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Looking Back: The celebs who visited Harrogate in 2023

Throughout 2023, the Harrogate district became something of a celebrity hotspot.

Gyles Brandeth bemoaned of a sleepless night in a Harrogate hotel, while Toyah Wilcox and Robert Fripp described Bettys cakes as a “nectar of paradise”.

And heaven knows what Morrissey was doing here…

Today, we’re looking back at some star-studded visits to the district, and what some celebrities had to say about the local area.

Kate Winslet visits Nidderdale pub

Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet visited the Crown at Middlesmoor with her family in May.

Landlady Angela Snow, said she was “starstruck” by the Hollywood star, who had been walking around Scar House Reservoir before stopping at the village pub.

Ms Snow told the Stray Ferret:

“To be honest, I wouldn’t have known. I was in the kitchen cooking when my bar lady Megan recognised her.

“As she was leaving, I asked for a photo to put up behind the bar. She said she usually pretends to be someone else, but she said she would because it was such a nice pub.”

Kate Winslet rose to fame after her landing a role in Titanic. Since then, she has become a household name and has starred in Sense and Sensibility, Avatar and The Holiday.

As well as winning the Oscar for best actress for her performance in The Reader, Kate Winslet has been nominated a further six times. She has won three Baftas, two Emmys, a Grammy and five Golden Globes.

Kate Winslet, centre, with Megan Dunn and Angela Snow at the Crown in Middlesmoor

Heaven knows what Morrissey was up to in Harrogate

Morrissey, the enigmatic former frontman of The Smiths, was spotted enjoying a quiet pint in Harrogate in March.

Chris Russell from Knaresborough caused a stir when he posted a photo of him and the influential star in The Harrogate Arms where Mozza was apparently relaxed and happy to pose for photos with fans.

Pete Murphy, manager of the pub, said:

“We only had four or five tables in, so it wasn’t busy, but a few people recognised him and had photos with him.

“We get the odd Leeds player in, but that’s the first singer I’ve seen.”

in typically mysterious Morrissey style, his reason for being in Harrogate remains unknown.

Morrissey with Chris Russell.

Lethal Weapon star dines in Harrogate restaurant

Danny Glover, star of the Lethal Weapon franchise, dined at Efes Bar and Grill this summer.

The 77-year-old Hollywood star was in town for the Yorkshire Comic-Con.

He posed for photos with the restaurant staff, which had opened just weeks prior to his visit.

Glover is most famous for his role as Roger Murtaugh, but has also starred in The Colour Purple and Predator 2.

He is also known for his political activism, strongly opposing the Bush administration in America.

Danny Glover pictured at Efes Bar and Grill in Harrogate.

DJ Calvin Harris spotted at Wetherby Services

One of the biggest names in music, Calvin Harris, was spotted at Wetherby Services in August.

The star, who is the 23rd most played artist in the world on Spotify, was on his way back from Creamfields festival after fans spotted him at Pret A Manger.

The fans, who were headed to Newcastle, had watched the Scottish DJ headline the festival just two nights prior to meeting him.

Livvy Elder, one of the fans, said:

“My friend was the one to ask him for a photo and told him we were sorry for disturbing him for a photo, but he was the kindest man so humble – he said it was no problem at all.

“It totally topped off our weekend and was a moment we will never forget!”

Calvin Harris boasts nearly 60 million monthly listeners on Spotify. He also has an annual residency at one of the largest clubs in the world, Ushuaia, Ibiza, and has had 11 UK No.1 songs.

Calvin Harris (centre) with fans.

Gyles Brandreth endures sleepless night in Harrogate hotel bed

TV personality and writer, Gyles Brandreth, took to social media to tell of his sleepless night in a Harrogate hotel.

The raconteur said the bed “tilted to the left so that I had to cling on all night” following his visit in September.

The poor-nights-sleep came after he appeared at the Royal Hall for his one-man show, Gyles Brandreth Can’t Stop Talking.

However, he did praise the “warm and wonderful audience” in Harrogate.

He later praised The Ivy for its “delicious post-show supper: cheese soufflé followed by iced berries”.

Let’s hope Gyles Brandreth finds a comfier bed on his next visit to Harrogate…

Gykes Brandreth with The Ivy staff.

Toyah Wilcox and Robert Fripp say Bettys is “heart and soul of humanity”

Toyah Wilcox and Robert Fripp praised Bettys online after their gig in Harrogate.

In a YouTube video posted in October, the couple described the tearoom as a “quality establishment”. Robert Fripp said he’d been to the York branch before, but said the Harrogate venue was “something of a pilgrimage.”

Toyah added:

“You may think we’re complete idiots for being so in love with this experience, but it was the heart and soul of humanity. We could talk to everyone, everyone really cared, it was kind, it was utterly amazing.”

They described a cake they’d saved from their visit as “the nectar of paradise” and “a relic from the shrine of St Betty”.

The couple also shared their love for the whole town in the video. Toyah added:

“Robert’s never been to Harrogate and he absolutely loved it, and I loved it too. It’s such a special place, and if ever you’re visiting the UK or just having a holiday in the UK, and you’ve not been to Harrogate, go – it’s beautiful!”

Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp.

Based on this year’s celebrity visits, the Stray Ferret is excited to see what, or whom, 2024 will bring. Do let us know if you see a star out and about.

Rock stars rave over ‘nectar of paradise’ in Harrogate

Bettys has long been popular with visitors to Harrogate, but the business gained two more high-profile fans this month when Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp dropped in.

The couple were in town to play a gig at the Royal Hall and later took to social media to pay effusive tribute to the tearooms.

In their latest YouTube post, Robert, who is widely regarded as one of the world’s best guitarists, called Bettys “a quality establishment which resonates”, and said:

“I’d been to Bettys in York before, which was superb, but this was something of a pilgrimage.”

Toyah added:

“You may think we’re complete idiots for being so in love with this experience, but it was the heart and soul of humanity. We could talk to everyone, everyone really cared, it was kind, it was utterly amazing.”

They described a cake they’d saved from their visit as “the nectar of paradise” and “a relic from the shrine of St Betty”.

Toyah, 65, is best known for her string of hit singles in the early 1980s, including It’s a Mystery, I Want to be Free, and Thunder in the Mountains, but has also had a long acting career on both stage and screen.

Robert Fripp, 77, was the founder of progressive rock band King Crimson and has also collaborated with the likes of David Bowie, Blondie and Talking Heads.

The couple have been married since 1986 and came to national attention during the Covid lockdown, when they started their YouTube channel, Toyah and Robert’s Sunday Lunch.

In their latest post, their praise was not just confined to Bettys – they loved the whole town.

Toyah said: