A new generation of drinkers are being drawn to craft beer and cocktail bars, sparking a decline in traditional pubs.
And while many of us love a good Negroni or an IPA, you can’t beat a good old fashioned British boozer.
Fortunately we are still blessed’ with some excellent ones in the Harrogate district.
We asked our readers for their favourites. Here are four of them:
Reputedly, the oldest pub in Harrogate has a history going back to the earliest days of the town’s emergence as a leading spa resort.
Originating as one of the first inns for spa visitors after sulphur wells were first established in the mid-18th century, sulphur springs still flow beneath the cellar and the distinctive odours occasionally percolate up to the bar area.
The premises were rebuilt circa 1827 and known as The Promenade Inn. At this time it was said to be a most successful coaching inn. It was enlarged in 1856 and known as Hodgson’s until 1882, when William Hales became the landlord.
The interior decor is reflective of the pub’s long history, with mirrors and fittings from the Victorian era, including traditional gas lighting and cigar lighters.
Stray Ferret reader Richard Dunston Brady said:
“Hales, is the best traditional pub for charm, atmosphere, friendly staff and a well pulled pint.”
Hales Bar, 1-3 Crescent Road, Harrogate, HG1 2RS
The One-Eyed Rat is a traditional pub, famous for its old fashioned charm.
It can be found on Allhallowgate, one of the oldest parts of Ripon.
A real ale destination over many decades, the One Eyed Rat was refurbished and re-opened under new management in the summer of 2020.
A Grade II listed building set within a terrace of 200-year-old houses, its narrow frontage leads to a warm and welcoming hostelry.
The pub has a long, narrow interior with traditional seating and an open fire, and there is a large garden at the rear, including a covered area.
You can also enjoy a traditional pie and a pint.
The historic building dates back to 1340 and goes back several centuries as an inn.
It was almost certainly known as the Ship in the 17th century, as there is a token copper coin in existence, dated 1671, which shows a ship in full sale with the inscription “John Briggs in Aldborough his half penny”.
Brian Rey and Elaine Howden, the owners of The Ship Inn, have been restoring the pub since January following a fire. They have served many high-profile guests, including Prince William and Harry.
The traditional country pub in the Roman town of Aldborough is well-known for Brian’s Yorkshire puddings and ‘real gravy’.
Low Rd, Aldborough, YO51 9ER
A newly discovered photo of a Harrogate cricket team from 100 years ago has sparked a quest to identify the players.
Eric Wainwright was clearing out his late elder brother’s house in Starbeck when he found a picture of the first ever winners of the Addison Cup.
The Addison Cup, which is contested by the top 16 teams in the Harrogate and District Amateur Evening Cricket League, is one of the oldest cricket competitions in the world, dating back to 1922.
The 100th final will be contested between Knaresborough and Burnt Yates at 6.15pm on Monday night at Follifoot Cricket Club.
The inaugural winners, seen here displaying the trophy, were a Harrogate team known as The Gas Company.
Mr Wainwright’s father William is the tall man in the middle of the back row.
Keen to find out the names of the others players, Mr Wainwright contacted Peter Horsman, secretary and treasurer of the league, for help.
Mr Horsman has now asked if Stray Ferret readers can identify any of the men.
He added:
“Eric and myself would be very interested in hearing from anybody who has any old memorabilia associated with the Harrogate evening league and the associated cup competitions.
“Pictures, league handbooks before 1980, individual winner’s medal etc.”
The winners of the cup on Monday night will be presented the trophy by the grandchildren of Harry Addison, who donated the trophy in 1922.
Harrogate Cricket Club, after winning last year’s Addison Cup.
Mr Horsman has invited Mr Wainwright, who lives in York, to the final to present the runners-up trophy.
Harrogate Cricket Club beat Wetherby Carr Manor by 32 runs in last year’s final.
Burnt Yates defeated Harrogate in the quarter-finals this year.
If you have information about the photo you can call Mr Horsman on 07798 582792 or email him at peter_horsman@hotmail.co.uk.
Woman bids farewell to pub industry to open Harrogate tanning salon
A Harrogate woman has swapped the bar for beds after leaving the pub industry and opening her own tanning salon.
Jade Lacey, 27, launched Be Bronze & Beauty…Ful, on Skipton Road, this week.
The new salon, which is above McCanns barbers, has three sunbeds and offers a range of beauty treatments, including lashes, brows and spray tans.
It has been completely refurbished, thanks to her “handy” dad, and she hopes to employ a nail technician in the coming weeks.
Ms Lacey decided to take the leap and open her own business after working in hospitality for many years.
She was a familiar face at So! Bar and Eats in Harrogate and Knaresborough, as well as the Devonshire Tap House, on Devonshire Place, and the Caravan and Motorhome Club site in Scotton.
