Halls of Ripon, the city’s only department store, is increasing its floorspace as part of a major revamp and reconfiguration.

The store in Fishergate which is home to 16 independent retailers, will be temporarily closed from Friday and is scheduled re-open in early February.

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.

Halls of Ripon director Mike Cooper (pictured below) whose son Barry runs Red Buttons Jewellers within the store, told the Stray Ferret:

“It’s testimony to the strength of Ripon’s independent retail offer that we are expanding when many of the big names on the high street are closing stores.”

He pointed out:

“The demand for space remains very strong and we will be able to satisfy that demand with a reconfiguration that will create room for up to seven more independent businesses.”

Halls of Ripon director Mike Cooper

For Zoe Wotherspoon, who owns the ladies fashion, accessories  and gifts retailer Robin Gifts, the increased space is timely.

She said:

“We have done so well since opening our second outlet at Halls last February, that we decided to move out of Harrogate and consolidate our offer at one location.”

Ms Wotherspoon, added:

“The revamp will give us 40 percent more space in the prime location at the front of the store and we feel very confident for the future as we continue to attract new customers.”

While the work at the front half of the department store is under way, The Hive Cafe, which can be accessed from the Marshall Way car park entrance, will remain open throughout.

Keeley Buller who co-owns the business with her partner David Ward, said:

“Over the past 30 months we have built a loyal customer base and the enhancements that will come with the revamp are good news for us.”

In addition to the reconfiguration of the department store, Sterne Properties will be remodelling the building and installing a new roof to create two high quality apartments on the upper floors of the building.

Main image: Zoe Wotherspoon, whose Robin Gifts business is expanding with the increase in floorspace at Halls of Ripon

Read more:

• Famous Halls retail name back on Ripon high street
• When will the cinema reels be rolling again in Ripon?

As the Stray Ferret enters its fourth year of providing the best media coverage of the Harrogate district, we have given our daily newsletter a makeover.

The newsletter provides a round-up of what our journalists have been up to. The new look makes it easier than ever to get a snapshot of what is happening, with links to all the articles.

It includes a nightly introduction from Stray Ferret editor John Plummer as well as a round up of our daily news content, plus Photo of the Week, lifestyle features and in-depth topics.

Mr Plummer said:

“We hope the fresh new look appeals to readers. We are very grateful to everyone who reads the Stray Ferret and hope you continue to support independent local journalism in 2024.”

You can sign up here to the newsletter to keep up to date and get the latest news straight to your inbox.

Read more:

• £300,000 upgrade of The Woodlands in Harrogate to begin next week
• Harrogate trains cancelled as flood threat remains
• What has happened to Knaresborough’s new £6 million primary school?

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for information following a Ripon burglary on New Year’s Eve.

The force said in statement today that three men broke into Eurotek Sports Motorcyles, on Camp Hill Close, at around 7.30pm on New Year’s Eve.

It added:

“The men, all wearing dark clothing and balaclavas, arrived in a white Ford transit style van, with chevron markings on the rear.

“Officers are appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time, or has information that could assist with the investigation to email gareth.skelton@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for PC Gareth Skelton.

“If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

“Quote reference number 12230247331 when passing on information.”

The Stray Ferret contacted the police to ask what had been stolen, but the force said there was no “additional information to add at the moment”.

It also said the incident is under investigation and “officers are currently gathering CCTV footage”.

Read more:

• Police release CCTV image after Ripon shop theft
• Jewellery thieves strike twice at Harrogate homes

The past 12 months have seen major decisions made on development across the Harrogate district.

However, there are some schemes which remain uncertain and 2024 may hold the answer as to whether they progress or continue to stall.

Maltkiln

The last 12 months have been a whirlwind for the new settlement project which promises up to 3,000 near Green Hammerton and Cattal.

However, in January, news broke that a landowner had pulled out of the project threatening the scheme’s existence.

The landowner owns fields around Cattal train station, making up around half of the proposed site.

