The Harrogate Inn has been named the best pub in the county at the Pub & Bar Magazine’s 2024 awards.

The inn opened after a multi-million-pound renovation in July 2023. One of the major changes from its previous incarnation as the St George Hotel was the new Barking George bar within the Ripon Road venue.

Owned by Newcastle-based pub company the Inn Collection Group, Barking George hosts live music on Friday nights and has an outdoor terrace overlooking the hustle and bustle of Crescent Gardens.

Inside the Barking George

General manager Henry White said:

“We’re naturally delighted to have picked up the award for North Yorkshire. To be named best in a county where there is some serious competition is humbling. Since opening in July, it has been great to see the bar establish itself and the team settle into providing a welcoming place for people to come and we’re looking forward to our first full summer this year.”

The Inn Collection Group, which also owns the Ripon Inn and the Knaresborough Inn, won three accolades at the National Pub and Bar Awards.

The Bull’s Head Inn and The Swan Grasmere were named as the best pubs in Gwynedd and Cumbria respectively.

Tristan O’ Hana, editor of Pub & Bar magazine said award winners “represent all that is great about the modern on-trade”.

The winners will now go on to the National Pub & Bar Awards in London this June, where 15 regional winners and an overall champion will be revealed.

Barking George bar

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In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2023, we look at businesses and brands that came and went on our local high streets.

The Harrogate district has seen a range of national and independent retailers come and go on the high street this year.

A cinema in Ripon folded, Harrogate got its first world supermarket, and A-ha’s sound technician even opened a local bar.

And let’s not forget the Rooftop which opened to the public for a grand total of 48 hours…

Today, we’re looking back some standout moments on the district’s high streets.

Came – The Inn Collection Group opened three sites in the Harrogate district

Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough were all in the spotlight following the opening of a new Inn Collection hotel in each area.

The Inn Collection Group, which bought the former Dower House in Knaresborough along with the George Hotel in Harrogate and the Ripon Spa Hotel, markets its venues as ‘inns with rooms’.

All three sites got fresh new looks following multi-million pound makeovers.

The new Ripon Inn, which opened in October, has 58 bedrooms and two bars. The group’s managing director told the Stray Ferret the bill for the site was “close to eight figures”.

The Knaresborough Inn opened its doors in August. It no longer has a spa and gym but boasts 56 rooms compared to a previous 38.

Finally, The Harrogate Inn closed in January for refurbishments. It has a new entrance, a new bar and restaurant, 96 rooms and two new outdoor patio features.

The Knaresborough Inn.

Came – Jollyes pet store opens in Harrogate

A national pet chain, Jollyes, opened on Hookstone Park in September.

The store sells a wide range of pet foods, toys and bedding. It also offers a pet grooming service.

The Harrogate store is one of 95 sites in the UK and the company plans to open another 10 by the middle of 2024.

Went – national retailer Paperchase folds

Paperchase, which had a store on James Street in Harrogate, closed after the company went into administration in February.

As part of the closing down sale, the company sold off cards, gifts and stationery for up to 70% off – with cards going for as little as 10p.

Tesco bought the rights to the brand, entitling it to sell Paperchase items in its supermarkets, but did not buy the stores.

The move affected 106 Paperchase shops and more than 800 staff nationally.

Came – soft furnishing brand Sophie Allport came to James Street

Sophie Allport, an interior furnishing brand based in Lincolnshire, took over the former Phase Eight store in Harrogate.

The Harrogate branch, which opened in November, is the first outside its home county, with other stores in Stamford and Bourne.

It sells a range of homeware, including bedding and crockery, as well as home furnishings, accessories and gifts.

Founder Sophie Allport.

Went – The Rooftop’s two-day tenure in Harrogate

Our next restaurant possibly holds the title for being the most rapid open and closure in recent Harrogate history.

Mexican restaurant, The Rooftop, confirmed it had closed after just two days of trading in August.

Owner Mason Elyas told the Stray Ferret he had been involved in a dispute with business partners and planned to take legal action at the time. However, another restaurant has not yet opened.

Mr Elyas said he had lost £20,000 on the venture but, despite this, hoped to open another restaurant in Harrogate once this issue was resolved.

The restaurant, which was on Cheltenham Crescent, was the third restaurant to open and close in just over a year, following the closure of both Samson’s and HG1.

Came – Harrogate’s first world food supermarket opens

All Nations Supermarket, on Skipton Road, opened in September.

It stocks a wide variety of Asian, African, Middle Eastern and European foods and ingredients – the first of its kind in the town.

