhibitor says no to mask-free event at convention centre

A Harrogate business owner has decided not to exhibit at the first major event at the town’s convention centre for over a year because of health concerns.

Alex Vere, who co-founded a business selling gifts, has exhibited regularly at the Home and Gift Buyer’s Festival in previous years.

But she won’t be at next month’s event, from July 18 to 21, because it is part of the government events research programme, which assesses the impact of holding large events without social distance measures.

This means thousands of people from across the country will be at Harrogate Convention Centre for four days with no cap on capacity, social distancing or mask wearing.

Ms Vere has two children with medical conditions and does not want to risk passing on any infections.

She said she has been cautious for 18 months to protect her children’s health and attending the event would just be “too much” for her at this stage, particularly as infection levels are soaring.

However, she added she accepted the need to stage such events.

She said:

“I understand these events have to happen but it’s a massive concern for me with my kids. The idea of an event with no measures fills me with horror.

“It’s just too big a risk for us, my children’s health will always come first.”

The event organisers have agreed to roll over her £5,500 exhibitor’s fee to next year.

Ms Vere hopes to exhibit again next year. She added:

“As soon as my kids are vaccinated I’ll be there with bells on!”

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A government spokesperson said:

“Each event is designed and signed off by local health authorities and public health experts, and follows rigorous safety protocols, including a requirement to produce a negative lateral flow test or evidence of being double vaccinated as a condition of entry.

“These events will prove crucial in helping people get back to doing what they love safely.”

First events at Harrogate Convention Centre to be government pilot

The first events in over a year at Harrogate Convention Centre will have no social distancing after being selected for a government pilot.

Organisers of The Home and Gift Buyers’ Festival and the Manchester Furniture Show 2021 confirmed the news after discussions with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Restrictions on the number of visitors will be lifted and social distancing requirements scrapped at the events, which are being held from July 18 to July 21.

However, visitors will be required to show proof of two vaccinations at least two weeks prior to attending or a negative NHS lateral flow test at least 48 hours before the event.

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The event comes as part of a limited number of pilots being held in the third phase of the government’s Events Research Programme, which examines the risk of covid transmission at events

Russell Rule, director of The Home and Gift Buyers’ Festival , said:

“With the backing of the government, public health bodies, and our key customers we can see that the appetite and enthusiasm are there for an in-person buying and selling event. 

“There is great excitement from both exhibitors and visitors to reconnect in Harrogate to celebrate our 60th anniversary.”

The convention centre is still waiting to get back to normality following the delay in lifting the final covid restrictions.

The pilot will be used to gather data and research how small and large scale events could be permitted in line with the government’s roadmap out of lockdown.

Nigel Huddleston, tourism minister, said the business and events industry was worth around £40 billion annually to the UK economy and he was delighted the events would be held at full capacity. He added:

“This will continue to trial the use of the NHS app as a means to show you’re covid safe.”

Senior staff could get pay rises totalling around £133,000

Some of the most senior staff at Harrogate Borough Council could be in line for pay rises totalling around £133,000 between them.

The authority has proposed a new senior management pay structure with increases to the upper salary limits for 17 top earners including the chief executive Wallace Sampson, two directors and several heads of service and managers.

Mr Sampson is the highest paid member of staff and could see his upper limit increased to £130,000 under the proposals, which were supported by the council’s human resources committee on Wednesday and will require a final approval from full council next month.

It follows a review by the Local Government Association (LGA) and Yorkshire and Humber Employers Association, which concluded the recruitment and retention of senior staff was challenging and that pay was a factor.

The review looked at council salary levels elsewhere in the region, as well as Harrogate’s cost of living, and proposed several pay rises to be introduced from 1 July.

These will not apply to mainstream staff who had their pay structure reviewed two years ago and are currently in negotiations for a further rise.

Speaking at a meeting on Wednesday, Kay Atherton, head of organisational development and improvement at the council, explained:

“In 2019, as part of the National Joint Council pay agreement, a new pay structure was agreed for mainstream staff where some staff did see an uplift in pay.

“That pay structure was to address the issues of low pay – which it did.

“At this point in time, because we have only reviewed the pay structure for mainstream staff recently, we don’t feel we need to do that again.”

