Leon has confirmed its Harrogate restaurant will close in just over two weeks’ time — as speculation mounts over the site’s future.
The Stray Ferret revealed this week the Wetherby Road fast food venue would cease trading, with the loss of about 20 jobs, on April 2.
Staff were informed of the decision on Monday.
A Leon spokesperson said today:
“We’re confirming we have decided to close the doors of Leon Harrogate on Wetherby Road. Our last trading day will be April 2.
“Guests will still be able to get their Leon fix at the drive-thru in Gildersome, and at the Leon Leeds Station restaurant.”
Retailer EG Group operates sites with franchise partners including Starbucks, Greggs and KFC in the UK.
It considered opening a Starbucks on Wetherby Road before Leon was announced instead.
Our Facebook post about Leon’s closure generated about 400 replies, with people eager to know what will follow.
Some local residents had objected to the site being used as a fast food restaurant because of its proximity to homes and the busy junction of Wetherby Road and Hookstone Drive.
Vehicles will stop using the site after April 2 — but it could only be a temporary pause until a new business moves in.
Read more:
Stray Views: Where can we go to escape the stresses of life in Harrogate?
Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.
Selling of council land at Oak Beck
The council have now decided to flog off this last piece of green space in New Park. Apparently to provide a bit of dosh to prop up the
conference centre business in fear of Leeds grabbing OUR visitors.
Piece by piece this lacklustre council having spent lots of dosh on pointless and ineffective plans and schemes, now are evicting wildlife from the final vestiges of natural environment.
This is a lovely area of peace, where we can hear the birds, and listen to the beck gurgling it’s way (sometimes sewage as well).
Where are all these creatures to go? Where can we go to escape the stresses of life in Harrogate? Another rotten plan from a soon to be defunct council.
William B Thompson, New Park, Harrogate
Reduction in the Fire Service in Harrogate.I have not seen the details of this proposal to fully comment. However, since the Harrogate fire station was built some years ago and staffed with the suitable staff levels and appliances, Harrogate has expanded massively with additional housing and industrial units. Just looking from my car driving into Harrogate by the A59 or by Penny Pot. Huge housing developments. Industrial units near the Army College. Even Killinghall has probably doubled in size with additional housing. This is happening throughout the area. Then there’s the condition of the older existing properties both housing , retail and business premises. These older properties will have timber roofing members, floor joists which will be now tinder dry and with the change in climate, plus heating and other equipment not being updated, the fire risk will have increased quite a lot. Remember the huge fire next to what was the North Eastern pub some years ago? Any reduction will impact public safety. So any reductions seem unwise!! Allan Campbell, Harrogate |
Read More
- Starbeck KFC withdraws expansion plan
- Harrogate fire station changes won’t increase risk to life, says commissioner
Starbeck should support KFC expansion – a response
William Powell makes some good points in his call for Starbeck’s KFC to be expanded, but he is wrong to dismiss the views of local people.
He is right that Starbeck is in a wonderful strategic position between Harrogate and Knaresborough, with excellent transport links. He is right that empty premises on our High Street are a bad thing.
He is right that Starbeck has a vibrant economy, but this is driven by the local residents of our diverse area who use these shops and facilities. But they are also impacted by those businesses, whether its litter, noise, traffic or a range of other issues that local people regularly raise with the Residents’ Association.
So the Starbeck Residents’ Association (SRA) asked people who live locally what they thought about KFC’s plans and others. And views were split. Some thought it was most important to fill empty premises. Others wanted a wider diversity of businesses on a High Street that already has plenty of takeaways. Both are right and not contradictory.
The SRA recognises that we cannot force particular enterprises into a particular area. That’s why we are in touch with the local Chamber of Commerce and others about what more we can do to promote Starbeck. It has a well used library, swimming pool, successful sports clubs and facilities like Belmont Park and a real sense of community, with numerous local voluntary groups attached to our vibrant church communities and many others.
So let’s be ambitious for our area. I know I’m not alone in being proud to live in Starbeck and together we can make it better.
Chris Watt, Chair Starbeck Residents’ Association
Stray Views: Starbeck should support KFC expansionStray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.
Starbeck should support KFC expansion
Thank you for your recent coverage of the KFC expansion. I’m saddened by the responses of Starbeck residents to the expansion of a successful business, and the demonisation of the industry as a whole.
Starbeck has rightly or wrongly become a refuge for the care system, the homeless, and people needing supported and sheltered accommodation. These people don’t have the incomes to support lovely deli’s and independent retail units that some residents loudly protest we should have. The businesses in Starbeck need to survive in a tough local environment. However, they can use the strategic location between Harrogate and Knaresborough to reach a massive local market and we should support them in doing so.
