Accessorize in Harrogate is to reopen next week — but its sister shop Monsoon has permanently closed.

The two shops shared a unit at 20-22 James Street, where customers visited Monsoon, via the James Street entrance and Accessorize via a door at the back.

Both closed last month and although signs in the window said ‘sorry, we’re closed but this isn’t goodbye forever’ and ‘be right back’, the unit was described as ‘permanently closed’ on Google.

This prompted speculation neither business would return but as reported by the Stray Ferret, the site will reopen after the refit.

Gifts and homeware specialist Accessorize will welcome customers back on Friday, May 17 — but Monsoon will not return.

Accessorize storefront Harrogate

An Accessorize spokesperson told the Stray Ferret today:

“The Monsoon shop has now closed, and this is now only an Accessorize store with a homeware focus.”

Accessorize told the Stray Ferret the refurbished store will offer “a more diverse selection of gifting categories such as bridal, home and summer”, as well as self-care and men’s gifting products.

Paul Thomas, retail director at Accessorize said:

“We are excited to introduce our customers to our exciting new store concept of gifting and homeware.

“The new design store and gifting collection is just some of the many exciting features we have in store for our customers, and we can’t wait for them to experience everything the store has to offer.”

Accessorize will officially reopen May 17 at 9.30am. The closest Monsoon store will now be York.

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Halls of Ripon, the city’s only department store, will re-open with new traders from tomorrow morning (Wednesday, March 13).

The store on Fishergate closed for a major revamp and reconfiguration in January.

Ahead of tomorrow’s reopening, the Stray Ferret was invited for a sneak peek at the new-look layout.

Halls of Ripon director Mike Cooper (pictured above) said:

“For the next few days, entry will be via the Marshall Way Car Park entrance and Hive Cafe – which has remained open throughout the reconfiguration works.”

He added:

“Following discussions with our landlord, we decided that it was safe to allow customers in to the part of the building where the refurbishment has already been completed. The remaining works on the Fishergate frontage is ongoing.”

Hedley Hall’s vintage vehicles and collectables

The reconfiguration has increased floorspace and Mr Cooper added:

“We will be reopening with new entrants including Timeless Treasures (archaeological finds) Dennis Fielding (antiques and collectables) and Signature Baby Boutique.”

Halls of Ripon’s expanded offer includes a wide range of women’s fashion.

Owned by Ripon-based property investment and development company Sterne Properties Ltd, the former Wrens store re-opened under its new Halls of Ripon branding in July 2021.

Operations director Barry Cooper, who works alongside his father Mike and runs the Red Buttons Jewellers in Halls, said:

“We anticipated that the post-covid bounce back for Ripon retail would be led by the city’s strong mix of independent businesses and we got it right.

“The proof of the pudding can be seen in the fact that we are expanding when many of the big names on the high street are downsizing their portfolios and closing stores.”

Simon Richardson with his Timeless Treasure stall, is one of the three new entrants.

He added:

“We’re sure that Peacocks who opened a few doors down from us at the end of February, and Trespass who opened in the former Barclays Bank building in November, will have chosen Ripon ahead of other locations.

“This is because Ripon’s mixture of independent retailers and hospitality businesses, combined with affordable parking and £2 fares on the 36 bus all make this historic city an attractive proposition.”

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The Ripon YMCA charity shop, which closed at short notice in September, will reopen in time for the Christmas trading period,

Courtney Addison, the newly-appointed manager at the Marshall Way retail park store, told the Stray Ferret this morning:

“We are working hard pricing up goods and stocking shelves and rails ahead of reopening next week..”

The shop windows are being prepared with Christmas displays

Ms Addison, who has transferred over from the YMCA’s Boroughbridge shop, where she worked for four years, has been creating Christmas displays with her deputy Steph Nejzer Hewitt.

She pointed out:

“We have lots of new stock and some lovely festive items and look forward to welcoming back our customers and attracting some new ones as well.”

The store has a vacancy for another deputy manager and is looking for additional volunteers. Anybody wanting to find out more can contact 01765  690664.

At the time of its closing in September, a message on the shop’s Facebook page, said:

“We sincerely apologise for the temporary closure of this store. This is due to property circumstances beyond our control.”

The Ripon shop, which is part of a portfolio of 100-plus YMCA stores in England and Wales managed by the charity’s national retail team in London, opened in February in the unit formerly occupied by Argos.

Main picture: The store is being readied for reopening

A 16th–century country pub near Ripon reopens today after seven months of closure for refurbishment.

The Staveley Arms in North Stainley has been relaunched with new proprietors. They are general manager Oliver Renton, alongside Steve Mortimer and Fay Howell, who also run The Turkey Inn near Keighley.

Steve Mortimer and Fay Howell.

Steve said:

“When The Staveley Arms opportunity was presented to us, we leapt at the chance. It’s been wonderful working alongside James Staveley and the whole North Stainley team to get the pub open again. They’ve been involved in the whole process and, like us, are keen to bring the pub back to life and back to being the heart of the village. It was great to see the excitement around the re-opening at the recent North Stainley Together community meeting too.

