Scandinavian-inspired eatery Grön Kafe has announced that it has made the “difficult decision” to close its Harrogate branch after two years.

Launched by Masterchef finalist Matt Healy in December 2020, the café on Royal Parade has been shut for a number of weeks.

A sign on the door said it was closed due to electrical issues.

However, today the café announced on social media it would not be reopening.

The post says:

“Multiple factors outside of our control have made it increasingly more difficult to deliver the level of food and service that we expect from Grön and so sadly we are saying goodbye to this location for the foreseeable future.

“We have loved being a part of the wonderful community in Harrogate and it is with a heavy heart that we make this announcement. We wanted to say a huge thank you to our lovely friends and customers in Harrogate and we are sad to be saying goodbye.”

It goes on to remind customers that Grön can still be found at its flagship location in Oakwood, Leeds, as well as at Green Room in Leeds city centre.

Grön Kafe took over the site of Quantro restaurant on Royal Parade on December 4, 2020.

The café served up pescatarian, vegetarian and vegan-friendly dishes.

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It launched as the nation came out of full lockdown and the Harrogate district moved into tier two restrictions.

Mr Healey had opened a pop-up at the Cold Bath Clubhouse in June earlier that year.

Following the success of that trial, Grön Kafe then opened its own dedicated site on Royal Parade.

Harrogate and Ripon have been spared its HSBC banks shutting after the company announced a raft of closures today.

The bank said it will close 114 branches from April 2023.

HSBC UK said the closures were down to a change in customer habits and that it would invest “tens of millions of pounds” in its remaining banks.

Among the closures include branches in nearby Wetherby and Skipton.

However, Ripon’s branch on Westgate and Harrogate’s on Prospect Crescent have been spared closure.

The HSBC – which has no external cash machine – is Ripon’s sole remaining bank branch after Halifax closed on November 14.

The Halifax closed less than three months after the long-established Barclays branch closed its doors for good on August 25.

Jackie Uhi, HSBC UK’s managing director of UK distribution, said: 

“People are changing the way they bank and footfall in many branches is at an all-time low, with no signs of it returning. 

“Banking remotely is becoming the norm for the vast majority of us. 

“Not only can we do it anywhere at any time of day or night, many more things can be done at the customers’ convenience and don’t rely on a branch visit.”

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About 20 trees were planted on the Stray in Harrogate today as part of a scheme to create a new ‘pocket wood’.

The initiative, which took place during National Tree Week, aims to create a small woodland environment on the Stray, close to Skipton Road, that people can enjoy for generations.

Members of Harrogate branch of the union Unison joined staff from Harrogate Borough Council‘s parks and environmental services department to plant a variety of native trees, including elm and lime.

An avenue of 12 apple and maple trees was created on the Stray near Christchurch. Nearby, close to Regent Parade, another eight trees were planted.

Sam Perry, Unison branch environment officer, said the semi-mature trees planted today would, alongside the more mature trees nearby, would turn the area into a dense copse of trees. He added:

“The grass underneath will be allowed to grow uncut and, in the future, the canopy will also be under planted with smaller shrubs or wildflowers to create an even more diverse new ecosystem.

“Our new community pocket wood is a gift to our wider community in Harrogate and an invitation to all who see it to grow more green spaces in the world and more green thinking in their minds.’

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North Yorkshire Police said today it was not treating the death of a Harrogate man in his 30s as suspicious.

Police put up a cordon after they were called by the ambulance service to a flat on East Parade last Thursday evening.

A nearby resident contacted the Stray Ferret today to say other people in the flat were evacuated and put up in hotels while crime scene investigators carried out work.

The person wanted to know why there had been so subsequent police information informing nearby residents about the incident and offering reassurance.

Police said in response to a request for information today:

“At the time of reporting, his death was treated as unexplained, therefore a cordon was put in place to protect the scene while officers carried out a full examination of the property where the death occurred.

“Following a post mortem examination, officers do not believe that there are any suspicious circumstances that led to the man’s death.

“A report will be prepared for the coroner to inform a future inquest into the man’s death.”

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No strikes will take place at Harrogate District Hospital next month when nurses stage a national walkout.

The Royal College of Nursing will carry out industrial action at hospitals across the UK over a dispute over pay with the government on December 15 and 20.

Locally, staff will strike at Leeds Teaching Hospitals and Leeds Community Healthcare Trust. However, no action will be taken at Harrogate in this round of strikes.

Members of the union will walkout at half of the locations in England where the legal mandate for strikes was secured in November.

However, the RCN has warned that more staff could take industrial action in January if negotiations with government are not held.

A spokesperson for the union told the Stray Ferret last week that the dates in December were the first phase of strikes and more could be carried out if an agreement is not reached.

They said:

“Not all members at employers where there is a mandate to strike will be called to strike on these first two dates.

“Phase one could be just the beginning of a longer period of strike action.”

