Creativity, craft and lots of conversations. That is what it takes for this unique Harrogate jewellers to turn an idea of the perfect ring into a sparkling reality.
Melanie and Robert Earl started Rubie Rae out of a shed in their back garden and, while they have grown over the years, they never plan to open a shop.
The jewellers have made their name on their engagement rings, which are all made to order and designed with a sheet of paper and pencils.
Many do their designs on computers these days but Melanie feels that the classic style of sketching helps her to create something special.
One of their main obstacles over the years has been getting over the word bespoke. Robert, who used to work for an Italian gold chain manufacturer, told the Stray Ferret:
“We design to suit your style, your taste and your budget. But that word bespoke makes everyone run for the hills, they think it’s going to cost a fortune.
“But because we don’t have the overheads that come with bricks and mortar or with keeping stock it means that we can pass those savings onto the customer.”
Before Rubie Rae, Melanie was a top designer at a major jewellers in Leeds flying around the world. But when it came to starting a family she wanted to be a little closer to home.
Family is a big part of their business. When they were setting up the jewellers they lost their daughter. Melanie and Robert had planned to call her Rubie Rae, so her legacy now lives on.
Both clearly enjoy their work. It is a major highlight for them when they hear that the ring has finally been used in the proposal.
They get so involved in the process that they are sometimes invited to the weddings. Melanie, with a big smile on her face, told the Stray Ferret:
“It is quite good fun, it is really nice to get involved. We are the people that they can actually talk to about their proposals when they are trying to keep it secret.
“Because we don’t have premises we go out and meet them wherever for a chat. We can meet in town somewhere or at a hotel, so it is very relaxed.
“Some people are a bit wary at first but the more they see what we have done and look at our reviews it gives them confidence.”
This is part of the Stray Ferret’s ‘hidden gem’ series, highlighting small, independent businesses. They need to be tucked away but growing in popularity with an eye-catching and unique product or approach. Send us an email with your nominations.
Harrogate council creates temporary homeless sheltersHarrogate Borough Council has placed temporary homeless units in a car park to give people a place to stay as the temperatures drop.
The four container units will be in Tower Street Car Park in Harrogate for the next three months. While the shelters are in place the car park will remain closed off.
Each of the units is connected to power and comes with a portable toilet unit outside.
Councils need to provide accommodation under the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP).
SWEP is normally triggered when the forecast hits zero degrees. Other extreme weathers like high winds, heavy rain and heatwaves can also trigger the protocol.
New government guidance this year warns of the dangers of coronavirus in night shelters. It also asks local authorities to consider “self-contained accommodation options”.
A council spokesman told the Stray Ferret:
“Emergency accommodation, which we are legally obliged to provide, has been installed in Tower Street Car Park in Harrogate.
“This accommodation is for when the weather conditions worsen and a homeless person may need a roof over their head. The units will be in place for three months.”
Local authorities were encouraged to house rough sleepers temporarily under the “Everyone In” initiative during the first lockdown.
The borough council housed people in hostels in the town, as well as in Leeds.
According to council figures, 29 rough sleepers in the district were taken off the streets, of which 10 are still being supported by the authority.
A £100,000 appeal has been launched to help small charities in North Yorkshire survive the winter.
Two Ridings Community Foundation, which coordinates giving in North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire, is running the Surviving the Covid Winter appeal until January 26.
Donations will fund grants of up to £10,000 to voluntary organisations.
Two Ridings Community Foundation usually runs a winter fuel appeal but has altered its plans this year to help charities struggling on the frontline in the battle against covid.
Not-for-profit groups based in North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire with annual turnover of less than £500,000 will be eligible to apply for grants to use as unrestricted funding.
Jan Garrill, chief executive of the foundation, said:
“There is seemingly no precedent for these times. What I do know is now is the time to give. Whether you are able to donate £10 or £10,000 we urge you to support this campaign.
“In these times, it is important that we look out for one another and stand shoulder to shoulder with people and communities”.
Information on how to donate is available here.
Stray FM licence should have been re-advertised, says Harrogate peerStray FM should have had its licence re-advertised rather than be allowed to lose its “special identity” to “out-of-town owners”, a Harrogate Conservative peer has said.
Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate said Ofcom, which regulates commercial radio, needed to do more to protect “well-loved” radio stations that were being “absorbed into the mega-conglomerates that now seem to control the sector”.
Speaking in a Lords debate about radio licenses, he added:
“In the region where I live in Yorkshire, a large number of local stations have lost their special identity as their out-of-town owners dispose of local staff and content, and simply hijack the licensed frequency to pump out centrally edited music that is obtainable in various other ways, either from national broadcasters or through web streaming services.
“That simply should not have been allowed.”
Lord Kirkhope, who is a lawyer and former MP for Leeds North East, has a long-standing interest in radio.
He helped set up a hospital station in Newcastle in the 1960s and subsequently applied unsuccessfully for for the Tyne and Wear franchise that went to Metro radio in 1973.
He told the Stray Ferret he had Stray FM, which owners Bauer Media rebranded as Greatest Hits Radio in September, and other local radio stations in mind when he made his comments in Parliament.
He added licences should not have granted “without adequate local content”, adding:
“In those cases I consider there has been a breach of the spirit of the regulations if not the legality.
“In some of the obvious local cases like Stray FM those licences should instead have been re-advertised.
“After all, I might have been interested myself in maintaining the local spirit and I think there are others who might have joined me.”
Bauer Media has always maintained the station retains local content and services, as well as a presence in Harrogate.
County council plays down Brexit food stockpiling fears
North Yorkshire County Council has played down fears that food is being stockpiled at schools and care homes to prepare for the end of the Brexit transition period.
The UK’s transition period to leave the EU will end on December 31. Many companies and public bodies are having to make plans, with transport firms expecting queues at the border.
Stella Perrott, a member of the campaign group North Yorkshire for Europe, sent a Freedom of Information request to North Yorkshire County Council, asking what preparations it was undertaking as the December 31 deadline approached.
NYCC released a Brexit risk assessment, published in September, which states that “there is significant risk of delays at ports that will impact supply chains” and that the authority is evaluating capacity for frozen food storage.
As the council has responsibility for education and public health in the Harrogate district, Ms Perrot suggested the council’s response meant it could be stockpiling food at schools and care homes.
The Stray Ferret asked the county council to update us on its plans for Brexit. In a statement, NYCC said it is “managing any adverse impact” that may arise from Brexit, but said this did not involve stockpiling food.
Shaun Mancrief, head of traded service at NYCC said:
Police quiz Harrogate diners over covid rules“These frozen food supplies are the regular supplies to our school catering service and elderly persons’ homes. This includes vegetables, bread, ice cream and fish. These products are sourced locally as far as possible, including all vegetables.
“Our aim is simply to manage any adverse impact that may arise from Brexit so that we can continue the regular service of providing meals to schools and elderly persons’ homes.
“We are working closely with our suppliers on this. At this stage, there are no issues with supply or storage of frozen food. Under normal circumstances, our suppliers hold high levels of stock as this allows them to manage pricing to give us the best possible value.
“We are not stockpiling food for our services, simply ensuring that business as usual can be maintained.”
Police questioned Harrogate diners on the first day after lockdown yesterday to ensure they were complying with tier two restrictions.
North Yorkshire Police, working alongside staff at Harrogate Borough Council, approached customers in pubs and restaurants.
The Stray Ferret is aware of at least three restaurants in Harrogate that were the subject of inspections.
William and Victoria restaurant on Cold Bath Road was among those to receive visits.
David Straker, the owner, told the Stray Ferret he welcomed the patrols:
“I think that they have got to do it and be seen to be doing it.
“I know there are some places locally who say they are going to bend the rules.
“This has been a tough year for everyone. If some places bend the rules then it is not a level playing field.”
The Fat Badger was also visited, and the Stray Ferret is aware of one other that did not wish to be identified.
https://twitter.com/simoncotton69/status/1334213225525678081
Superintendent Mike Walker, the coronavirus lead for North Yorkshire Police, has warned police will step up patrols and use number place recognition cameras to track people coming into the Harrogate district from tier three places, such as Leeds and Bradford.
