Paradise Tap and Taco Bar is to close — but the owners have said they are determined to find a permanent home for the pop-up shop in Harrogate.

The Mexican-themed bar initially opened as a three-month pop-up next door to Cold Bath Brewery Co in October 2020. It has survived 16 months but the tenancy is now coming to an end.

Co-owners Ellie Stott and Josh Molloy said Paradise would now go “on tour” as they hatched plans for kitchen pop-ups over the coming months. Paradise is taking over Rooster’s kitchen from Tuesdays to Thursdays until easter.

Ms Stott said:

“After 10 years each in hospitality we’ve made the bar we would want to drink in and I think that’s why we love it here so much. It was a bit of weird timing but we’ve learnt so much doing it through this period, we’re just winging it everyday but it’s going well so far.”

The bar’s current home on King’s Road.

End of a “golden era”

The Harrogate-born entrepreneurs said the pop-up was a “golden era” for them but they are now focusing on finding a permanent home in the town.

The pair say they hope to open a new venue by summer and will spend the time until then developing their menu and hosting pop-ups. Ms Stott said:

“We’re going for a big, long lease, 10 years ideally. We definitely will open this year, ideally summer, it’s just finding the right space. We have regulars that have become friends.”

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The bar serves a variety of Mexican foods such as tacos, burritos and enchiladas as well as craft beers and spirits.

Ms Stott added:

“This is just the beginning. It’s been a really good way to see if this plan works, and it really does. People do like what we’re doing, it can be really overwhelming hearing people’s compliments.”

The bar will close for good on Sunday, February 6 and will hold a closing party the night before.

Some people decided to decorate their house or get into a new hobby but some took it further by starting a new business in lockdown.

This has been a tough time for everyone. For those like Josh and Ellie at Paradise Tap and Taco or Ben at The Travel Journal it has presented unique challenges.

Both have set up new businesses in one of the toughest financial climates the Harrogate district has ever known.

With people told to stay home and “non-essential” shops told to close, it is tough for those starting out and making a name for themselves.

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Paradise Tap and Taco, which has just set up shop in the Coldbath Clubhouse, is one of those young businesses.

The couple used to run Major Tom’s Social and even had a couple of weeks of sold-out nights at Rooster’s Taproom with their tacos.

Ellie Stott and Josh Molloy are the couple behind the taco-based business, which wants to be a place for everyone. Josh said:

“We have been really blessed. Most Friday and Saturday nights before the lockdown we have had to turn people away.

“It has been difficult timing but we were able to get a government start-up loan. We sat on it for a little while before we found the perfect place.”

Ben Poole, the man behind The Travel Journal in Harrogate’s Montpellier Quarter, is facing a particularly tough climate for his business.

He opened his doors in September trading mainly on last-minute travel as quarantine rules make it difficult for people to plan ahead.

It may be a tough time for the travel industry but Ben remains buoyant about his prospects as he is one of the few travel agents with a prescence in town. He said:

“It is set up to work okay from home but I miss that face to face with customers. I think if you can sit it out then it will pay off in the end.

“Some people thought I was crazy when I opened but I saw a good opportunty to establish myself in Harrogate. So many come in to say it’s brave.”