Two businessmen are hoping to breathe new life into a popular Harrogate fish and chip shop and keep it as a local favourite.

Taru Pahwa and Pradeep Angoor took over Dougie’s on King Edward’s Drive three weeks ago, and said they are already getting to know regular customers.

Taru said:

“It’s good. People are liking it. There are things for us to improve, but we have had a positive response so far, and sales are improving every day.”

Known to friends as Taz and Deep, the pair each own off-licences around Harrogate, including the Number One Shop on Electric Avenue and Harlow Hill Stores on Otley Road.

Dougie’s is their first venture together, but they are old friends and play sports together, which they hope is a recipe for good team spirit.

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While Taz works behind the scenes, taking care of supplies, Deep will be in the shop day-to-day, serving customers and managing the small team.

They have already recruited kitchen staff, but are still looking for a couple of people to work front-of-house.

Taking ownership of Dougie’s has been a long aspiration for the pair, who live nearby and first looked at it when it was put up for sale by the founding family around six years ago, after running it for many years.

Taz said:

“We were new and still settling in with our businesses. It wasn’t the right time for us.”

The person who bought it in 2017 decided to sell up this year, and Taz and Deep took their chance this time.

While they have no immediate plans for change, they said they are happy to listen to what locals want. Deep said:

“The first thing we did was increase our opening hours. It was only three-and-a-half days, and now it’s six full days, including Sunday.

“I think people appreciate that. For me, I think it confuses people if you are open a couple of hours and then again later. To keep it simple, we decided to open all day.”

Deep and Taz ready to serve lunch

The hours may be longer, but the menu and prices will remain the same – despite increasing costs in the industry.

Deep said he had heard from his supplier this week that the price of potatoes will be rising by more than 20%, but that won’t be passed on to customers.

He added:

“The support from the community will be really helpful to keep us going, because of the bills and the rent itself – forget about the raw materials.

“We’re happy to take on board any recommendations and requests and work on it.”

Taz added:

“We’re introducing deliveries – in the next couple of weeks, it will be all up and running.

“It’s still early stages. Maybe in six months, a year, because there is no pizza or kebab shop, that’s something we are seriously considering. At the moment, people have to go into town for it.”

As for the name – long associated with decent fish and chips by people in Bilton and beyond – Taz and Deep are happy to honour its founder and keep Dougie’s going for years to come.

The Malt Shovel at Brearton is due to reopen today under new ownership.

The 16th century venue near Knaresborough forged a good reputation for traditional pub food under previous owners Charlotte and Les Mitchell.

But they decided to sell after 28 years, having leased the pub for the last 18 years before retiring to Cumbria in 2015.

The Malt Shovel

It has been taken over by Ignition Pub Management on a three-month trial, and will be managed by partners Laura Davis and James Campbell.

Both worked at the pub previously: Mr Campbell, who was a sous chef, will run the kitchen and Ms Davis, who has 15 years experience in hospitality, will be in charge of front of house.

The couple held a pre-opening for villagers and regulars last night but will open to everyone from noon today. Ms Davis said:

“I want to reassure people that we are very much keeping it the same. We don’t want to change things too much.

“It’s a great opportunity and we are very excited.”

The dining area

Ms Davis said the menu would be “very similar” although there were plans for a lower priced lunchtime menu featuring sandwiches and they were also considering introducing afternoon teas.

She added the couple also hoped to eventually spruce up the outside space.

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The 90-room St George Hotel in Harrogate has been sold for the second time in just over a year.

Northern pub company The Inn Collection Group has bought the Edwardian hotel, which is opposite Harrogate Convention Centre, for an undisclosed value.

The hotel re-opened less than a year ago under new owner Bespoke Hotels after previous owner Specialist Leisure Group went into administration with the loss of 2,500 jobs

The hotel, which includes The Swaledale restaurant and six function rooms, will continue trading before undergoing refurbishment this year.

The Inn Collection Group portfolio also includes Dower House Hotel in Knaresborough, Ripon Spa Hotel in Ripon and Dean Court in York.

Sean Donkin, managing director of The Inn Collection Group said:

“The Hotel St George is an exciting acquisition for us as we continue to expand our customer base and imprint in Yorkshire while continuing to roll out our buy and build strategy as an operator.

“We have had Harrogate in our sights for a considerable time while identifying a site that is a fit with our ‘Eat, Drink, Sleep and Explore’ brand.

“We are delighted to have completed on this superb site which will be a tremendous asset for our customers and our portfolio of inns in the best UK locations.”

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Mr Donkin added the hotel was “perfect site for exploring Harrogate and the surrounding Yorkshire Dales”.

Elsewhere in Yorkshire, The Inn Collection Group is redeveloping Northallerton’s former police station into a 32-bedroom pub with rooms called The Northallerton Inn.

The group also owns The Stables at Whitby, The King’s Head Inn at Newton under Roseberry and in October reopened The Black Swan in Helmsley.

Outside Yorkshire, it has sites in Northumberland, the Lake District, County Durham, Tyne & Wear and Lancashire.