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Officials at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust have pledged “minimal disruption” should any walkout take place at future strikes.

A spokesperson for HDFT said:

“While pay is a matter for government and the trade unions, we value our staff and want to see a resolution as soon as possible to ensure we can continue to focus on delivering world class patient care to all those who need it.

“We understand the importance of good pay and conditions for individuals and their families, as well as wider NHS staff retention and recruitment.

“We are working to ensure there is minimal disruption to patient care and that emergency services continue to operate as normal should any strike action take place, and have tried and tested plans in place to manage any disruption.”

A list of health trusts affected by strikes is available here.

Harrogate Borough Council has refused plans to convert the upper floors of a Harrogate town centre building into an aparthotel.

Leeds-based Countrylarge tabled the proposal to create the 17-bedroom scheme on the floors above the new Oliver Bonas store on James Street.

Aparthotels are serviced apartments with a hotel-style booking system. London-based operator, Beyond, was brought in to run to the aparthotel, if the plans were approved.

However, the council has rejected the plan on the grounds that the scheme would “not enhance or preserve the character and appearance of the conservation area”.

It added that it would also “result in poor standards of residential amenity” for future occupiers.

The council said in a decision notice:

“The host building has historic interest and makes a positive contribution to the character and appearance of the conservation area. 

“The cumulative effect of the proposed third floor, roof extension, glazed balustrade and paint work, by virtue of their form, scale, siting and appearance would erode the character of the building and create an alienated development.”

The developers had previously said the proposal would help to “fully utilise” the building.

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The value of Harrogate Royal Baths has fallen by £2.5m since it was acquired as a commercial investment by North Yorkshire County Council in 2018.

A council report reveals the Grade II listed building, built in the 1890s, was valued at £7m in March this year, compared with £9.5m when the local authority bought it. The council paid £9m but was prepared to pay £10m.

The report also reveals the Baths had only generated a 1.82% return on investment by September 30, which marked the end of the second quarter of the financial year.

The depreciation of the asset, along with the low rate of return on investment, has sparked fresh questions about the council’s decision to buy the Baths and its ability to manage commercial assets.

Last year Conservative county councillor Richard Musgrave said he was “absolutely speechless” to learn the council had paid £9m, adding “the performance looks very, very poor” and describing it as a “trophy investment”.

Speaking about the latest figures, Cllr Stuart Parsons, leader of the council’s Independent group, said local authorities should aim for investment returns of between five and 10 per cent and although times were hard the 1.82% figure was not acceptable. He added:

“The main problem is local authorities should not really own these properties because they don’t know what they are doing.

“I just don’t think there’s enough commercial nouse in the local authority to be running these sites.”

Figures contained on p134 of the council report.

Cllr Parsons said the new North Yorkshire Council, which comes into existence in April, should “hire proper commercial people” to run key assets like the Baths and the loss-making Harrogate Convention Centre, which he said had been “a millstone around Harrogate Borough Council‘s neck for a long time” and in danger of becoming a “white elephant”.

He added:

“This should be the last chance. Give commercial people a couple of years to turn them around and if they can’t, the council should think about disposal. There has to be a proper policy.”

‘Severely impacted by covid’

Asked about the latest figures, North Yorkshire County Council’s corporate director for strategic resources, Gary Fielding, said:

“This particular investment was an opportunity to invest not only for a direct financial return but also in our locality. To the end of the last financial year, returns have been in excess of our standard treasury investments. The issues experienced have been the result of a global pandemic and more recently other issues beyond UK borders.

“Investments are made for the longer term — balancing risks that can reasonably be foreseen and having sufficient cash flow and reserves to deal with shorter term shocks.

“As we move towards a new unitary council from April 1, 2023, we will see the freehold of Harrogate baths pass to the new council. Whilst the investment from North Yorkshire County Council will cease at this point, the ongoing relationships with tenants will continue.”

Read more:

• Harrogate’s Royal Baths: the council’s under-performing ‘trophy investment’
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Mr Fielding indicated the council would take a tougher line on commercial tenants to maximise income.

“The hospitality sector has been severely impacted by the covid pandemic and the council has done all it reasonably can to support its tenants through these difficult times for the benefit of the local economy and taxpayers generally.

“We work with our tenants to understand their circumstances in order to maximise the income into the council. However, it is not the council’s responsibility to support tenants indefinitely, and if businesses are not sustainable then we work with tenants to bring tenancies to a close.

“We have seen improvement over the last six months which is encouraging. However, with the ongoing cost of living crisis, the hospitality sector may unfortunately experience further pressures.”

A Harrogate man has been jailed for three years for a “savage”, unprovoked attack on a neighbour who was left with a fractured eye socket, broken nose and cracked ribs.

Richard Banks, 45, sidled up to the victim in the street and asked him for a cigarette, York Crown Court heard.