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Under the proposals for senior staff, the vacant position of director of community would be scrapped after Paul Campbell suddenly stepped down last spring and was paid £55,065 in compensation for loss of office after three and half years in the role

His responsibilities – which included emergency planning, housing, parks, and health and safety – have since been shared between the other two directors and this arrangement is likely to continue.

Rachel Bowles is director of corporate affairs, while Trevor Watson is director of economy and culture, and he could see his title renamed as director of economy, environment and housing under the proposed changes.

The pair would also see their upper salary limits increased from £92,194 to £100,000, although this is only an upper limit and how much they and all other senior staff actually earn is based on a grading system.

Meanwhile, Paula Lorimer, director of Harrogate Convention Centre, would remain on the same £104,502 salary, while the managing director of the council’s new leisure company Brimhams Active, Mark Tweedie, could earn up to £76,350.

For the 12 heads of service, the upper limit would be boosted from £63,584 to £75,000.

Meanwhile, some managers, including those in charge of communications and engagement, elections, and democratic services will see no increase in their upper pay limit.

All council workers last received an across-the-board 2.75% pay rise in August, but union officials have issued a warning over the “perception” by lower-paid workers and the public of reviewing senior staff pay now.

In response to the LGA review, Unison Harrogate said in a statement:

“Whilst we do not dispute the legitimacy of the senior management proposal, perception is something that does need to be factored in.

“Staff, who have recently been offered a derisory 1.5% pay rise, will understandably question why a senior management review is happening much quicker than one for the majority of staff, which seems way off in the future.

“It is our expectation that the council gets on with the pay and grading review for mainstream staff now, prioritises it and delivers on it in a much quicker time frame than is being proposed.”

Harrogate Convention Centre events still on despite lockdown delay

The first events back at the Harrogate Convention Centre are still set to go ahead despite the lockdown delay.

Home and Gift Buyers Festival and the Manchester Furniture Festival will both be in the convention centre from July 18 to July 21.

It will mean the event will run for one day before the coronavirus restrictions are potentially eased on July 19.

Clarion Events, which is organising the events, has said it is working closely with local authorities to ensure it is safe.

Visitors will be asked to provide a negative lateral flow coronavirus test on the door or proof of double vaccination and wear a face mask.

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There will be wider aisles, increased ventilation and daily cleaning regimines to try and prevent the spread of coronavirus as well.

Entry to both the Home and Gift Buyers Festival and the Manchester Furniture Festival is free. Visitors will need to register attendance here.

Show director Russell Rule said:

“With the backing of our key customers, venue, and local authorities, we can see that the appetite and enthusiasm is there for an in-person buying and selling event.

“There is great excitement from both exhibitors and visitors to reconnect in Harrogate.”

Manchester Furniture Show to be held in Harrogate this year

The Manchester Furniture Show is set to be held in Harrogate this year as more events are lined up for after lockdown.

The annual show is normally hosted at Manchester Central, but a post on the events website says the show will now be held at the Harrogate Convention Centre.

It is unclear why the event has been moved, but it is due to be held alongside the Home and Gift Buyers Festival.

The show will take place from July 18-21.

It becomes the latest event to be held at the town’s convention centre and the Royal Hall after lockdown.

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Comedians Jimmy Carr, Jon Richardson and Katherine Ryan are lined up for September and October.

The Harrogate Bridal Show is also due to be held in September after being postponed last year.

Meanwhile, the 10-day International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival is returning to Harrogate this year, in a major boost for the town’s economy.

Harrogate hosted the event annually from 2014 until last year, when it was cancelled due to covid.

The festival, which will take place from August 8 to August 18 at the Royal Hall, attracts thousands of visitors from around the world.

Following the announcement, Janet Smith, festival director, said:

“After the horrible year we have all endured, we cannot wait to get back into the theatre.

“Our seating plan in the theatre is socially distanced, and only 40% of the usual Royal Hall seats are available, so we expect tickets to sell out quickly.

“We will have to wait to hear the government announcements about easing restrictions on June 21, when hopefully we will be allowed to open up more seats.”

The man hired to revive one of Harrogate’s most historic hotels

Fifteen years ago Paul Donkin applied for a job as a waiter at the St George Hotel in Harrogate.

