A high court judge has blocked a Harrogate widow’s attempt to receive a regular income from the estate of her late husband, a well-known businessman.
Christopher Ramus was found by a coroner to have taken his own life aged 72 following the breakdown of his 48-year marriage to Elizabeth Ramus, and difficulties in other relationships.
The couple were the founders of Ramus Seafood, which operated for many years from Kings Road until the couple sold it and retired. Despite their separation, Mr Ramus’s will still made provision for his wife, entitling her to an income from his estate for the rest of her life.
However, the income was at the discretion of the three trustees, including the couple’s daughter, Claire Holt, and two family friends. Mr Ramus wrote a letter of wishes in September 2019, stating:
“My current matrimonial circumstances are uncertain. If my wife survives me I still wish that she will have a right to income from the trust fund to the extent that it prevents hardship and enables her to maintain her lifestyle. I would like this to continue for as long as you feel necessary.
“If her own resources are such that she does not require that income then you should consider exercising your powers to remove her right to income in all or part of the Trust Fund.
“I do not wish for my wife to receive capital payments from the Trust Fund in order to protect the fund for future generations.”
The letter also made reference to the couple’s son, Alistair, saying:
“Whilst Alistair’s financial and business circumstances are not settled and do not have a firm footing, I do not wish for Alistair to receive capital payments from the Trust Fund. I would like you to consider making income payments to Alistair to prevent him from living in hardship, but not to fund an extravagant lifestyle.
“In regards to my daughter Claire I would like you to consider exercising your powers to benefit Claire, about whom I do not have the same concerns.”
Mrs Ramus took her daughter to the High Court under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975, stating she did not want to be at the mercy of Mrs Holt, with whom she had a difficult relationship.
The hearing reflected the challenges between them, such as over the sale of the business premises on Kings Road.
Mrs Ramus and her daughter also disagreed over the home she would buy, with court documents showing Mrs Ramus wanted somewhere with enough space for visitors and a garden for her to enjoy. The documents stated:
“She did not want to live in a small house or flat which her daughter deemed ‘suitable for a lady of advanced years who lives on her own’ and again Mrs Ramus foresaw difficulties ahead with her daughter as trustee if she believed that her mother had unnecessarily spent money on a home which she considered to be too big.”
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Regular monthly income
Mrs Ramus, 77, had said in order to maintain her lifestyle, she would need a regular monthly income from Mr Ramus’s estate, otherwise she would use up her own assets and risk running out of money.
She submitted to the court a list of monthly outgoings which totalled more than £5,000, against income from pensions of £1,800 and other assets including bonds and ISAs.
However, sitting in Leeds, Judge Mark West found Mrs Ramus’s own assets of more than £1.6m were significantly more than the value of Mr Ramus’s estate, at just under £1.1m. He said:
New restaurant and bar to open on Harrogate’s King’s Road next week“Standing back and looking at the matter in the round, this is a case of an applicant who in all likelihood would not have received anything on divorce, and who, even after the purchase of a three-bedroomed house for £750,000, would have financial autonomy and still have net assets not far short of £900,000.
“In addition, her case was that she requires a monthly income to enable her to pay her outgoings without using the capital which would be left after her purchase of a new home.
“For these reasons, and taking into account all of the relevant factors… I am satisfied that the disposition of Mr Ramus’s estate under the terms of his will is such as to make financial provision for Mrs Ramus in the circumstance of the case and that the claim fails.”
Two Harrogate 26-year-olds are opening a new restaurant and bar on King’s Road next week.
Charlie Moorby and Tom Moxham hope Frog, which will begin serving customers on Wednesday, will bring a “neighbourhood hub” to the Harrogate street.
They hope it could help King’s Road follow Cold Bath Road by becoming more of a destination hub.
Mr Moorby said renovation work is nearly complete. The site, previously Ramus Seafood and What’s Cooking, has been completely refurbished.
The large restaurant will include outdoor seating to the side and front.
Frog has been in the pipeline since last summer.
The two men, former Harrogate Grammar School and Ashville College students, have worked in numerous Harrogate hospitality venues.
This is the first independent venture for Mr Moorby.
After being friends for over a decade, the pair felt they would work well as business partners. Mr Moorby has taken charge of the drinks side and Mr Moxham is overseeing the food and restaurant.
Mr Moorby said:
“We have aimed the whole thing at having a homely feel. We want people to feel like they’re at home or in their friend’s front room. We thought there was a bit of a gap in Harrogate for having high-quality food without the big price tag on it.”
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Speaking about the choice of location on King’s Road, Mr Moorby said they wanted the venue to be more of a community venture than a late-night establishment in the town centre:
“We used Cold Bath Road as an example. Five, six years ago there wasn’t much going on but now there’s so much going on. We felt like the same is happening on King’s Road, it’s becoming its own little suburb.”
About 40 people can be accommodated and enjoy the Asian and South American-inspired menu. About 10 members of staff will be employed.
Planned new Harrogate restaurant and bar applies for alcohol licence
A proposed new bar and restaurant on Harrogate’s King’s Road has applied for a premises licence.
The premises would be situated in Ocean House and the former Ramus seafood shop. If approved, it would significantly liven a part of town not known for its nightlife.
GM Developments, which is based in Leeds, lodged plans with Harrogate Borough Council in October for the scheme.
Under a licensing application, the bar, called Frog, would be open from Monday to Sunday from 10am until midnight.
The application also seeks permission for the retail sale of alcohol on site.
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The new restaurant, which would be based in Ocean House and create up to 20 jobs, would seat 70 people indoors. There would also be a bar, external pavement and courtyard seating.
The business would be managed by Roger Moxham, one of the founding owners of Harrogate’s Cold Bath Brewing company.
Mr Moxham said previously:
“We will serve a diverse array of global meals rooted in Asia and the Americas, which we intend to rotate throughout the year.
“The menu will be underpinned by a weekend brunch offer all supported by a full range of hand crafted cocktails and beers and an interesting selection of soft drinks, teas and coffees.”
The council will make a decision on the premises application at a later date.
Plans have been submitted to open a restaurant and bar, three apartments and retail space on Harrogate’s King’s Road.
GMI Developments, which is based in Leeds, has lodged the proposals for Ocean House and the former Ramus retail unit on Kings Road.
The developer said the disused properties offered 7,300 square foot of space to be redeveloped into a mixed-use lifestyle and residential development.
The proposal will see a restaurant and bar, called Frog, open. It would be managed by Roger Moxham, one of the founding owners of the Cold Bath Brewing company.
The new restaurant, which will be based in Ocean House and create up to 20 new jobs, comprises a 70-seat internal restaurant and bar with external pavement and courtyard seating.
Mr Moxham said:
“We will serve a diverse array of global meals rooted in Asia and the Americas which we intend to rotate throughout the year.
“The menu will be underpinned by a weekend brunch offer all supported by a full range of hand crafted cocktails and beers and an interesting selection of soft drinks, teas and coffees.”
The Ocean House and former Ramus unit have stood empty since January last year.
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The proposals include creating two apartments above the restaurant. Meanwhile, the former Ramus unit will remain in retail use with an apartment above.
An industrial unit on Bolton Street would be demolished to create parking space and outside amenity space for the new apartments.
Chris Gilman, managing director at GMI Developments, said:
“Following the recent acquisition of the Kings Road property, we are excited to take this mixed-use development forward to regenerate the vacant site, subject to planning approval.
“With a proven, successful hospitality expert in Roger on board to create the new restaurant and bar, we are confident that his team will bring a unique and exciting destination restaurant offer to the town complemented by the rest of this high quality scheme.”
Harrogate Borough Council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.