Harrogate venues double down on outdoor dining

Hotels, restaurants and bars in Harrogate are doubling down on their outdoor dining offering in time for reopening on April 12.

Although hospitality businesses are praying for a great British summer, they are also preparing for rain.

Venues in the Harrogate district had to adapt quickly to covid last year but this year’s roadmap has enabled them to plan to increase their outdoor covered areas based on what they have learned works.

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The West Park Hotel is one of those trying to take full advantage of space, both at the front and back.

As well as using its back courtyard, it is also working with neighbouring shops to bring the pavement in front of the building into use after hours.

In total West Park will have 160 outdoor seats, with many under awnings and marquees.

Cedar Court Hotel Harrogate is bringing back an updated version of its Tipi on the Stray, which will now has removable sides, making it compliant as an outdoor space. It will be able to serve lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.

It’s here and we’re taking bookings #Harrogate #Yorkshire … #Podville by ⁦@fatbadgerpub⁩ is taking bookings on a first come first served basis so be quick to secure your spot by calling 01423 505681 now! Full food & drink outdoor #hospitality offering in a unique setting pic.twitter.com/4OjtJJZMyn

— simon cotton (@simoncotton69) March 31, 2021

Instead of last year’s beach, the Fat Badger has now built what it calls “podville” in its rear car park.

Six people are able to book one of 15 pods for £5 an hour Monday to Thursday and £10 an hour Friday to Sunday.

Bodybuilding barber David Steca to stage Mr Harrogate

Bodybuilding barber David Steca is to stage a Mr Harrogate competition this summer to showcase the area’s finest physiques.

Mr Steca, who owns Steca No6 in Harrogate and another salon in Leeds, is one of the most experienced and successful bodybuilders in the north of England, with a string of titles to his name.

He has won numerous British and international trophies and continues to compete at the age of 61 as well as train clients.

He plans to stage the event on August 1 in a marquee with seating for up to 200 people near his home in Menwith Hill. He said:

“The aim is to inspire and give local physique and fitness enthusiasts a goal coming out of covid.

“I want to give something back and provide a local platform to enthusiasts.”

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There will be a wide range of male and female categories catering for the toned beach body look through to hardcore bodybuilding.

Mr Steca added there will be British and world champion judges, along with food, nutrition and clothing stalls.

There will be HG postcode classes and open classes. Entry fee is £20 and spectator tickets are £20 and £10 for under-12s.

The event will also be a qualifying competition for the IBFA British Championships.

Mr Steca added:

“We already have prizes from local business for class winners. We look forward to an exciting day of muscle and fitness!”

 

 

Locations of 34 electric vehicle charge points revealed

The locations of up to 34 new electric vehicle charge points in the Harrogate district have been revealed.

The district has seen the largest increase in North Yorkshire of motorists switching to electric vehicles and Harrogate Borough Council aims to get 10,000 on the roads by 2023.

To help hit this target, the authority plans to install charge points at several council-owned locations to encourage motorists to make the switch ahead of the government’s ban on the sale of petrol, diesel and hybrid cars in 2030.

Tom O’Donovan, economy and transport officer at the council, told a meeting on Wednesday the 34 charge points were being rolled out as part of a phased scheme, with more to come later.

The locations include up to four charge points at the council’s Claro Road office, as well as up to five at its civic centre headquarters at Knapping Mount.

There will also be up to four at Harrogate’s multi-storey Victoria Shopping Centre car park and the same amount at Ripon Cathedral car park, plus a hub of charge points at Knaresborough Chapel Street car park.

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There are three options for Pateley Bridge, including the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty office, Nidderdale Leisure Centre and south car park.

The car park at Hornbeam Park railway station could also get up to 10 charge points, while no proposals have yet been put forward for Boroughbridge because infrastructure works would be “too costly”.

Up to 160 charge sites planned

Harrogate Borough Council approved its Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle Strategy two years ago with an aim to provide 61 public charge points by 2024, although this could be increased up to 160 if required.

North Yorkshire County Council is also developing a county-wide strategy but has said it currently has no plans to roll out on-street charging infrastructure on a large scale or in response to individual requests for charge points.

It said this is because of “difficulties” with electricity tariffs and setting out the terms on the maximum time a vehicle can charge in shared on-street spaces.

The council said:

“We will continue to review the overall situation, taking into account demand from residents and funding availability, including external grant funding.”

Avoid recycling centres over Easter, says council

People in the Harrogate district have been advised to avoid household recycling centres this weekend because of expected queues.

North Yorkshire County Council’s 20 recycling centres remain open during lockdown but queueing systems to comply with social distance guidelines have caused tailbacks.

The Harrogate district has three centres: Wetherby Road and Penny Pot Lane in Harrogate and Dallamires Crescent in Ripon.

Queues at the recycling centre on Wetherby Road.

