Pateley Jewellery Quarter to launch next monthNational jewellery chain to close seven stores – but open in HarrogateHarrogate jewellers to extend into neighbouring unitHarrogate jeweller Fattorini bids farewell after 190 years

A well-known Harrogate jewellers which has been in the same family for 190 years is set to close it doors for the final time today.

The Stray Ferret revealed in November that A.Fattorini The Jewellers, on Parliament Street, was due to close when the current manager Anthony Tindall retires.

Today, after a busy few months at the shop with the combination of a closing down sale and Christmas, Mr Tindall will bid a fond farewell to his customers and staff.

While most of the stock has found new homes, the few remaining pieces will go to an auction house.

Anthony and his great-great grandfather Antonio Fattorini.

It was not an easy decision for Mr Tindall, whose great, great grandfather Antonio Fattorini founded the business in 1831, but his children were not keen to take it on.

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He told the Stray Ferret today:

“I am very proud of the legacy and the whole family are proud of it. Of course it is sad that it will not continue in my family.

“These are sad decisions but you need to do it. I need to retire otherwise I will still be doing this well into my 80s and the world isn’t ready for that.

“Customers like the bargains but they do say they are sorry to see us go. People will remember us for the happy and important things in life, engagements and weddings.

“It has touched many lives, I know lots of the customers but plenty come in and say you won’t know me but buying jewellery from Fattorini is part of their family tradition.”

It is unclear what will happen to the iconic building where Fattorini has been based since 1884 when it closes.

However, Mr Tindall hopes that a new family will take on the business.

Harrogate jewellers Fattorini sets closing date after 190 years

A well-known Harrogate jewellers which designed the FA Cup and has been in the same family for 190 years has set a date for its closure.

The Stray Ferret revealed in November that A.Fattorini The Jewellers was due to close when the current manager Anthony Tindall retires.

In the months following Fattorini held a closing down sale to clear the remaining stock before Christmas.

There are still some pieces left which Mr Tindall hopes to sell before he closes the shop for good on January 8.

If the jewellers have not sold everything by that date he plans to take whatever remains to an auction house.

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It is unclear what will happen to the iconic building where Fattorini has been based since 1884 when it closes.

A. Fattorini through the decades.

Mr Tindall, whose great, great grandfather Antonio Fattorini founded the business in 1831, hopes to find a buyer or tenant. He told the Stray Ferret:

“Ever since we said we were closing the response has been fantastic but I am certainly looking forward to that closing date now. I suppose you could say I am getting demob-happy.

“Ideally a buyer could take on the shop and continue the Fattorini name, but that would take a lot of trust. I have lots of special memories here.”

While there have been a couple of interested buyers, Mr Tindall believes the latest wave of coronavirus driven by Omicron has forced them to be a little more cautious.

Harrogate jewellers to relocate to Cambridge Street

Harrogate jewellers Fogal & Barnes will move into a new shop on Cambridge Street next month.

The luxury retailer will relocate from its current location on Oxford Street, where it has been for the past 10 months after initially launching online.

It will move into a unit between Marks & Spencer and Card Factory on Cambridge Street in about three weeks, after shopfitting is complete.

Fogal and Barnes

Fogal and Barnes’ new unit on Cambridge Street.

Richard Norman, who co-owns the business with his wife Mona, said the new shop was a better size and location. He added:

“We need to be in a prime location.

“It also gives us the opportunity to hire more people and we’re looking for one full time and one part-time staff member.”

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In July, Ms Norman was left terrified when specialist police officers took over her shop as part of a VIP training exercise. One officer, wearing a bulletproof vest, blocked the door.

She had not been forewarned about the visit and feared she was going to be robbed.

Durham Constabulary apologised, saying the officers should have identified themselves.

 

Bespoke Harrogate jeweller is a ‘hidden gem’

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.

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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.

Emotional goodbye for Harrogate jeweller after 43 years

A Harrogate jeweller may shed a tear when he closes the doors for the final time in the next month after 43 years in business.

GA Taylor, on Oxford Street, is coming up to the end of its five-year lease in September but will not renew after the owners saw sales dwindle.

They are holding a closing down sale.

The shop’s owners did not blame coronavirus and said it had plenty of government support. But, they said, the business is not viable going forward.

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It has seen a spike in interest recently after holding a closing down sale, but will close when the stock runs out, which could be in the next few weeks.

Andrew Taylor, son of the owner Graham Anthony Taylor, told The Stray Ferret:

“It’s sad but positive at the same time. Speaking for my father, it is hard to tell that anything is happening, but when we close that door for the final time I think it will be emotional for him.

Through the years we have seen a lot of changes in Harrogate. It was quite a prosperous business when we first set up but there wasn’t the competition from online shops.”

They have seen a spike in interest since the closing down sale.

Mr Taylor added that a combination of high rent and low footfall in the area has made it difficult for the business going forward.

Since announcing the closure, GA Taylor has been inundated with supportive messages from former customers – many of whom reminisced about buying their wedding rings from the long-standing firm.