Now, North Yorkshire Council, which took over responsibility for the major housing scheme in April, has threatened to compulsory purchase land as a “last resort” so the 4,000-home Maltkiln settlement can be built.

Whether the authority follows through on that pledge is a development to keep an eye out for in 2024.

Harrogate Convention Centre

Perhaps one of the biggest question going into the new year is what will happen to the long promised Harrogate Convention Centre redevelopment?

North Yorkshire Council inherited a £49 million refurbishment scheme for the convention centre on Kings Road from the now defunct Harrogate Borough Council in April.

However, it has yet to decide whether to progress with the project.

Harrogate Convention Centre.

A contractor has been appointed to draw up more detailed plans for the redevelopment and a final decision was expected this year.

The convention centre opened in 1982 with conferences providing a boost to the town’s bars, restaurants and hotels, however, it has struggled to turned a profit.

The council failed in bids to the government’s Levelling Up Fund for £20 million to help pay for the project – the latest of which was turned down in November.

A previous bid, which was rejected in January, received feedback from ministers stating that it lacked evidence and rationale and may have over-stated the economic benefits.

Government feedback on the bid, released following a freedom of information request by the Stray Ferret, revealed several areas of concerns with the bid.

This is despite the fact the council, which was abolished at the end of March, paid consultants £45,000 as part of its submission to ministers.

The whole saga leaves the future of the convention centre and its refurbishment uncertain and a decision on it being pushed into another year.

Ripon’s Clotherholme development

One of the last acts of Harrogate Borough Council before it was scrapped in April 2023 was to approve a major 1,300 housing scheme on a former Ripon barracks site.

Homes England, which has been developing the plans for several years alongside the Ministry of Defence, has earmarked the Clotherholme site for new homes and facilities.

It was approved in February 2023, just over a month before the council was scrapped.

Read more:

• New settlement plans ‘paused’ after land withdrawn near Cattal
• Concern over lack of secondary school at new Harrogate district town
• Government says council’s £20m bid for Harrogate Convention Centre lacked ‘evidence and rationale’

Since then, a total of £10 million has been budgeted to cover items in a Section 106 agreement for the project.

The money will fund a number of areas, including off-site highway adjustments and contributions towards primary and secondary education provision and primary healthcare.

Now, residents in Ripon and the wider district await for the news that spades will hit the ground.

Kirby Hill services

The 25-year saga which is Kirby Hill took another turn in 2023.

Dublin-based company Applegreen, which wants to build a motorway service station near the village, tabled final plans for the project.

The proposals were approved in September – however, campaigners threatened to take the decision to a judicial review.

Designs for the service station near Kirby Hill, as proposed by Applegreen.

Applegreen, which is based in Dublin, applied for amendments to the proposal, including an extension to the length of the slip roads and increasing the permissible height of the eastern dumbbell roundabout by up to 1.25 metres.

But, Gareth Owens, chair of the Kirby Hill RAMS, said the move amounted to “significant change” to the scheme and confirmed the campaign group would challenge the approval.

It seems the saga which has been a quarter of a century in the making may yet go on for another year.

The New Year arrived with a huge bang as Ripon ushered in 2024 in spectacular fashion last night with a fireworks display, the like of which has never been seen before in the city centre.

For 10 minutes from the stroke of midnight on the Ripon Cathedral clock, revellers who had earlier danced to the Caribbean beat of the Jamsalana Steel Band were treated to an exhibition of precision pyrotechnics.

A pulsating palette of colours burst upon the night sky in wave after wave of controlled explosion and at its conclusion a gathering of more than 2,000 people on Market Square spontaneously applauded.

Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams, who put £1,000 of his North Yorkshire Council locality budget towards the cost of the display, told the Stray Ferret:

“We wanted it to be bigger and better than last year’s fireworks finale and it certainly was!”

He added:

“I’ve never seen anything like this in the city centre before and while I know it won’t have been to everybody’s liking, the automatic reaction of the audience spoke for itself.”

