Which famous faces visited the Harrogate district this year?Editor’s Pick of the Week: Starbucks arrives, James Bond returns and Knaresborough floods

Finally, after months of speculation, Harrogate got the answer to the question everyone is asking — when is the new Starbucks on Wetherby Road opening?

The answer is — very soon. The full details, caffeine addicts, are here.

Pierce Brosnan is leaving a trail of swooning admirers across the district. A month after he was spotted having a drink in the Fat Badger in Harrogate, he popped up in Knaresborough this week.

Not, sadly, at Bond End but on High Street where he surprised staff and customers at Yorkshire Eyewear by asking to borrow a screwdriver so he could fix his glasses.

The gobsmacked staff obliged, ensuring the 007 star’s specs were shaken but not blurred (thanks to my colleague John Grainger for that line).

I drove along dry roads on Knaresborough High Street on Bank Holiday Monday only to get home some 20 minutes later to reports of homes in the town being flooded. Surely some mistake? It soon became clear it was anything but, and we quickly fired up a live blog to track the breaking news and headed out the next day to speak to those affected.

We returned on Friday to find out more about the impressive emergency response being co-ordinated at Chain Lane Community Centre.

Finally, a plea for help. This week we launched a petition to support Ripon Military Heritage Trust‘s campaign to preserve key parts of the city’s military heritage from being bulldozed as part of the 1,300-home Clotherholme development. The trust only wants to maintain a tiny section of land so it can tell the

If you weren’t aware of what’s at stake, read this article about the key role Ripon played in two world wars. For instance, 350,000 soldiers passed through the military camp during the First World War. You can sign the petition here. If we get 500 signatures North Yorkshire Council’s Skipton and Ripon area constituency committee is obliged to discuss it. Don’t let treasured history be bulldozed

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Pierce Brosnan ‘borrows screwdriver’ from Knaresborough optician

Staff and customers at a Knaresborough eyewear store had a surprise today when James Bond star Pierce Brosnan walked in.

Yorkshire Eyewear, on High Street, helped the 70-year-old film star after he came in with “a problem with his glasses”.

Meg Lazenby, who runs the store’s social media, told the Stray Ferret that Brosnan asked to “borrow a screwdriver” at about midday today.

She said:

“He sort of walked past and then came in. He said he had an issue with his glasses and asked to borrow our screwdriver to fix them. He didn’t buy anything though.”

Ms Lazenby said the star, who is rumoured to be filming a new biopic called Giant about Sheffield ex-boxer Naseem Hamed, was “lovely and very polite”.

He agreed to pose for a photo with a customer, telling them he was in the area because he “loves the Yorkshire scenery”.

During his trip to Knaresborough, the former 007 also stopped at Castle Creamery.

Owners Tim and Jane said he was “lovely and really charming”, adding he enjoyed his ice cream “outside with other customers”.

Tim added:

“He said he was working on a project in Leeds and was on a day off today”.

Pierce Brosnan with Castle Creamery owner Jane.

The Harrogate district seems to have stolen Pierce’s heart – much like he stole the hearts of many admirers when he played Bond four times. Three weeks ago he was spotted having a pint — rather than a martini — in the Fat Badger in Harrogate.

Shortly after his sighting, the elusive former frontman of The Smiths, Morrissey, another Harrogate regular, was photographed on Cut Throat Lane in Shaw Mills.

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Heaven knows what Morrissey was doing back in Harrogate…

Morrissey, the elusive former frontman of The Smiths, has been photographed in suitably mysterious circumstances in a tiny hamlet between Ripon and Harrogate.

The 64-year-old, who is known for his enigmatic persona, posed with his arms folded in front of street signs and a dry stone wall on Cut Throat Lane in Shaw Mills.

Why he happened to be in Shaw Mills, which is six miles from Harrogate, is not known.

London photographer Andrew Quinn shared the image on his Instagram page yesterday.

The Stray Ferret asked Mr Quinn for permission to show the photo in our article, but he politely declined, saying:

“[Morrissey] is quite a private person and I don’t think he’d be comfortable with that.”

Mr Quinn has since made his Instagram account private, but not before the picture was shared on a Morrissey fan page. Fans commented that the “maverick” star looked “healthy”.

