The Crown Hotel in Harrogate has had its operations taken over by a new management company.

RBH has added the historic building to its portfolio of 45 other hotels in the UK.

The Crown is one of the oldest hotels in Harrogate, dating back over 300 years. It has 114 bedrooms and seven conference rooms.

The hospitality sector was hit hard during lockdown, with hotels having to remain closed. But London-based RBH is optimistic booking levels will resume now that lockdown restrictions have eased.

Andrew Robb, RBH’s chief business development officer, said it was “an exciting new chapter for this unique venue”, which is owned by Singapore-based developer the Fragrance Group.

Read more:

• The Ripon Spa Hotel has now closed after failing to find a new buyer. 
• A top Harrogate hotelier has said he hops the cut in VAT for hospitality will be a boost for the sector.

Mr Robb added:

“Our ethos is very much based on developing and nurturing our people, and this will be extended to The Crown as we look to maximise the potential of the team and in turn offer an outstanding experience to guests.

The covid pandemic has resulted in an exceptionally challenging time for the hospitality sector, however RBH has emerged from lockdown in a strong position and we are eager to help guide The Crown through this period and on to continued success.”

The police treatment centre in Harrogate will reopen on Monday.

The centre, which provides physiotherapy and psychological rehabilitation services for police officers, has been closed since March due to coronavirus.

The St Andrews treatment facility in Harrogate, previously known as the Northern Police Convalescent Home, has operated on the same site on Harlow Moor Road since 1903.

It is one of two sites run by the Police Treatment Centres charity. The other is located in Perthshire. 

The charity supports the recovery of both serving and retired police officers. Its patients primarily serve in the forces of northern England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

The organisation is funded by a voluntary levy of £1.80 a week by police officers.

It will restart its psychological wellbeing programme next week. Physiotherapy services will also recommence but at reduced capacity. 

A new wing, scheduled to open in spring 2021, will offer 20 new beds and space for group activities.  

Read more:

• Assaults on police increase
• Damaged sculptures set to be replaced

The Stray Ferret recently reported that assaults on police officers and police staff in North Yorkshire rose by almost 60% during lockdown. 

In 2019, the charity supported 215 officers from North Yorkshire. 

House sales in Harrogate virtually halved in the first six months of the year but estate agents say a “manic” July and August means 2020 will end strongly.

The Stray Ferret analysed Land Registry data, which shows when and where houses with a Harrogate postcode were sold.

From 1 January 2020 to 30 June 2020, 442 homes were purchased, compared with 872 in the same period in 2019. This represents a decline of 49%.

Estate agents were forced to close from 23 March until 13 May and the figures show how lockdown hit the previously buoyant sector hard.

However, Alex Atkinson, sales manager at Linley & Simpson estate agent in Harrogate told the Stray Ferret that despite the sluggish figures for January to June, it had experienced a “manic” July and August, with several homes sold for above the asking price.

He said this has been driven, in part, by the stamp duty holiday that was announced in July.

Mr Atkinson said:

“The market has been brilliant. I cannot remember the last time we agreed five sales above the asking price in one week.”

Read more:

• Harrogate estate agents relieved at stamp duty holiday

• District estate agent reports a surge in home-buyer interest

UK house prices are at a historic all-time high but Mr Atkinson said it’s unlikely the housing boom will last into 2021 as the long-term economic impact of coronavirus deepens.

He said:

“The furlough scheme is still yet to end and there will probably be an economic downturn with redundancies, then the stamp duty holiday will end after Christmas. It won’t last forever but my hope is it will quieten down for a little while before picking back up next year.”

Mr Atkinson said about 30% of people currently buying a home in the Harrogate district are from out of the area. He said people from cities like Leeds were being tempted by the large gardens that houses in the district can offer, especially after being cooped up indoors during lockdown.

He added:

“Since lockdown we’ve seen a massive shift in our village and rural properties. Anything with land or outdoor space is selling like hotcakes at the moment.”

A new travel agent has opened in Harrogate’s Montpellier Quarter.

The Travel Journal opened yesterday on the site of the former Isles of Wonder gift shop.

It has started trading at a time when quarantine rules are playing havoc with many people’s holiday plans.

However Ben Poole, the owner is buoyant about prospects.

Although some travel agents have seen bookings plummet during lockdown, as more customers turn to staycations, Mr Poole said bookings were bouncing back. He said:

“Business has been great for the past few weeks and green shoots are certainly appearing for our industry.

“The surge of high quality last minute bookings to places that remain on the government’s safe quarantine list has been a very welcome surprise as I had written off summer 2020 but I have probably done more business this summer last minute than I would have done any previous year.

“Yes there is a worry destinations could be added to the quarantine list without much prior notice but all my clients are made aware of the risks.”

This new shop is set alongside multiple other independent shops recovering from months of lockdown.

Mr Poole, who has been in the travel industry for 21 years, began his new venture at home in January and has been forced to cope with the impact of lockdown.

