A new restaurant is opening in Harrogate this weekend with a special set list of musicians and DJs to entertain diners.

HG1 Grill and World Bar opens its doors for the first time at 4pm tomorrow. To celebrate the launch, the venue will be offering 50% off food until Sunday, November 27 which has been extended to thank its diners.

There will be limited spaces available as the restaurant looks to improve with feedback from customers during its initial, soft launch.

The 80-seat independent restaurant with a cocktail bar and terrace replaces the building formerly occupied by Samsons and Le Bistrot Pierre on Cheltenham Crescent.

Jas Gill, the owner, told the Stray Ferret:

“People are going to have a great time here. We’ve got a great team here, who are all passionate about food and are fully on board with our vision.”

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Jerome Lacheure, general manager, said:

“Everything is on track, I am really looking forward to it. Very excited, very nervous. A mixture of emotion. We’ve put a lot of work into the place during the last few busy weeks.

“It’s not just about the food or drink. We are here to provide a full evening for our customers and the music offering is going to form a big part of that.”

The menu will change with the seasons. Currently there is a range of dishes on offer from grilled whole fish to beef tataki, burgers and a vegetarian choices like ginger and chilli tofu stir-fry.

The drinks list will also be ever-adapting, focusing on new trends from across the world. There will also be plenty of the classics and local tipples to enjoy too.

Bookings are now open and can be made by clicking or tapping here.

Pic shows: Staff outside the venue, including head chef (centre right) Javier Oitana, general manager (first in from the right) Jerome Lacheure and bar manager (right) Joe Oliver.

Senior Harrogate councillors have rejected plans for a new business park in Pannal as the proposal was “not viable without significant support”.

Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet last night put the brakes on the proposals for a site off the A61 Leeds Road between the railway line and Crimple Beck.

Councillors also paused plans for a redevelopment of Dragon Road car park in Harrogate and agreed to progress with a housing plan for the Harlow Nursery site provided a new nursery is found.

It comes after council-appointed consultants BDP and Colliers undertook a study to come up with options for three brownfield sites under the Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35.

Cllr Tim Myatt, cabinet member for planning at the council, told a meeting last night he was not comfortable with the standard of the design for the Pannal proposal.

He said:

“The options presented, which aren’t viable without significant support, are not up to a standard design with which I can feel comfortable.

“There seems little hope to producing something to the quality that I believe the site needs. I will therefore propose that we do not progress with options for the site.”

He also recommended that the employment site be removed from the local plan “at the review stage or during the creation of a new local plan on a North Yorkshire Council geography”.

The proposed layout of the employment site along the A61 near Pannal.

An officer’s report said the site could be used for high-tech manufacturing, research and development, or business headquarters. Buildings would be up to three storeys and 5,000m sq in size.

The total office space allocated for the site was 10,000m sq alongside 31,500m sq of industrial space.

The officer’s report acknowledged that any development of the site was likely to take place after Harrogate Borough Council is abolished next spring, when the new North Yorkshire Council comes into effect.

Dragon Road redevelopment paused

Meanwhile, senior councillors also decided to pause plans for development on Dragon Road car park in Harrogate.

The site could be used to create affordable flats or extra care housing.

However, Cllr Myatt proposed that the council should ensure that “adequate parking for Harrogate Convention Centre associated vehicles take primacy over site redevelopment”.

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• 62 homes set to be built at council’s Harlow Nursery
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He added that the council should “pause consideration of this site until it is clear that the Harrogate Convention Centre redevelopment will be able to accommodate exhibition traffic on site”.

The cabinet did, however, approve plans to procure technical drawings and surveys into how infrastructure for the Nidderdale Greenway cycle route, which passes through the car park, could be improved.

Cllr Myatt said:

“We do certainly want to see improvements to the cycle path.

“But greater development isn’t possible until the site’s role as a car park for Harrogate Convention Centre traffic has been explored during Harrogate Convention Centre redevelopment.”

Harlow Nursery housing

The council approved plans to press ahead with housing for the site at Harlow Nursery provided a replacement nursery is found.

Cllr Myatt recommended that any sale of the site was “contingent on the relocation of the existing council nursery”.

Consultants hired by the council came up with two options for the site this year. The first option was to build a mix of 57 family homes and flats. The second was to build 62 homes and flats with smaller gardens.

The Harlow Nursery site in Harrogate.

A report before councillors recommended the 62-home option and invites expressions of interest for the land before proceeding to tender for a conditional sale.

Cllr Myatt told councillors:

“On Harlow Nursery, we must make sure that a successful nursery relocation is prioritised and that should be explicitly referenced in our recommendations.”

This story is sponsored by Revo Kitchens.

If you are planning on treating yourself to a new kitchen for the New Year, now is the time to take advantage of Revo Kitchens’ incredible opening offers.

The German kitchen superstore launched its 10,000 sq ft showroom at Harrogate’s Hornbeam Park in September.

To celebrate, the company introduced a series of deals, including free worktop upgrades and tile discounts.

Dream kitchen

However, the promotion is set to end on Christmas Eve. So now is the time to visit the showroom and choose your dream kitchen.

