Harrogate Borough Council will vote in favour of plans to turn Knaresborough town centre into a Business Improvement District (BID) despite a plea to let firms “decide for themselves”.
Members of the council’s cabinet last night agreed to cast 28 votes in favour of the plans which if approved would see businesses pay an annual levy to the proposed BID body for projects to create a better promoted town centre.
The council can cast that many votes because it owns 28 rate-paying properties in the town – and the decision was made despite a plea for it to not take part in the voting process.
Speaking at a meeting last night, Julie Gillett, revenues, welfare and customer services officer at the council, said:
“A letter has been received by 17 Knaresborough businesses asking that the council abstain from voting in order to let businesses decide for themselves.
“However, officer recommendation remains the same that we should support the ballot stage as our support in this will help businesses to help themselves.”
More than 300 firms are eligible to take part in the vote which started last week and will run until 8 October. The results will be announced the following day.
A group of business leaders have been working on the plans since 2019 and will generate £700,000 in funding over the next five years if the vote is a success.
Before voting got underway, Harrogate Borough Council previously agreed to lend £27,000 for start-up costs and will contribute around the same amount in levy charges if the BID goes ahead.
Read more:
- Charity donations set on fire behind Knaresborough shop
- Knaresborough vaccine site moves to offer 1,500 jabs a day
There are mixed feelings amongst the business community, with some firms raising questions over how the BID is being created and how much of a difference it could actually make.
Annie Wilkinson-Gill, owner of The Crystal Buddha gift shop, previously said there has been a “real lack of transparency” in the planning process, while Tracey Bell, owner of Ruebury Flowers, also said she fears the BID could be a “wasted opportunity”.
For the BID to succeed, a simple majority of those who vote, representing more than half the total rateable value of all properties, must be in favour.
The council’s 28 votes represents around 9% of the total number of businesses and 6% of the overall rateable value.
Harry Gration is on the hunt for local community heroesDo you know someone in the Harrogate district who has gone above and beyond to help others in the past 18 months?
Former BBC Look North presenter Harry Gration has teamed up with the Stray Ferret and Harrogate Spring Water to celebrate exceptional individuals in the Harrogate district and needs your nominations.
Harry said:
“For the last two years it’s been pretty miserable, but I’m very excited indeed to be looking for local heroes – the kind of person who’s been inspirational and made a big impact on many people’s lives.
“With the help of Harrogate Spring Water, we hope to find one person who is the best of the best, via a public vote.”
If you know someone who you think deserves to be recognised, you can nominate them on the Stray Ferret website here. It doesn’t have to be covid related; it could be someone who volunteers in their community, helps others through their work, or has made a big difference to another individual.
Read More:
Nominations are open now on the Stray Ferret website.
Charlotte Holmes, External Communications & Community Engagement Manager from Harrogate Spring Water which sponsors the competition, said:
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Harry Gration and the Stray Ferret to find your heroes from across the Harrogate District. In these unprecedented times we have seen so many examples of people’s kindness and support within our community and we are delighted to be working with Harry to give them the recognition they deserve.”
Six shortlisted heroes will then have the chance to talk to Harry about their lives and work on his brand new podcast series, Harry’s Heroes, which will launch on the Stray Ferret in November.
The winner will receive an unforgettable trip to a performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, with travel and refreshments included.
Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel
Good morning, it’s Al bringing you all the updates on the roads and rail this morning. There is heavy traffic on the A658 between Follifoot and Calcutt, following an accident earlier this morning, with the traffic building on nearby Wetherby Road.
Give me a call on 01423 276197 or get in touch on social media if you spot anything on the roads or your bus or train is delayed.
The morning blogs are brought to you by The HACS Group.
9am – Full Update
Roads
The A658 is still very busy, with traffic also building past the showground on Wetherby Road.
- There is heavy traffic along the A658 between Follifoot and Knaresborough, after an accident early this morning.
- Traffic is also backing up on Wetherby Road from the A658, and is especially busy outside the showground.
- Temporary lights on Ripon Road (near the Co-op petrol station) are causing delays, as they have done all week.
- Things are slow on the A61 Leeds Road around Pannal and past Oatlands M&S.
- Otley Road has heavy traffic between the Harlow Carr and the Prince of Wales roundabout.