He also said the police would work with local businesses to ensure they understand the regulations:
“There will be a visible police presence in our day and nighttime economy areas.
“It is our job to engage with the public and sometimes find out the purpose of their journey — especially if we see groups coming into the area.
“We will also work with local businesses to ensure that they understand the tier two regulations and make sure they are operating in a safe way.”
The Stray Ferret approached both North Yorkshire Police and Harrogate Borough Council for comment but did not receive a reply by the time of publication.
Harrogate Borough Council did, however, tweet that officers were in the district last night and will be out tonight and again tomorrow.
Just 20 new coronavirus cases in Harrogate districtLast night, tonight and tomorrow night we will be out and about in the #Harrogate district offering advice and guidance to businesses to ensure customers have a safe and enjoyable visit. pic.twitter.com/B7tTwWaYuF
— Harrogate Borough Council (@Harrogatebc) December 3, 2020
The number of new coronavirus cases remains low in the Harrogate district, with just 20 infections reported today.
The figure, from Public Health England, brings the total number of positive tests to 3,635 since the start of the pandemic.
The seven-day average number of cases for the district is now 85 per 100,000 people.
The district no longer has the lowest rate in the county, but it is still below North Yorkshire’s average of 103 and England’s average of 146.
Harrogate District Hospital has not reported any new coronavirus deaths today.
However, the hospital did reach a particularly grim milestone of 100 deaths yesterday after reporting one additional death.
‘Sneak peek’ at new bar and pizzeria in Harrogate
Hidden bar and pizzeria will take the place of Porco Rosso in The Ginnel when it opens its doors for the first time tomorrow.
The bar will only stock drinks from Yorkshire companies and the kitchen will serve hand-stretched, stone-baked pizzas.
It has been a tough year for the hospitality industry so the owners of Hidden have made a bold move opening now.
Tier two restrictions, which began yesterday, forced many wet bars to stay closed but Hidden is among those permitted to open because it serves ‘substantial’ meals.
Hidden co-owner Jay Rennard said:
“I have always wanted to have a bar or a restaurant. This is both: very boutique, niche and classy. It brings a different vibe to Harrogate, very laid back and casual.
“I hope that people understand that we are trying to do something different. Something you don’t get in chains, a more unique and bespoke approach.”
Louise Robertson-Rennard, who is a joint business partner at Hidden, added:
“It has been a crying shame seeing businesses fold. We think people need hope so we are going to make the experience as normal as possible.
“I think that the hospitality industry has been through enough this year.”
Would you like to spread the word about your shop opening? No matter how small the shop get in touch with the Stray Ferret.
Leeds nearest hospital to get first vaccinesLeeds will be the nearest place to receive the first coronavirus vaccines, according to national media reports this morning,
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said yesterday 50 hospitals were ready to receive the vaccine within days.
The Department of Health has yet to publish an official list of hospitals or details of how the jab will be administered. But the names of the 50 hospitals appear to have been leaked to the national media, some of which have published them today.
According to the reports, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, whose hospitals include Leeds General Infirmary, is the nearest to the Harrogate district.
The Harrogate Nightingale is not included on the list.
The vaccine must be kept at -70°C until it is used, which means sites chosen to administer it must have adequate storage facilities.
Hancock has also said there will be a community rollout of the vaccine, including GPs and pharmacists.
The Stray Ferret asked Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust if it could confirm it was not on the list.
A spokesman replied:
“Any comment on decisions on which hospitals are on the list would be something for the NHS England regional communications team.”
Harrogate shoppers say Debenhams will be much missedShoppers in Harrogate have spoken of their disappointment that Debenhams is to close after the company announced it was entering administration.
A failed deal with another major retailer means the company is set to enter liquidation.
The Harrogate store reopened yesterday offering shoppers their usual products at discounted prices.
But staff face uncertain futures as they await news of a confirmed closure date. The demise of Debenhams came a day after Ripon’s only department store Wrens, announced it would not be opening again after lockdown.
Shopper Rose Dykes was among those sad to see Debenhams go. She said:
“Debenhams has been here for a long, long time.
“I think it will be really missed in Harrogate.”
Rose says the store will be ‘missed’ in Harrogate.