The store also has a butchers counter selling fresh meat and stocks halal foods too.

The opening created a real buzz on the Stray Ferret’s social media, with more than 1,000 people reacting to a post about the new venture.

All Nations Supermarket also sells Tik Tok-viral Buldak products, as well as a range of Asian spices, Middle Eastern desserts and even fresh fruit and vegetables.

Went – Curzon closed Ripon cinema

Ripon’s only cinema, Curzon, closed its doors in July this year.

The company said the venue faced “specific challenges” and site was “not suited to the long-term direction we have taken”.

Sterne Properties Ltd, which owns the North Street premises, announced in June it hoped to retain one of the cinema screens to become a volunteer-led community project.

It hopes to have the building back open to the public next year, however, no further developments have been announced yet.

Curzon.

Came – Amy Winehouse’s sound engineer opens record shop and bar in Harrogate

Dave Swallows, who has worked with the likes of Amy Winehouse, Erasure, James and A-ha, opened a vinyl coffee house and bar in May.

AAA (pronounced triple-A) on Cold Bath Road sells clothing and vinyl records, as well as serves coffee, food and alcohol.

Mr Swallows, who is originally from Southend-on-Sea but has lived in Harrogate for 16 years, told the Stray Ferret:

“Last July, I was touring with A-ha, playing Rio de Janeiro and the Hollywood Bowl, and then just two days later I was back here, being handed the keys to this place.”

Maybe one day A-ha will decide to Take On the town for one night only…

Went – Joules closed Harrogate store in second blow to James Street

Paperchase was not the only major retailer to closed its doors in Harrogate this year – as Joules saw the same fate.

The closure, which happened in May, came after the company fell into administration in 2022.

However, Next rescued it by paying £34 million for the business, plus £7 million for the head office.

The closing notice did not state a reason for the decision, but added the nearest Joules store is now Ilkley.

Mint Velvet later took on the former Joules site.

Came – Knaresborough banking hub opened to town

Knaresborough’s first banking hub, Cash Access UK, opened its doors in November.

It is a not-for-profit company set up by 10 major high-street banking providers to protect the public’s access to cash.

The hub, on Bowling Green Yard, offers customers of all major banks and building societies the chance to carry out regular cash transactions, from Monday to Friday.

It also provides a community banker service whereby customers can talk to their own bank about more complicated issues.

Community bankers from Natwest, Halifax, Santander, HSBC and Barclays work on rotation at the hub.

Knaresborough Town crier at the opening of the new banking hub.

Went – Ripon said goodbye to M&Co after 44 years of trading

Retailer M&Co went into administration for the second time last December and subsequently closed its doors in Ripon in April.

The website, brand and intellectual property were bought by Yours Clothing — but the shops were not.

This meant all 170 stores, including Ripon which had been open since 1979, had to close.

Around 1,900 employees were affected nationally.

Came – new bar and restaurant 1858 opened in Knaresborough

1858, Knaresborough’s newest bar and restaurant, opened in the former NatWest site in August.

The venue offers lunch and evening meals, Sunday roasts and drinks.

Kim Lancaster, who runs the venue, said the experience is more like “elegant fine-dining” than a “Wetherspoons quick in-and-out” type experience.

Its name derives from the year in which the building was constructed.

Went – Leon closed in Harrogate after nine month tenure

Fast food chain Leon closed its doors in Harrogate in April.

The drive-through’s closure came just nine months after it opened on Wetherby Road.

Starbucks looks set to open in the former Leon site.

It began advertising for staff in earlier this month after North Yorkshire Council approved plans to change the signage outside.

Came – Mandarin Stone opened Harrogate store

National retailer Mandarin Stone opened its doors in Harrogate in November.

The company, which sells a wide range natural stone, porcelain and decorative tiles, took over the former Lynx Menswear unit on West Park.

The Harrogate showroom is the 15th of its kind and the most northerly Mandarin Stone site.

Director Carl Ryan said the company’s “knowledge, passion and enthusiasm” for the industry set it apart in the market.

The Mandarin Stone team.

Went – Harrogate Tea Rooms closed after 13 years

The Harrogate Tea Rooms, in Westminster Arcade, closed with immediate effect in October.

Owners Carrie and Tony Wilkinson announced the news on social media and said the day-to-day running costs were not translating into profit.

They added they would, however, continue making scones for delivery.

Their post said:

“We are as sad and shocked as some of you will be.

“Our tenancy with the new landlord was up for renewal, but with increased rent, energy and food costs, lower than ever footfall, our out-of-the-way location and possibly the ever increasing amount of new coffee shops near us, it has forced our decision to unfortunately not be able to move forward with the business.