Now he is the hotel’s general manager and recruiting his own team of staff ahead of re-opening on May 17.

At 35, Mr Donkin may seem relatively young to hold such a senior position at one of Harrogate’s premier hotels.

But he has worked in hospitality since he was 15, lived in Harrogate for the last decade and a half and is brimming with ideas to revive the 90-bed St George.

The hotel, opposite the Royal Hall, is steeped in history but has had a troubled recent past.

After a multi-million pound refurbishment in late 2018, it closed during the first lockdown 13 months ago and then its owner, Shearings Hotels, went into administration in May.

The St George was one of 39 hotels in the group bought by Coast and Country Hotel Collection under an agreement with management company Bespoke Hotels.

Few people, besides a caretaker, have been inside the building for the past year, so it remains in superb post-refurbishment condition.

Gin bar

Mr Donkin’s plans include changing the menu, re-starting weddings and creating a gin bar.

He also wants to create an afternoon tea room, which seems a brave thing to do in a town not exactly under-served by tea rooms. But he sees an opportunity to entice locals to enjoy a brew beneath the magnificent stained glass domed ceiling in one function room.

He also has plans to improve the Dog and Duck bar, which has lacked the appeal of some other Harrogate hotel bars despite its central location. As part of this, he has been talking to Cold Bath Brewing Company about introducing new beers.

What about reviving the hotel leisure club and swimming pool? The pool has been drained. Mr Donkin says:

“It’s on the radar of the owners. The Majestic and Rudding Park are the only hotel leisure centres so it would be nice to have one.”

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Mr Donkin is currently recruiting about a dozen staff for what he calls a ‘soft launch’ in May. He says:

“Once we pick up speed we will be recruiting more.”

What does he think will be the biggest challenge in the new covid world? He replies immediately:

“Customer confidence. Everyone is still a bit nervous about sitting in a restaurant with up to 100 other people.”

‘Harrogate remains a great destination’

At York Pavilion Hotel, where Mr Donkin was previously general manager, he says  more people booked directly with the hotel rather than through websites when it briefly re-opened after the first lockdown in September so they could ask questions about the covid protocol.

He predicts this will continue and there will be more last minute bookings until people feel confident again about going away. He says:

“It’s not going to be easy. But hospitality in Harrogate has always been strong. It’s always been a great destination to come to. We live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.”

Although he welcomes the impending reopening of Harrogate Convention Centre, he says the town’s hospitality sector needs to be less dependent on it and “explore other avenues, such as leisure and corporate travellers”. He adds:

“I don’t think we will ever be back to where we were, with 200 or 300 people regularly attending conferences. People do that on Zoom now.”

Mr Donkin, who is married with two children and plans to run his first marathon in October as part of an ambition to complete a triathlon, clearly has a task on his hand. But he knows what he is letting himself in for.

He has worked at many of the town’s major hotels, including the Cedar Court, Old Swan and Crown, and knows the other hoteliers.

“In York, we knew each other but there wasn’t the same community feel as there is in Harrogate.

“I’ve been very excited since I got the role and can’t wait to re-open.”

 

Harrogate Fashion Week is back this summer

Harrogate Fashion Week is back in the diary as its organisers have confirmed dates for summer 2021.

The event, which usually takes place twice a year, was last held in January 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic but is set to welcome guests on August 1 and 2.

Event director Wendy Adams said:

“We are delighted to confirm that Harrogate Fashion Week will be going ahead this August after such a disappointing 2020 and we are looking to ensure the event celebrates the endurance of the fashion industry.”

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The fashion week’s fifth edition will be held at the Harrogate Convention Centre, which was transformed into a 500-bed NHS Nightgale Hospital during 2020 but was not used for any covid patients.

The hospital facilities were dismantled earlier this month.

Although the summer show has previously had a July date, the organisers have chosen August to give the centre time to be fully ready for visitors.

Marble, Pomodoro, John Charles and Lily & Me are among the womenswear brands booked to attend, along with footwear labels Caprice, Legero and Lotus.

Sarah Moody, the show’s director, who is based in Harrogate said:

“It’s expected to be a busy selling season and many brands have already reserved their stands in the excitement of getting back to face-to-face selling.

“We have had more special occasion and promwear inquiries than ever before, so definitely see a growth in this area.”