The number of people on Market Square grew throughout the evening and by midnight, more than 2,000 were present to see the fireworks

Last night’s New Year’s Eve event, paid for from the parish precept, has been staged over decades by the city council and is firmly established on the authority’s annual calendar.

Before Jamsalana (pictured below) struck up, there was the ever-present reminder for Ripon residents and visitors of the city’s rich heritage, when Wayne Cobbett, a member of the hornblower team, set the watch with blasts at the four corners of the obelisk.

The instrument that he uses, is the 1996 horn, donated to the city to celebrate the 1100th anniversary since Alfred the Great, the first Anglo-Saxon King of England, gave a ceremonial horn to the people of Ripon in thanks for the courage they showed in fighting off a Viking incursion in 886 AD.

The Mayor of Ripon Councillor Sid Hawke, who was celebrating his birthday, was present for the setting of the watch and later, in another city tradition, he returned to Market Square with Mayoress Linda Hawke after leading a candle-lit procession from the cathedral, attended by clergy and members of the congregation.

The procession included the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd John Dobson, Canons Michael Gisbourne, Matthew Pollard and the Bishop of Ripon, the Rt Revd Anna Eltringham, who blessed the crowd from the town hall balcony.

Main image: The spectacular fireworks display provided the finale to an evening of celebration on Market Square

Read More:

• Will 2024 see the return of cinema to Ripon?
• See how Ripon played a key role in last year’s coronation celebrations

King Charles III celebrated his coronation this year – and the Harrogate district certainly celebrated with him.

From street parties and parades to afternoon tea and live music, people went all out to mark the new king in May.

See our gallery below to look back on the royal celebrations near you.

Harrogate

Over the three-day weekend, Harrogate saw a range of celebratory events.

People gathered for an afternoon tea at the Oatlands Community Centre, others watched a livestream on the big screen in the Valley Gardens.

Local businesses also showed their colours — and some four-legged friends even waved the flag for the day.

Afternoon tea at Oatlands Community Centre.

The Valley Gardens was also looking patriotic for the occasion.

People watched a livestream in the Valley Gardens.

Local businesses got into the royal spirit.

Betsy got coronation ready too!

Ripon

Ripon kicked off the royal celebrations with a live performance from Complete Madness in the Market Square.

Services in the cathedral and street parties followed, and surrounding villages gathered to mark the occasion too.

Former Ripon Grammar School student, 72-year-old Bruce Oldfield, even designed Queen Camilla’s coronation dress.

Fountains Abbey was lit up in honour of the King.

Floral displays created by the Ripon Cathedral Flower Guild and Ripon Flower Club. 

Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire Ms Jo Ropner and the Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd John Dobson.

Complete Madness kicking off the celebrations.

Residents of Carr Close threw a street party.

Around 100 people partied on the street.

Masham and Kirkby Malzeard

Masham and Kirkby Malzeard residents came out in their droves to celebrate the royal event.

There was a car rally, a float parade, BBQs, maypole dancing and more.

Masham had a float parade.

Maypole dancing in Kirkby Malzeard.

Vintage cars also rallied as part of the parade.

Knaresborough

Knaresborough House held a livestream of the coronation service, as well as a Coronation Concert over the weekend.

The concert, which was held at Knaresborough Castle, celebrated at music through time and people smiled as the sun shone down.

Livestream at Knaresborough House.

Hundreds gathered for the Coronation Concert.

Knitting Pretty and Number Thirteen in Knaresborough were decorated for the coronation.

Read more:

• As it happened: Harrogate district celebrates King Charles II coronation
• As it happened: Second day of coronation celebrations in Harrogate district

In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2023, we’re looking at the council’s £47.9 million investment into local leisure centres.

The Harrogate district has undergone something of a council leisure centre revolution in recent years – with Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon all boasting multi-million pound developments.