The Harrogate Tea Rooms was featured in The Harrogate Crime Series by Malcolm Hollingdrake.

Mr and Ms Wilkinson said DCI Cyril Bennett, one of the main characters, will live “in our hearts and memories”, and “will forever be drinking tea from a China cup”.

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Are you already thinking of how to reward your employees this Christmas? Why not choose the Harrogate Gift Card?

The Harrogate Gift Card can be spent in over 100 businesses in Harrogate town centre including retail, hospitality and leisure, whilst keeping the spend locked into the local economy.

Complete a corporate bulk order of over £250 and receive 15% discount from November 1 to 15 with the code ‘HGT15’.

Daniel Footwear, a Harrogate-based independent footwear business that was the first in the world to sell Jimmy Choo shoes, is celebrating 30 years’ trading this month. 

The company was founded in Leeds by Daniel Buck, and now employs about 50 people at eight shops across the North and in north London, including in its flagship store on Parliament Street in Harrogate. 

Mr Buck said: 

“In 1993, the Daniel brand was born, with the distinctive Daniel logo adorning the footbed of every pair of shoes. By 1995, sitting alongside the Daniel brand were the likes of Gucci and Prada, and we became the first supplier of Jimmy Choo worldwide. 

“Over the past three remarkable decades filled with ups and downs, I have had the privilege of collaborating with exceptional European suppliers and travelling the world to source the finest fashion offerings. 

“I am fortunate to work alongside the most exceptional individuals within our company, all working together to make the next 30 years just as fantastic as the last.” 

To commemorate its 30th anniversary, Daniel Footwear is offering discounts of up to 30% throughout November in all its stores.

In addition to the Harrogate shop, Daniel has branches in Leeds, Beverly near Hull, Alderley Edge in Cheshire, and four in north London, in Mill Hill, Muswell Hill, Stanmore and Hampstead Garden Suburb.

Local hotels part of Which? recommended group

The Inn Collection Group, which owns and runs the Harrogate Inn, the Ripon Inn and the Knaresborough Inn, has made it onto a list of the UK’s best hotel chains.

The pubs-with-rooms operator is now rated as a Recommended provider by Which?, following a survey of 5,000 people who rated their experiences at 37 hotel chains across the UK.

Revealing its list of the best and worst hotel chains of 2023, Which? said The Inn Collection Group offered inns that were “cheaper, better and with more character” than other leading operators, citing warm welcomes, posh pub grub and a decent beer selection as key features.

The Newcastle-based group was placed third in the small operator listings, with a customer score of 78%, which combines overall satisfaction and likeliness to recommend. The highest-rated operator earned an 80% mark.

Kate Bentley, rooms director at The Inn Collection Group said:

“When you look at the scores across the areas measured by the survey, ours are in line or better than the benchmarks set by some of the biggest operators in our industry, so it is a massive endorsement of the hard work our site teams are putting into looking after our guests.”

The Inn Collection Group has 32 sites across the north, 26 of them trading and six undergoing refurbishment.

The group bought the historic Hotel St George, opposite the Royal Hall, in Harrogate in February 2022 and reopened it as the Harrogate Inn this summer. It bought the 15th-century Dower House in Knaresborough in December 2021 and reopened it as the Knaresborough Inn in September; and it bought the Spa Hotel in Ripon in June 2021 and reopened it as the Ripon Inn two weeks ago.

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Ripon Spa Hotel is to reopen on October 16 with a new name and look.

The Inn Collection Group, which bought the property in June 2021, revealed the date today.

The historic Park Street hotel, which will be known as The Ripon Inn, has undergone a multi-million pound refurbishment.

The Northumberland-based owners, who have over 30 venues, market their properties as “inns with rooms” rather than hotels so the change is likely to be considerable.

With a strong emphasis on dining, the company hopes to attract local people as well as overnight guests.

The Inn Collection Group has already re-opened the St George Hotel in Harrogate and the Dower House in Knaresborough as The Harrogate Inn and The Knaresborough Inn respectively this year.

Ripon Spa Hotel before the multi-million pound refurbishment.

The Ripon venue will hold a VIP launch event on Thursday, October 12 before opening to the public on the following Monday.

The elegant Edwardian 40-bedroom Spa Hotel, which was in the ownership of the Hutchinson family for decades, opened a year after the nearby Spa Baths.

The two buildings, nestling alongside Spa Gardens and Spa Park, were key elements of Ripon’s stylish spa quarter.

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Knaresborough’s hospitality offering is undergoing something of a renaissance.

