YouTuber raves about Knaresborough and Harrogate takeaways

A YouTube star with nearly 500,000 subscribers has given glowing verdicts to two takeaways in the Harrogate district.

Danny Malin, the man behind Rate My Takeaway, visited the The Roast Inn, which is a roast dinner food truck at Knaresborough’s St James retail park and Starling Independent Bar Cafe Kitchen in Harrogate last week.

Mr Malin’s reviews can have a significant impact on trade, as occurred when he recently visited Harrogate’s Thug Sandwich.

His video review of The Roast Inn went live on Friday and already has 124,000 views. He gave it a glowing endorsement, describing the food as “a solid 10 … heavenly”.

The food truck, which has been based on the retail park for 17 years, sells roast sandwiches and roast dinners. Mr Malin opted for a turkey and stuffing sandwich and a roast pork loin dinner with a side of pigs in blankets for £14.

Sitting on his signature camping chair, he said:

“If you’re like me and you like a roast dinner, this is spot on. The gravy is beautiful, nice and thick, the pork is cooked to perfection and absolutely gorgeous. The whole dinner is smothered in gravy with bit of apple sauce, just delicious!”

“To me it’s just like eating heaven, my kind of meal.”

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Moving onto the sandwich, he said the proportion of turkey to sauce and stuffing was “spot on”:

“That’s the one, you know what the thickness of the turkey is bang on, it’s not dry with all those sauces. Oh wow that is spot on, just amazing.”

Giving his final verdict on the Roast Inn, Mr Malin said:

“For me it’s probably one of my favourite takeaways for a while, a solid 10. I’m going to be coming back next time I’m here.”

Rate My Takeaway reviews Starling

On Saturday, his review of Starling went live and by today had 118,000 views. Mr Malin ordered a meat sweats pizza, Philly fries and a Mars bar slice for £22.50.

Mr Malin tucks in at Starling Bar and Kitchen last week.

Starting with the pizza, he said:

“That meatball topping is absolutely quality and the sauce is spot on. I’m getting a proper Italian vibe from those meatballs.

“The only thing is because the base is so thin the toppings can slide off but the flavour, oh my god. I’d describe it as a messy one.”

Whilst sat outside Mr Malin was approached by lots of local fans all keen to know where he’d been to review locally.

The Philly fries, which are skin-on fries topped with pulled pork, gherkins, barbecue sauce and cheese, also won praise:

“Ooh they’re nice them, the chips have got a bit of a crispiness and with the sweet barbecue sauce and the pulled pork its a beautiful flavour buzzing around my mouth.”

Describing the whole meal as “delicious “he gave Starling a 9.5 rating and said it only missed out on the 10 because the toppings fell off.

Knaresborough junction set for four weeks of roadworks

Drivers are warned to expect delays in Knaresborough for the next four weeks as roadworks start today.

Temporary traffic lights will be in place on the junction of Chain Lane, Wetherby Road and York Road.

North Yorkshire County Council is carrying out remedial work and replacing the kerbs at the junction.

Work will start today, May 3, and last for four weeks.

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The move comes after the road recently had temporary traffic lights for two weeks while Northern Gas Networks carried out work on the junction.

The gas distributor for the north of England replaced metal pipes with newer plastic versions.

It said in a press release the work would “ensure a safe and reliable supply of gas to customers now while getting the network ready to transport alternative greener fuels such as hydrogen in the future”.

Chimney fire warning after blaze in Scotton

Firefighters urged people to have their chimneys swept regularly after being summoned to a blaze in Scotton last night.

A crew from Knaresborough dealt with the incident at a home in the village at around 9pm.

Using the aerial ladder platform from Harrogate, firefighters were able to extinguish the flames and make safe the chimney pot.

Harrogate Fire Station said in a social media post the cause is believed to be an accumulation of flammable materials within the flue. It added:

“Please do make sure you regularly sweep your chimneys to prevent fires from happening.

