Business Breakfast: Harrogate estate agent expands sales department

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is a breakfast event on Thursday, October 26 at Banyan in Harrogate from 8am to 10 am. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Harrogate estate agent has expanded its sales department with two new appointments.

Verity Frearson, which is based on Albert Street, has hired Katie Dolamore and Fiona Moore as its new sales negotiators.

Katie joins the team after spending 16 years as a primary school teacher, while Fiona has worked in both lettings and sales at a local estate agents.

Matthew Stamford, director at Verity Frearson, said:

 “We’re delighted to welcome Katie & Fiona to the team. 

“Although this year hasn’t been without it’s challenges, we’re optimistic that the Harrogate market will continue to be resilient.”

Harrogate law firm to host mock menopause employment tribunal

A Harrogate law firm is to hold a mock employment tribunal to help employers understand legal claims which could be made by employees going through the menopause.

LCF Law, which has an office on Station Parade, will host the free event at Hays Recruitment’s Leeds city centre office on Thursday (October 12).

The demonstration aims to show employers how a tribunal works and to teach them the types of claims that someone going through the menopause may be able to bring and how they might be defended.

James Austin, employment lawyer at LCF Law.

James Austin, partner and employment lawyer at LCF Law.

The session will also cover how to treat an employee if they are going through the menopause, and how to make sure supportive steps are taken, which will help to minimise the number of claims bought against a business.

James Austin, partner at LCF Law, said:

“The mock tribunal will see an employee, who feels she has been discriminated against because she is going through the menopause, bring a claim against her employer.

“We will go through each step of the legal employment tribunal process and attendees will be able to ask questions of the ‘witnesses’ and help decide the outcome of the case.”

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The Chocolate Works closes in Harrogate after just six months

The Chocolate Works has closed its Harrogate site, just six months after opening.

The café on Station Parade served chocolates, sweet treats, coffees and Belgian hot chocolate.

It was the third venture of its kind run by owner Guy Middleton, who also operates sites in Skipton and Clitheroe. But Mr Middleton said the Harrogate shop, which opened in April, “floundered from the beginning”.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“There is no one more gutted that I am.

“I was so excited to open in Harrogate following the success of Skipton, which opened mid-pandemic in 2020, but it just didn’t work out.”

He said the closure was predominantly due to a lack of footfall, adding:

“Perhaps a different location would’ve changed things – but no one knows these things.

“All our neighbouring businesses were so supportive, and we had such a great team.”

The Harrogate unit, which ceased trading on September 27, was previously intended to house the vegan restaurant Vertigo but the company went out of business a year ago before the Station Parade site opened.

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Harrogate music event to be ‘three days of non-stop fun’, says organiser

This story is sponsored by Harrogate Business Improvement District.

Summer may be over, but Harrogate Business Improvement District’s newest event will bring the town that feeling of non-stop fun and dancing back this month.

The inaugural Harrogate Music Weekender will showcase an array of local performers and cater to everyone’s tastes. From Mariachi bands and live DJs to rock legends and acoustic live sets, the event promises to be nothing short of spectacular.

Local hospitality businesses told the BID that trade often slows down between the summer and Christmas period, so the organisation worked its well-known creative magic and is bringing Harrogate the ultimate musical weekend to boost footfall and get people spending at the venues.

The opening Ibiza-themed night will transport you to the white sandy beaches of the Balearic Coast. If you’ve been dreaming of a sundowner at Café Mambo, then you’re in luck! The event, which will be held at The Yorkshire Hotel, will be soundtracked by DJ Mark Green’s chilled house beats. So, grab your friends and your sunglasses because you’ll never experience Ibiza so cheap again…

The following night will welcome Singo Bingo at The Crown Hotel and promises to be a night of non-stop laughter. It’s bingo with a twist and swaps pencils for music. Expect throwback hits, chart-topping anthems, and lots of prizes to be won with a new favourite party game. Get your singing voices ready and have the time of your life at Harrogate BID’s second night to remember.

But the weekend doesn’t end there…

Discover the ABBA Tribute Night at Doubletree by Hilton Majestic Hotel & Spa; live DJs at Piccolino and Foundry Project; local indie performers at Husk, Manahatta and The Den; a performance from an inclusive band at Artizan Café – and so much more!

Bethany Allen, Business and Marketing Executive at Harrogate BID, said:

“A number of our BID members fed back to us that October can sometimes be a bit of a challenging gap between the summer and Christmas.

“With the confidence of a new 5-year term the BID team set about launching a new fun and exciting campaign that will showcase Harrogate in a different light.

“We are very excited to launch the first ever Harrogate Music Weekender and, with around 30 venues showing interest in being involved, it should be a weekend to remember!”