Read more:

• Boroughbridge travel agent says the industry has received unfair press during the pandemic. 
• Harrogate district residents were thought to go “staycation crazy” over summer. 

He hopes the pandemic will encourage more people to use travel agents after hearing stories of people unable to get refunds from some online companies.

Lockdown led to a huge increase in demand for puppies. But as people start to return to work, there is concern that  ‘lockdown buyers’ will no longer have time to care for their new furry friends.

Karen Moss, who has fostered over 50 dogs for the Harrogate-based charity Miss Mollies Rescue, told the Stray Ferret she was concerned there could be an increase in owners returning adopted dogs. She said:

“There was definitely an increase in people wanting dogs during lockdown. People found they had more time on their hands and wanted to get out and about walking and found it the perfect opportunity to get a dog, which in most cases they have always wanted but working full-time was not ideal and never would be.

“There are rescue centres that are now having to take back dogs and puppies that people adopted during lockdown. We have been ok so far but when lockdown hit we had to close our charity shop, which impacted us financially so if we do get an increase in dogs it will be a worry.”

Karen Moss told us that she spends up to 18 months getting dogs ready to go to new homes.

“No dog is the same, I have to figure out how to get them to respond, some come quickly others take a lot of time. I have one dog at the moment that is now ready for a new home after 18 months… he couldn’t look at me when he first came, but now when someone comes to visit he will practically sit on their knee.”

Miss Mollies currently has a range of dogs looking for a new home for life. The Stray Ferret will be running a monthly ‘Lonely Pets’ page where you can find a wide variety of animals that are looking for a loving home.

A power cut in Harrogate this morning led to 6,603 homes losing electricity.

The power cut affected homes in the HG3 postcode, which includes Beckwithshaw, Killinghall and Pannal.

Northern Powergrid said power returned at 9.30am this morning.

Read more:

• One-way system in Kingsley will lead to ‘horrendous’ congestion

• People urged to have say on North Yorkshire council reorganisation

Residents say a one-way traffic system in an area in Harrogate where 650 new homes are proposed will lead to “horrendous” congestion on nearby streets.

Persimmon Homes and North Yorkshire County Council have sent consultation documents to local residents about the proposed scheme, which would stop traffic entering Kingsley Drive or Wreaks Road from Kingsley Road, near to Harrogate High School.

Persimmon said this will stop the two roads being used as rat runs.

However, residents say the one-way system will add to congestion on Kingsley Road and nearby Knaresborough Road and also suggest it is being proposed to move traffic away from a separate application from Persimmon on Kingsley Drive for 244 homes, which is yet to be granted planning permission.

A document that has been sent to residents from Persimmon Homes

John Hansard from the Kingsley Residents Action Group told The Stray Ferret that local residents “vehemently” opposed the proposal.

He said:

“It will create huge traffic jams on Kingsley Drive. It will be awful, it will be horrendous and it’s angered people in the area.”

Read more:

• Road through Granby park a ‘hammerblow’ for nearby residents

• 149 homes near Harrogate High School refused

A spokesperson for Persimmon Homes said:

“As part of our Section 106 planning obligation we are currently undertaking a consultation at our Kingsley Park development, on Kingsley Drive, to gauge local opinion on potential highway improvement schemes. Any decision on the one-way system will be made by North Yorkshire Highways.

“The outcome of the consultation, will determine if North Yorkshire Highways will progress the proposals further, should this be the case then a second, and more formal public consultation, will be completed.”

Last month, councillors refused 149 new homes on Kingsley Road because they said it would make already clogged roads in the area even worse.

Housing developer Richborough Estates faced a grilling from councillors who were not happy that the development was a 1km walk to the nearest bus stop. Cllr Pat Marsh called the traffic implications for the development “wrong, very wrong”.

A video of a stray ferret in a kitchen in Harrogate has gone viral, having attracted 210,000 views on TikTok in two days.

Ashleigh Wilson feared there was a rat in the kitchen when her family returned home from walking the dog on Sunday to hear scratching behind a kick plate.

With the dog going berserk, she armed herself with a broom and set about recording the incident as she slowly removed the plate.

Here’s what happened:

@kidsvsmum

#wtff #help

♬ original sound – user8175306408969

Ms Wilson said:

“I thought it was going to be a rat so I was shocked when it turned out to be a ferret. To have a ferret in my kitchen is about the most Yorkshire thing that could have happened.”

Read more:

• Harrogate rescue centre
• ‘I found more than 30 pellet wounds in my cat’.

Ms Wilson contacted a ferret welfare organisation, which advised her to temporarily home the rodent in a high sided box containing meat and a blanket.

She did this and posted appeals on social media to find the owner. The posts were shared and shortly afterwards a neighbour a few doors down in the Jennyfields area of Harrogate got in touch to claim the creature.

It is believed the ferret escaped its enclosure, scurried down the road and entered the Wilsons’ home through a back door left open for the dog.

