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Knaresborough’s first food and drink week will begin on Monday.

Twenty-four businesses are involved in the venture, which runs from March 18 to Sunday, March 24.

It is one of many events being organised this year by Knaresborough Business Collective.

The collective, which was set up by independent traders Natalie Horner and Annie Wilkinson-Gill in 2021, created the food and drink to showcase Knaresborough’s culinary offer.

Similar to the Harrogate and York restaurant week events, it will give people cut-price deals throughout the week.

The deals include butchers meat bundle deals, 2 for 1 deals on cocktails and meals, early bird menus and a full afternoon tea for two for £32.

The collective said in a statement:

“We wanted to allow for both day and evening eateries to participate so decided not to limit it to restaurants only.

“We have 24 businesses including cafes, restaurants, pubs and some are offering more than one deal. There is such a huge range, there are butchers, restaurants, bars, cafes, delis.

“There are so many amazing businesses in Knaresborough it is just a case of showcasing what we have to offer and drawing people in.”

The collective has also revealed plans to run two more events, a health and beauty week and a retail week in the run-up to the Knaresborough Business Awards in summer.

The health and beauty week, which will take place next month, will offer salons a chance to showcase what they have to offer, and the retail event will occur in May.

Ms Horner said:

“We had businesses approach us after Harrogate restaurant week and realised there are so many to celebrate.

“We have launched to event to show what is on offer in Knaresborough, sometimes people get stuck in a routine and need to be shown what options they have. Sometimes people don’t realise these places even exist so it helps to put them on the map.

“All the businesses are so different they have lots to offer and we had to make sure there was a mutual benefit. We have recieved really positive feedback. We had no idea what to expect but it is getting lots of interest, we are seeing how it goes and if it goes well it might become an annual event.”

Besides advertising their events on the collective’s Facebook page, participating businesses will also put posters in their window stating their offers.

The businesses involved are:

Deals will be updated daily this week and shared to the Knaresborough Business Collective Facebook page.

Collective plans

Last year there were talks of the business collective disbanding after the founders struggled to balance their businesses, personal lives and the collective.

Ms Horner said:

“We had a lot of hassle last year, it wasn’t great. It is hard when you are volunteers but we have been offered more help this year and have focused on smaller events.”

But she told the Stray Ferret there would be no spring festival this year, as the collective plans to organise multiple smaller events instead.

She added it was expected to return in April next year and was never planned to be an annual event, despite running for the past two years.

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Knaresborough business group folds

Knaresborough Business Collective, which was set up to encourage more people to visit the town, has folded.

The group, which was established in the wake of the vote not to create a Knaresborough Business Improvement District, announced the news on social media today.

Founders Natalie Horner and Annie Wilkinson-Gill said “the time has come to say enough is enough”.

The duo organised numerous initiatives for the town including Christmas trees for traders, a scarecrow festival and business awards.

Their decision followed the theft of 20 Christmas trees last week, which Ms Horner described as “absolutely sickening”. Her own printing business Sid Horner and Sons was burgled six days earlier.

It prompted numerous messages of support from people saying how grateful they were for all that the two women have done for the town.

Peter Lacey, from Knaresborough Chamber, thanked the group for all its “hard work for the town”.

The collective’s demise may reignite calls for another ballot on whether to establish a BID.

Ms Horner and Ms Wilkinson-Gill said on social media:

“This was not an easy decision, and one not taken lightly by either of us. We have powered through adversity, harassment, theft, abuse, criticism, vandalism, complaints, slander, all of which has crossed the line to personal attacks on our own businesses and characters.

“We did what we did because we love Knaresborough, it’s businesses, it’s community, it’s residents, but we could only handle so much when we are doing every part of it voluntarily. We have neglected our businesses, our families, our homes and our health, both mental and physical, and the time has come to say enough is enough.

“We have achieved so much over the last few years, and while we loved it, every single thing we have done has been met with some form of negativity or been destroyed. We both have strong shoulders and thick skin but it is too much for two people to take. We have six young children between us and five businesses. It feels as though what turned from people being grateful soon became what people just expected.”