The process has certainly not been plain sailing. From sink holes and temporary gyms to delays, North Yorkshire Council’s fitness projects have rarely been out of the Stray Ferret news.

But by the end of the year it was hard to dispute the view of Mark Tweedie, the managing director of Brimhams Active, which runs leisure facilities on behalf of the council, that the district’s facilities were the envy of North Yorkshire.

In a further twist, however, the new North Yorkshire Council has now said it is to scrap Brimhams and bring all of the county’s leisure services back in-house.

Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre

The former Harrogate Hydro, now known as the Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre, opened in September following an almost 18-month transformation.

The £13.5 million refurbishment included a 400-square metre fitness centre, a new sauna and steam room, improved reception area and café, as well as an overhaul of the existing gym, spin, leisure and swimming facilities.

The Brimhams Active-run site boasts three swimming pools: a 25-metre lane pool, a diving pool and a children’s pool.

People can also attend fitness classes, including an immersive spin class, pilates and yoga.

The opening was well-received. When the Stray Ferret reported on it, one person’s comment on social media summed up how many felt:

“It’s amazing, we are so lucky to have theses facilities in Harrogate.”

In May, North Yorkshire Council said the cost of the scheme had increased from a budgeted £11.9 million.

Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre

The long-awaited Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre opened its doors in December.

Work began on the site, which is next to the former Knaresborough Pool, in April 2022 after plans were approved the month before.

It was originally expected to open in summer, however, the opening date was repeatedly delayed until this month.

The transformed centre now offers a six-lane 25-metre pool, a leisure pool and slide, and a 60-station fitness suite.

Like the Harrogate site, there is also a sauna and steam room, a café, a group cycling studio and a studio for fitness classes.

The outdoor children’s play area is still in the works but is expected to open in January.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for arts, culture and housing, Cllr Simon Myers, told the Stray Ferret ahead of its opening:

“You come over the brow of the hill in Knaresborough and see the leisure centre building – it is such an attractive building.

“It sits so well in its space, it’s full of light and the facilities are fantastic.

“This is what local authorities can achieve. It’s a real asset to Knaresborough.”

Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre, Ripon

The Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre, in Ripon, has not only faced the most bumps – or holes – in the road, but also the biggest expenditure of the three.

Although the site officially reopened in March last year, Ripon residents are yet to see the full transformation.

The old part of the site is locked in a sinkhole groundhog day of never-ending work on a “void” beneath the building, which remains closed.

Following the discovery of the void, which is believed to have been there for several years, the now defunct Harrogate Borough Council submitted a planning application to install a temporary gym in the centre’s car park in July 2022.

This was to enable the closure of the existing gym on the upper floor of the 28-year-old building, which was found to require £3.5 million worth of ground stabilisation works.

The temporary structure was supposed to open that autumn – just months after the application was submitted – however, the installation was continually delayed.

It was not until April this year that the £300,000 building, which houses the temporary gym, was installed.

The stabilisation work, which began in June, brought the cost to £18 million — £8 million over budget.

However, that too has not come without challenges.

North Yorkshire Council said in October its movement checks revealed multiple cracks up to 10mm long.

It said the cracks have affected the “weather tightness of the building and the operation of doors and windows” but added specialists had said there were no safety concerns.

The council said at the time the estimated completion date and costs were “under review”.

Works at the site.

‘Stop throwing good money after bad’

Councillor Andrew Williams, a member of the Conservative and Independents group at the council and leader of Ripon City Council, said last year it was time to stop “throwing good money after bad” and to “look for a suitable location for a new leisure centre to be built on sound land”.

In response to the discovery of the cracks, Cllr Williams said:

“The building is under very close monitoring to ensure that there is no movement as the works progress, if there is movement then the position will have to be reviewed in the light of that information.

“The situation is far from ideal and I hope that it will prove possible to complete these works because the bottom line is that Ripon needs a functioning leisure centre.”

The new building, which includes the swimming pool, sauna and steam room, has remained open throughout.