Last week 1858 bar and restaurant opened in the former NatWest bank on High Street.

On Monday, the historic Dower House will reopen as The Knaresborough Inn under new ownership.

Both venues have undergone major refurbishments to offer something more ambitious than the average hospitality business.

The new bar.

The Inn Collection Group, which bought The Knaresborough Inn along with the former George Hotel in Harrogate and the Ripon Spa Hotel, markets its venues as ‘inns with rooms’ rather than hotels.

Its business model therefore focuses as much on attracting local people for food and drink as it does on providing three-star accommodation for tourists.

The Knaresborough venue, which closed last summer, held a VIP preview day today.

It no longer has a spa and gym but the number of rooms has increased from 38 to 56. The inn will serve food seven days a week from morning to night and the outdoor area has been upgraded with more seating.

The outdoor area can seat 100 guests.

A spokesman said:

“The idea is that this is as much a place for locals as it is visitors.

“If you want cake and coffee in the afternoon, a breakfast before work, a quick lunch or a night out for a treat, we will cater for you.”

The Knaresborough Inn employs 47 staff and can seat 125 customers inside and 100 outside.

Operations manager Paul Brown (left) and general manager Ian Durrant toast the inn today.

A new portico entrance has been built on the Grade II-listed 15th century building.

General manager Ian Durrant said:

“This has been a year in the making and it’s wonderful for Knaresborough.

“I’m really excited because it’s a beautiful reincarnation of a well known venue.”

Guests at today’s VIP preview opening.

The Inn Collection Group, which is based in Newcastle, has 33 venues in northern England and north Wales, including eight in Yorkshire.

The Ripon Spa Hotel is due to reopen as the Ripon Inn in October. A precise date has not been revealed but it is expected to be in the second half of the month.

The Harrogate Inn, formerly the St George Hotel, reopened on July 3 after a 152-day refurbishment.

The former Dower House has a new name and look.

One of the rooms in what used to be the spa.

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The Dower House in Knaresborough will open with a new name and a completely fresh look on September 4.

The venue has undergone a major refurbishment since it closed last summer.

The Inn Collection Group, which has bought the venue along with other historic hotels in Ripon and Harrogate, has renamed it the Knaresborough Inn.

The Newcastle-based owners have 32 venues in northern England and north Wales, which are marketed as ‘inns with rooms’ rather than hotels.

The Knaresborough venue will therefore no longer have a spa and gym but it does have an extra nine bedrooms and will focus more on food and drink for local people.

A new portico entrance has been built on the Grade II-listed 15th century building.

New signs have gone up.

Meanwhile. the Ripon Spa Hotel is due to reopen as the Ripon Inn in October. A precise date has not been revealed.

The Harrogate Inn, formerly the St George Hotel, reopened on July 3 after a 152-day refurbishment.

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An historic Knaresborough hotel will reopen next month after a refurbishment and renaming by its new owners.

The Knaresborough Inn – previously known as the Dower House – is set for an official opening on August 31.

It follows the closure of the hotel last summer, with a contractor appointed for the work at the end of the year.

Visitors to the refurbished facility will find its spa and gym have been replaced by an additional nine bedrooms.

A new portico entrance has been built on the Grade II-listed 15th century building, with an accessible ramp to the entrance and repairs to its roof and brickwork.

News of a reopening date follows the company’s unveiling of The Harrogate Inn, formerly the St George Hotel, on July 3 after a 152-day refurbishment.

Chris Moor, operations director for The Inn Collection Group, said:

“We’re excited that The Harrogate Inn has been received so positively since reopening and we are looking forward to unveiling The Knaresborough Inn as our second North Yorkshire site to complete refurbishment in a few weeks.

“Creating a new-look for a much-loved venue has been a painstaking process as has the renovation programme, making sure we take great care of what in parts dates back to the 15th century but we are confident that we have done what we set out to achieve.

“The inn will breathe new life into the venue and retain it as a resource and vital hub for the local community as much as guests coming to stay.

“We will be announcing plans for our reopening celebrations very shortly and I look forward to seeing the doors back open before the end of the summer.”

Meanwhile, The Ripon Inn, which used to be the Spa Hotel, is now set to welcome guests from October 2.

Its opening has been delayed from an initial expectation of spring this year, later updated to August, and now put back a further two months.

All three hotels were bought by the Inn Collection Group over the last two years. Based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the company owns 32 hotels across northern England and north Wales.

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The former St George Hotel in Harrogate reopened yesterday after a 152-day transformation.

