Traffic to our site and app soared this week — not, alas, because of our painstakingly assembled mayoral candidate interviews — but because of an influx of celebrities in Harrogate.
Firstly, James Bond star Pierce Brosnan was spotted drinking in the Fat Badger. A colleague was gutted to later discover she was there at the same time, and even more gutted when she found out four days later she’d missed him again at Rudding Park.
Then Morrissey added to his elusive magic by being photographed on a remote street called Cut Throat Lane in Shaw Mills, which seemed about as likely as the Otley Road cycleway expansion being revived — which then proceeded to also happen this week.
Perhaps the only quirkier story was the news that it’s now council policy to eliminate all apostrophes from road signs. I’ve been canvassing reaction, which you can read here.
Rachel Woolford, who owns fitness venture North Studio on Cold Bath Road in Harrogate, was catapulted into fame this week when Lord Sugar hired her on The Apprentice, which led to another spike in traffic on Thursday night.
Here’s a story worth keeping an eye on: North Yorkshire Council issued its ‘call for sites’ this week as part of the process to draw up a new planning blueprint for the county. Where the boundaries are drawn will have huge significance for years to come.
Finally if, like me, you’ve eaten at the The General Tarleton at Ferrensby, once a well known foodie hotspot, you may have noticed it was put on the market this week after being closed for several months.
Read more:
- Dog owners urged to be ‘vigilant’ amid reported ‘poisoning’ at reservoir near Harrogate
- Crime author who solved Ripon mystery revisits school mural 50 years later
- E-cigarette shop opens in Knaresborough
Heaven knows what Morrissey was doing back in Harrogate…
Morrissey, the elusive former frontman of The Smiths, has been photographed in suitably mysterious circumstances in a tiny hamlet between Ripon and Harrogate.
The 64-year-old, who is known for his enigmatic persona, posed with his arms folded in front of street signs and a dry stone wall on Cut Throat Lane in Shaw Mills.
Why he happened to be in Shaw Mills, which is six miles from Harrogate, is not known.
London photographer Andrew Quinn shared the image on his Instagram page yesterday.
The Stray Ferret asked Mr Quinn for permission to show the photo in our article, but he politely declined, saying:
“[Morrissey] is quite a private person and I don’t think he’d be comfortable with that.”
Mr Quinn has since made his Instagram account private, but not before the picture was shared on a Morrissey fan page. Fans commented that the “maverick” star looked “healthy”.
The Stray Ferret received reports of Morrissey being seen leaving the Fat Badger pub in Harrogate at the end of March but no pictures emerged.
Yesterday, we showed James Bond star Pierce Brosnan enjoying a drink in the Fat Badger.
Read more:
Morrissey is becoming a bit of a Harrogate regular.
Last year he was spotted enjoying a pint in the Harrogate Arms by Chris Russell, who runs Zombie Clothing in Knaresborough.
Chris sent us this photo, which to add to the Mozzer intrigue was taken at about the same time of year as the latest one.
The Smiths rose to rock fame in the 1980s and went on to win the NME Award for Best Band and Best Single, and had the number one album, Meat is Murder, in 1985.
The group split in 1987, after which Morrissey launched his solo career.
Send us your photos and selfies if you bump into any celebrities in Harrogate district. Email contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.
Ex-James Bond star Pierce Brosnan spotted in Harrogate bar
Former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan was spotted in a Harrogate bar last night.
The Irish actor, who was the fifth person to play 007, was seen having a drink at The Fat Badger on Cold Bath Road last night.
The Stray Ferret was sent a photo of Mr Brosnan enjoying a pint — rather than a martini — at the bar, which is part of The White Hart Hotel.
The 70-year-old played James Bond four times, including in Die Another Day and GoldenEye.
He has also featured in blockbusters such as the Mamma Mia! franchise, Survivor, Laws of Attraction and Mrs Doubtfire.
During his career, he has received two Golden Globe nominations for his performances in The Matador and Nancy Astor, as well as winning the outstanding European achievement in world cinema award at the European Film Awards in 2016.
Mr Brosnan even won a Razzie Award for worst supporting actor for his role in Mamma Mia!.
Pic: Nicholas PJ Snape
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He is not the first familiar face to be spotted in the Harrogate district, which became something of a celebrity hotspot last year.
Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet, who rose to fame in Titanic, visited the Crown Hotel at Middlesmoor last May.
Leathal Weapon star Danny Glover dined at Efes Bar and Grill in the summer, while world-famous DJ Calvin Harris was spotted at Wetherby Services in August.
Meanwhile, TV personality and writer Gyles Brandreth bemoaned his poor night’s sleep at a Harrogate hotel following his one-man show at the Royal Hall, and Toyah Wilcox and Robert Fripp praised Bettys’ cake as the “nectar of paradise”.
And Morrissey, enigmatic former frontman of The Smiths, was spotted having a quiet pint at The Harrogate Arms.
Send us your pictures and selfies if you bump into any famous people in the district. Email contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.
Looking Back: The celebs who visited Harrogate in 2023
Throughout 2023, the Harrogate district became something of a celebrity hotspot.
Gyles Brandeth bemoaned of a sleepless night in a Harrogate hotel, while Toyah Wilcox and Robert Fripp described Bettys cakes as a “nectar of paradise”.
And heaven knows what Morrissey was doing here…
Today, we’re looking back at some star-studded visits to the district, and what some celebrities had to say about the local area.
Kate Winslet visits Nidderdale pub
Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet visited the Crown at Middlesmoor with her family in May.
Landlady Angela Snow, said she was “starstruck” by the Hollywood star, who had been walking around Scar House Reservoir before stopping at the village pub.