Queues at the recycling centre on Wetherby Road. Photo: Mark Westerman

Councillor Andrew Lee, executive member for open to business, said:

“We expect the household waste recycling centres to be extremely busy over the holiday weekend, as Easter is always a busy time.

“Given the rules in place to ensure the sites can operate safely, this will inevitably lead to queues.

“We’re asking people to consider whether they really need to visit their household waste recycling centre this weekend. Could you keep the waste at home for another week or so and take it at a less busy time?”

The centres moved to summer opening hours today, meaning they are now open from 8.30am to 5pm every day except Wednesdays.

Hannah Corlett, spokesperson for the Harrogate and District Green Party said the location of the centres was the main issue. She said:

“I know people from Ripon who have travelled all the way to Bedale recycling centres because the queues are so large so we should be asking why the centres are where they are.

“These high traffic areas are a bad place for them if they’re causing such big queues.

“Asking people to avoid them this weekend also sends a bad message about accessibility. Lots of people don’t have time to travel to their local recycling centre and so more and smaller recycling centres would probably be a better option.”

Blow for businesses wanting to use Stray this summer

An agreement for hospitality businesses to be given outdoor space on the Stray is unlikely to be in place until at least the second half of summer.

Harrogate Borough Council, which protects the Stray on behalf of the people, is in talks with the Duchy of Lancaster, which owns the Stray freehold, about relaxing rules.

Councillor Graham Swift, deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development at the council, said it was “probably not possible” for a deal to be struck before all lockdown restrictions end on 21 June.

The idea has been put forward to assist hospitality businesses with social distancing by giving them room for outdoor seating, although councillor Swift said it would only benefit “one or two” bars.

The owners of the Blues Bar, The Empress and Fashion House Bistro have told the Stray Ferret they want to put tables and chairs on Stray land near their businesses.

Speaking at a meeting yesterday, he said:

“Some of our licence companies are very keen to see usage of the Stray under controlled licensing conditions and the reality is this will be challenging.

“The Duchy of Lancaster are rightly positive defenders of the space and for us to jump through some of the hoops required around the legal side to allow one or two companies to extend their footprint will probably not be possible before 21 June when the government fully opens lockdown.”

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The Harrogate Stray Act 1985 restricts how the land can be used and includes an annual limit on events.

Need to consult

There is also a requirement for the public to be consulted on some changes and the council said it planned to run a survey on the idea to give businesses space if talks with the Duchy progress.

Councillor Swift added:

“I have some sympathy with the licence companies that would like to flex their space but the reality is there is going to be a considerable opening up of spaces over the next few weeks.

“I hope that people will be able to take off trade and picnic on the Stray and utilise the space as we get more and more conformable with social engagement.”

Under the government’s roadmap out of lockdown, hospitality businesses will be allowed to reopen for outdoor service only on April 12 when customers can meet in a group of up to six people from different households or any number from two households.

Then, on May 17, they will be able to seat customers indoors with the same household rules, while groups seated outside must be smaller than 30 people.

The final date in the roadmap is June 21 when all restrictions are due to be lifted.

Increased police patrols after vandalism at Stonefall park

A plaque in Stonefall park has been shattered with what police describe as “considerable force”.

The vandalism took place on the night of March 20 or March 21.

The plaque, which gives visitors information on the history of the park, including Queen Victoria passing on the former train line that ran alongside it, is thought to have been smashed with a rock.

It’s thought repairing the plaque could cost Harrogate Borough Council about £300.

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Liberal Democrat councillor Pat Marsh, whose Harrogate Hookstone ward includes Stonefall, said:

“It’s concerning that there are people who will inflict this kind of force on a public board. This history plaque is for the community to read and damaging it is just mindless.

“However, this mindless vandalism has been overbalanced by the community spirit, lots of people have already said they will donate to fix the plaque. That gives you faith back in the community.”

The local police community support officer has begun to patrol the park more frequently to keep an eye on the area.

The council and police have urged anybody who may have seen anything or have any information to come forward.

 

Plans in to transform Crescent Gardens into offices

Plans have been submitted to transform Harrogate Borough Council‘s former headquarters into offices and a roof garden restaurant.

Impala Estates, a property investment company in Harrogate, bought the Crescent Gardens site in January last year for £4 million.

It has been empty for four years since the council relocated to Knapping Mount in 2017.

Impala’s proposals include creating a gym as well as turning the former council chamber and mayor’s parlour into meeting rooms.

James Hartley, director of Impala Estates, said:

“I am hugely excited to submit a planning application after what has been a tough year for everybody.

“Our plans will ensure that this high-quality local asset is brought back to use and regenerated to deliver a building that provides not only employment space in the town centre but contributes to a community benefit that keeps Crescent Gardens as a vibrant part of Harrogate.”

Mr Hartley said Impala did not yet have a figure on how much the development would cost.