But after completing a number of beauty courses during the pandemic, she decided to launch the salon after her dad’s friend offered her the premises.
Inside the salon, which has been refurbished.
Ms Lacey said:
“This came up and I thought why wouldn’t you want to be your own boss? It was a bit daunting completely changing careers, but now I’m up and running, I’m really loving it.”
The irony of opening a sunbed shop on the hottest day of the year was not lost on her.
She laughed:
Bettys celebrates new Railway Children movie with steam train display“I had to close the sunbeds on Monday and Tuesday as it was too hot!”
Bettys Café Tea Rooms in Harrogate has created a new window display celebrating the release of The Railway Children Return movie.
The front window features a biscuit version of the steam train featured in the film, hand-decorated at Bettys Craft Bakery.
As the sequel to one of the most beloved family films of all time, The Railway Children Return stars some of the original cast and is described as “an adventure for a new generation”.
Like the original film, it is set in West Yorkshire with scenes shot in and around the countryside of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway .
The movie is currently playing in cinemas and has received generally favourable reviews with the Guardian concluding it’s “an amiable and ingenious tribute to the innocent, good-natured spirit of the original”.
In partnership with the film, Bettys has created a limited-edition gift box, filled with a selection of treats.
Bettys’ waitress Rose Seddon with the limited edition gift boxes
Transport chiefs urged not to lose focus on improving Harrogate bus services
Transport chiefs have been urged not to lose focus on improving buses in Harrogate after warnings that services are facing a “potential cliff-edge” due to more funding cuts.
North Yorkshire County Council’s bid for £116 million from the high-profile Bus Back Better scheme was rejected in April when the government claimed the plans to upgrade buses and infrastructure across the county lacked “sufficient ambition”.
And now there are warnings that bus services could be at risk of being axed when other government funding comes to an end in October.
Conservative councillor Keane Duncan, executive member for transport at the county council, said in a report that services are already facing “significant pressures” ahead of the cuts which “presents a potential cliff-edge in terms of the future profitability of routes our residents rely upon”.
He added a review was underway to identify the risks and “keep as many of our vital services running as possible”.
At a full council meeting on Wednesday, Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Aldred said the loss of services was all too familiar following years of austerity cutbacks.
He said:
“We have got this deregulated system where as soon as a service isn’t making a profit in the eyes of the provider, it gets lost.
“In our urban communities of Harrogate and Knaresborough, we have suffered from this in recent years.”
Councillor Aldred – who represents High Harrogate and Kingsley – also made a political dig at the Bus Back Better scheme as he urged the council to keep pushing for improvements, particularly in urban areas.
He said:
“I would be worried – appalled even – if I was presenting a scheme for funding from a Conservative government to a Conservative council and the comeback was that the plan was unambitious.
“However, we are where we are and I note that we are assessing the support the council can provide at the moment.
“I would just plead that as well as looking at rural buses – which we all agree are a problem to provide regular and reliable services – we don’t forget urban services as well.”
The council’s Bus Back Better bid included £23 million for new bus lanes, £74 million for other infrastructure changes and £14 million for support for services.
However, North Yorkshire was one of many areas across the country which did not receive any funding.
In total, just 34 of 79 areas which applied were successful.
The council previously said some of its plans could still go ahead without government support, including an expansion of its on-demand bus service, YorBus, which is being trialled in Ripon, Bedale and Masham.
The possibility of a Harrogate park and ride scheme is also still being assessed, although progress has been slow and questions remain about how this would be funded.
Meanwhile, there has been success in a separate council bid for £7.8 million to make Harrogate Bus Company’s fleet all-electric with the delivery of 39 zero-emission buses
The project will cost almost £20 million in total, with more than £12 million being invested by the company’s parent firm Transdev.
At Wednesday’s meeting, councillor Duncan repeated disappointment over the Bus Back Better bid, but added the council would not be deterred from applying for future funding.
He said:
“Unfortunately our bid wasn’t successful and we didn’t receive the funding.
“That was an immense disappointment to the team that worked on the bid and we are trying to ascertain from government how we can ensure bids in the future are successful.”
Councillor Duncan also said he was keen to see the YorBus scheme rolled out across other parts of North Yorkshire following the trial.
He said:
Three-storey boutique ‘wellness venue’ set to officially open in Harrogate town centre“The feedback we have received has been very popular… but we do need more time to consider how we can roll out what I believe is an innovative scheme across other parts of the county.”
A three-storey boutique “wellness venue” is set to officially open in Harrogate town centre tomorrow.
Ebru Evrim will offer daily classes and workshops in yoga and Pilates in the former Laura Ashley premises, on James Street.