The Stray Ferret received reports of Morrissey being seen leaving the Fat Badger pub in Harrogate at the end of March but no pictures emerged.

Yesterday, we showed James Bond star Pierce Brosnan enjoying a drink in the Fat Badger.

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Morrissey is becoming a bit of a Harrogate regular.

Last year he was spotted enjoying a pint in the Harrogate Arms by Chris Russell, who runs Zombie Clothing in Knaresborough.

Chris sent us this photo, which to add to the Mozzer intrigue was taken at about the same time of year as the latest one.

Morrissey with Chris Russell in the Harrogate Arms

The Smiths rose to rock fame in the 1980s and went on to win the NME Award for Best Band and Best Single, and had the number one album, Meat is Murder, in 1985.

The group split in 1987, after which Morrissey launched his solo career.

Send us your photos and selfies if you bump into any celebrities in Harrogate district. Email contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Ex-James Bond star Pierce Brosnan spotted in Harrogate bar

Former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan was spotted in a Harrogate bar last night.

The Irish actor, who was the fifth person to play 007, was seen having a drink at The Fat Badger on Cold Bath Road last night.

The Stray Ferret was sent a photo of Mr Brosnan enjoying a pint — rather than a martini — at the bar, which is part of The White Hart Hotel.

The 70-year-old played James Bond four times, including in Die Another Day and GoldenEye.

He has also featured in blockbusters such as the Mamma Mia! franchise, Survivor, Laws of Attraction and Mrs Doubtfire.

During his career, he has received two Golden Globe nominations for his performances in The Matador and Nancy Astor, as well as winning the outstanding European achievement in world cinema award at the European Film Awards in 2016.

Mr Brosnan even won a Razzie Award for worst supporting actor for his role in Mamma Mia!.

Pic: Nicholas PJ Snape

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He is not the first familiar face to be spotted in the Harrogate district, which became something of a celebrity hotspot last year.

Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet, who rose to fame in Titanic, visited the Crown Hotel at Middlesmoor last May.

Leathal Weapon star Danny Glover dined at Efes Bar and Grill in the summer, while world-famous DJ Calvin Harris was spotted at Wetherby Services in August.

Meanwhile, TV personality and writer Gyles Brandreth bemoaned his poor night’s sleep at a Harrogate hotel following his one-man show at the Royal Hall, and Toyah Wilcox and Robert Fripp praised Bettys’ cake as the “nectar of paradise”.

And Morrissey, enigmatic former frontman of The Smiths, was spotted having a quiet pint at The Harrogate Arms.

Send us your pictures and selfies if you bump into any famous people in the district. Email contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Ripon’s Royal knitters pay tribute to The Queen

There was sorrow as well as smiles among the women of the Ripon Community Poppy Project (RCPP) Knit and Natter Group, when they met for the first time following the Queen’s death.

To lighten the mood, a knitted display, reminding the group of that, now famous, television moment, when Her Majesty had afternoon tea with Paddington Bear, enjoyed pride of place.

Alongside a photograph of The Queen, the display, included Paddington with his suitcase, a handbag, marmalade sandwiches and a corgi wearing a crown.

The knitted figures and accessories, were created by group members Carol Dunkley, Angela Turnbull and Lynn Hart,

Paddington Bear display for the Queen

A photograph of The Queen was in place among the knitted display

In the months leading up to the Platinum Jubilee, the Knit and Natter Group, along with others working from home, knitted virtually non-stop to create miles of bunting, carrying the initials ER, which was wrapped around the city.

It was a huge collective effort that earned a letter of thanks from one of the Queen’s ladies in waiting at Windsor Castle.

Yesterday, as they continued to produce the next poppy displays in time for Remembrance Sunday, they paused for silence.

Hazel Barker, who founded RCPP with former mayor of Ripon Councillor Stuart Martin, told the Stray Ferret:

“There was sadness, as we held a minute’s silence to contemplate Her Majesty’s incredible reign and what she did for this country.

“Thoughts of her passing were then followed with the many happy memories that members of the group have of her, including her visits to Ripon.”