- Outside Rossett School, there is traffic on Pannal Ash Road.
- Skipton Road is moving slowly, around the junction with King’s Road.
- York Place near King James’ School in Knaresborough is also still busy.
Road closures:
- Oaker Bank/Pot Bank bridge, Beckwithshaw – road closure
- Walton Head Lane, Kirkby Overblow – road closure
- Kingsley Drive, Starbeck – road closure
- Bogs Lane, Starbeck, near Henshaws College – road closure
- Whiteley Yard, Knaresborough, across from The Crown Inn – road closure. Traffic is being diverted down Stockwell Road.
- Abbey Road, Knaresborough – road closure
- Copgrove Road, Burton Leonard – road closure
- A6108 Main Street, West Tanfield, to Tanfield Bridge – road closure
- Borrage Lane, Ripon – road closure for water works
Temporary lights:
- Kings Road, Harrogate at the junction with Chatsworth Grove
- Wetherby Road near Harrogate Town grounds
- Ripon Road near Co-Op petrol station
- Hollins Lane, Hampsthwaite
- Leeds Road near junction with Almsford Avenue
- Leadhall Lane, off Leeds Road, around Rossett Drive
- Green Lane at the junction with Rossett Avenue
- Otley Road at the Harlow Moor Road and Hill Rise Avenue junction
- A59 Flaxby
- Boroughbridge Road, heading into Knaresborough, just after Farnham Lane
- Clotherholme Road, Ripon, near Outwood Academy
- Park Street, Ripon, at the junction with Firby Lane
- Sharow Lane, Ripon, near the A61 roundabout
Trains
- All services from Harrogate and Knaresborough are running to schedule.
Buses
- Harrogate Bus Company is running a reduced timetable due to driver availability. The 36 bus will run every 30 mins between Harrogate & Ripon, and every 15 mins between Harrogate & Leeds.
8:30am – Full Update
Roads
There are a number of areas looking busy this morning, especially around the A658.
- There is heavy traffic along the A658 between Follifoot and Knaresborough, after an accident early this morning.
- Traffic is also backing up from the roundabout on the A658 – between Skipton Road and Wetherby Road, past the showground.
- As they have done all week, the temporary lights on Ripon Road (near the Co-op petrol station) are causing a build up of traffic again.
- Things are looking slow around Pannal on the A61 Leeds Road.
- Skipton Road is moving slowly, around the junction with King’s Road.
- York Place near King James’ School in Knaresborough is also looking busy.
- The Flaxby exit of the A1(M) northbound is busy – possibly due to the nearby temporary lights.
Road closures:
- Oaker Bank/Pot Bank bridge, Beckwithshaw – road closure
- Walton Head Lane, Kirkby Overblow – road closure
- Kingsley Drive, Starbeck – road closure
- Bogs Lane, Starbeck, near Henshaws College – road closure
- Whiteley Yard, Knaresborough, across from The Crown Inn – road closure. Traffic is being diverted down Stockwell Road.
- Abbey Road, Knaresborough – road closure
- Copgrove Road, Burton Leonard – road closure
- A6108 Main Street, West Tanfield, to Tanfield Bridge – road closure
- Borrage Lane, Ripon – road closure for water works
Temporary lights:
- Kings Road, Harrogate at the junction with Chatsworth Grove
- Wetherby Road near Harrogate Town grounds
- Ripon Road near Co-Op petrol station
- Hollins Lane, Hampsthwaite
- Leeds Road near junction with Almsford Avenue
- Leadhall Lane, off Leeds Road, around Rossett Drive
- Green Lane at the junction with Rossett Avenue
- Otley Road at the Harlow Moor Road and Hill Rise Avenue junction
- A59 Flaxby
- Boroughbridge Road, heading into Knaresborough, just after Farnham Lane
- Clotherholme Road, Ripon, near Outwood Academy
- Park Street, Ripon, at the junction with Firby Lane
- Sharow Lane, Ripon, near the A61 roundabout
Trains
- The 08:30 Harrogate to Leeds train is delayed by approximately 2 minutes. All other services from Harrogate and Knaresborough are running to schedule.
Buses
- Harrogate Bus Company is running a reduced timetable due to driver availability. The 36 bus will run every 30 mins between Harrogate & Ripon, and every 15 mins between Harrogate & Leeds.