It follows a 4,000 sq ft refurbishment thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign, which saw more than £300,000 raised.
A launch party, featuring food from Hustle & Co, took place at the venue last night and guests were given a tour around the building.
The third floor.
Ebru Evrim is the name of the brand’s founder and owner, who moved over from Istanbul in 2015.
She began to teach yoga and pilates in village halls in the Yorkshire Dales, before launching her first studio in Skipton.
Apparatus in one of the studios.
Following its success, Ms Evrim looked to Harrogate as a vibrant spa town already famed for championing wellness.
Ms Evrim, who also runs wellness holidays and yoga retreats, said:
“I’m so happy I think we are unique and I’m super excited to bring some healthy living to Harrogate. And I’m excited to introduce ourselves, our teachers and our services. I think it’s going to be great. I can’t wait.
“I was so lucky to find this place. We still have some work on the building to complete, but it has all been done by local tradesmen.
“The location is amazing. I’m so grateful to be given the opportunity to open this venue. Life is short and I want to give something good to this place.”
On the ground floor shop-front, Ms Evrim’s own-branded boutique fitness clothing is on sale.
On the second floor, state-of-the-art Pilates reformer apparatus will be in place. The machines are being made in California and were expected in April. However, they are now unlikely to arrive until September as a result of shipping delays.
Apparatus in one of the studios.
The apparatus will be alongside a space for working with clients requiring specialist therapy for conditions such as lower back, scoliosis, arthritis and osteoporosis. The floor also features showers and changing rooms.
The third floor, complete with industrial-style exposed brick walls and ambient lighting, provides space for yoga and Pilates classes with 30 mats and underfloor heating.
There will also be a cafe on the ground floor, offering snacks and healthy food, which is set to open in a month’s time.
Classes will begin tomorrow from 9am.
Ex-Harrogate headteacher denies making indecent images of childrenA former Harrogate headteacher repeatedly denied in court making more than 3,000 indecent images of children.
Matthew Shillito, 42, pleaded not guilty to making 20 Category B images and 3,829 Category C images between December 3, 2012 and December 31, 2015.
Mr Shillito was appointed headteacher of Western Primary School in 2019.
He was previously headteacher across the Goldsborough Sicklinghall Federation of schools.
None of the alleged offences related to his employment.
During the case, “making” was defined as knowingly accessing a site that contained an indecent image.
The court was told that there was no evidence that Mr Shillito downloaded the alleged material onto his laptop.
The prosecution opened proceedings at Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday and said the alleged indecent images were found on the cache in Mr Shillito’s computer, which could have only have got there had he accessed sites with those images.
Philip Morris, prosecuting, said there were “indicative” terms found on Mr Shillito’s laptop which showed intent to access the alleged images.
However, Kevin Blount, defence, told the court that while the terms found on the computers may have been indicative, they were “not conclusive” as they could also bring up legitimate results.
Mr Blount said that a Russian image website named in court, which was accessed on Mr Shillito’s Dell laptop, contained legitimate images, such as travel pictures, as well as illegal ones.
He added that cached images could have been stored on the laptop from parts of a web page which Mr Shillito did not look at.
Addressing the search terms found on the laptop, Mr Blount said that the terms could bring up “legitimate images”.
He pointed to terms such as “Nabokov Lolita”, which he said could have been a legitimate search for the 1955 novel by Vladimir Nabokov.
He said:
“All of those search terms are capable of bringing back legitimate material.”
During cross examination of Mr Shillito, Mr Blount asked him whether he had visited the named Russian site.
Mr Shillito said:
“I visited it a lot. It was just that it was a website full of photographs.
“It was a moderated site. It was a site that had rules.”
Mr Shillito told the court that he used the site to look for images he was interested in, such as travel after visiting Croatia in 2011. He said he had also used it for teaching material.
He told the court that while the website was Russian, it was loaded in English and was recommended by technology companies such as Apple as a site to use.
When asked by District Judge Lower if he had seen any indecent images of children, Mr Shillito replied “no”.
He repeatedly denied under cross examination that he had made the alleged indecent images of children.
Summaries of four police interviews with Mr Shillito were also read out in court where he denied the allegations.
Prosecutor Morris asked Mr Shillito about an iPad mini, which was not recovered by police but a backup was found on a silver MacBook Pro.
Mr Shillito confirmed that he had disposed of the iPad because it was “not updating” and had a crack down the screen. He added that he threw it out during a clear out of his address.
Mr Morris put it to Mr Shillito that he had thrown the iPad out two days before police arrived to arrest him because “he was rumbled”. He denied this and said he was he was not aware that police were coming to his address.
When asked about the number of times he visited pages which were “indicative” of the alleged indecent images, Mr Shillito said he “could not imagine” visiting some of them.
