More than 100 Eat Out to Help Out businesses in Harrogate district

From next week people will be able to ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ by taking advantage of a 50% discount on food and non-alcoholic drinks in the Harrogate district.

More than 100 restaurants, cafes, bars, and pubs in the district have signed up to the new government scheme to boost hospitality.

Read more:

It is valid all day Monday to Wednesday from August 3 to 31, as long the town or city is not in lockdown.

Customers can get a maximum of £10 off food and drink when they eat or drink in. There’s no minimum spend and it can be used in conjunction with other offers.

The government has released a list of establishments registered for the scheme, which we have compiled by area. If your business is not on the list then get in touch.

Harrogate – 66

Knaresborough – 14

Ripon – 9

Boroughbridge – 6

Nidderdale – 6

Masham – 4

District businesses’ ‘dismay’ over plans for £46.8m convention centre upgrade

Business representatives in Knaresborough, Ripon and Pateley Bridge have reacted with “dismay” to news that Harrogate Borough Council could spend £46.8m renovating the town’s convention centre.

A confidential cabinet report leaked to The Stray Ferret has urged councillors to support the huge investment in the 40-year-old centre this week.

The news is likely to be welcomed by businesses in Harrogate but the wider district is less convinced of its merit.

Stephen Teggin, president of Knaresborough Chamber of Trade, said:

“I’m somewhat dismayed about this.

“It’s all about Harrogate. We are struggling like mad to keep Knaresborough going and attract tourists and the council finds £50m to keep something going that already loses money. It’s unfair.”

Stephen Teggin of Knaresborough Chamber of Trade called for fair investment in the district’s markets

Mr Teggin called on the council to find £50,000 a year to keep markets in Ripon and Knaresborough going.

“The markets are what pull in coaches for us, just like the convention centre does for Harrogate.

“They must spend the same amount of money, pro rata, on tourism here.”

Stephen Craggs, co-director of Ripon home appliances store G Craggs, said he wouldn’t begrudge Harrogate receiving such a huge sum but questioned the wisdom of spending it on the centre.

“That ship sailed 20 years ago. The centre is not big enough to compete with the likes of Manchester and the NEC in Birmingham. They’re flogging a dead horse.”

Mr Craggs suggested the centre would be better utilised as an indoor shopping centre.

Read more:

Tim Ledbetter, chair of Nidderdale Chamber of Trade in Pateley Bridge, said it was “less than impressed” by the council’s plan.

Mr Ledbetter said there was no overall business vision for the district and added it was “debatable” whether Pateley businesses reaped any benefits from events in Harrogate.

The council has said there is a “very real risk that the venue will not survive” if councillors do not agree to press ahead with plans for renovation on Wednesday. It says the centre attracts 157,000 visitors a year, has an economic impact worth £35m and supports thousands of jobs across the district.

Stuart Holland, co-chair of Harrogate Civic Society, said the 1960s-style centre was “nothing to be proud of” architecturally and welcomed the opportunity for improvement.

Mr Holland added any renovation should be sympathetic to the society’s attempts to develop a cultural quarter in Harrogate.

Knaresborough theatre ‘can’t open’ due to social distancing

Knaresborough’s Frazer Theatre has said it will remain closed until 2021 because it is not possible to observe social distancing and be financially viable.

The theatre, which is just off the town’s high street, has a capacity of 127 people but with social distancing this number would decrease hugely.

It has therefore decided to put the safety of its audience and volunteers first and postpone reopening.

John Pearce, vice-chairman of Frazer Theatre, said it was financially secure and lucky to be able to stay closed with minimal expenses because it is run entirely by volunteers.

Rehearsals at the theatre, which staged about 180 performances last year, will therefore resume no earlier than March 2021.

Mr Pearce said:

“The number one concern is safety and until we’re 100% safe or as near to it as we can be we just aren’t going to risk it. One thing we wonder about is how quickly audiences will feel comfortable to return.

If we have to keep a metre between people we are essentially blocking nine chairs around every one and that would be really difficult to organise. We’ve gone through the guidance as it stands and the sad answer is until there’s almost no restrictions we won’t be able to open.

“It’s not a decision we took lightly but it’s been a tough time.”