However, it looks like members will be using the temporary gym and attending group classes at Hugh Ripley Hall in the city centre well into 2024…

Read more:

• VIDEO: First look at new £17.5m Knaresborough leisure centre
• ‘Multiple cracks’ detected at Ripon leisure centre
• ‘Our leisure centres will be the envy of North Yorkshire’

In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2023, we look at businesses and brands that came and went on our local high streets.

The Harrogate district has seen a range of national and independent retailers come and go on the high street this year.

A cinema in Ripon folded, Harrogate got its first world supermarket, and A-ha’s sound technician even opened a local bar.

And let’s not forget the Rooftop which opened to the public for a grand total of 48 hours…

Today, we’re looking back some standout moments on the district’s high streets.

Came – The Inn Collection Group opened three sites in the Harrogate district

Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough were all in the spotlight following the opening of a new Inn Collection hotel in each area.

The Inn Collection Group, which bought the former Dower House in Knaresborough along with the George Hotel in Harrogate and the Ripon Spa Hotel, markets its venues as ‘inns with rooms’.

All three sites got fresh new looks following multi-million pound makeovers.

The new Ripon Inn, which opened in October, has 58 bedrooms and two bars. The group’s managing director told the Stray Ferret the bill for the site was “close to eight figures”.

The Knaresborough Inn opened its doors in August. It no longer has a spa and gym but boasts 56 rooms compared to a previous 38.

Finally, The Harrogate Inn closed in January for refurbishments. It has a new entrance, a new bar and restaurant, 96 rooms and two new outdoor patio features.

The Knaresborough Inn.

Came – Jollyes pet store opens in Harrogate

A national pet chain, Jollyes, opened on Hookstone Park in September.

The store sells a wide range of pet foods, toys and bedding. It also offers a pet grooming service.

The Harrogate store is one of 95 sites in the UK and the company plans to open another 10 by the middle of 2024.

Went – national retailer Paperchase folds

Paperchase, which had a store on James Street in Harrogate, closed after the company went into administration in February.

As part of the closing down sale, the company sold off cards, gifts and stationery for up to 70% off – with cards going for as little as 10p.

Tesco bought the rights to the brand, entitling it to sell Paperchase items in its supermarkets, but did not buy the stores.

The move affected 106 Paperchase shops and more than 800 staff nationally.

Came – soft furnishing brand Sophie Allport came to James Street

Sophie Allport, an interior furnishing brand based in Lincolnshire, took over the former Phase Eight store in Harrogate.

The Harrogate branch, which opened in November, is the first outside its home county, with other stores in Stamford and Bourne.

It sells a range of homeware, including bedding and crockery, as well as home furnishings, accessories and gifts.

Founder Sophie Allport.

Went – The Rooftop’s two-day tenure in Harrogate

Our next restaurant possibly holds the title for being the most rapid open and closure in recent Harrogate history.

Mexican restaurant, The Rooftop, confirmed it had closed after just two days of trading in August.

Owner Mason Elyas told the Stray Ferret he had been involved in a dispute with business partners and planned to take legal action at the time. However, another restaurant has not yet opened.

Mr Elyas said he had lost £20,000 on the venture but, despite this, hoped to open another restaurant in Harrogate once this issue was resolved.

The restaurant, which was on Cheltenham Crescent, was the third restaurant to open and close in just over a year, following the closure of both Samson’s and HG1.

Came – Harrogate’s first world food supermarket opens

All Nations Supermarket, on Skipton Road, opened in September.

It stocks a wide variety of Asian, African, Middle Eastern and European foods and ingredients – the first of its kind in the town.

The store also has a butchers counter selling fresh meat and stocks halal foods too.

The opening created a real buzz on the Stray Ferret’s social media, with more than 1,000 people reacting to a post about the new venture.

All Nations Supermarket also sells Tik Tok-viral Buldak products, as well as a range of Asian spices, Middle Eastern desserts and even fresh fruit and vegetables.