Mr Morris told the court that it was “not just one” occasion that the defendant visited the site.
He said:
“In some cases, you have visited not just once or twice but 30 times.”
The trial was adjourned until August 10.
Motorists set for six weeks of delays on Harrogate’s Grove RoadMotorists face six weeks of delays on Harrogate’s Grove Road from Monday due to gas works.
Work is being carried out by Northern Gas Networks to replace ageing pipework with plastic pipes.
Temporary three-way traffic lights will be in place at the junction of Grove Road and Skipton Road from July 25 for two weeks.
These will then become two-way lights for four weeks as work progresses.
Parking will also be restricted along Grove Road while work is carried out.
Northern Gas Networks said in a statement that although most work will be carried out on the road, engineers will need access to customer properties to complete the project and ensure the continued safe and reliable supply of gas.
Russ Kaye, business operations lead for Northern Gas Networks, said:
“We would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused during these essential works. However, it is vital we complete them in order to continue to maintain a safe and reliable gas supply to the residents of Harrogate.
“We want to assure residents and road users that we will be working hard to complete this essential scheme as safely and as quickly as possible.”
Much loved Harrogate headteacher retires after 18 years
Linda Mortimer, the executive headteacher of Saltergate Schools in Harrogate for the past 18 years, retired today.
Ms Mortimer has worked in primary education for 34 years and today the school said it would like to thank her for all her “hard work, positivity, dedication, devotion and resolve over the 33 years at Saltergate”.
As headteacher Ms Mortimer has seen the introduction of a children’s centre, gateways, nursery, and the atelier area at Saltergate.
More recently in 2015, she was instrumental in the process of federating Saltergate Infant and Junior schools.
Mark Walker, chair of governors, paid Ms Mortimer this tribute:
“As headteacher she has ensured that personal development at Saltergate Schools is exceptional and that pupils benefit from a happy, safe, and caring environment, in which each individual is respected and valued.
“She has always gone above and beyond to ensure that pupils have access to a wide, rich set of experiences and opportunities to develop their talents and interests.”
Deputy headteacher Judith Hollywood added
“The development of our challenging, stimulating, broad and balanced curriculum led by Mrs Mortimer has ensured it is accessible to all and brings out the very best in our children.
“She has always led by example and worked with everyone within the school community to achieve our shared aims enabling us to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.”
The school said Ms Mortimer will be missed and wished her all the very best for a “long, happy and healthy retirement”.
Commissioner to be quizzed over planned cuts to Harrogate’s night-time fire crewsNorth Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner is set to face further scrutiny over plans to cut the number of night-time fire engines in Harrogate to just one.
Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe will face councillors at a special meeting of North Yorkshire County Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee next Thursday.
The plans, which are currently out to consultation, have already been criticised as “putting money before lives”.
The Fire Brigades Union also described the proposals as “seriously concerning”.
The plans would see Harrogate fire station continue to have two fire engines during the day, but just one between 10pm and 9am when fewer incidents usually occur.
The move would also mean some of the fire station’s 40 crew members are moved to different stations or roles.
Harrogate Fire Station on Skipton Road
A report to Thursday’s meeting said Harrogate is of a “predominantly low combined fire risk” and that this “does not warrant” two 24-hour fire engines.
Commissioner Metcalfe has also insisted the fire service would “continue to provide an immediate emergency response” during the night.
Yet concerns remain that the move would increase response times if multiple emergencies occur during late hours and back-up vehicles have to travel further from outside of Harrogate.
Steve Howley, secretary of the North Yorkshire Fire Brigades Union, previously urged the public to reject the proposals which he said would “put lives at risk.” He said:
“The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner needs to fight for the correct funding from government, not simply mask underfunding by slashing services and providing the public of North Yorkshire with a second-rate emergency response service.”
Ms Metcalfe said the plans – which also include cuts to services in York and Scarborough – would save over £1.5 million a year, yet she insisted they are not cost-cutting measures.
She also said the savings would allow for investment in fire prevention.
The proposals are part of the fire service’s Risk and Resource Model which sets out how it will deploy staff and equipment across North Yorkshire over the next three years.
The consultation will run until August 14 and residents are being urged to give their feedback online.
Commissioner Metcalfe said in a statement:
“The role of a fire and rescue service has changed and continues to change, with only 26% of our incidents last year relating to a fire emergency.
“We want to ensure we are addressing our current and future challenges and that we have the capacity to prevent and stop incidents happening in the first place.
“Inevitably, there are some areas where the setup of the service would change but I’m confident the right people, right equipment and the right support would continue to be available to everyone.”
To have your say go to www.TellCommissionerZoe.co.uk