Revealed: route for Harrogate’s free Christmas road trainA free road train will take visitors around Harrogate from Friday, just in time for the two town centre Christmas markets.
The Candy Cane Express will stop at James Street, St Mary’s Walk and Crescent Road. It will also pass Montpellier Hill, Cheltenham Parade, Station Parade and Victoria Avenue.
Face masks are advised on the road train, which will operate from December 3 to 12. Face masks are also advised around both markets.
The train route will take in the sights of the Christmas lights, Christmas shop window displays, Christmas rides and Santa’s postbox.
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It’s all part of the council’s drive to get people into the town centre to support the new fayre and the artisan market in Valley Gardens, which will also stimulate high street businesses.
Excitement has been building since the Christmas rides started in the town centre last month. This week stalls for the Christmas fayre appeared in the town centre.
A map of the Christmas road train.
When are the town centre Christmas markets?
Harrogate Christmas Fayre, which the council is running in partnership with Market Place Europe, will be open between 10am and 7pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am and 9pm Thursday to Saturday, and 10am and 4.30pm on Sunday.
The market will take place on Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent and will provide gifts and mouth-watering treats for people to enjoy as they wander around, taking in the sights and sounds.
Around 50 traders will take part in the fayre.
In addition, Little Bird Made is set to hold a festive artisan market in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens this Saturday and Sunday, with times to be confirmed.
The artisan market will feature approximately 60 local and regional traders and producers who will sell a variety of festive arts and crafts, clothing, homeware, jewellery, as well as food and drink.
ATM outage frustrates Knaresborough stallholdersStallholders have vented their frustration over an ATM outage in Knaresborough’s town centre where there is no longer a bank.
Both the cash machines at the Tesco Express and the Sainsbury’s Local on the High Street are out of service today. They have reportedly been out for the past five days.
Anyone in need of cash either have to queue up at the busy Post Office in the town or head out for a 40 minute round walk to the ATM at the Co-op petrol station on Manse Lane.
Halifax closed its Knaresborough branch in March 2021. Halifax blamed changing customer habits for the closure, which left the town’s 15,000 residents without a bank.
The lack of cash availability has been felt particularly keenly today at the Knaresborough market. The market is held every Wednesday from 7.30am to 3pm in the market square.
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Ted Wray, who has sold jewellery and old cash at his stall for the last three years, told the Stray Ferret:
“I think it has put people off buying things at the market today. Some of my potential customers ask if I take cards but it’s not possible when I am selling items for a couple of pounds.
“It has been very difficult. All of us in the market who do not use card machines have felt this as an issue.”
Paul Greene, who runs a fruit and vegetable stall under the name Paul Veg Man, also added:
“The ATMs have been out since Saturday. Customers have also been complaining about it, the machines don’t have any cash in them.
“It has been putting a lot of people off. We have no banks and only one post office where everyone has been sent.”
Jared Clark, who runs a bakery stall on the market with a card machine, said:
“We have had a few customers who have said they can’t get any cash, so it is not ideal. The only place is the Post Office where people often have to queue.
“Footfall is down at the moment so it is not great. Knaresborough deserves better, we need more cash points or a bank.”
The Stray Ferret asked both Tesco and Sainsbury’s why their ATMs are currently out of use. We had no response by the time of publication.
Update: A Tesco Bank spokesperson said:
“We are aware of an issue affecting the ATM at Tesco Knaresborough High Street that has caused the machine to be temporarily out of service. We are working hard to fix this and expect to have the ATM available for use again later this week. We are sorry for any inconvenience this has caused our customers.”
Huge crowd attends Ripon’s Christmas lights switch on
A huge crowd filled Ripon Market Square this evening for the switch on of the city’s Christmas lights.
Thousands of people of all ages, from children in pushchairs to grandparents, got into an early festive swing, with tribute acts and Ripon’s own singer-songwriter Freddie Cleary, providing musical entertainment, alongside free fairground rides.
The cabmen’s shelter on Market Place East was transformed into a grotto, which was busy all afternoon and into the evening, with children queuing to let Santa know the presents they hope he will deliver to their houses on Christmas Eve.
For five-year-old Josephine and her three-year-old brother Noah (pictured) the gifts they wish for are Elsa’s Castle from the Disney film Frozen and a dinosaur toy.
While Santa was busy all afternoon, his reindeer also attracted a great deal of attention.
As well as the real reindeer present, Ripon now has a light-up variety, along with sleigh, as part of its festive decorations
The Christmas lights were switched on by the the Mayor of Ripon Councillor Eamon Parkin, with Santa on stage to lend a hand.
After the switch on, the musical entertainment continued, with a tribute act (pictured below) signing the chart-topping hits of girl bands.
They were followed by a Beatles Tribute act, who provided a fab-four finale to the day’s festive fun.
Your guide to Harrogate’s three Christmas marketsIt’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…So, with a few changes to the plans this year, we have compiled this guide of everything you need to know about Harrogate’s Christmas markets.
After the loss of the original Harrogate Christmas Market, the festive offering has splintered into three markets.