Ms Snow told the Stray Ferret:
“To be honest, I wouldn’t have known. I was in the kitchen cooking when my bar lady Megan recognised her.
“As she was leaving, I asked for a photo to put up behind the bar. She said she usually pretends to be someone else, but she said she would because it was such a nice pub.”
Kate Winslet rose to fame after her landing a role in Titanic. Since then, she has become a household name and has starred in Sense and Sensibility, Avatar and The Holiday.
As well as winning the Oscar for best actress for her performance in The Reader, Kate Winslet has been nominated a further six times. She has won three Baftas, two Emmys, a Grammy and five Golden Globes.
Kate Winslet, centre, with Megan Dunn and Angela Snow at the Crown in Middlesmoor
Heaven knows what Morrissey was up to in Harrogate
Morrissey, the enigmatic former frontman of The Smiths, was spotted enjoying a quiet pint in Harrogate in March.
Chris Russell from Knaresborough caused a stir when he posted a photo of him and the influential star in The Harrogate Arms where Mozza was apparently relaxed and happy to pose for photos with fans.
Pete Murphy, manager of the pub, said:
“We only had four or five tables in, so it wasn’t busy, but a few people recognised him and had photos with him.
“We get the odd Leeds player in, but that’s the first singer I’ve seen.”
in typically mysterious Morrissey style, his reason for being in Harrogate remains unknown.
Morrissey with Chris Russell.
Lethal Weapon star dines in Harrogate restaurant
Danny Glover, star of the Lethal Weapon franchise, dined at Efes Bar and Grill this summer.
The 77-year-old Hollywood star was in town for the Yorkshire Comic-Con.
He posed for photos with the restaurant staff, which had opened just weeks prior to his visit.
Glover is most famous for his role as Roger Murtaugh, but has also starred in The Colour Purple and Predator 2.
He is also known for his political activism, strongly opposing the Bush administration in America.
Danny Glover pictured at Efes Bar and Grill in Harrogate.
DJ Calvin Harris spotted at Wetherby Services
One of the biggest names in music, Calvin Harris, was spotted at Wetherby Services in August.
The star, who is the 23rd most played artist in the world on Spotify, was on his way back from Creamfields festival after fans spotted him at Pret A Manger.
The fans, who were headed to Newcastle, had watched the Scottish DJ headline the festival just two nights prior to meeting him.
Livvy Elder, one of the fans, said:
“My friend was the one to ask him for a photo and told him we were sorry for disturbing him for a photo, but he was the kindest man so humble – he said it was no problem at all.
“It totally topped off our weekend and was a moment we will never forget!”
Calvin Harris boasts nearly 60 million monthly listeners on Spotify. He also has an annual residency at one of the largest clubs in the world, Ushuaia, Ibiza, and has had 11 UK No.1 songs.
Calvin Harris (centre) with fans.
Gyles Brandreth endures sleepless night in Harrogate hotel bed
TV personality and writer, Gyles Brandreth, took to social media to tell of his sleepless night in a Harrogate hotel.
The raconteur said the bed “tilted to the left so that I had to cling on all night” following his visit in September.
The poor-nights-sleep came after he appeared at the Royal Hall for his one-man show, Gyles Brandreth Can’t Stop Talking.
However, he did praise the “warm and wonderful audience” in Harrogate.
He later praised The Ivy for its “delicious post-show supper: cheese soufflé followed by iced berries”.
Let’s hope Gyles Brandreth finds a comfier bed on his next visit to Harrogate…
Gykes Brandreth with The Ivy staff.
Toyah Wilcox and Robert Fripp say Bettys is “heart and soul of humanity”
Toyah Wilcox and Robert Fripp praised Bettys online after their gig in Harrogate.
In a YouTube video posted in October, the couple described the tearoom as a “quality establishment”. Robert Fripp said he’d been to the York branch before, but said the Harrogate venue was “something of a pilgrimage.”
Toyah added:
“You may think we’re complete idiots for being so in love with this experience, but it was the heart and soul of humanity. We could talk to everyone, everyone really cared, it was kind, it was utterly amazing.”
They described a cake they’d saved from their visit as “the nectar of paradise” and “a relic from the shrine of St Betty”.
The couple also shared their love for the whole town in the video. Toyah added:
“Robert’s never been to Harrogate and he absolutely loved it, and I loved it too. It’s such a special place, and if ever you’re visiting the UK or just having a holiday in the UK, and you’ve not been to Harrogate, go – it’s beautiful!”
Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp.
Based on this year’s celebrity visits, the Stray Ferret is excited to see what, or whom, 2024 will bring. Do let us know if you see a star out and about.
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- Novelist Ruth Ware to curate Harrogate crime writing festival
- Stumps Cross Caverns to feature in Channel 5 programme
Heaven knows what Morrissey was doing in Harrogate…
Former Smiths frontman turned solo artist Morrissey was spotted out in Harrogate last night.
The singer-songwriter enjoyed a couple of pints in the Harrogate Arms pub and was happy to pose for photos with a handful of fellow drinkers who recognised him.
Chris Russell, who runs Zombie Clothing in Knaresborough, happened to be in the pub at the time and was surprised to see someone so famous.
He said:
“I was just having a beer and he was gracious enough to pose for a pic.”
The visit was also a surprise to staff at the pub. Manager Pete Murphy said:
“We only had four or five tables in, so it wasn’t busy, but a few people recognised him and had photos with him.
“We get the odd Leeds player in, but that’s the first singer I’ve seen. I’ve been running the pub just over a year now.”
Read more:
- Harrogate shops to feature in BBC programme hosted by Alan Carr
- Why are film crews flocking to the Harrogate district?