Visitors from near and far can expect to see a spotlight on Harrogate’s spectacular range of hospitality sites, a weekend of rolling music, and lots of special offers along the way too.

Bethany continued:

“People can expect three days of non-stop fun!”

Harrogate Music Weekender will also offer immersive performances and street entertainment – including a walking DJ booth.

Bobs Cormak, Manager at The Den, added:

“I can’t wait for the Harrogate Music Weekender!

“It’s awesome to see our town rallying behind musicians, especially the venues that are taking on the challenge of hosting live music for the first time.

“I’ll, of course, be busy down in The Den – I’m very jealous of everyone who gets to explore the town centre, catching the fantastic acts along the way! It’s going to be an incredible weekend.”

Harrogate Music Weekender will take place on Friday, October 13 to Sunday, October 15.

Tickets can be bought online now for the Ibiza and Singo Bingo events — both events are 18+.

Prices start at £5 and include one free drink. Those wishing to attend both events can get a special offer ticket for just £8. The rest of the events are free to attend.

To view the full schedule for Harrogate Music Weekender click here.

To find out more about Harrogate BID and its dedication to the town centre, visit harrogatebid.co.uk, or call 01423 582030 to speak to the team directly.

Long-term roadworks as Harrogate office block refurbished

Work on Station Bridge in Harrogate looks set to continue indefinitely as a major office block is refurbished.

Construction work is being carried out by HACS to refurbish and redevelop Copthall Bridge House.

Businesses operating in the premises were told to vacate the building in November 2018.

A proposal to re-clad the ground floor and repaint the upper floors was approved by Harrogate Borough Council in November last year.

The application, which was submitted by a company called Rural Offices LLP, said the plans would help to “assist in attracting occupiers which will further enhance the area”.

It added:

“The building has been vacant for some time and the applicant in keen to see in brought back into active use as quickly as possible.”

As a result, one lane on Station Bridge has been closed and the footpath next to Copthall Bridge House has been closed.

According to North Yorkshire Council’s roadworks map, a notice of the works runs until April 2, 2024.

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Balaclava-clad burglars target homes in Harrogate

Police are seeking three men wearing balaclavas who attempted to break into a house in Harrogate.

According to North Yorkshire Police, the would-be burglars were disturbed when they entered a home on Azerley Grove in the Jennyfields area.

The incident happened between midnight and 3am last Saturday (October 7).

The force today appealed for witnesses and information. It said in a statement:

“On the same night, three men were seen on ring doorbell footage approaching a second property nearby.

“One of the men was described as wearing a striped body warmer over a long-sleeved top, he was wearing dark joggers and dark trainers.

“A second man was described as wearing a tracksuit with reflective stripes on the lower legs. All three men were wearing balaclavas.”

The statement urged anyone with information or doorbell footage to email ruby.rutter@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for Ruby Rutter.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote reference number 12230190164.

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Business Breakfast: Harrogate law firm recognised in 2024 Legal 500 Guide

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is a breakfast event on Thursday, October 26 at Banyan in Harrogate from 8am to 10 am. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Harrogate legal firm has been included in the 2024 Legal 500 UK Guide.

Raworths, which is based on Station Parade, has been recognised in the publication in eight legal specialisms.

Among the areas included are the firm’s trusts, wills and estates team being ranked high in the Yorkshire region.

Carmelita Ardren, head of family, and Rachel Tunnicliffe, head of trusts, wills and estates, are both listed in the elite “Leading Lawyers” group.

Simon Morris, managing partner at Raworths, said: 

“We’re delighted to once again be recognised in the Legal 500 Guide. It’s particularly pleasing to see our inclusion across so many specialisms, recognising the quality of the services we provide for our clients, both businesses and individuals.”

Harrogate bloggers win industry awards

Three Harrogate-based bloggers were recognised at the Yorkshire Blogger Awards.

Held at the Queen’s Hotel in Leeds, the event sought to recognise digital talent across the region in 16 categories.

Winners at the Yorkshire Bloggers Awards.

Winners at the Yorkshire Bloggers Awards.

Harrogate bloggers Luke Christian, Ella Davis and Lydia Chandler all picked awards in the disability, interiors and wedding categories.

Kim Smith, spokesperson for the Yorkshire Blogger Awards, said:

“The Yorkshire Blogger Awards recognise the powerful digital talent that the county has to offer.

“We’re proud to award some of the most inspiring and forward-thinking content creators, each based here in Yorkshire.”

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Harrogate Cat Rescue launches urgent funding appeal

Harrogate Cat Rescue has launched an urgent appeal for funding as it can no longer take in rescues until further notice.

In a post on its Facebook page, the centre said it was “bursting at the seams” with cats and kittens in rescue and no longer had space or funds to take more.

