Four hundred children from 13 local primary schools will be taking centre stage at Harrogate’s Royal Hall in just over a week for the bi-annual Kids Aloud concert.

The Last Dragon, which is organised by Harrogate Brigantes Rotary, is a musical extravaganza featuring pupils from the Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon areas.

The young performers have written a lot of the music themselves, with help from storyteller Guy Wilson and composer Roland Fudge.

Hundreds of pupils take part. Pic: Charlotte Gale

The children have also illustrated a book to accompany the show, which is available from local independent bookshops, Imagined Things in Harrogate and The Little Bookshop in Ripon.

Some 200 children will be involved each night on Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2.

Guy said:

“This is the eighth Kids Aloud concert Harrogate Brigantes Rotary has put on and the first that is entirely original.

“It gives our children a memorable chance to celebrate post-covid freedom with a lung-bursting performance at a full Royal Hall. We’re grateful to all the local businesses who’ve sponsored us and to Arts Council England who’ve given us a Youth Music grant.”

Guy paid particular tribute to This will be the last Kids Aloud for Harrogate primary schools music teacher Carmel Wake.

“As usual, Carmel has brought all her musical and organisational skills to the show. She has sourced and adapted music, conducted performances and coordinated the work of the schools.”

Carmel Wake conducting the choirs in rehearsal. Pic: Guy Wilson

The Last Dragon is a tale of good and evil, courage and victory set in the imaginary country of Rubovernia. It tells how two children, helped by the very last dragon in the country are able to fight off the evil that threatens it.

Any money that’s left at the end will help to fund the next Kids Aloud or go towards local good causes Brigantes Rotary supports.

Tickets are £15 for adults and £5 for under 17s and can be purchased from Harrogate Theatre box office or online here.

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Westmorland Sheepskins on Montpellier Parade is due to close its Harrogate store.

The shop which opened in 2018, specialises in sheepskin, leather, and wool products.

The date of the shop’s closure is uncertain, but the company believe it will be “around June” this year.

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In a statement, Westmorland Sheepskins told the Stray Ferret:

“We have invested a lot into our website and our bricks and mortar store.

“But, we haven’t been able to renegotiate a flexible extension with our landlord post-covid”.

The Montpellier Parade unit has recently been listed to let on Rightmove for £2,500pcm and is over 1,200 sq. ft.

The company said:

“We have loved being part of the Harrogate community.

“We are now actively seeking other opportunities, collaborations and journeys to go on with the brand”.

Customers will still be able to shop all the products on Westmorland Sheepskin’s online store.

The company has “no doubt” the brand will “pop up” again in the area soon.

An office for hire will open at Harrogate train station today.

Sheffield-based Workfromhub has designed the facility to create private working space for an “ever growing remote workforce”.

The start-up company has already introduced hubs in Sheffield and Swinton in Rotherham.

The hub will be available for a flat fee of £11.99 per hour.

Neal Byers, founder of Workfromhub, said:

“We are working closely with Northern Rail to help transform underused spaces within stations. We can see the need for people who are on the move to have somewhere private and connected to work from.

“We feel that there are not enough remote working private spaces around to keep up with the demand of a growing remote workforce.”

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People can access the hub by downloading the Workfromhub app and booking a time or filling in a form on the company’s website.

Those who book will receive a code to enter the facility for their allocated time.

The facilities include space for two people along with internet access, a second screen and desk space.

For more information on the hub, visit the Workfromhub website.

It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. The third in our series of networking events in association with The Coach and Horses in Harrogate is a lunch event on March 30 from 12.30pm.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A project manager has been appointed for the refurbishment of the St George Hotel in Harrogate.

Inn Collection Group, which runs the hotel, has hired Silverstone Building Consultancy to act as project manager and contract administrator for the scheme.

The hotel, which is set to be renamed The Harrogate Inn, will see six new bedrooms added on the ground floor and a “complete transformation of the venue’s hospitality spaces”, according to the owners.

Tom Wright, senior chartered building surveyor, who is based in the Leeds office of Silverstone Building Consultancy, said: 

“We are, naturally, very pleased to continue our working relationship with The Inn Collection Group. We have developed a great rapport with the team, which is built on the successful delivery of a diverse and complex range of projects.

“As well as the project management and principal designer role, our remit has progressed to contract administrator. Work on site has started with the appointment of the principal contractor, 7formation.

“The restoration of the hotel will very much be in keeping with the proven style of the Inn Collection Group and is a 16-week construction project that will see extensive internal and external works.