The victim, a professional man who was out walking his dog, invited him into his flat in St Mary’s Avenue, Harrogate, but soon felt “uncomfortable” because Banks, whom he barely knew, was “overfamiliar” with him, said prosecutor Rachel Landin.

He asked Banks to leave which he did but returned later that day. When the victim opened the door, Banks, a long-time drug user, “barged in and began shouting”, said Ms Landin, adding:

“He attacked (the victim), knocking him to the floor and repeatedly kicking and punching him to the torso and head.”

Banks took hold of a knife in the kitchen and threatened to kill the named victim, who ran to the front of the house and shouted for help from a window. Ms Landin said:

“He wasn’t sure where (Banks) had gone, so he picked up a bread knife and went into the street.

“He encountered (Banks) again who renewed his attack, punching (the victim) repeatedly to the face.”

Fractured eye socket

Passers-by witnessed the horrific attack and called police who arrived to find Banks standing over the “confused” victim, who was lying helpless after being knocked to the ground and banging his head on the pavement.

The victim, who was concussed, still had the knife in his hand, but police said there was no threat posed by him and the blade was confiscated without a struggle.

York Crown Court

He was taken to Harrogate District Hospital where he woke up “not knowing what was going on and in a lot of pain”.

He was transferred to York Hospital for surgery and specialist treatment to a fractured eye socket and broken ribs and nose, as well as cuts, bruises and scratches all over his body.

Banks, who bizarrely appeared “more focused” on the victim’s dog, was arrested in the street and charged with wounding.

He denied the offence, falsely claiming self-defence, but was found guilty following a trial at the Crown Court in July.

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He appeared for sentence yesterday after being remanded in custody.

Ms Landing said the victim had to have surgery to rebuild his shattered eye socket by inserting titanium plates.

He had continued to suffer from impaired and blurred vision since the attack on December 28, 2020, and been receiving optical treatment.

He had been working in IT but had had to change his job due to the computers exacerbating migraines brought on by the attack. His vision impairment would be permanent.

The victim described the attack as “random and unprovoked”. He had become “very paranoid (and) extremely nervous” when out in public.

He had been prescribed anti-depressants and sleeping tablets and didn’t feel safe at home, which was close to where Banks lived. He added:

“I find it really hard to leave my flat, even to walk the dog or go to the shop.

“I have uncontrollable panic attacks.”

The side of his face was “numb for the best part of a year, causing problems eating”.

11 previous convictions

Banks, of St Mary’s Avenue, had 11 previous convictions for 21 offences including public disorder, damaging property and drug-related offences including cultivating cannabis in 2013, possessing cocaine in 2014 and possession of crack and heroin in 2018. He recently received a suspended prison sentence for dealing heroin and cocaine.

His barrister Nick Cartmell said Banks was “hysterical, crying (and) wasn’t in his right mind” when he was arrested for the attack in St Mary’s Avenue.

But judge Simon Hickey said Banks had shown no remorse and described the attack as “savage, nasty and persistent”. He told Banks:

“The victim is…frightened to go out; he’s frightened to shop; he has to rely on people. (There is) permanent disruption to his sight and he’s very conscious about the (titanium) plate in his face.”

He said although Banks had mental-health issues, a three-year jail term was “the least” sentence he could impose for “this savage beating of this man in his own home and outside in the street”.

Banks will serve half of that sentence behind bars before being released on prison licence.

Train passengers between Harrogate and York will face disruption over Christmas as Network Rail carries out track and signalling work.

The organisation will undertake £6 million improvements at York Station from Christmas Eve until January 2, 2023.

It will see 2.7km of track renewed, as well as nine sets of points – the specialist piece of equipment which allows trains to move from one section of track to another.

The work means that passengers from Harrogate and Knaresborough will have to change at Poppleton and board a rail replacement bus to get to York.

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Network Rail has urged people to check services before they travel and have warned that services will take longer than normal.

Sam MacDougall, operations director for Network Rail’s East Coast route said: 

“Our teams will be out working hard this Christmas to provide an improved railway for passengers.

“The work at York is crucial to keep trains running reliably and smoothly for years to come. Our engineering work and the impact of planned industrial action will mean changes to some services, so passengers are urged to plan ahead and check before travelling.”

A spokesperson on behalf of train operators on the route said: 

“These key upgrades at York will mean changes to services over the festive period and passengers should check their journey before travelling via National Rail Enquires or their train operator.

“We are working hard to keep people moving this Christmas, with rail replacement services and diversion routes, but this means your journey will take longer and may be busier than usual.”

The move comes as LNER cancelled two trains from Harrogate to London King’s Cross today due to a shortage of train crew.

The 9.36am and 5.36pm services have been affected.

Meanwhile, passengers on the 3.36pm service have been asked to travel to Leeds to board the train as a shortage of crew means it will no longer call at Harrogate and Horsforth.