Asked whether he was concerned about letting offices now so many people were working from home, he said:

“The office market continues to change and develop and we would aim to react to these changes as necessary.”

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The council’s planning committee will decide whether to accept the application.

Graham Swift, cabinet member for economic development at the council, spoke highly of the scheme. He said:

“When Harrogate Borough Council sold Crescent Gardens to Impala Estates we were impressed by their commitment to bring much-needed office space into the centre of town to support the growing and changing economic needs of Harrogate.

“They blended this plan with the use of public space that will make Crescent Gardens and its locality a thriving, community area that boasts flexible, modern offices with functional and attractive public spaces.”

Concerns about design, parking and noise

Impala opened a public consultation on its plans in October, which according to Impala attracted 19 comments.

Four were positive; others attracted comments about design, parking, solar shading, access, noise and over visibility from the rook terrace.

A chequered history

The council’s sale of Crescent Gardens had a chequered recent history.

In March 2017, it was announced local developer Adam Thorpe was buying the site for £6.31 million. Mr Thorpe had lavish plans for a £75million pound refurbishment, including an art gallery, underground car park, swimming pool, restaurant and luxury apartments.

Two years later, in February 2019 Mr Thorpe said he had agreed sales on 10 of the 12 apartments including one “comfortably above” £10 million. Mr Thorpe’s company, ATP Ltd, then collapsed with debts of almost £11million, including £24,394.52 to the council.

The site then went back on the market and was eventually sold to Impala Estates.

Sneak peek: Reptile shop to open in Starbeck tomorrow

A reptile shop is set to open its doors in Starbeck and the owner is “frilled” to get started.

Yorkshire Reptile, at 67d High Street, will be the only shop of its kind in Harrogate.

Owner Tom Whittaker believes his emphasis on animal welfare will set his shop apart from other reptile businesses.

The shop will open its doors tomorrow, on April 1 – no joke – with snakes, bearded dragons, chameleons, tortoises and more.

One of the shop’s chameleons.

It also sells food for the animals, vivariums and decorations for the tanks. None of the animals that the shop stocks are venomous or dangerous in anyway.

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What started off as a hobby for owner Mr Whittaker has now become a full business venture.

Vivariums in the shop.

Mr Whittaker, whose background is in cyber-security, only decided to open the shop eight weeks ago.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“My dad took me to a reptile show in Doncaster when I was 12-years-old. Ever since then I have been fascinated by it.

“It’s just how they move, how they eat, how they shed, their temperament. There are so many different kinds.

“I don’t want to compare them to Pokemon but you feel like you have to get all of them. I am obsessed and so are a lot of people.”

Prices start at £50 for a corn snake up to a green tree python, which can set you back as much as £700.

Deja vu on the Stray, as party ends with litter

Large groups of young people partied on the Stray in Harrogate yesterday, leaving council workers and volunteers to clean up this morning.

Many people enjoyed the first day of warm weather since lockdown restrictions were eased.

But some broke social distancing rules and left a huge amount of litter.

Under current rules, people can only gather in groups of six.

But for much of the afternoon yesterday there were groups of about 40 in the Tewit Well area of the Stray.

Police officers engaged with those breaking social distancing rules but were unable to disperse the crowds.

Although many people left rubbish lying around, some was left by the bins.

Takeaway boxes, leftover food, beer bottles and cans were among the items discarded.

Some residents were left with a sense of deja vu, as the scene on was almost an exact replica of what happened on the Stray on various occasions last summer.

A lone council worker does his best to clean up the mess.

Many residents have inundated the Stray Defence Association with complaints about the mess left behind last night.

Judy d’Arcy Thompson, chair of the SDA, told the Stray Ferret:

“Wonderful that people are enjoying the Stray, however what a great shame that so many have left their mess, litter and bottles etc behind.

“It is very simple to take it to a bin or home. Clearly they have no consideration for other Stray users or the wildlife on the Stray for which litter can be a lethal hazard.

“Our Stray was a very sad sight this morning.”

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Can you help Harrogate woman identify the mystery nurse?

A photograph of a nurse found on the Stray has prompted a search to find the owner of the image — and discover who the mystery woman is.

Harrogate resident Dawn King found the black and white image, which she thinks could date back as far as the 1950s, lying in the grass at about 2pm on Monday.

Ms King said she found it on the West park Stray near to Beech Grove.

Ms King, who trained as a nurse in the 1980s, said:

“When I trained we had exactly the same uniform but the pinafore had gone, which makes me think the image must be dated either in the 1970s or before.”

The photograph was quite damaged when Ms King found it lying in the grass.

But there was no water damage, which suggests it hadn’t been on the ground for long.

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Ms King has posted her appeal on various Facebook groups in the hope it will solve the mystery and reunite the image with its owner. She said:

“It’s obviously precious to someone.”

If you are the owner of the photo or have any information, email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will forward the information to Dawn.