Knaresborough Frazer theatre auditorium

This theatre is postponing its reopening until the full theatre experience can be enjoyed.

Read more:

The theatre is hopeful that restrictions will eventually ease enough to allow it to reopen. But it is concerned about the overall impact the pandemic could have on the arts in the district. Mr Pearce added:

“We hope that by Christmas things will have eased so we can plan for next year. We’d love to be able to open but we don’t want to go to the effort of booking shows and having to cancel them again and disappoint people.

“We know we’re blessed to be secure, it breaks our heart to know there are theatre groups and bigger theatres talking about shutting.”

Hundreds back campaign against leisure centre at Conyngham Hall

Hundreds of local residents have joined a Facebook group to campaign against Conyngham Hall being used as the site for Knaresborough’s new leisure centre.

The campaigners support Harrogate Borough Council’s plans to build a new swimming pool and gym in the town but would prefer to see the current leisure centre site on King James Road redeveloped.

Conyngham Hall is one of four proposed options for development. The current leisure centre site, Hay-a-Park and Knaresborough House are also under consideration.

Almost 600 people have joined a ‘Hands off Conyngham Hall’ Facebook page. Local resident Craig Arditto set up the page to share information and demonstrate to the council the strength of feeling against developing the historic hall.

He said:

“I didn’t expect it to grow as it has. Our aim is to protect Conyngham Hall from development, it’s an open space and brings in a lot of tourism. I think it would be a waste of the space if it was developed. I agree Knaresborough needs the facilities as a growing town and I am very supportive of the leisure centre plans but a redevelopment of the current site works better.

“The hall is outlined in plans which offer four options in Knaresborough. No site has been confirmed but ideally we want this site taken off the table.”

Outside green space at Conyngham Hall

Campaigners want to protect Conyngham Hall’s green spaces.

Read more:

The hall is currently used as office space but its grounds are popular for leisure activities.

Hannah Gostlow, Knaresborough town councillor, said:

“I, along with many other residents in our town very much welcome the proposal of a new leisure centre for Knaresborough. However, I object to the proposal of building on this green space. I feel it would spoil the Conyngham Hall grounds and put too much pressure on already congested roads. I would prefer to see a new leisure centre developed on the footprint of the existing site.”

Harrogate Borough Council this month approved plans to overhaul its leisure centres by handing control to a new council-owned company called Brimham Active.

A council spokesman said:

“We are just at the start of the process to build a new combined leisure centre for Knaresborough following the decision to invest more than £26 million improving leisure facilities in Harrogate and Knaresborough. No decision has been taken on where the new leisure centre in Knaresborough would be, or what activities it would be offering.”

Knaresborough sees new pet shop open despite pandemic

Amidst a pandemic, a couple from Knaresborough has managed to set up their new pet shop on the high street in two weeks.

Jack and Carly Atkinson plan to open their shop on August 1. They say that the pandemic hasn’t limited their plans as they would have been classed as an essential shop before lockdown eases.

The Atkinsons believes they have found a niche that is missing in the town as currently people have to travel to Harrogate and Ripon to get their pet supplies.

In just two weeks Jack handed his notice in at another pet shop, rented the premises and began to order stock.

Jack Atkinson said:

“Its one of the businesses where it’s always going to do well because people will always have pets that need feeding. I handed in my notice at another pet shop last week so I could set this up. We’re still on track even with covid, there may be an impact when we open because we will have to restrict the number of people in at a time. We’re setting up in a time when everyone wants us to be here, a lot of people can’t or don’t want to travel to get their supplies.”

Treats and toys for pets displayed in a shop.

The shop’s owners have said that coronavirus hasn’t dulled their plans.

Read more:

The Atkinson Pet Shop will join Knaresborough’s high street as local organisations are encouraging residents to support smaller, local businesses. Carly Atkinson added:

“We’ve still been getting the stock so the pandemic hasn’t really put a halt to anything, everything has come quite quickly. People are definitely happy we are bringing a pet shop to Knaresborough, a lot of people have said it’s what the town needs.  We’re adding to the high street too, round here especially people want to support local businesses which is great for us. We’ve just got to think ahead of what could perhaps stop people coming in to store.