Adam Challis, owner of Revo Kitchens, said:

“We have been really busy since we opened and customers have enjoyed receiving the added bonus of our opening offers.

“But all good things must come to an end and the promotion will finish on Christmas Eve.”

However, Mr Challis pointed out that after this date customers still have a great range of finance options.

He said:

“When it comes to having a luxury German kitchen, there is no need to break the bank.

“We can offer varied finance options to suit your needs and finances to make your kitchen affordable to you.

“Our most popular options are the Buy Now Pay Later and 0% interest. A third option is a low deposit (10%) and low interest bearing (5.9% apr) loan available up to four years.”

Revo Kitchens is a new showroom concept created by the family behind Inter Ceramica, which the Challis family launched in Harrogate more than 30 years ago.

It offers Germany’s number one kitchen brand ‘Nolte Kuchen’, alongside an expert design service and superior customer support.

The business is aimed at being a blend of the family company-based caring approach, featuring in-depth knowledge and product quality, alongside the benefits offered by bigger corporate brands. This includes finance options and a delivery team with a large fleet of vehicles.

The kitchens range from £3,000 upwards and finance is available from £29 per month.

Last chance

The opening offers, which are available until December 24, are:

A collection of grade II* listed Georgian garden buildings in the grounds of Ripley Castle has been removed from the Heritage at Risk Register after more than 20 years.

The register, compiled annually by the public body Historic England, lists historic places at risk of being lost as a result of neglect, decay or inappropriate development.

In a press release today, Historic England said its grants of over £440,000 had helped fund extensive repair work to the orangery (palm house) fire engine house and adjoining pavilions and bothies (potting sheds) in the grounds of the 15th-century castle.

Ripley castle gardens. Pic Historic England

It added they will be used for education and volunteer activities with school children and the local community, including visits and outdoor theatre.

Sir Thomas Ingilby, owner of Ripley Castle, said:

“I’m extremely grateful to Historic England for the help and support over many years which have helped to repair these handsome historic garden buildings which form the centrepiece of Ripley Castle’s beautiful grounds.

“Their restoration will improve the experience of the tens of thousands of people who visit every year. It will also provide educational and leisure opportunities for local schools and groups.”

Ripley Castle. Pic Historic England

The garden buildings are thought to have been designed around 1785 by York-born architect William Belwood.

In 1817-18, a glass roof was added to the orangery to convert it into a palm house. Designed to grow tropical plants, palm houses were a popular status symbol in the 19th century.

The fire engine house is still home to the hand-pulled fire engine which helped protect the castle and village, while a collection of giant ferns now lives in the orangery.

Repair work, which started during the pandemic, included replacing the iron frameworks for the orangery, as well as removing the balustrades, replacing the glass and masonry.

The Temple of Victory at Allerton Park and the Church of St James in Baldersby, which are both in the Harrogate district, have also been removed from the register.

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The leader of Harrogate Borough Council has assured people that support is being offered to rough sleepers on Oxford Street.

In a statement to last night’s council cabinet meeting, Cllr Richard Cooper said he was aware of concern regarding drinking, street begging and rough sleeping at the back of Primark.

Cllr Cooper said that “to the best of the council’s knowledge” three “entrenched, long-term” rough sleepers have been sleeping in the area.

He said they had been offered various accommodation options, including Fern House in Starbeck, which is the council’s move-on accommodation for rough sleepers, a bed and breakfast in Knaresborough and a two-bedroom council house, but all were turned down.

Cllr Cooper added that temporary accommodation was later accepted, but the occupants left.

He said:

“Unfortunately, that accommodation was extensively damaged by the occupants who had to leave it and are now sleeping rough again.

“I know that caring members of the public are leaving food and coffees behind Primark for the group that are gathered there.

“Now, that is often a much larger number than the three rough sleepers I mentioned earlier.”

Cllr Cooper added: 

“I can assure people that many of those gathered there and on Bower Street, where we have seen similar issues, have their own accommodation provided by housing associations or the council, which they can use.

“I can’t fault and would never fault people for demonstrating their compassion. I would just say that extensive support with healthcare, washing, cooked meals and medical support is available a few yards away in the Springboard facility in the Wesley Chapel.

“If people have spare cash to support Springboard, which is run by Harrogate Homeless Project, or Harrogate Street Aid through the various terminals around town, then this may be a more long-term way to provide the help that is required.”

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Cllr Cooper, who is a trustee of Harrogate Homeless Project, said the council, along with businesses and other organisations, would continue to support rough sleepers.

He added the help will include drawing up a plan as “a town centre community rather than individual organisations” to identify how to get support to those people.

Concern over homelessness 

In August, council bosses raised concern over a “perfect storm” of homelessness in Harrogate due to the cost of living crisis and lack of accommodation.

The authority revealed a “huge” 60% increase in requests for housing help, which has led to more homeless people staying in bed and breakfasts for longer.

The council also said it has had difficulties in moving hostel tenants into permanent housing as cases have been “more complex than normal”.

Speaking at the time, Trevor Watson, director of economy and culture at the council, said these issues combined with a lack of private rental properties in the district were creating a “perfect storm”.