Hazel, added:

“It was clear with the James Bond film for the 2012 Olympics and the meeting with Paddington, filmed for the Platinum Jubilee, that Her Majesty had a great sense of humour.”

As part of yesterday’s reflective meeting, cups of tea and coffee were accompanied by sandwich biscuits, baked by Hazel and fittingly including a marmalade filling.

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Stray Jewels: Jewels with the James Bond seal of approval

Stray Jewels is a monthly column written by BBC Antiques Roadshow jewellery specialist, Susan Rumfitt. Susan started her career working for Christie’s auctioneers in Glasgow before establishing her own jewellery department, The Gallery in Harrogate. In 2006, she joined the Antiques Roadshow and has since built up an extensive knowledge of and passion for fine jewellery. This week Susan takes a closer look at the jewels with a link to various Bond films. 

The jewellery scene is really great at the moment. Jewellery specialists in shops, auction houses and antiques fairs across our county are getting into pre-Christmas swing and of course, the new series of the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow is now being aired, which helps to fuel excitement.

There are lots of lovely jewels to share with you on a monthly basis and inspire you to browse our local shops, fairs and auction houses for inspiration.

What we all need when buying jewellery is a bit of luck. I adored the clover brooch, lot 1444, that sold for £400 (plus buyers premium), on the 17th September at Elstob & Elstob Auctioneers. It wasn’t the most expensive item in the sale, but it was absolutely my favourite.

By the time this article is published many of you will have seen the new Bond Film ‘No Time To Die’ and witnessed the magnificent jewels that are featured in the film. Having viewed the Elstob & Elstob Jewellery sale there are a number of jewels that can find an association (and I know, a rather tenuous association), with previous Bond Films! Never the less they are, for me, the other picks of the sale.

Make sure you read to the end of the article as you could seriously have a piece of jewellery, by a brand that did supply to a number of Bond films. The firm David Morris, adorned a number of leading ladies in various Bond Movies…but I think you might need to be quick to snap up this particular lot – so read on!

Lots 1521 and 1524 were two moonstone and diamond rings

I love moonstones and you guessed it, the tenuous link is “Moonraker” (1979). Lots 1521 and 1524 in the sale were two gorgeous moonstone and diamond rings both sold for £1,000. Moonstones are magical and romantic and are the gemstone representing the 3rd wedding anniversary. The ancient Romans and Greeks associated moonstones with their lunar deities and the Romans believed that moonstone were solidified rays of the moon. Moonstones have a beautiful luminescence and it isn’t surprising that they are associated with inspiring passion, creativity and most importantly bringing good fortune.

Passion and creativity are definitely seen in the works of Fabergé the Russian master of jewellery. There is an exhibition of Fabergé opening at the Victorian & Albert Museum, London, in November this year.

In the Bond film ‘Octopussy’ (1983), a ‘ Fabergé egg’ (obviously not an original), was featured, (“lot 48”, in the film’s auction – “an enamelled egg with blue sapphires”).

In Elstob’s sale a Russian enamelled egg, lot 1107, sold for £110, against an estimate of £100-150. It was a miniature egg and it was Russian…how lovely!

A Russian enamelled egg

But obviously it is not just auctions and our fabulous Yorkshire regional antique shops, galleries and markets that get us excited about jewels… films do too.

When it comes to jewels and fashion, James Bond and his leading ladies really epitomise glamour and ultimate style. At the Premiere, The Duchess of Cambridge shone in a stunning dress by Jenny Packham and a pair of earrings by O’nitaa. Other brands were showcased, fabulous jewels by Chopard, Tiffany, Ana Khouri, Sean Leane, Ara Vartanian and Jessica McCormack – what a sparkling display.

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At Elstob & Elstob’s on line sale (ends 3rd October at 6pm), you still have the chance to have a taste of that James Bond glamour style. Lot 1559, estimated at £1,000-1500, is a diamond ring by David Morris, an exceptional contemporary jeweller. David Morris supplied jewels for numerous Bond films, including ‘Diamonds Are Forever’, ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’, ‘The World is Not Enough’ and ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’.

Still unsure what jewels to buy? Slight hint…’Diamonds are Forever’ (1971). Happy jewellery hunting.