Went – Curzon closed Ripon cinema

Ripon’s only cinema, Curzon, closed its doors in July this year.

The company said the venue faced “specific challenges” and site was “not suited to the long-term direction we have taken”.

Sterne Properties Ltd, which owns the North Street premises, announced in June it hoped to retain one of the cinema screens to become a volunteer-led community project.

It hopes to have the building back open to the public next year, however, no further developments have been announced yet.

Curzon.

Came – Amy Winehouse’s sound engineer opens record shop and bar in Harrogate

Dave Swallows, who has worked with the likes of Amy Winehouse, Erasure, James and A-ha, opened a vinyl coffee house and bar in May.

AAA (pronounced triple-A) on Cold Bath Road sells clothing and vinyl records, as well as serves coffee, food and alcohol.

Mr Swallows, who is originally from Southend-on-Sea but has lived in Harrogate for 16 years, told the Stray Ferret:

“Last July, I was touring with A-ha, playing Rio de Janeiro and the Hollywood Bowl, and then just two days later I was back here, being handed the keys to this place.”

Maybe one day A-ha will decide to Take On the town for one night only…

Went – Joules closed Harrogate store in second blow to James Street

Paperchase was not the only major retailer to closed its doors in Harrogate this year – as Joules saw the same fate.

The closure, which happened in May, came after the company fell into administration in 2022.

However, Next rescued it by paying £34 million for the business, plus £7 million for the head office.

The closing notice did not state a reason for the decision, but added the nearest Joules store is now Ilkley.

Mint Velvet later took on the former Joules site.

Came – Knaresborough banking hub opened to town

Knaresborough’s first banking hub, Cash Access UK, opened its doors in November.

It is a not-for-profit company set up by 10 major high-street banking providers to protect the public’s access to cash.

The hub, on Bowling Green Yard, offers customers of all major banks and building societies the chance to carry out regular cash transactions, from Monday to Friday.

It also provides a community banker service whereby customers can talk to their own bank about more complicated issues.

Community bankers from Natwest, Halifax, Santander, HSBC and Barclays work on rotation at the hub.

Knaresborough Town crier at the opening of the new banking hub.

Went – Ripon said goodbye to M&Co after 44 years of trading

Retailer M&Co went into administration for the second time last December and subsequently closed its doors in Ripon in April.

The website, brand and intellectual property were bought by Yours Clothing — but the shops were not.

This meant all 170 stores, including Ripon which had been open since 1979, had to close.

Around 1,900 employees were affected nationally.

Came – new bar and restaurant 1858 opened in Knaresborough

1858, Knaresborough’s newest bar and restaurant, opened in the former NatWest site in August.

The venue offers lunch and evening meals, Sunday roasts and drinks.

Kim Lancaster, who runs the venue, said the experience is more like “elegant fine-dining” than a “Wetherspoons quick in-and-out” type experience.

Its name derives from the year in which the building was constructed.

Went – Leon closed in Harrogate after nine month tenure

Fast food chain Leon closed its doors in Harrogate in April.

The drive-through’s closure came just nine months after it opened on Wetherby Road.

Starbucks looks set to open in the former Leon site.

It began advertising for staff in earlier this month after North Yorkshire Council approved plans to change the signage outside.

Came – Mandarin Stone opened Harrogate store

National retailer Mandarin Stone opened its doors in Harrogate in November.

The company, which sells a wide range natural stone, porcelain and decorative tiles, took over the former Lynx Menswear unit on West Park.

The Harrogate showroom is the 15th of its kind and the most northerly Mandarin Stone site.

Director Carl Ryan said the company’s “knowledge, passion and enthusiasm” for the industry set it apart in the market.

The Mandarin Stone team.

Went – Harrogate Tea Rooms closed after 13 years

The Harrogate Tea Rooms, in Westminster Arcade, closed with immediate effect in October.