Empty shops bring disasters like McColl’s burnt out shell and feed a vicious cycle of crime and poverty. On an evening, our high street is a hive of activity and there is a real hustle and bustle thanks to our takeaways and food outlets. We should be leaning into this to create a real foodie destination to bring more jobs and improve Starbeck’s reputation.
Any one of us could take over these empty shops and start a business. If they believe there is a genuine demand for smaller retail shops, then I would challenge them to put their money where their mouth is.
William Powell, Starbeck
Read more:
- Stray Views: Noisy cars in Harrogate should be monitored at weekends
- Stray Views: Station Gateway ‘will degrade things’
Stonefall Cemetery deserves more care
Stonefall Cemetery has traditionally been kept beautifully and was always cared for. However it seems this year the grass cutting is rough, careless and damaging.
I have noted now that the last five cuts have been made with heavy machines which aren’t really suitable for delicate areas. The cut grass is being left and is now preventing new growth, leaving the plots looking awful. I’m sure the council realises this is a graveyard and not a roadside verge. Our families deserve more care and respect.
I contacted Stonefall and they were sorry to hear my complaint but told me that the council had changed the garden team before Christmas.
I also frequent Harrogate Valley Gardens in Harrogate, which is beautifully cared for. Shouldn’t we provide the same care for our dearly departed?
Mark Anthony Taylor, Harrogate
Gateway correspondence response
In response to last week’s Stray Views letter regarding Station Gateway being “long overdue”, I note that the correspondent lives in Knaresborough.
Gillian Long, Harrogate
Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.
Starbeck KFC withdraws expansion planKFC has withdrawn plans to expand its premises in Starbeck.
Under proposals submitted to Harrogate Borough Council, the fast-food chain planned to take over and convert the former Age UK shop next door to create more space for seating.
An area for 14 seats would have been created and a new disabled and unisex toilet installed.
The conversion of the unit would also have seen a new main entrance built.
While the current KFC is mainly used as a takeaway, the fast-food chain said the plan would help it function as a restaurant.
Pegasus Group, which submitted the plans on behalf of KFC to the council, said in planning documents:
“The proposal seeks to utilise it as a seating area directly associated with the existing KFC premises next door. The existing KFC is a Sui Generis takeaway use.
“The proposal will allow for a seating area to be introduced meaning that the existing KFC could operate more as a restaurant.”
Read more:
- Italian takeaway to open in former Starbeck pharmacy
- Starbeck cafe tackling the cost of living crisis
- Starbeck KFC submits plans to expand
Now, the fast-food chain has withdrawn the plan. No reason has been given in planning documents for the decision.
In a letter to the council, local resident Peter Walker said the High Street already had enough takeaways.
He said:
“Starbeck High Street has more than enough takeaways at this time. Expanding the current provision detracts further from the character of the area, increases the risks due to vermin and drives away other businesses who would suffer further from queues of delivery drivers.
“We already have rubbish dumped in the area by customers of this business. The number of occasions I have had to clear away half eaten chicken from this shop is growing.
“The waste attracts rats and we are seeing more of those in the area this summer. Chicken bones are a health risk to dogs and I have to exercise vigilance just to take my dog for a walk.”
The Stray Ferret has approached KFC for comment, but has not received a response by the time of publication.
Starbeck KFC submits plans to expandKFC in Starbeck has tabled plans to expand its premises to offer more seating.
Under proposals submitted to Harrogate Borough Council, the fast-food chain would take over and convert the former Age UK shop next door to create more space for seating.
An area for 14 seats would be created and a new disabled and unisex toilet installed.
The conversion of the unit would also see a new main entrance built.
The current KFC is mainly used as a takeaway.
In documents submitted to the council, development consultants Pegasus Group, which has lodged the plan on behalf of KFC, said the proposal would mean the takeaway could operate as a restaurant.
It said:
“The proposal seeks to utilise it as a seating area directly associated with the existing KFC premises next door. The existing KFC is a Sui Generis takeaway use.
“The proposal will allow for a seating area to be introduced meaning that the existing KFC could operate more as a restaurant.”
Read more:
- Italian takeaway to open in former Starbeck pharmacy
- Starbeck cafe tackling the cost of living crisis
The proposal becomes the latest fast-food plan for Starbeck High Street.
A proposal to convert a former laundrette in the area was submitted to the council earlier this month.
The premises at 47 High Street had been a launderette since the 1980s before being used as an off licence and a clothes shop in recent years.
A new application by owner Mark Leicester could see it changed to a takeaway.