Harrogate Business Improvement District has confirmed that manager Matthew Chapman will remain at the organisation.

Mr Chapman announced in September that he was due to leave the BID to take up a position at North Yorkshire Council.

However, the organisation has now confirmed that Mr Chapman will no longer be leaving.

Sara Ferguson, Harrogate BID chair said: 

“Following a change of heart, Matthew Chapman will now not be leaving Harrogate BID.

“This is extremely good news for us and Harrogate town centre businesses, and we look forward to continuing the relationship developed over the last 18 months.”

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Mr Chapman, who took up the role in May last year, was previously Leeds BID operations manager in 2016 before becoming Huddersfield’s BID manager in November 2019.

Businesses within Harrogate’s town centre pay the BID 1.5% of their rateable value a year on top of their usual business rates.

Harrogate BID brings in around £500,000 from local firms, which it spends on projects to improve the town centre and increase the number of visitors.

During Mr Chapman’s 18 months in Harrogate, BID campaigns include power washing 80,000 square metres of the town centre, painting drab walls with colourful murals and buying more than 500 pieces of outdoor furniture for businesses to use.

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

A Knaresborough marketing and PR agency has announced three new appointments amid continued growth.

Allott and Associates, which has offices at Claro Chambers, has made the recruitment after securing new accounts from both UK and international companies.

Emily Evans has joined as an account manager, Beth Hamby as a PR executive and Josie Bridson as a marketing assistant.

Emily said:

“I’m thrilled to be part of the Allotts team. 

“Despite these challenging times the company is going from strength to strength. I love the can-do philosophy that helps clients get the best results.”

Director Carol Rees said: 

“I’m so pleased to be welcoming Emily, Beth and Josie to Allotts and I’m confident that they will make valuable contributions to the continuing success of the agency.

“Despite the challenges both at home and abroad, we continue to invest in all aspects of the business to deliver effective and fully integrated PR and marketing campaigns, which are enabling our clients to continue winning new work in multiple market sectors.”

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Harrogate Bus Company to mark remembrance

Harrogate Bus Company has announced that its buses will adorn commemorative poppies to mark this year’s Remembrance Day.

The poppies will be prominently displayed on the front of buses on routes covering hundreds of miles every day across the Harrogate district and into West Yorkshire.

Pictured from left are: Terry Wood, President, Royal British Legion; veterans Brian Whittaker and John Mainland; and Transdev engineers Patrick Mclaughlin and Stephen Buckley.

The company will also provide free travel on Remembrance Day this Friday (November 11) and Remembrance Sunday (November 13) to all current service personnel with forces ID, and to veterans in uniform or with their medal.

CEO of parent firm Transdev, Alex Hornby said:

“With financial challenges currently affecting many veterans and their families in the communities we serve, it’s more important than ever that we continue our support for the excellent work done by the Royal British Legion.

“We hope that by prominently showing our support for the Poppy Appeal on our buses, many of our customers will join us in contributing to this excellent cause.

“We want to remember those who gave their lives for our freedom, and to support those living with the impact of conflict today. All our teams at our depots across the North are fully behind this.”

Queues of more than an hour have been reported once again this week due to temporary traffic lights on the edge of Knaresborough.

Three-way lights have been in place to allow Yorkshire Water to carry out work on the A59 near the junction with the A658, near Goldsborough.

The roadworks began affecting the busy commuter route at the beginning of October and have been regularly causing long tailbacks.

And while there has been some relief, with the lights being turned off at different periods throughout the day, it has inevitably caused traffic chaos.

This week drivers have reported queues all the way back to junction 47 of the A1(M) and beyond.

It has also had a major impact on pupils and teachers getting to and from Goldsborough CE Primary School.

With the roadworks due to last until November 27, many people have expressed frustration on social media.

@northyorkscc Could you ask your Highways Department what the point of the temporary traffic lights are at the Goldsborough/Knaresborough A59 roundabout please? The traffic is currently backed up to the A1 at Allerton Park yet there are no roadworks on the A59!!

— Alan Huddart (@alanhuddart) November 8, 2022

One woman wrote on a Facebook group:

“Not helpful when it’s a guessing game every morning to see if they are on or not going to work in York daily.”

Another added:

“50 minutes it’s just taken me to get from Boroughbridge to King James School!”

The Stray Ferret contacted Yorkshire Water for comment but has not had a response.

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A new 80-seat independent restaurant with a cocktail bar and terrace will open in Harrogate on Friday.

The Stray Ferret revealed last week HG1 Grill and World Bar was to open in the building formerly occupied by Samsons and Le Bistrot Pierre on Cheltenham Crescent.

New owner Jas Gill has confirmed the venue will open in two days time.

Ms Gill, who is from a property background, has assembled a team including head chef Javier Oitana, general manager Jerome Lacheure and bar manager Joe Oliver.

Customers are able to visit for drinks or to sample the menu.

The grill will provide a wide range of international options and the bar will offer live music and DJ sets as well as cocktails.

Ms Gill said:

“We’ve assembled a team that is passionate about food and what we are trying to achieve.”

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