It added that it had 84 kittens which it had taken in  44 of which required neutering and vaccinating.

The rescue centre relies on adoption fees and financial donations to cover costs such as vet bills.

However, adoptions from the centre have been “extremely slow”.

It said in its post:

“The majority of our adoption requests are for young kittens, however, due to a lack of enquiries, a lot of the kittens (especially the black and white ones ) are growing up in care and becoming of an age that is not popular, taking up essential foster space needed to help those cats and kittens that desperately need it and using funds allocated for vets bills for their care.

“Your support over the last four years, has meant we have been able to give homes to over 800 cats and kittens.”

The centre, which was set up in 2020 by Celia Dakin, has appealed for donations as little as £1 a month.

It added:

“Small donations all add up and more of those will hopefully ensure we are never in this situation again.”

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Firefighters tackle car fire on A1(M)

Firefighters from Ripon, Masham and Knaresborough used breathing apparatus to tackle a major car fire on the A1(M) today.

Fire engines were called to the southbound carriageway at the junction 49 slip road at 7.24am this morning.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident report said:

“Crews located the Audi that was well alight and extinguished it using one hose reel jet and two breathing apparatus.

“Crews dampened down and made the vehicle safe before leaving the incident in the hands of the highways agency.”

North Yorkshire Police later posted on social media that “the fire is now out and occupants uninjured”.

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Harrogate woman among 16 housemates on Big Brother

A 25-year-old Harrogate woman is among the 16 housemates on the new series of Big Brother.

The programme, which has returned after a five-year hiatus, sees strangers live together in a house for weeks on end. The last one to be voted out wins £100,000.

New hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best introduced the show, which is now on ITV, last night.

Among those entering the house was customer support agent, Yinrun, 25, who is originally from Shanghai, China but now lives in Harrogate.

She described herself as “a pretty adventurous person” whose boyfriend would describe her as “quirky but lovable”.

She told ITV:

“My friends in China think I am like the crazy mother because I always take care of them. I’m very playful.”

Yinrun added that since moving to the UK, she drinks a cup of Yorkshire tea with milk every day.

Asked what she would do with the prize money if she won, she said:

“I want to move to a farm. That’s my final dream, I will live on a farm and have some chickens, grow my organic vegetables and have a puppy to run around. And I’ll have eggs from the chicken, it will be so wholesome. This is my dream.”

She nominated Michael McIntyre as her dream celebrity to live with.

Yinrun and the other 15 housemates. Pic: ITV

The return of Big Brother

ITV describes Big Brother as “the ultimate social experiment”.

It added:

“Big Brother will see a new cast of carefully selected housemates, from all walks of life, become the first people to take up residence in the brand-new Big Brother house.

“Given its own contemporary new look ready for this reimagining of the show, the iconic Big Brother house will play host to all the action – clever tasks, nail-biting nominations and live evictions will be back.”

Big Brother first hit screens in the Netherlands in 1999. Since its debut, over 500 series of the show have aired around the world in over 64 countries and regions.

In the UK, it ran for 11 series on Channel 4 and also led to seven series of Celebrity Big Brother.

The show subsequently aired for eight series on Channel 5, with an additional 15 celebrity series, before ending in 2018.

Big Brother is now broadcast from Sunday to Friday on ITV2 and ITVX at 9pm.

Five-week road closure begins today at A59 Kex Gill

A five-week road closure has come into effect on the A59 at Kex Gill between Harrogate and Skipton today.

North Yorkshire Council has closed the road between Church Hill and Pace Gate, leading to lengthy diversions.

The council has said the closure will enable it to carry out resurfacing, essential stabilising work to the slope of the existing road as well as drainage repairs, gully-clearing, cat’s eyes replacement and maintenance of ground monitoring equipment.

A diversion will take drivers through Pool in Wharfedale and Otley before re-joining the A59. A full diversion route can be found on the North Yorkshire Council roadworks map.

The DalesBus 59 between Harrogate and Skipton will also run on an amended timetable from October 14 until November 11.

Buses will run twice a day in each direction on Saturdays only during the period of the closure and will operate from Harrogate through Otley and Ilkley before joining the A59 near Chelker Reservoir.

Work will take place on a section of the A59 which is next to the council’s £68.8 million Kex Gill re-route project.

Council officers will also be carrying out essential stabilising works to the slope of the existing road as well as drainage repairs, gully-clearing, refreshing lining, replacing cat’s eyes and maintenance of the ground monitoring equipment.

Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for highways and transport at the council, said:

“Kex Gill has a history of landslips, and the route has had to be closed a total of 12 times in the past 22 years. We must stabilise the slope near the existing road to avoid any lengthy closures over the next two years whilst the new road is constructed.”

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