Owners Carrie and Tony Wilkinson announced the news on social media and said the day-to-day running costs were not translating into profit.

They added they would, however, continue making scones for delivery.

Their post said:

“We are as sad and shocked as some of you will be.

“Our tenancy with the new landlord was up for renewal, but with increased rent, energy and food costs, lower than ever footfall, our out-of-the-way location and possibly the ever increasing amount of new coffee shops near us, it has forced our decision to unfortunately not be able to move forward with the business.

The Harrogate Tea Rooms was featured in The Harrogate Crime Series by Malcolm Hollingdrake.

Mr and Ms Wilkinson said DCI Cyril Bennett, one of the main characters, will live “in our hearts and memories”, and “will forever be drinking tea from a China cup”.

Read more:

• ‘I just want my husband back’ – The Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal 2023
• ‘Without my carer I’d be a mess’ – Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal 2023

In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2023, we look at the closure in July of Ripon’s Curzon cinema 

Film lovers in Ripon  and the surrounding area suffered a blow on July 1 when Curzon, the London-headquartered cinema operator, closed the doors forever at its North Street premise.

That came just ten years after it opened in a blaze of positive publicity.

Has the city seen its final picture show? Or will the projectors be rolling again in 2024?

At the time of Curzon’s withdrawal, landlord Sterne Properties Limited, stated its own disappointment, but also announced plans to bring a community-run cinema to Ripon to operate alongside a leisure hub designed for families with young children.

The James Bond film No Time to Die, was one of the last blockbuster movies to be shown at Curzon’s Ripon cinema

With the New Year just (weeks/days away) the Stray Ferret asked Robert Sterne, director of the Ripon-based property and investment company, for an update.

He told us:

“The closure of Curzon in July this year was a huge disappointment all round, but we see this as an opportunity to make (subject to planning consent) some big changes so that the cinema better serves the community.”

He pointed out:

“There has been lots of interest from a whole range of cinema operators which we are considering alongside a community-run, not for profit venture. However Curzon still hold a lease over the property and it will therefore have to remain closed until terms can be agreed to bring it back under our control. “

Mr Sterne, added:

“We are working hard to this end and hope to be able to give some further updates in the New Year”

A family-focused new facility

In July, Mr Sterne told the Stray Ferret:

“Film lovers can take comfort that one cinema screen will be retained to be run as a community project. That way overheads, and therefore ticket prices, can be reduced whilst continuing to show a range of great films and streaming of live events.

“In addition we are proposing to create a hub for the benefit of local and visiting families with a play centre, baby sensory activities, café/restaurant and retail unit. This is something that has been under-provided locally and for which we see a strong demand.”

Leisure sector experience

In 2013, the company’s conversion of a former furniture store provided the wherewithal for Curzon to come to Ripon and bring cinema back to the city, 31 years after the final curtain at the Palladium on Kirkgate .

Sterne Properties, set up by Robert Sterne’s father Martin, has been investing in Ripon for more than 30 years.

It has a strong track record in the refurbishment  and reconfiguration of redundant buildings in the city, to create mixed-use leisure and hospitality-led schemes that include a residential element.

One high profile example is the former Natwest Bank premises next door to Ripon Town Hall on Market Place South.

It is now the Claro Lounge cafe/bar at ground and basement level, with luxury apartments on the upper floors.

The company whose city centre portfolio includes properties which are home to Halls of Ripon, Caffe Nero, the Little Ripon Bookshop and Appleton’s Butchers, submitted a planning application to North Yorkshire Council in September for, perhaps, its most ambitious project yet – the refurbishment of the Spa Baths.

That application will be determined by the planning authority in the New Year and, if successful, will see a mixed-use  hospitality-led scheme, designed to see the grade II listed Spa building returned to its Edwardian splendour,

Main image: The billboards are currently bare at Curzon’s premises, but cinema could be back in the New Year.

