Owner of Royal Baths Chinese Restaurant opens Pateley Bridge takeaway

The owner of Harrogate’s Royal Baths Chinese Restaurant is opening a new takeaway in Pateley Bridge tonight.

The takeaway is called Royal Baths Express and is at 2 Park View on Bridgehouse Gate. A restaurant will also open at the venue at a later date.

It’s open on Sunday to Thursday from 4.30pm to 9.30pm and Friday and Saturday from 4.30pm to 10pm. The business is closed each Tuesday.

Royal Baths Chinese Restaurant in Harrogate has been closed for most of the last two years due to coronavirus lockdowns and an extensive refurbishment that began in May last year.

It is due to reopen soon but a date has yet to be confirmed.

The owners have continued operating at their other Harrogate site, Haks Little Royal Baths Chinese Restaurant, on Station Parade.

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Northern Lights visible in Harrogate district last night

The Northern Lights were visible in the Harrogate district last night.

The lights, also known as the aurora borealis, are rarely seen this far south in the UK.

Although they weren’t as bright in the Harrogate district as some places, they made a rare appearance to bring some colour to the sky.

Sally Margerison sent us this photo she took of Beckwith Close on Harlow Hill.

“I took it yesterday evening from my loft window when I saw on Twitter that the aurora was active in northern England.”

Ms Margerison also took this image later last night.

Sadly tonight’s forecast doesn’t bode well for anyone wishing to witness the phenomenon.

Northern Lights by Sally

Northern Lights by Sally

If you have any great photos of the Harrogate district, send them to us by email at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

 

Electrical fault blamed for Harrogate district crane fire

An electrical fault is being blamed for a crane fire that caused the closure of a main Harrogate district road for most of yesterday.

The driver, believed to be from Ripon, escaped unharmed when the blaze started shortly before 7.30am yesterday on Arkendale Road, Ferrensby, which is between Knaresborough and Boroughbridge.

The crane was not moving at the time of the incident. Two other cranes were required to remove it.

Firefighters from Knaresborough, Harrogate and Ripon used hose reels, breathing apparatus, a thermal imaging camera and a triple extension ladder to fight the blaze, which severely damaged the cab and engine compartments.

Ferrensby crane fire

Arkendale Road remained closed until last night.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said in a statement:

“The crane was in transit and not in operation at the time of the fire.

“The cause of the fire is believed to be electrical.

“No injuries were reported.”

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Four released on bail after Jennyfields drugs raid

Four people have been released on bail after police seized a “large amount” of suspected class A and class B drugs in Jennyfields.

North Yorkshire Police arrested two men and two women on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs and handling stolen goods.

Officers executed a drugs warrant at a property on Newby Crescent in Jennyfields on Wednesday.

In a statement, the force said a “large amount” of suspected class A and class B drugs were seized alongside items officers believed to have been stolen.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police added:

“The officers executing the warrant were from the Expedite team, the operational support unit and the neighbourhood policing team.

“A large amount of suspected class A and class B drugs were located at the property alongside items believed to have been stolen.

“Two men and two women were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and handling stolen goods. They have been released on bail while the investigation continues.”

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Fattorini jewellers to reopen under new management in Harrogate

Harrogate jewellers Fattorini is to re-open next month with a slightly different name and under new management.

The name Fattorini has been on Harrogate’s high street for 190 years. But the shop closed last month following the retirement of former owner Anthony Tindall, who is the great, great grandson of founder Antonio Fattorini.

Previously called A.Fattorini, it will now reopen as Fattorinis. The new business is being run by Wayne Beales, who worked in A. Fattorini for 20 years.

The shop will stay in the same unit on Parliament Street. Mr Beales said customers could expect similar brands as well as some new ones and perhaps a more up-market feel.

The store is currently going under a refurbishment and Mr Beales said it will open in March. He added:

“I’ve been thinking about taking on the business since Anthony announced his retirement a year ago.

“During the sale it became apparent a lot of people were upset we were closing. It would be such a shame to see the name vanish from the high street.”

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The now-closed Bradford branch of Fattorini made both the FA Cup and Rugby League Challenge Cup.

A number of staff have chosen to stay but Mr Beale has said he is looking to hire two more full-time staff members.

He added:

“It’s really nice to know its moving forward with some of the same team. The name holds such a reputation locally, customers can see this as a new chapter for the Fattorinis they love.”

Harrogate’s St George Hotel sold again

The 90-room St George Hotel in Harrogate has been sold for the second time in just over a year.

Northern pub company The Inn Collection Group has bought the Edwardian hotel, which is opposite Harrogate Convention Centre, for an undisclosed value.

The hotel re-opened less than a year ago under new owner Bespoke Hotels after previous owner Specialist Leisure Group went into administration with the loss of 2,500 jobs

The hotel, which includes The Swaledale restaurant and six function rooms, will continue trading before undergoing refurbishment this year.