It isn’t the first time Ms Wilson, a cleaner, has discovered a strange creature in a house.

“I once found a frog in a house that I was cleaning,” she said.

As the Eat Out To Help Out scheme comes to an end today, its success has led some local restaurants to extend it at their own expense.

The scheme has allowed restaurants and cafes to boost their profits after being forced to close during lockdown.

Restaurants in the district extending the scheme include:

• Bambudda Oriental Cuisine, Kirkgate, Ripon – £5 off ‘All you can eat’ buffet Monday and Wednesday.
• Blue Bell Inn at Kirby Hill, Boroughbridge – Two-course meal £10 and three-course meal for £15 on Wednesday and Thursday.
• The Pine Marten, Otley Road, Harrogate – 50% off mains, Monday-Wednesday until mid-September, when subscribed to mailing list
• Graveley’s of Harrogate – 50% off up to £10 on mains and soft drinks until Wednesday, September 2
• Gino d’Acampo My Restaurant, Harrogate – 50% off up to £10 on mains and soft drinks until Wednesday, September 2
• La Feria, Cold Bath Road, Harrogate – 50% off up to £10 on mains and soft drinks until Wednesday, September 2
• Lucia Wine Bar and Grill, Ripon Road, Harrogate – 50% off up to £10 on mains and soft drinks, Monday-Wednesday, until the end of September
• Starbeck Tandoori, Starbeck – 50% off food up to £10 Monday – Thursday, until the end of September.
• The Empress on the Stray, Church Square, Harrogate –  25% off food Monday – Wednesday until the end of September.
• The Grantham Arms, Boroughbridge – 50% off up to £5 per person, Monday – Wednesday, until the end of September.
• West Park Hotel, Harrogate – 50% off food up to £10 until Wednesday, September 2.

Customers should contact the restaurant regarding the offer prior to booking.

Simon Wade, owner of The Grantham Arms in Boroughbridge, said:

“It’s been phenomenal – it’s been like having a six-day weekend. We’ve had to bring in new suppliers as many just didn’t realise it would be this busy.

“In terms of money, we lost £250,000 of turnover during lockdown. The scheme has drastically increased our turnover but we have had to employ more staff.

“We are introducing our own scheme – I just think we can’t not piggy back on the back of something so successful. We know everyone loves a bargain and I am pleased to offer it.”

Both restaurants are extending the scheme in order to capitalise the surge in bookings it has encouraged.

The owner of The Empress on the Stray, Sharon Colgan, said:

“Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday throughout August have been a real success changing people’s perspective on early-week dining. We are hopeful it will continue through September and we will look at possibly extending until the end of the year if it continues to be a success.”

Read more:

• WATCH as restaurants in the district are busy following government discount scheme. 
• Harrogate’s restaurants say they are fully booked for the final week of Eat Out To Help Out.

The West Park Hotel is extending the scheme in celebration of its owner Provenance’s 10th anniversary.

Anthony Blundell, assistant general manager, said:

“It has gone incredibly well – it’s been like having Saturdays at the beginning of the week. Lunch and dinners have been much busier, we’ve had to take on more staff to cover demand.

“We’ve had a lot of people who may not have come before the scheme. We saw a high increase in sales, 120 at night and 60 to 80 diners for lunch, whereas before it was around 20. We lost three months of sales and had renovations so it’s good to start paying that back.

“Extending the discount is a great thing and it gives people who missed out the chance to give it a go.”

Residents in the Fairfax area of Harrogate who witnessed a police raid this afternoon have called for more support after weeks of disturbances.

The council flat several police vans attended appears to have suffered extensive damage. All of the windows are broken.

Read more:

• Assaults on North Yorkshire police up 60% during lockdown
• Police reassurance over ‘tragic and isolated’ Harcourt Drive incident

Some of the people living nearby told the Stray Ferret suspect that the man who lives in the council flat has mental health problems and is not getting the support he needs:

“It’s been going every night for about two weeks. The police take him to the hospital but there is no Briary Ward anymore. They leave him at the hospital but he just walks home and starts again. They don’t do anything to help, it takes too long for them to take any action.”

The windows are broken at the council flat.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:

“Shortly after 11am today, police were called to an incident at residential flats in Harrogate. A man was arrested for criminal damage and is now in police custody.”

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust is responsible for mental health services in the district. The Stray Ferret has approached the trust for comment following the calls for support from residents.

A spokesperson said for the health trust told the Stray Ferret:

“Whilst we can’t comment on individual cases, anyone that previously received care at The Briary Unit, Harrogate is still able to access full mental health support through their care team or our crisis services. Our inpatient facilities that were previously at The Briary Unit transferred to our new state of the art hospital, Foss Park in York and anyone requiring hospital admission would be admitted to this site.”

The Briary Unit at Harrogate District Hospital closed its doors in April this year for the final time as adult inpatient mental health services transfer to York. The trust said that it would be spending more money on community-based care.