8am – Full Update
Roads
Things are starting to get busier on the roads this morning.
- The temporary lights on Ripon Road (near the Co-op petrol station) are causing a build up of traffic again.
- On Wetherby Road things are moving slowly past the showground and Stonewall Cemetery.
- There is a build up of traffic on Skipton Road, around the junction with King’s Road.
- The traffic on the A658 after an earlier accident looks like its reaching all the way towards Lido Holiday Park near Knaresborough.
- York Place near King James’ School in Knaresborough is also looking busy.
- Otley Road is looking a bit slow between the Harlow Moor Road and Cold Bath Road junctions.
- The Flaxby exit of the A1(M) northbound is busy – possibly due to the nearby temporary lights
Road closures:
- Oaker Bank/Pot Bank bridge, Beckwithshaw – road closure
- Walton Head Lane, Kirkby Overblow – road closure
- Kingsley Drive, Starbeck – road closure
- Bogs Lane, Starbeck, near Henshaws College – road closure
- Whiteley Yard, Knaresborough, across from The Crown Inn – road closure. Traffic is being diverted down Stockwell Road.
- Abbey Road, Knaresborough – road closure
- Copgrove Road, Burton Leonard – road closure
- A6108 Main Street, West Tanfield, to Tanfield Bridge – road closure
- Borrage Lane, Ripon – road closure for water works
Temporary lights:
- Kings Road, Harrogate at the junction with Chatsworth Grove
- Wetherby Road near Harrogate Town grounds
- Ripon Road near Co-Op petrol station
- Hollins Lane, Hampsthwaite
- Leeds Road near junction with Almsford Avenue
- Leadhall Lane, off Leeds Road, around Rossett Drive
- Green Lane at the junction with Rossett Avenue
- Otley Road at the Harlow Moor Road and Hill Rise Avenue junction
- A59 Flaxby
- Boroughbridge Road, heading into Knaresborough, just after Farnham Lane
- Clotherholme Road, Ripon, near Outwood Academy
- Park Street, Ripon, at the junction with Firby Lane
- Sharow Lane, Ripon, near the A61 roundabout
Trains
- Services from Harrogate and Knaresborough are all running on time so far
Buses
- Harrogate Bus Company is running a reduced timetable due to driver availability. The 36 bus will run every 30 mins between Harrogate & Ripon, and every 15 mins between Harrogate & Leeds
7:30am – Full Update
Roads
There is heavy traffic on Skipton Road on the approach to the roundabout with Knaresborough Road.
Traffic is also moving slowly near Follifoot, on the A658 up to the roundabout with Wetherby Road.
Road closures:
- Oaker Bank/Pot Bank bridge, Beckwithshaw – road closure
- Walton Head Lane, Kirkby Overblow – road closure
- Kingsley Drive, Starbeck – road closure
- Bogs Lane, Starbeck, near Henshaws College – road closure
- Whiteley Yard, Knaresborough, across from The Crown Inn – road closure. Traffic is being diverted down Stockwell Road.
- Abbey Road, Knaresborough – road closure
- Copgrove Road, Burton Leonard – road closure
- A6108 Main Street, West Tanfield, to Tanfield Bridge – road closure
- Borrage Lane, Ripon – road closure for water works
Temporary lights:
- Kings Road, Harrogate at the junction with Chatsworth Grove
- Wetherby Road near Harrogate Town grounds
- Ripon Road near Co-Op petrol station
- Hollins Lane, Hampsthwaite
- Leeds Road near junction with Almsford Avenue
- Leadhall Lane, off Leeds Road, around Rossett Drive
- Green Lane at the junction with Rossett Avenue
- Otley Road at the Harlow Moor Road and Hill Rise Avenue junction
- A59 Flaxby
- Boroughbridge Road, heading into Knaresborough, just after Farnham Lane
- Clotherholme Road, Ripon, near Outwood Academy
- Park Street, Ripon, at the junction with Firby Lane
- Sharow Lane, Ripon, near the A61 roundabout
Trains
- Services from Harrogate and Knaresborough are all running on time so far
Buses
- Harrogate Bus Company is running a reduced timetable due to driver availability. The 36 bus will run every 30 mins between Harrogate & Ripon, and every 15 mins between Harrogate & Leeds
7am – Full Update
Roads
There’s heavy traffic on the A658 from Calcutt to Follifoot due to a minor accident. Traffic is moving slowly.