“We are looking forward to working with all parties to deliver a truly high-quality refurbishment which will be a major asset to The Inn Collection Group, to the town of Harrogate and to future guests, who will undoubtedly feel the benefit of the extensive investment made in the hotel.”

Louise Stewart, property director at The Inn Collection Group, said: 

“We’re delighted to be working with Silverstone Building Consultancy on Hotel St George and the renovation project and strengthening our excellent relationship with them. 

“We are working in partnership with them across several refurbishments at the moment and have already completed some high-quality projects. It’s a measure of the strength of our relationship, that we have made them our contract administrator with this project, as well as project managers and principal designers. 

“The works at St George Hotel are going to give the venue an exciting refresh with the creation of new bar spaces, a new main entrance and external patio spaces, as well as undertaking some maintenance to the fabric of the building, including the roof and external elevations.”

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Housing developer donates £25,000 to Henshaws 

Henshaws Specialist College based in Starbeck has received a £25,000 donation from local housebuilder, Barratt Developments Yorkshire East.

The money will fund the creation of a new outdoor classroom to support their Forest School.

The college, which provides education, learning and care for young people aged 18 to 25 years with a wide range of disabilities and complex needs, plans to add an outdoor classroom to the school which will enable students to develop skills using the natural environment.

Gemma Young, from Henshaws, said:

“We’re so grateful to Barratt Developments for their generous £25,000 donation in support of our college. The addition of a new outdoor classroom to our forest school will really help our students to develop new learning opportunities in a change in scenery, whilst also broadening their knowledge and understanding of the natural world.

‘We look forward to working with Barratt Developments in bringing this to life!”

Daniel Smith, managing director at Barratt Developments Yorkshire East added:

“We’re extremely passionate about supporting the communities in which we build, and our donation to Henshaws Specialist College is a wonderful way for us to support incredible organisations within the local area…. We hope that our forest school donation makes a positive impact in students’ education and life at Henshaws and we look forward to working closely with them over the coming months.”

A new plaque recognises the “invaluable contribution” played by Harrogate Convention Centre during the covid pandemic.

The plaque was unveiled yesterday to coincide with the third anniversary of the convention centre being converted from an event and conference space into a 500-bed NHS Nightingale Hospital within three weeks.

The hospital — one of seven built across the country — did not treat a single covid patient but was used to carry out non-coronavirus diagnostic tests and outpatient appointments.

It was stood down in April 2021 before being dismantled. An inquiry later revealed the facility cost £31.6 million.

The convention centre was also chosen as part of the government’s events research programme pilot to help get audiences back safely into the wider events sector as restrictions eased.

Cllr Cooper unveils the plaque

Councillor Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council and chair of Harrogate Convention Centre board, unveiled the plaque. He said:

“I am delighted to be able to unveil the plaque that recognise the invaluable contribution that Harrogate Convention Centre made during the covid pandemic.

“It was no small feat to transform an exhibition and events venue into a fully operational hospital within 21 days. Even more so, when the advice at the time was to stay safe and stay at home.”

Craige Richardson, executive director of estates and facilities at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, said:

“As lead trust for the region, LTHT played an instrumental role in the commissioning process, from the initial site selection to the construction works and supply of medical gases.

“The Nightingale team worked around the clock to build the hospital and plan how it would work clinically. At times it seemed like an impossible task, and it was down to the commitment and hard work of every involved that it was up and running within 21-days.”

The hospital was built in collaboration with BAM, Leeds Teaching Hospitals, the British Army, NG Bailey, Silcock Leedham, Roses Medical and Brebur.

Pic shows: Staff from Harrogate Convention Centre and officials at the plaque unveiling.

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A man has admitted dangerous driving in Harrogate after leading police on a 140mph pursuit.

Jason Ryder, 45, of Wellgarth, Bishop Auckland, appeared before York Magistrates Court yesterday.

Ryder was charged with dangerous driving on York Place in Harrogate, on Wetherby Road, on the A658 John Metcalf Way, on the A1(M) and on the A6055 on Monday (March 20).

He was also charged with driving his Audi A3 while disqualified and driving without insurance.

Ryder, who was eventually halted by a police stinger, pleaded guilty to all the offences.

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He appeared in court just a day after being disqualified from driving for 12 months for drug driving at junction 47 of the A1(M) near Knaresborough.

He was pursued by North Yorkshire Police immediately after leaving Harrogate Magistrates Court on March 20.

Officers described him as “weaving dangerously in and out of traffic” while reaching speeds of 140mph.

Paul Cording, a roads policing sergeant for the force, said he had shown “a complete disregard for road safety and the judicial system”.

