It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. Our next networking event is after-work drinks at Manahatta, on May 25th at 5:30.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Harrogate marketing agency has been appointed to run a leading rail recruitment firm’s social media and PR.

Clemtech has hired The Big Bamboo Agency, which is based at Windsor House, to oversee its marketing activity, including social media management, strategic communications and PR.

The Hampshire-based recruitment company was founded 25 years ago and provides labour and professionals to the rail sector.

Rob Rose, general manager at Clemtech, which is responsible for the company’s business development and marketing functions, said: 

“Big Bamboo was recommended to us by one of our long-standing customers. They presented to us and we were impressed by what we heard and saw.”

Nicola Stamford, founding director at Big Bamboo, said: 

“We work in many sectors, rail being one of them, so we understand the industry well. It is fantastic to be appointed to work with a business that has so much history and heritage, and therefore a great story to tell.”

Harrogate bar to celebrate reopening of courtyard

A Harrogate bar is set to is set to reopen its courtyard this weekend.

Jesper’s Bar and Kitchen, which is based on Prince Albert Row, will celebrate the reopening of its yard with a beer festival.

The event will take place on Friday (May 19) and Saturday (May 20) between 12pm and 10pm. It will include seven real cask ales and draft beer by Harrogate Brewing Co.

The bar and kitchen will also have an all-day burger menu to choose from over the weekend.

Jesper’s said in a Facebook post:

“Our little gem out the back has been closed since October but with the weather warming up, it is time to enjoy our little slice of heaven once more.”

For more information on the event and to book a ticket, visit the Jesper’s Bar and Kitchen website here.

Read more:

• Business Breakfast: Boroughbridge company celebrates long-service staff milestone
• Business Breakfast: Harrogate businesses recognised as ‘best places to work’

Jespers of Harrogate reopened this morning following a shop refurbishment.

The pen and stationery store celebrated its 120th anniversary this year. The front of the shop has been remodelled, with the famous pen range relocated to the back of the store.

Shop manager Lynn Cummings said she was “amazed” by the transformation:

“We’re 120 years old this year, so we thought it was time to give the store a makeover and update what we have here. It has completely transformed the front of the shop.”

The luxury pen range has been given a new home at the back of the shop

The refurbishment of the Oxford Street shop comes two years after the business was taken on by new owners. The Jesper family retired and sold the company in 2019.

Ms Cummings added:

“Our new directors are very keen to keep the ethos that the Jesper family started and created, but also build on that with new products and lines.

“We’ve still got the lines we had, including an extensive range of writing implements from Montegrappa, Waterman, Parker, every brand that you can think of.

“We’ve also developed a whole new area to promote our personal care products. We deal with the likes of Bentley Organics, Watkins soap, Floris, and Edwin Jagger.”

In addition to stationery and personal care products, Jespers also has an art department and a variety of children’s creativity kits and jigsaws.

The personal care range.

When the store closed on June 25, the refurbishment was planned to take three weeks. That time was extended as it became clear more work was needed. But Ms Cummings is excited to be back open to the public.

“As these things go, older buildings spring up surprises and we were closed a bit longer than we wanted.

“We’re very much looking forward to reopening here at Jespers, and seeing our loyal customers and inviting new customers into the store.”