Road closures:
- Oaker Bank/Pot Bank bridge, Beckwithshaw – road closure
- Walton Head Lane, Kirkby Overblow – road closure
- Kingsley Drive, Starbeck – road closure
- Bogs Lane, Starbeck, near Henshaws College – road closure
- Whiteley Yard, Knaresborough, across from The Crown Inn – road closure. Traffic is being diverted down Stockwell Road.
- Abbey Road, Knaresborough – road closure
- Copgrove Road, Burton Leonard – road closure
- A6108 Main Street, West Tanfield, to Tanfield Bridge – road closure
- Borrage Lane, Ripon – road closure for water works
Temporary lights:
- Kings Road, Harrogate at the junction with Chatsworth Grove
- Wetherby Road near Harrogate Town grounds
- Ripon Road near Co-Op petrol station
- Hollins Lane, Hampsthwaite
- Leeds Road near junction with Almsford Avenue
- Leadhall Lane, off Leeds Road, around Rossett Drive
- Green Lane at the junction with Rossett Avenue
- Otley Road at the Harlow Moor Road and Hill Rise Avenue junction
- A59 Flaxby
- Boroughbridge Road, heading into Knaresborough, just after Farnham Lane
- Clotherholme Road, Ripon, near Outwood Academy
- Park Street, Ripon, at the junction with Firby Lane
- Sharow Lane, Ripon, near the A61 roundabout
Trains
- Services from Harrogate and Knaresborough are all running on time so far
Buses
- Harrogate Bus Company is running a reduced timetable due to driver availability. The 36 bus will run every 30 mins between Harrogate & Ripon, and every 15 mins between Harrogate & Leeds
6.30am – Full Update
Roads
It’s still early so as you’d expect, the roads are pretty quiet. There are a few hotspots that have caused issues this week though, so do plan ahead.
Road closures:
- Oaker Bank/Pot Bank bridge, Beckwithshaw – road closure
- Kingsley Drive, Starbeck – road closure
- Bogs Lane, Starbeck, near Henshaws College – road closure
- Whiteley Yard, Knaresborough, across from The Crown Inn – road closure. Traffic is being diverted down Stockwell Road.
- Abbey Road, Knaresborough – road closure
- A6108 Main Street, West Tanfield, to Tanfield Bridge – road closure
Temporary lights:
- Wetherby Road near Harrogate Town grounds
- Ripon Road near Co-Op petrol station
- Skipton Road near the bend for Roberts Crescent
- Leeds Road near junction with Almsford Avenue
- Leadhall Lane, off Leeds Road, around Rossett Drive
- Ripon Road, through Killinghall
- Otley Road at the Harlow Moor Road and Hill Rise Avenue junction
- Boroughbridge Road, heading into Knaresborough, just after Farnham Lane
- Clotherholme Road, Ripon, near Outwood Academy
- Leyburn Road, Masham, near Co-Op
- A59 Flaxby
Trains
- Services from Harrogate and Knaresborough are all running on time so far
Buses
- Harrogate Bus Company is running a reduced timetable due to driver availability. The 36 bus will run every 30 mins between Harrogate & Ripon, and every 15 mins between Harrogate & Leeds
Stolen clothes that were left as donations to a charity shop have been set on fire behind a shop on Knaresborough high street.
The ashes from the fire were discovered at the back of The Clothing Store of Knaresborough on Saturday morning.
Shop owner Rebecca Lombardi later learned the clothing was taken from outside St Vincent’s charity shop, over the road on the high street.
It happened just weeks after Blind Jack’s pub, on Market Place, was damaged in an overnight fire.
Ms Lombardi posted about the incident on social media to warn other businesses and attempt to gather more information.
She said:
“It could have been really dangerous, it was close to the bins and if it had got out of control I would worry for the two flats upstairs.
“I was shocked initially but then I started thinking about Blind Jack’s a couple of weeks ago and lots of thoughts were rushing round my head.
“Hopefully it was just a one-off.”