“We recommend that your chimney should be swept at least once a year for smokeless fuel, at least twice a year for bituminous coal, and quarterly for wood.”

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Stray Views: It’s not time to ‘move on’ from Boris Johnson fine

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.

Boris Johnson fine: We’re not moving on

In response to last week’s Stray Views, Susan can absolutely ‘move on’ if she’s happy and satisfied with our shambolic Prime Minister but that does not mean that we have to listen to her and move on ourselves.

The Prime Minister broke the law. He serves the country and he needs to be held accountable. Can’t she see it’s a massive issue that our Prime Minister thinks he is above the law? Plus, Susan’s points are laughable. Boris Johnson isn’t the one suffering from Brexit? He made sure he and his buddies still receive the benefits from the EU (such as the Freedom of Movement). Also, I’m sure he can afford to shop in places that will have fruit and veg on the shelves – unlike many people in our local area who have been forced to food banks. He may have had covid, but doesn’t Susan remember that he was the one promoting herd immunity before vaccines? So, he has no one else to blame for that but himself.

Susan cannot tell people how they should/shouldn’t grieve. That was insensitive and appalling. Susan also cannot tell people when or when not to move on.

Susan’s letter lacked compassion, empathy and understanding for anyone but Boris Johnson which baffles me. Anyway, despite her atrocious ‘views’ I am really interested, for a bit of a laugh really, in her opinion, what more important things are there?

Annie Smith, Harrogate

No break for the Prime Minister

Give him a break, really? The reason partygate is not going away, as much as the Prime Minister wishes it would, is because he has blatantly broken the rules and then had the audacity to lie about it.

No longer a Conservative voter.

Jenny Beesley, Harrogate

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More money to keep Knaresborough clean

While it is very good that there are millions available to spend on leisure activities, it would be nice to see a little money spent on keeping Knaresborough clean, like it used to be when the late David Harper was employed to do this job.

The Autumn leaves were not swept up last year and became extremely slippery when the rain fell. Now they are just a dirty mess. On some roads, such as Wetherby Road, the decaying leaves have washed into the drains and blocked them to the extent they cannot cope with heavy rain.Surely a few thousand pounds could be found to employ someone to keep Knaresborough’s streets clean again?

Patsi Waite, Knaresborough

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.

Knaresborough car finance company shortlisted for four awards

Knaresborough car finance company shortlisted for four awards

Oracle Car Finance, based in Knaresborough, has been shortlisted at the Car Finance Awards.

The prestige, sports and classic car company has been shortlisted in the following categories:

Peter Brook, managing director, says:

“Having been voted best specialist car finance provider in 2020 and 2021 we are absolutely thrilled to be shortlisted for a third year running.”

Fran Irvine celebrates 25 years at Harrogate Ladies College 

Fran Irvine started at Harrogate Ladies’ College in 1997 as a PE teacher.

Since then she has been promoted to assistant head and has now celebrated 25 years at the independent school.

Talking about her time at the school, Ms Irvine said:

“I’ve stayed at Harrogate Ladies’ College for such a long time because the teaching is so rewarding, and there’s such variety in the job — both coaching many different sports and abilities, and taking care of the Middle School pupils in her care, academically and pastorally.

“I love seeing the pupils progress from Year 7 all the way through to upper sixth when they are ready to leave and embark on the next part of their journey.”

Fran Irvine

A1(M) junction 47 upgrade at Flaxby completed

Long-term work to upgrade junction 47 on the A1(M) at Flaxby has now been completed.

The project, to improve infrastructure before more houses are built in Knaresborough and Green Hammerton, is at least £2.3 million over budget and took seven months longer to complete than planned.

The original budget was £7 million. This had increased to £10 million by September and the final cost has yet to be revealed.

The A59 corridor has been identified in the Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35, which outlines where development can take place, as an area of rapid increase in residential and business growth.

Work on the junction began in September 2020 and this week became fully operational. The traffic lights have been switched on for the first time and all lanes are now open.

Three of the four slip roads, on and off the roundabout, have been widened to increase capacity.