“We plan to use produce from the estate and are keen to source local produce for our menu where possible. We’ve kept all the traditional Staveley Arms features, as well as adding some fresh ideas too. We’ve all invested a lot into renovating and redecorating the pub to create a cosy environment that we hope customers from near and far will enjoy. We have some big plans to expand the offering too, so there will always be something going on.”

The Staveley Arms also has eight en-suite rooms housed inside The Old Coach House, which have remained open throughout the pub’s closure.

General manager Oliver Renton said:

“The Staveley Arms has so much to offer. I’ve worked in the industry for over 20 years and The Staveley Arms has it all. Internally and externally it’s an amazing venue offering so much space and opportunity – the beer garden alone can accommodate 80 customers.

“It’s a traditional country pub, the fires will be roaring, walkers and dogs will be welcome all year round, and there will always be a good choice of Yorkshire ales available, plus of course our own Staveley Arms ales.”

The beer garden of The Staveley Arms at North Stainley.

The kitchen will be led by chef Loc Bui, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the industry.

The Staveley Arms will host a quiz night on Wednesdays and a real ale club on Thursdays, when all house and guest cask ales will be sold at £3.50 a pint.

The pub is taking bookings for its Christmas menu, and there is also a wreath-making class with a glass of fizz and a mince pie planned for Monday, December 11.

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One of Ripon’s largest and most prominent pubs will reopen under new management tomorrow afternoon (Saturday), following its sudden closure in April.

The South Lodge doors will be open again from 4pm and at 9pm there will be free live music.

Ahead of the pub’s reopening, the Stray Ferret was invited for a sneak peek and the opportunity to meet new licensee Terry Flanagan and his daughter Sinead, to find out about plans for the Harrogate Road hostelry.

The pub’s wonky sign will be fixed shortly

Mr Flanagan, told the Stray Ferret:

“The minute I saw this pub was available, I just knew I had to have it. It’s in a great residential location and has bags of potential.”

With experience built over almost 30 years in the hospitality sector across Yorkshire, beginning in the mid 1990s when he was landlord of the Queen’s Head in Kirkby Malzeard, he added:

“I go on my gut instincts and could see that South Lodge has all of the ingredients needed for success.

“My aim is to put it right back at the heart of the community, welcoming families with children during the daytime and catering for adults in the evenings, with free musical entertainment at weekends, Thursday quiz nights and pool nights on Wednesdays.”

Ms Flanagan, also an experienced publican, is providing administrative support for the South Lodge reopening.

Sinead Flanagan

She said:

“The food offer, including Sunday carvery, will be up and running by the end of the month and we also have plans for the Christmas period.”

Re-decoration is nearing completion and the pub, which stands in its own grounds and has a beer garden, will have its sign fixed shortly.

South Lodge is located by the busy A61 on the route of the 36 bus service between Ripon and Harrogate.

Further information is available via the pub’s Facebook page.

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Ripon Spa Hotel is to reopen on October 16 with a new name and look.

The Inn Collection Group, which bought the property in June 2021, revealed the date today.

The historic Park Street hotel, which will be known as The Ripon Inn, has undergone a multi-million pound refurbishment.

The Northumberland-based owners, who have over 30 venues, market their properties as “inns with rooms” rather than hotels so the change is likely to be considerable.

With a strong emphasis on dining, the company hopes to attract local people as well as overnight guests.

The Inn Collection Group has already re-opened the St George Hotel in Harrogate and the Dower House in Knaresborough as The Harrogate Inn and The Knaresborough Inn respectively this year.

Ripon Spa Hotel before the multi-million pound refurbishment.

The Ripon venue will hold a VIP launch event on Thursday, October 12 before opening to the public on the following Monday.

The elegant Edwardian 40-bedroom Spa Hotel, which was in the ownership of the Hutchinson family for decades, opened a year after the nearby Spa Baths.

The two buildings, nestling alongside Spa Gardens and Spa Park, were key elements of Ripon’s stylish spa quarter.

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Three historic hotels in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough have announced details of when they plan to reopen.

The St George Hotel in Harrogate, the Spa Hotel in Ripon and the Dower House in Knaresborough are all currently closed.

They have been acquired by the Inn Collection Group, which has 32 venues in northern England, and are undergoing major refurbishments.

They have also been renamed as the Harrogate Inn, the Ripon Inn and the Knaresborough Inn.

An Inn Collection Group spokesman revealed today the Harrogate Inn will reopen on July 3. It will have 96 rooms, six more than previously. The six extra rooms are all ground floor suites.

The former St George Hotel, Harrogate

The Ripon Inn will reopen on August 20 with 58 rooms, compared with 43 previously.

The Knaresborough Inn is expected to be the second of the three venues to re-open. A date has not been set but it is expected to be early August. It will have 57 rooms, compared with 38 previously.

The Harrogate and Ripon inns are both accepting bookings now.

The Dower House has a new name and look

The spokesman said:

“The three sites have have undergone significant refurbishment and investment.

“All three will have new look bar and restaurant areas on reopening, and also have had additional rooms added to their stock.”

As part of the reopening activity, all three sites are running a free dinner promotion for guests.

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