Read more:
- Arsonist sets fire to historic Knaresborough pub
- Knaresborough vaccine site moves to offer 1,500 jabs a day
Ms Lombardi said police initially told her it was a civil matter because there wasn’t a witness but Knaresborough resident Philip Allott, who is North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner said he had escalated the investigation within North Yorkshire Police.
Mrs Lombardi said the police subsequently requested CCTV footage of the entrance to the back area.
She said she felt better after putting details of the incident social media because she knows other businesses are now aware.
North Yorkshire Police has not responded to requests for further information.
More homes added to 600-home Manse Farm development in KnaresboroughMore homes are to be added to the 600-home Manse Farm development in Knaresborough.
Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee yesterday granted approval for an extra 24 properties at the site, which is being built out by developers Taylor Wimpey and Linden Homes.
Councillors also approved changes to the road layout in order for the site to link up with separate proposals from Taylor Wimpey for 400 homes at the nearby Highfield Farm.
The Highfield Farm plans have yet to be granted planning permission and, if approved, would mean building over 1,000 homes to the east of Knaresborough in what councillors previously described as a “new village” being tacked onto the town.
The extra homes at Manse Farm were approved despite an objection from Goldsborough and Flaxby Parish Council, which said:
“The total 1,000 approved houses on the east side of Knaresborough, at the Manse Farm and the neighbouring Highfield Farm developments, are already excessive and inappropriate.
“Adding more housing in this soon-to-be congested area is not supported and we strongly recommend reducing the housing density at this, and each of the other developments, to make this a more rewarding living environment.”
Read more:
- Lidl store at Ripon retail park gets go-ahead
- Harrogate councillors approve new rules on staff exit packages
No loss of green space
Speaking at a meeting today, Becky Lomas, an agent for Taylor Wimpey, defended the increase in house numbers, saying it would provide more smaller family homes for the area.
She said:
“The uplift in dwellings is as a result of looking at the mix of housing – we have looked at what was previously proposed and there are now more smaller family homes.
“The uplift is also only in the developable area of the site, so we haven’t reduced any green space, public open space, landscaping or wildlife corridors.”
Also included in the Manse Farm development are plans for a new primary school, which will cater for families moving into the new homes.
In May, Elevate Multi Academy Trust was appointed by the Department for Education to run the school, which will provide 210 places for pupils, with the capacity to take in a total of 420 children if needed in future.
The project is expected to cost in the region of £5m and will be funded by North Yorkshire County Council using government grants, together with a £2m contribution from the developers.
Elevate Multi Academy Trust already runs Meadowside Academy, Aspin Park Academy and St John’s C of E Primary School in Knaresborough, as well as nine other schools in Yorkshire.
Saint Michael’s urges Harrogate district to ‘go purple’People in the Harrogate district are being urged to ‘go purple’ next month to support Saint Michael’s Hospice.
Saint Michael’s, which is based at Harrogate’s Hornbeam Park, has adopted the idea for Hospice Care Week from October 4 to 8.
Hospice UK, the national charity representing UK hospices, organises Hospice Care Week annually to raise awareness and funds.
It has suggested dressing purple, purple-themed bake sales and purple-themed work days as possible ideas to raise money during the week.
The Victoria Shopping Centre in Harrogate will be lit up purple for the event. Other businesses, schools and individuals are being encouraged to join in.
Saint Michael’s, which has 11 charity shops in the Harrogate district, spends £6 million on end-of-life services each year.
Read More:
- Saint Michael’s and Cancer Research UK shops reopen locally
- Starbeck special needs school opens new sixth form building

Tony Collins
Tony Collins, chief executive of Saint Michael’s, said:
“This is a great opportunity to get creative and have fun whilst raising funds to ensure Saint Michael’s can continue to help local people living with terminal illness and bereavement.
“We hope that as many people as possible take part, spread the word and raise money for their local hospice.
It is hoped Go Purple will become an annual event if successful.
Further information is available here.
Harrogate district covid infections down 14% in weekThe Harrogate district has recorded another 56 covid infections, according to today’s Pubic Health England figures.
It takes the total number of infections over the past seven days to 588 — a figure that has fallen by 14% on the previous seven days.
The district’s weekly infection rate has declined to 383 per 100,000 people. The North Yorkshire rate is 318 and the England average stands at 295.