Three local gin cocktail recipes to get you in an Autumnal mood

As the leaves start to turn and the cool crisp Autumn air sets in, we tend to seek out more earthy autumnal flavours when it comes to our tipples.

Yep, seasonal drinks are totally a thing.

And there’s nothing like a good gin to warm the cockles when it starts getting cold outside and the nights begin to draw in.

In the Harrogate district, we are fortunate enough to have some of the best distilleries in the country.

Bar manager at Harrogate’s West Park Hotel Jordan Davis said there was a huge gin scene in Harrogate – unlike anywhere he had seen before.

He said:

“With the beautiful distilleries we have that’s no surprise. Our Masons range and Slingsby Rhubarb Gin are the clear favourites amongst them all.

“Our best selling gin cocktail would have to be either the Yorkshire Tea Negroni, or our Rhubarb and Wild Berry Sour.”

The Yorkshire Tea Negroni, a signature West Park cocktail, featuring Masons Yorkshire gin, Campari Martini Rosso and cranberry bitters.

Three Harrogate gin producers share their favourite Autumn cocktails

Slingsby Harrogate – Blackberry Sour

Slingby’s Blackberry Sour

Starting out as a flavour exclusively enjoyed by visitors to The Spirit of Harrogate store, Slinsgby decided to launch its Blackberry Gin last month after receiving rave reviews. The new gin was released to coincide with the traditional blackberry picking season and has been designed encompass an array of autumnal flavour

With floral hints of violet, followed by notes of rich blackberry jam and a beautifully sweet finish, it makes for the ideal base for this delicious Blackberry Sour recipe, a personal favourite of Slingsby senior marketing executive, Rebekha White.

INGREDIENTS

35ml Slingsby Blackberry Gin

15ml Slingsby Rhubarb Gin 

25ml Lemon juice 

10ml Hibiscus syrup 

Egg white (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

Shake all of the ingredients together and then double strain into a coupe glass. To finish, garnish the glass with an edible flower or a lemon twist.

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Harrogate Tipple – Blueberry Fields

 

Whittaker’s – 007 Martini

Whittaker’s 007 Martini

There’s no escaping the huge fanfare surrounding the long-awaited Autumn release of the latest James Bond movie, No Time To Die.

So as we say goodbye to the summer – and Daniel Craig – Whittaker’s has come up with this tasty little number, that is guaranteed to make you feel shaken and not stirred.

Toby Whittaker, co-founder of Whittaker’s, which is based in Dacre Banks, said:

“We have chosen this recipe incorporating our Navy Strength Gin as a nod to Commander Bond’s Royal Navy Heritage and obviously the Martini ‘shaken not stirred’, as this is his tipple of choice.”

INGREDIENTS

50ml Whittaker’s Barley Mow Vodka

15ml Whittaker’s Navy Strength Gin

15ml Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth

10ml Olive brine

INSTRUCTIONS

From Harrogate with Love: Rare James Bond books up for £475,000

A Harrogate shop has listed a rare collection of James Bond books with inscriptions from the author for £475,000.

John Atkinson Fine & Rare Books specialises in the most collectable editions but the James Bond books are by far the most valuable.

There are 15 books in the collection. John, the shop owner with his name on the door, says they are so rare because Ian Fleming would only sign the books for the people he liked.

With his shop closed for lockdown John Atkinson invited the Stray Ferret down. These special books are for your eyes only.

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Ian Fleming dedicated the copy of Casino Royale, the first 007 book, to his first girlfriend List Popper and later left her £500 in his will.

The author, who died at 56, also wrote a special message to William Plomer in the Spy Who Loved Me. Mr Plomer encouraged Ian Fleming’s writing and helped him get his first novel published.

So who is the type of person who would drop close to half a million pounds on this collection? Mr Atkinson believes there are plenty of people out there.

“Maybe they are an evil genius or a Bond villain. Perhaps they already have a DB5.

“I suppose it’s also an investment. The prices of these books are just going north and will continue to do so.

“I wouldn’t expect anyone to buy them and read them. There are plenty of paper backs around.

“In fact if somebody does buy this collection I will buy them the paper backs.”