The hotel has new owners, a new name and a completely refurbished look and feel, which it is hoped will attract local people to eat and drink there.

Now called the Harrogate Inn, it has adopted a country pub feel that is the hallmark of owners the Inn Collection Group.

The Newcastle-based company has added the venue to its portfolio of 32 locations that also includes the Black Swan at Helmsley and the Wordsworth Hotel in the Lake District.

Closer to home, the Inn Collection Group also owns the Ripon Spa Hotel and Dower House in Knaresborough, which are due to reopen under new names the Ripon Inn and the Knaresborough Inn this summer.

The Harrogate Inn

The Harrogate Inn, which closed at the end of January for refurbishment, has a new entrance, a new bar and restaurant, six extra rooms, two new outdoor patio features. Meals are available from 11am to 9pm.

Louise Stewart, property director at the Inn Collection Group, said:

“The works have been extensive with a total refurbishment of the old function rooms and reception area of the old St George Hotel, the creation of the new grand entrance and remedial works to the building’s roof.

“It has delivered a venue which has been warmly received by those we have shown around prior to reopening, and I hope that the inn is going to delight guests going forward.”

The Harrogate Inn project has been managed by Silverstone Building Consultancy and delivered in partnership with 7Formation.

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A new chapter in the history of one of Harrogate’s most famous hotels will begin on Monday when it reopens with a new name and completely fresh look.

The Harrogate Inn, formerly known as the St George Hotel, is one of three major local hotels to have undergone multi-million pound renovations by the  Inn Collection Group.

Ripon Spa Hotel and Dower House will re-open shortly under new names the Ripon Inn and the Knaresborough Inn.

The Harrogate Inn has a new main entrance on Crescent Gardens that leads into a bar called the Barking George — a nod to its former name.

Visitors will walk into the Barking George bar.

The adjoining area, which used to serve food to hotel guests, has been transformed into a food and beverage area called Stray Away, which the owners hope will become a destination for local people.

It will serve breakfasts, morning and afternoon teas and coffees, lunches and evening meals in the hope of attracting customers for 18 hours a day. It also has a separate Sunday menu.

Six new ground floor suites have increased the number of rooms from 90 to 96.

One of the new suites.

The outdoor terrace has been redeveloped and the Ripon Road entrance will lead to another smaller bar. The existing rooms have undergone only minor changes.

An Inn Collection Group spokesman said:

“The reason we pitch ourselves as inns rather than hotels is because we make the space work from breakfast to night.

“It’s a new place to come and eat and drink. We want it to become a destination for locals to enjoy as much as hotel guests. Ultimately, that’s what will make us successful rather than just relying on high season visitors.”

Andrew Robson, senior communications and marketing executive and Louise Stewart, property director at the Inn Collection Group outside the Harrogate Inn.

The Newcastle-based Inn Collection Group has 32 venues in northern England, including eight in North Yorkshire.

Henry White, who previously managed the company’s Commissioners Quay in Blyth, has been appointed general manager.

The new name is displayed.

It will be the first of three local Inn Collection Group properties to reopen this summer.

The Knaresborough Inn — formerly the Dower House — is scheduled to reopen on August 20. It will have 57 rooms, compared with 41 previously, largely due to the closure of the spa.

The reopening of the Ripon Inn — formerly Ripon Spa Hotel — was scheduled for August 20 but may not happen until early September. The number of rooms will increase from 41 to 57.

The domed roof remains.

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Three historic hotels in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough have announced details of when they plan to reopen.

The St George Hotel in Harrogate, the Spa Hotel in Ripon and the Dower House in Knaresborough are all currently closed.

They have been acquired by the Inn Collection Group, which has 32 venues in northern England, and are undergoing major refurbishments.

They have also been renamed as the Harrogate Inn, the Ripon Inn and the Knaresborough Inn.

An Inn Collection Group spokesman revealed today the Harrogate Inn will reopen on July 3. It will have 96 rooms, six more than previously. The six extra rooms are all ground floor suites.

The former St George Hotel, Harrogate

The Ripon Inn will reopen on August 20 with 58 rooms, compared with 43 previously.

The Knaresborough Inn is expected to be the second of the three venues to re-open. A date has not been set but it is expected to be early August. It will have 57 rooms, compared with 38 previously.

The Harrogate and Ripon inns are both accepting bookings now.

The Dower House has a new name and look

The spokesman said:

“The three sites have have undergone significant refurbishment and investment.

“All three will have new look bar and restaurant areas on reopening, and also have had additional rooms added to their stock.”

As part of the reopening activity, all three sites are running a free dinner promotion for guests.

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