Read more:
- North Yorkshire health officials urge 16 and 17-year-olds to get jab
- Harrogate hospital reports sixth covid death in three weeks
It was also revealed today that the Knaresborough vaccine clinic is moving to larger premises in the town.
The clinic will relocate to Chain Lane Community Hub from September 27 where it hopes to offer up to 1,500 covid and flu vaccinations a day.
The current site, at the former Lidl, has been in use since February but with winter approaching Homecare Pharmacy Services, which runs the clinic, wanted a larger space where people could wait indoors.
Knaresborough vaccine site moves to offer 1,500 jabs a dayThe Knaresborough vaccine clinic is moving to larger premises in the town to provide both covid vaccine boosters and flu jabs.
The clinic will relocate to Chain Lane Community Hub from September 27 where it hopes to offer up to 1,500 vaccinations a day.
It will administer first and second doses of the covid vaccine to anyone over 16, plus covid booster jabs and flu jabs.
The current site, at the former Lidl, has been in use since February but with winter approaching Homecare Pharmacy Services, which runs the clinics, wanted a larger space where people could wait indoors.
The new site will be operated in collaboration with Chain Lane Community Hub and Knaresborough Connectors.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which advises UK health departments on immunisation, today recommended over-50s be given booster jabs.
Jason Baskind, managing director of Homecare Pharmacy Services, said:
“We knew we needed a larger site with space for older people to wait indoors. The Lidl site has been great but we felt for the winter, outdoor observation wasn’t suitable.”
Mr Baskind added the company was waiting to hear whether flu vaccines and boosters could be offered at the same time or if there needed to be a gap.
Read more:
- Harrogate law firm leads legal challenge over child vaccines
- Harrogate hospital reports another covid death
The vaccine centre will take over two rooms at the Chain Lane Community Hub.
Sue Vasey, from Chain Lane Community Hub, said:
“In these difficult times we wanted to ensure that the hub played as active a role as possible in responding to the needs of the local community, and our ability to provide this service for Knaresborough, in spacious and accessible surroundings with ample parking felt an important thing to do.
“This does not mean Chain Lane will be closed to community use though. Derwent Room will continue to host the wide range of valued activities”
The site will continue to offer all Pfizer, Astra-Zeneca and Moderna vaccines.
There are only two vaccine centres remaining in the district; Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge.
There’s something in the water as Harrogate brews up for Beer WeekAs the craft beer explosion continues in the UK, Harrogate is set to launch its first ever Beer Week. The town is firmly at the forefront of the industry, boasting five breweries in the HG postcode alone.
So what makes Harrogate beer so special? There’s definitely something in the water..
Harrogate is undeniably famous for its water. Its development as a prosperous and flourishing spa town dates back to the 16th century.
William Slingsby discovered the first spring in 1571 in the area now known as High Harrogate. It was named the Tewit Well Spring and the water was found to be medicinal. People, rich and poor, began to flock to the town to test the curative powers of the waters.
Perhaps it is therefore unsurprising to learn that the district’s water – and Yorkshire water as a whole – is perfect for brewing some of the best craft beers in the country.
More breweries have been opening in Yorkshire than anywhere else in the UK, including London.
And Harrogate now boasts five breweries within the HG postcode – internationally-renowned Roosters; rising star Harrogate Brewing; Turning Point, which chose Knaresborough for its expansion two years ago; Daleside, the town’s longest-standing local brewery; and Cold Bath Brewing, which is making waves across the town with its beers, bar and clubhouse space.

The brewery at Roosters Brewing Co.
To celebrate the town’s growing brewing culture, as well as the bars, pubs and restaurants which support the breweries, this month Harrogate is launching its first ever Beer Week from September 20 to 26.
Harrogate beer communications specialist Rachel Auty, who founded Women on Tap and has secured backing from Harrogate BID to help bring the idea to fruition, said:
“I have been told by breweries that Yorkshire is a key place for brewing because of the water. Harrogate is known for its water so it’s a nice link. It is known for its water history and heritage and it is now attracting breweries to the area.
It [Beer Week] is something we have wanted to do for quite a few years now. We were hoping to get it off the ground las year, but Covid put a stop to holding any events.
“I have seen the beer scene in the town explode over the last seven or eight years. It has got really interesting. We have really exciting beer here actually being brewed.”