Traffic signals are now in place on the roundabout to manage traffic flow and a T-junction has been added between the A168 and A59 to help drivers on the York side turning onto the A59.

A lane has been added to the west of junction 47 between the A1 and Flaxby roundabout so there will be two lanes in each direction between those two roundabouts.

Rapid growth

Barrie Mason, North Yorkshire County Council’s assistant director for highways and transportation, said the rapid growth in the area meant the works were essential.

He said:

“This important scheme has the aim of supporting the future growth and prosperity of Harrogate and Knaresborough. We anticipate significant residential and commercial development along the A59 corridor, resulting in many more people using this key link road.”

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The council attributed the delays to the discovery of great crested newts, which must be legally relocated, covid and poor ground conditions.

Mr Mason added the traffic lights will need to be monitored to ensure the timings are right and reduce queueing. He has asked motorists to be patients whilst the final adjustments are made.

The project has been supported by £2.47m from the government’s Local Growth Fund, secured by York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, along with contributions from the county council, National Highways and developer Forward Investment LLP.

David Dickson, chair of the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership infrastructure and joint assets board, said:

“This project is a real boost for the York and North Yorkshire economy. By improving east-west connectivity, the much improved junction unlocks the opportunity for further economic growth across the region.”

Landmark Knaresborough pub sold

The Half Moon pub in Knaresborough has been sold.

The free house on Abbey Road has been bought by Trust Inns, a Chorley-based company that owns nearly 500 pubs in England, Scotland and Wales.

The landmark pub is close to the town’s Low Bridge and has been extensively refurbished in recent years.

A team from the Half Moon takes part in the annual tug-of-war competition over the River Nidd against punters from nearby Mother Shipton’s Inn, although the event has been cancelled for the last two years due to covid.

Trust Inns tweeted news of its new purchase today, and included a photo of the pub’s new landlord, Tom.

https://twitter.com/trustinnsuk/status/1518969438405632002?s=20&t=fejl1LtYkJh3DBFS29WLXA

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Bank machines to be fitted in Knaresborough Library building

Banking facilities are set to open in Knaresborough Library this summer that will give people access to numerous banks.

The arrival of a multi-bank transaction terminal will mean personal and business customers of all the major banks can withdraw cash, deposit coins and notes, move funds and pay bills.

Previously announced in March, the branch will be run by Newcastle Building Society, alongside the library and North Yorkshire County Council, in the building on Market Place.

After the loss of Knaresborough’s last bank, Halifax, last year, residents and business owners have had to travel to banks miles away or join the queue of people at the town’s Post Office.

The new terminal, run by OneBanks Hub, will work alongside branch workers who can offer face-to-face advice and private transactions.

The addition of the terminal is a pilot scheme with only one other machine being installed in Newcastle.

Duncan Cockburn, chief executive of OneBanks Hub, said:

“We developed OneBanks Hub to support communities without access to everyday banking. This initiative will help individuals and small businesses continue to do their critical financial transactions without having to travel miles to their nearest bank branch. It is a model that can be replicated in many more locations.”

The county council has said it is unable to give a specific opening date but said it would be this summer.

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There is also a new shared banking hub set to open in Knaresborough by the Access to Cash Action Group.

Under the scheme, a building in Knaresborough will provide help with general banking queries and more specific issues, such as power of attorney and opening accounts.

Representatives from various banks will work in the hub on a rotational basis. The hub itself will be fitted out by the Post Office.

Harrogate Lib Dem leader accuses council leader and MP of harassment over ‘threatening’ legal letters

The leader of Harrogate and Knaresborough’s Liberal Democrats has revealed she received legal “threats” from the council leader and local MP over alleged defamatory statements.

Councillor Pat Marsh said one letter from lawyers representing Conservative council leader Richard Cooper included demands for £5,000.

The letters, which Cllr Marsh waived in her hand at the meeting, relate to claims she made that Cllr Cooper was not “direct in condemning” the former North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Philip Allott who resigned last October over comments he made on the murder of Sarah Everard.