The Inn Collection Group portfolio also includes Dower House Hotel in Knaresborough, Ripon Spa Hotel in Ripon and Dean Court in York.

Sean Donkin, managing director of The Inn Collection Group said:

“The Hotel St George is an exciting acquisition for us as we continue to expand our customer base and imprint in Yorkshire while continuing to roll out our buy and build strategy as an operator.

“We have had Harrogate in our sights for a considerable time while identifying a site that is a fit with our ‘Eat, Drink, Sleep and Explore’ brand.

“We are delighted to have completed on this superb site which will be a tremendous asset for our customers and our portfolio of inns in the best UK locations.”

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Mr Donkin added the hotel was “perfect site for exploring Harrogate and the surrounding Yorkshire Dales”.

Elsewhere in Yorkshire, The Inn Collection Group is redeveloping Northallerton’s former police station into a 32-bedroom pub with rooms called The Northallerton Inn.

The group also owns The Stables at Whitby, The King’s Head Inn at Newton under Roseberry and in October reopened The Black Swan in Helmsley.

Outside Yorkshire, it has sites in Northumberland, the Lake District, County Durham, Tyne & Wear and Lancashire.

Plans approved for 38 flats at ‘Pannal skyscraper’

Plans have been approved for a second time to build an apartment block at the former Dunlopillo factory in Pannal.

Developer Echo Green Developments was granted planning permission in September last year to demolish the main office block and build 48 apartments.

In December the developer then submitted new plans that would supersede the previously approved plans.

It included 38 apartments, fewer than the original proposal, but would still be two storeys taller than the demolished building.

The initial decision to approve the plans, which was made under permitted development rights, was met with anger from some residents.

Pannal historian Anne Smith said the village would be lumbered with a “skyscraper-type building”.

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Permitted development rights were brought in under the Conservative government and can be used by developers to fast track the redevelopment of disused offices.

Nevertheless, Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough Andrew Jones intervened to say the scheme should have been decided by a vote from the council’s planning committee.

A review by the council concluded the plans were “appropriately considered”.

Mr Jones called on residents to submit objections to the second application. In the end, it received 26 objections.

 

Plan approved to convert former Smarties nursery in Ripley into home

Plans have been approved to convert the former Smarties Day Nursery in Ripley into a home.

Smarties opened in 1987 and catered for 52 children. The building, which is called Wood Close, is part of the Ripley estate and is owned by Sir Thomas and Lady Emma Ingilby.

However, it closed last year after its owners decided not to renew its lease.

Now, Harrogate Borough Council has approved plans by Sir Thomas to convert the former nursery into a house.

Sir Thomas lodged the proposal as the Ingelby’s son and family plans to move there from Ripley Castle.

The nursery’s closure last year prompted an emotional response from many parents on the Stray Ferret’s Facebook page, with one saying she was “absolutely gutted” and another calling it “really sad news”.

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Man denies murder at flat on Harrogate’s Mayfield Grove

A man has denied murder following the death of a 41-year-old man in Harrogate.

Vitalijus Koreiva, 36, is accused of murdering Gracijus Balciauskas on December 20 last year. Mr Balciauskas’s body was found at a flat in Mayfield Grove at about 11.30pm.  

Koreiva, of Mayfield Grove, appeared at Leeds Crown Court via video link today when he pleaded not guilty to the allegation. 

A second murder suspect, 38-year-old Jaroslaw Rutowicz, of no fixed address, has yet to enter a plea to the charge. 

Judge Geoffrey Marson QC adjourned the case for a trial on June 20. It is expected to last 10 days. Koreiva and Rutowicz were remanded in custody.

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More roadworks coming to Harrogate’s Skipton Road

More roadworks will begin on Harrogate’s Skipton Road next week.

Highways authority North Yorkshire County Council will be carrying out improvements at the junctions with Bilton Lane and Woodfield Road.

At Bilton Lane, the pedestrian island will be removed and the island at the end of King’s Road will be widened.

The left turn from Woodfield Road on to Skipton Road will change from being controlled by traffic lights to being a give way to improve traffic flow and air quality.

The lights in the traffic lights at both junctions will be replaced with more energy-efficient LED lights.

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The work will begin on Monday and is due to complete on February 27, when half-term ends. However, temporary traffic lights are not expected to be required until February 19 as the initial work will take place off road.

Lights will initially be in place at the Bilton Lane junction before moving to the King’s Road and Woodfield junctions.

The Stray Ferret asked the council how much the work will cost.

Melisa Burnham, highways area manager, said:

“These works are included in our annual highways maintenance budget of around £55 million, which covers planned maintenance programmes as well as responding to problems as they arise.”