With special beer weeks being held in places like Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield, Rachel, who is delivering the event under her specialist food and drink brand TASTE, said Harrogate’s beer scene was strong enough to rival the cities. It’s thought Harrogate is the only town in the country set to host such an event.
Read More:
- How family holidays in Italy inspired spectacular pasta restaurant’s menu
- Stray Kitchen: a booming year for Harrogate blackberries
- Masham brewery brings back tours after 18 months
A programme of special events and initiatives will be hosted at bars, brewery taps, and eateries across Harrogate. The event will culminate in a big beer weekend in the town centre. Other features on the programme will include an ‘Indie Beer Trail’, live local music, and a home brewing competition, with some big names in UK beer heading to Harrogate to host a range of talks and tastings.
Guest headliners include award-winning beer writer Pete Brown presenting ‘Craft: An Argument’ at Cold Bath Clubhouse, a beer tasting and reading with author Matthew Curtis at Roosters taproom, a Conversation on Harrogate Beer with award-winning writer Melissa Cole and Discovering Harrogate Beer with beer sommelier Annabel Smith also at the Cold Bath Clubhouse.
And for those who have ever imagined beer and donuts as the perfect combination, there will even be a chance to try sour and stout-filled doughnuts at The Tap on Tower Street, which has commissioned Harrogate business Doe to create the unique flavour especially for the event.
A collaboration between all the local breweries will also see a special beer produced for Beer Week – a West Coast IPA brewed at Turning Point.
Co-owner of the Cold Bath Brewing Co Jim Mossman, who also sits on the board of Harrogate BID, said:
“I have been very receptive to the idea of putting something positive together with regards to an event in Harrogate, promoting not only breweries in the town, but all the local great independent bars and restaurants as well.
Harrogate is internationally famous for the quality of its water, so it’s by no coincidence you see some great breweries and gin distilleries in this geographical area. They are using it to make quality beer and gins.
We are hosting a series of events in Cold Bath Club House and we are really looking forward to a number of things, from just generating community spirit and bringing venues together, which is great after 15 months of the pandemic – from live music events, to some really credible industry speakers coming to town to do beer tastings and talks.”
Jim said the Harrogate brewing scene was mainly about craft beer, which has seen an explosion in the UK, including lager, pilsner, pale ale and West Coast IPA, but said it was impossible to choose a favourite due to the vast amount of different brewing processes and flavours.
However, he said Cold Bath Brewery was in the process of launching new barrel-aged beers. These are beers that have been aged in oak barrels, allowing the wood to impart extra flavour.
He said:
“We have launched a barrel-aged process in terms of flavours you can create, for example we are using old bourbon barrels.”

Cold Bath Brewing Co.
Pubs, bars and eateries taking part in Harrogate Beer Week include:
Turning Point Brewery and Taproom
Bus driver assaulted in KnaresboroughA bus driver was assaulted and had beer poured over her by two young women in Knaresborough on a late night service last night.
An eye witness told the Stray Ferret the driver was verbally abused and pushed over by a young woman in an “unprovoked attack”.
Another woman then allegedly poured a bottle of beer on the driver before leaving the bus, which had just left Knaresborough Bus Station at around 10pm, to get a taxi.
The witness, who did not wish to be named, said he was “shocked at what happened”, and that it highlighted the dangers facing frontline public sector workers.
He added police attended and took statements.
Harrogate Bus Company said today it was supporting the driver and cooperating with police over the alleged assault.
Read more:
- Woman sexually assaulted at Harrogate train station
- Ripon man jailed for persistently breaching animal welfare order
Driver ‘shaken’
Steve Ottley, general manager at Harrogate Bus Company, said the driver was shaken but was “doing fine”.
He said:
“We can confirm there was an incident involving a colleague last night who was treated despicably by two customers.
“Our driver is doing fine but was understandably shaken by what happened.
“We are supporting our driver and doing all we can to assist the police in bring the assailants to justice. Such incidents are mercifully, extremely rare and we take the welfare of our team and customers extremely seriously.”
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police confirmed officers attended the incident, but added that no arrests had been made and an investigation was ongoing.
They added:
“Anyone with any information who has not yet spoken to the police, should call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and pass information for incident number 12210198766.”