The post said Ms Horner, who runs printing firm Sid Horner and Sons, had lost lost thousands of pounds by printing items for free and Ms Wilkinson-Gill had paid her own staff to work at events.

It added the two women will still do things for town on a personal level, including the Knaresborough Business Awards.

Knaresborough Business Awards

Knaresborough Business Awards. Pic Brian King

They will also spend funds accrued on CCTV cameras for traders “as our parting gifts for town”, with any money left being split between local charities.

The post concluded:

“Thank you to everybody who has helped us, thanked us, supported us and volunteered, we are so grateful and think Knaresborough really is the best place, not just all the wonderful businesses but the people who make it what it is.

“We are proud of what we have achieved in just a few years and hope if anything comes of this it is that everybody supports each other and their businesses.”

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‘Absolutely sickening’: 20 Christmas trees stolen in Knaresborough

A trader who runs a business group in Knaresborough has said she is “absolutely sickened” after about 20 Christmas trees were stolen.

Natalie Horner, co-founder of Knaresborough Business Collective, organises the annual distribution of Christmas trees to shops in Knaresborough. The trees make the town more festive and any left over are given to charity.

The trees had been delivered and were in the process of being sent out this week when burglars struck last night.

In a social media post this morning Ms Horner, whose own commercial printing business Sid Horner and Son was burgled six days earlier, said:

“I cannot believe I’m posting this six days after my shop was burgled. Last night two men came and robbed around 20 trees.

“We are going to do our best to get as many shops done as possible but it means we will be short now and will have to refund some businesses.

“The saddest part is any trees left over every year we donate to charities and people who can’t afford a tree.”

The post said the criminals had also broken festoon lights, adding:

“I’m absolutely sickened somebody would do this and it’s just a constant battle at the moment and we are done in.

“If anybody hears of trees for sale or sees them in somebody’s garden today please message us. Also please check CCTV If you are on the High Street as we believe they left via the bottom end of the High Street.”

It’s not the first time one of the collective, which organises initiatives that boost the town centre, has suffered criminal damage.

Several scarecrows that formed part of a half-term trail for children to enjoy last month were vandalised.

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Vandals damage scarecrow trail in Knaresborough

A scarecrow trail created for children to enjoy during half-term has been vandalised in Knaresborough.

The trail, which began today, encourages people to hunt for 18 scarecrows in the town centre.

But Knaresborough Business Collective, which represents independent traders and organised the initiative, said in a social media post some scarecrows were damaged last night.

It said it was “absolutely heartbroken” but pledged to carry on with the trail.

The group, which was co-founded by Natalie Horner and Annie Wilkinson-Gill, said:

“We have spent weeks planning, two days in the pouring rain putting them all up and businesses have spent a huge amount of effort making these by hand.

“To now have to get up at 7am to come and fix the mindless vandalism some people think is acceptable is so upsetting. Lots of items have been stolen that we now have to spend money on being replaced.

“The Knaresborough Scarecrow Trail is put on entirely by us volunteers and brings so many people in to town and gives families something to do during half term, this is so good for our town and all these people are doing is ruining it before it’s even started.”

The post ended by saying the group would “do all we can to fix them all this morning so you can enjoy the trail”.

To take part in the trail, visit Ye Older Chymist Shoppe on Market Place to buy a £3 map revealing the locations of 18 scarecrows.

Anyone who finds them and fills in a form on the map will then be entered for a £50 prize draw.

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Knaresborough scarecrow trail to begin on Saturday

Knaresborough will host a scarecrow trail from this weekend in a fun scheme to attract more people to the town.

From Saturday, Ye Older Chymist Shoppe will sell maps for £3 revealing the locations of 18 scarecrows.

Anyone who finds them and fills in a form on the map will then be entered for a £50 prize draw.

Children hunting for scarecrows last year.

Knaresborough Business Collective, which represents independent traders in the town, has organised the initiative to boost trade in the pre-Christmas period. It will run until November 5.

Natalie Horner, co-founder of the collective, said:

“We try to do things when it’s quiet and there is less going on. We thought this would bring people into town and provide a cheap activity to do.”

This is the second year the scarecrow trail has been held. Last year saw 444 maps sold and raised almost £2,000.

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