 

Ripon and Knaresborough market traders face rent increase

Market traders in Ripon and Knaresborough who were hoping for financial help from Harrogate Borough Council, face a rent increase of more than 25% this summer.

Before the coronavirus crisis hit the economy of the Harrogate district, the council had agreed its budget for 2020-2021, which included a rent rise for stall holders, which should have come into effect on April 1st – but was put on hold.

The council’s market rates for Ripon and Knaresborough as published on its website, show that from July, the summer rental for regular traders will rise from £19.50 to £24.50 and the winter rate increase from £16.40 to £21.40. This additional £5 is to cover the setting up of the stalls by the council, and will be charged per stall rather than per market trader.

Dave Tomlinson, trades on Knaresborough market and said:

“Its quite depressing really, all the other markets seem to be helping us apart from HBC. It’s pretty appalling and the morale is way down. The council are very shortsighted because if they continue to put the rent up they will lose traders. I know for a fact we’d lose two traders and maybe even two more and thats a lot of money to lose.”

At Wednesday’s full council meeting, Councillor Andrew Paraskos, cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, whose portfolio covers the markets in the Harrogate district, said that rates would be held at the 2019-2020 level “until the end of July”.

Photo of Knaresborough Market

Knaresborough Market, bouncing back quicker than Ripon

The Stray Ferret asked the council when the new rates will come into effect, but was still awaiting clarification at the time of publication.

On Wednesday, Cllr Paraskos pointed out that a number of measures have been put in place by the council to both support market traders and promote the markets, including waiving of fees for traders unable to attend because of government restrictions and promotion of market days on social media.

He added:

“There has been a rumour going around that Harrogate Borough Council is wanting to get rid of the markets. This is not true.”

The Ripon stallholders representative, Brian Murphy, said:

“After the financial struggle many have experienced, including those non-food traders who didn’t earn a penny for 11 weeks of lockdown, any rent increase will feel like a kick in the teeth.”

Read more:

The discussion on market rents was prompted by Ripon Independent Councillor Pauline McHardy, who submitted a written question calling on the council to follow the lead of neighbouring local authorities. Other local authorities had given rent holidays reductions to help traders post lockdown.

As well as asking for stall holders to be provided with rent-free periods or reductions for a given time, Cllr McHardy, said:

“I hope that the council is not planning rent increases this year or next.”

Cllr McHardy has invited Cllr Paraskos and Cllr Graham Swift, the council’s cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development, to visit Ripon Market with her and speak with traders.

Skydiving enthusiast becomes Knaresborough rotary’s new president

Knaresborough Rotary Club’s new president is a skydiving enthusiast and hopes her leadership can encourage more members.

Helen Westmancoat has taken over the presidency determined to encourage new members to join the club. Following over 30 years in the scouting movement she also hopes to support young people in the community through the club’s fundraising.

Helen isn’t just a rotary member she is also an avid skydiver having completed 42 jumps. Her hobby began as a fundraising attempt and now she hopes to introduce it to the scout groups she works with.

She said:

“The diving started in 2011 when I worked at York St John’s and there was a call to do a dive for the student support charity. I can’t do it alone in this country now as I’m over the age limit that it allows but I do hope to more maybe abroad in the future.

The main thing to focus on now is the rotary, raise the profile to encourage more members. We’re open to everyone, all ages.”

Profile image of Knaresborough rotary's new president Helen Westmancoat.

Helen wants to use her presidency to increase membership and “look forward”.

Read more:

Over the coronavirus period the club has continued to meet virtually to plan how it can help the community during and following the pandemic. It is currently working with Knaresborough Connectors to help those in need as well as providing face masks to public facing groups such as Knaresborough food bank.

“We will be doing community things working to support people in the town following the pandemic as well. We did have a plan for which charities to support this year but with everything going on the main for me is Knaresborough Connector’s. It’ll be a challenging year but we are committed to helping people, if we can use this as an opportunity that’ll be great.”

 

Knaresborough yoga charity needs £10,000 to reopen

A Knaresborough yoga charity that helps people with disabilities needs £10,000 to reopen safely.