Read more:

• Community-run cinema plan for Ripon
• Curzon confirms closure of Ripon cinema

This year’s Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal is to raise money for a minibus for Dementia Forward in the Harrogate district. 

The appeal is kindly sponsored by Vida Healthcare.

Please give generously to support local people and their families living with dementia. Let’s not forget who needs our help this Christmas.

Today, we learnt about dementia awareness education.

“I just really wanted to know what to do if I came across someone with dementia.”

Fiona Andrews previously worked for the British Transport Police and wanted to direct her efforts to help the community.

During a meeting in 2014, other officers mentioned a lady had got off a train and was confused. She had no ticket and did not know where she was or why she was there. Looking back it was clear the lady had dementia, Fiona said, but 9 years ago this awareness wasn’t the same.

“The conversation came up about what to do about people that come into the train station and clearly have dementia.

“I hadn’t really thought of it before that, but I wanted to be able to confirm these people would be safe when they’re taken off our hands.

“Then, the penny dropped: it’s not about us getting rid of these people, it’s about making others aware of dementia.”

Fiona began learning about dementia and working with various charities to not only educate herself and her colleagues on the disease, but eventually wider community groups.

One of the charities she worked with was Dementia Forward. She added:

“Without a shadow of a doubt Dementia Forward were the best charity out there.

“As soon as I retired, I begged Dementia Forward for a job. Even though it was a small charity back then, I could see just how much of an impact the work was having.

“I offered to sweep floors if it meant I got a job there!”

Dementia Forward’s Young Onset group.

Fiona was offered a full-time role as dementia awareness educator at Dementia Forward in 2017.

Now, various groups approach Fiona and the charity to gain a better understanding of the disease and the support they can put in place.

Fiona will advise them on what dementia is, what the signs are and what families, friends and carers can do to help.

“I will go anywhere and talk to absolutely anyone – I tailored all my education to the environment or group.

“For example, a church group will want to know how to adapt the space accordingly, but I’d speak to people differently in a Tesco or primary school than in the church group.”

Fiona gives people practical information that makes people aware of the changes that dementia can cause, like losing the ability to speak or a decline in mobility, and aims to keep anxieties as low as possible.

She believes a change in attitude is the first step in understanding this awful condition.

“My own father died from Alzheimer’s and, even though I had the experience of it, we still really struggled.

“I try to teach people in a way that I would receive well.”

Members of Dementia Forward’s Hub Club.

Fiona wants people to know that dementia comes in so many forms and isn’t just about memory loss. It’s a disease that affects everything: motivation, compulsion, mobility and social interaction.

As people living with dementia change over time, other people around them need to fit around these changes.

She also holds regular awareness sessions for long-term and new carers. The sessions provide an added layer of support and make them aware of what could come following the diagnosis.

“Sometimes people just want to see they’re not alone. It can be a very lonely disease.

“I’m here to take a bit of stigma away from dementia, to give people a voice and fill the gap between the needs of healthcare and social care.

“A big part of my awareness training is to let people who feel they’re not getting help know that we’re here.”

Fiona and the Dementia Forward team help hundreds of families across the Harrogate district.

But they need YOUR help to continue the vital support on offer and, without it, run the risk of losing the minibus service. We’re still a long way off our £30,000 target and are urging you to please donate whatever you can.

The minibus service allows people to access the support on offer at Dementia Forward. However, Dementia Forward’s current bus is old and tired and urgently needs to be replaced. The charity would seriously struggle to afford a new one, which is why they need your help to keep this vital service going. Without it, many people living with dementia wouldn’t be able to access the help and support they need.

Every donation to our campaign will go directly to Dementia Forward, helping us hit our £30,000 target to buy the charity a new minibus and bettering the lives of those living with dementia and the people around them.

Please give generously to those who need our help this Christmas. Click here to donate – you never know when you, your family or your friend may be in need of Dementia Forward’s help too.

Thank you.

For those that need urgent help or have a dementia-related enquiry, call 03300578592 to speak to a helpline adviser.