At a Harrogate Borough Council meeting that month, Cllr Cooper said Mr Allott’s previous comments that women needed to be “streetwise” were “very, very wrong.”

Councillor Cooper then repeated his remarks, saying there was “no credible defence” for what Mr Allott said. In an email sent to several media outlets after this, Cllr Marsh claimed “Cllr Cooper’s response did not lead to a direct condemnation”.

The legal letter to Cllr Marsh ended with a demand she pay £5,000 as “an interim payment” ahead of any legal proceedings:

An extract of the letter from a law firm representing Cllr Cooper.

Meanwhile, another letter from lawyers representing Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, demanded an apology from Cllr Marsh. This related to comments she made that a resident had become “caught up” in a “web” of problems because Cllr Cooper is employed by Mr Jones.

At a council meeting last night, Cllr Marsh said she believed the letters amounted to “harassment”. She said:

“I would like to make the chamber aware of two recent legal letters which I felt were threatening – I had one from Cllr Cooper and Andrew Jones MP.

“The legal letter from Cllr Cooper went on so far as to demand £5,000 from me personally.

“These letters made me feel extremely stressed – I considered them harassment and they forced me to seek legal advice to defend myself.”

In response, Cllr Cooper said last night:

“I’m afraid if you say something that is libellous and a lie, then you can expect legal activity.
“I’ve had it in my various roles going back as far as 1996.”

The Stray Ferret understands that neither letter led to any further action being taken against Cllr Marsh.

Calls for ‘positive’ campaign

The revelations came during last night’s meeting as Cllr Cooper made calls for a “positive and constructive” local election campaign ahead of elections to the new North Yorkshire Council on 5 May.

However, the meeting soon turned sour with the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats trading blows on several issues, from their records on attending meetings to claims made in their campaign material.

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Later in the meeting, Cllr Cooper, who is not standing in the elections, said:

“I’m not going to get into this tit for tat.

“I tried to do something nice to enable us all to say to the people who will be elected – there will be some Liberal Democrats, some Conservatives – good luck to you, fight for all of us.

“I wish that could have been reciprocated in a rather less hostile way.

“Nonetheless, the sentiments expressed stand and, I believe, irrespective of the comments made, they stand for all of us.”

Cllr Cooper added:

“We have worked together on the vast majority of things this council does well over the eight years that I’ve been leader.
“We agree on 99% of things but on the 1% of things we don’t agree about, we can make a hell of a lot of noise.”

Calls for archeological survey into Knaresborough’s Roman past

Plans to develop a site in Knaresborough could provide an opportunity to conduct an archeological survey into the town’s Roman past.

An application was submitted to Harrogate Borough Council on March 22 to build a four-bedroom house on Abbey Road.

There was pre-Roman and Roman occupation on the site prior to a Trinitarian Priory being founded.

Kathy Allday, chair of the Knaresborough Museum Association, said the planning application provided a rare opportunity to carry out an archaeological survey prior to any development,

She added the survey could reveal key details about Romano-British life in the area and also whether a nunnery, which is known to have existed in the vicinity, was on the site.

The association has been undertaking its own research in the vicinity of the former Trinitarian Priory and has found a Roman brooch and a medieval coin.

Ms Allday said:

“Antiquarian records and archive material suggest there was also a nunnery and outbuildings which were part of the Priory precinct in the vicinity. As such an archaeological survey of the site. should be a condition of any planning approval for this development.

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“Archaeological excavations in Abbey Road have been few and far between in the last few decades, so this is an opportunity that should not be missed. Otherwise the chance to learn more about medieval and Roman occupation in Knaresborough may be lost for a few more decades.”

There have been objections to the property being built. Knaresborough Town Council’s submission to the planning consultation says:

“We object to this development as it is within the Knaresborough Conservation Area and would not preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the conservation area.”

A medieval window from Knaresborough priory, now in Pannal church – Photos by – @knaresboroughmuseum Instagram