Ryder will appear before York Crown Court to be sentenced on April 11.

Harrogate Town has appointed Jason Barker as women’s director of football.

Mr Barker will be the first full-time member of staff dedicated to the women’s team.

He will be tasked with overseeing the development of women’s and girls’ football at Harrogate Town from the player development centre to the first team.

Mr Barker, who has 10 years coaching experience and was formerly at Liverpool FC’s academy, said:

“I am looking forward to starting work with Harrogate Town and continuing the hard work the club has already done to build the foundations of the women’s/girls section.

“The next steps for us at Harrogate are to expand the women’s/girls’ section of this already very successful club and promote more playing opportunities for girls and women in the Harrogate district.”

Club operations director Dave Riley added:

“I am delighted that Jason has been appointed as our girls’ and women’s director of football. This is a real positive step and another major milestone within the football club for the women and girls’ game.

“Everyone at Harrogate Town AFC is looking forward to seeing their progression being taken to the next level.”

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Events or street parties being held over the bank holiday weekend can be advertised on our What’s On page for free, using the code King. 

Charles III’s coronation will take place on Saturday 6 May at Westminster Abbey, in London. He will be crowned alongside the Queen Consort.

In February 2023, North Yorkshire County Council confirmed fees for street parties held in the Harrogate district to celebrate the coronation will be waived.

The standard street closure fee of £300 is being waived from Saturday 6 May to Monday 8 May for residential streets.

Various events will be held around the Harrogate district to celebrate the royally momentous occasion.

Submissions to the Stray Ferret What’s On can be made until Friday 5 May using the discount code.

The code can only be used on Standard Listings and only for events in aid of the coronation.

Submissions will be approved before posting.

A plan for 200 homes at Harrogate’s former police training centre “fails to address” increased pressure on infrastructure in the area, say residents.

The plans from Homes England and Countryside Properties include the conversion of several former training centre buildings into 16 homes and building 184 new properties.

Homes England, which is the government’s housing agency, already had permission to build 161 homes on the site but wanted to increase this by 23% to 200 homes by building on three planned football pitches and one cricket field.

Harrogate Borough Council granted outline permission for the scheme to go ahead in December 2021.

But Harlow and Pannal Ash Residents’ Association has criticised the plan.

In a letter to the council, the group raised concern over the “over-intensification” of affordable housing, the impact on carbon emissions and disruption caused by construction traffic.

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Hapara added the proposal did not address how the increased pressure on infrastructure will be addressed.

It said:

“Disappointingly, this application, like many others, fails to specifically address the increased pressure that will be placed on infrastructure. Where do children go to be educated when schools in the vicinity are already at capacity? 

“Where will people receive primary medical care when there are no doctors’ surgeries in the area?

“Will people really catch a bus into town rather than take their cars when the nearest stop is 1km away?”

Homes England appointed Countryside Properties in a £63 million contract to build the homes and a reserved matters application has now been submitted for the scheme. 

This includes details such as landscaping, how the homes will look, and the site layout.

The developers said in a planning statement that the scheme will be of “high quality”.

It said:

“Careful consideration has been given to the detailed design of the proposal to ensure that it creates a high-quality and distinctive development that establishes a strong sense of place and provides an attractive and comfortable place to live.”

A Harrogate coffee shop owner is set to open a new business in the centre of town.

Simon Somerville-Frost, who opened Brew Bar on St Winifred’s Avenue in May 2018, has just picked up the keys for 3 Royal Parade.

He plans to turn it into a coffee, brunch and evening venue, under the name &… Harrogate.

Brew Bar has been teasing the new development on its social media accounts over the last week before finally revealing more details last night. In a post on its Instagram account, it said:

“We’ve got keys! Introducing @ampersand_harrogate, our new coffee, brunch and evening venue situated at 3 Royal Parade, Harrogate.

“We’re looking forward to sharing our progress prior to our launch.”

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The business is recruiting kitchen and front-of-house staff, as well as managers and supervisors, ready for the new venue’s launch. The date has yet to be confirmed.

The premises was previously home to Gron, a small chain of Leeds-based cafes serving vegetarian, vegan and pescatarian dishes. It closed its doors in Harrogate late last year, having first arrived in the town in December 2020.

Brew Bar was opened by Simon opposite his own home, when he realised he didn’t know any of his neighbours and wanted to build more of a sense of community.

Last year, it set up a ‘community table’ where people could sit if they wanted someone to chat to. It also enabled customers to gift a coffee to others who couldn’t afford to buy one.