Yorkshire Yoga, set up in 2005, said that the coronavirus lockdown has had a “real dent” in its finances so set up a fundraiser online.

The over 60s with disabilities make up a quarter of its classes. Many of them will have been living alone during the coronavirus lockdown.

It also holds classes pregnancy and postnatal classes as well as pilates, chair-based yoga, pilates, dance fitness and children’s yoga classes.

Read more on this story:

As Yorkshire Yoga’s funds mostly come from paid classes, rather than grant funds, the coronavirus lockdown has meant it has had no income for months.

The charity has also been eating into its limited funds to support its most vulnerable clients in their homes.

Find the fundraising page by clicking or tapping here. So far 26 people have raised £1,400 of the £10,000 target.

Chris Cox, Yorkshire Yoga’s manager, said:

“We believe this will be a lifeline to ensure that people have access to free physical and mental wellbeing practices which will maintain some kind of normality during an unprecedented time of stress and anxiety. We provide a much loved and valued service for the community.”

Knaresborough’s landlords nervous and excited to reopen

Pubs and restaurants in Knaresborough reopened today after months of lockdown. Landlords were feeling “quite anxious but a little bit excited too”.

Knaresborough’s pubs were beginning to fill up around lunchtime but many saw fewer numbers than the same time pre-lockdown.

The town’s pubs were offering drinks and foods on a mainly pre-booked system, with walk-ins allowed if there was space. Many of the landlords had to reduce seating and menus to accommodate current guidelines, but all of them were excited to finally reopen their doors.

Tony Robb, one of the landlords at Mother Shipton Inn, said:

“I’m feeling a bit nervous we just wanted to make sure everything was in place with the tables and sanitiser. We’ve got plenty of space but we’ve still taken a few seats away. We’ve been looking forward to it though, we’ve been waiting for this day. I think people want to get back to some normality and get out and socialise.”

Sam Small from the Mother Shipton Inn, added:

“Its a complicated feeling, I’m quite anxious but a little bit excited too. We just want to make sure everyone feels safe, we’ve done everything we can. Its quiet for this evening but looking good for tomorrow. I don’t think its going to take off straight away but I’d rather it was a little steady.

Owner Ashleigh Lambert turning over the open sign for her restaurant in Knaresborough.

Turning over the open sign came with much excitement this afternoon, as pubs and restaurants prepared to serve once again.

Read more:

Ashleigh Lambert, owner of Six Poor Folk said:

“We’re open and it’s lovely. It’s taken a lot to get to this point and it’ll be nice to see our regulars again. We’ve got quite a lot of bookings for this afternoon, and then we’re fully booked from 6pm. It’s just getting used to the different measures, hopefully it’ll all come together.”

Customers were also pleased to return to their local pub, Gary Stafford has been waiting to return to Mother Shipton Inn. He said:

“We’ve been waiting for this day its just great to come back, I feel very comfortable. I missed just being able to chat to someone a bit different.”

“We want to get it right” – district pubs delay reopening

A number of pubs in Harrogate and Knaresborough have taken the decision to not open their doors on Saturday, despite being given the green light to reopen.

This decision comes as many pub owners argue that it is too soon to reopen. They would rather “watch what everyone else does” this weekend. Many pubs said they were too small to open or not financially stable enough.

Blind Jacks in Knaresborough is one pub which has taken the decision not to open on Super Saturday. Owners Christian and Alice Ogley told The Stray Ferret that they do not want to rush into anything.

They said:

“We have ever precaution in place in order to keep it as safe as possible, but we have one chance to get this right from the beginning. We want to make sure we are completely ready.”

Read more: 

North Bar in Harrogate has been running a pop-up beer shop during lockdown but realised that reopening fully on 4 July was going to be a difficult task.

Outside North Bar

North Bar in Harrogate

Debra Przychodna, general manager of North Bar told The Stray Ferret:

“We decided to delay our reopening because we want to avoid risk, people are going to get very excited this weekend. We have had so much support from customers and we are really looking forward to when we can finally reopen.”

Similarly Hales Bar on Crescent Road in Harrogate has taken the decision not to open due to the size and layout of the bar. Manager Amanda Wilkson hopes to reopen next weekend but only from Thursday to Sunday.