While some of the original stalls will be at the newly-refurbished Crimple Hall at the end of November, new stall holders will be at events across the town centre and Valley Gardens in December.
Harrogate Christmas Fayre across the town centre
Market Place Europe is taking on the main event in Harrogate but rather than Montpellier Hill this new Harrogate Christmas Fayre will take place across the town centre.
There will be a mixture of local and European stallholders on Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent.
The Harrogate Christmas Fayre will feature around 50 traders spaced out wider than usual to try to encourage social distancing.
Rather than the usual four-day market, the Market Place Europe event will take place over a week from December 3 until December 12.
- When – December 3 until December 12, Monday to Wednesday – 10am to 7pm, Thursday to Saturday – 10am to 9pm, and Sundays from 10am to 5pm
- Where – Across the town centre with stalls on Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent
- What – 50 traders with a mixture of local and European stallholders
- Who – Market Place Europe is working with Harrogate Borough Council and Harrogate BID
Market Place Europe is behind the Harrogate Christmas Fayre.
Christmas Market Weekend at Crimple Hall
Brian Dunsby, co-organiser of Harrogate Christmas Market, has worked with some of the stallholders who were planning to go to his cancelled event to get them at a new venue.
Crimple Hall will hold the Christmas Market Weekend, which will feature more than 20 food and craft stalls.
There will also be plenty of children’s activities, a festive animal farm, face painting, treasure trails, wreath making demonstration and live music.
The Christmas Market at Crimple Hall will be held on November 27 and 28, from 8am to 7pm on the Saturday and 10am to 4pm on the Sunday.
- When – November 27 and 28, 8am to 7pm on Saturday and 10 am to 4pm on the Sunday
- Where – Newly refurbished Crimple Hall on Leeds Road
- What – More than 20 food and craft stalls with plenty of activities
- Who – Crimple Hall is working with the organisers of the original Harrogate Christmas Market
There will be a festive offering at the new Crimple Hall.
Artisan Christmas market in Valley Gardens
Little Bird Made, which has made a name for itself across North Yorkshire with its artisan markets, is set to hold a festive version of its market in Valley Gardens.
More than 60 local traders and producers will sell a variety of festive arts and crafts, clothing, homeware, jewellery, as well as locally produced food and drink.
This is a new addition to the town called Artisan Festive Market, with the organisers working with Harrogate Borough Council.
It will be held on the weekend of December 4 and 5 between 10am and 3pm.
- When – December 4 and 5, 10am to 3pm
- Where – Valley Gardens
- What – More than 60 local traders sell a variety of festive arts and crafts plus food and drink
- Who – Little Bird Made, which has run a number of artisan markets in the district
The Artisan Festive Market will be held in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens.
New Christmas express train from London to HarrogateA Christmas express train is to operate from London to Harrogate this year to attract people to the town’s new festive market.
Tourism organisation Visit Harrogate has partnered with rail company LNER to set up the service for the new Christmas Fayre on Friday, December 10.
The first class service will depart King’s Cross at 9.33am and arrive in Harrogate just under three hours later. Tickets cost £140 and include a goodie bag of Harrogate treats. It will cost £100 from Stevenage and £80 from Grantham.
Passengers can spend one or two days in Harrogate.
A giant inflatable snow globe is being installed at King’s Cross station today and tomorrow, offering people the chance to have selfies taken inside a winter wonderland scene, while learning more about the special event.
Visit Harrogate is planning the biggest Christmas campaign in its history after covid ruined last year’s festivities.
Gemma Rio, head of destination management at Harrogate Borough Council, said:
“We are delighted to be working with LNER to bring more visitors to Harrogate for a festive break. Overnight visitors spend money in our hotels, restaurants, shops and visitors attractions – which is exactly what our local businesses need after a difficult year.
“The direct service from London is a real asset to our visitor economy, so we’re committed to working closely with LNER in the lead up to Christmas and beyond to ensure potential visitors from the south east know just how easy it is to reach us.”
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Harrogate Borough Council and Visit Harrogate are planning to work with LNER on a regular basis to attract visitors from London throughout the year.
Kate McFerran, director of communications at LNER said:
“We are excited to announce that Harrogate will be the destination for our very first Christmas market event. It’s such a stunning location for a weekend visit, offering something for all the family and it promises to be especially magical this Christmas.”
Harrogate’s Christmas offering
Harrogate Christmas Fayre, which is being jointly staged by the council and Market Place Europe, will take place on Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent from December 3 to 12.
It will be open between 10am and 7pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am and 9pm Thursday to Saturday, and 10am and 4.30pm on Sunday.
About 50 traders will take part in the fayre.
In addition, Little Bird Made is set to hold a festive artisan market in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 December, with times to be confirmed.
The artisan market will feature approximately 60 local and regional traders and producers who will sell a variety of festive arts and crafts, clothing, homeware, jewellery, as well as food and drink.
Harrogate town centre Sainsbury’s to open in next two monthsSainsbury’s is planning to open its new Harrogate’s town centre store in the next couple of months.
The supermarket chain had hoped for a late summer opening but only managed to get permission from Harrogate Borough Council in late July.
When the new Sainsbury’s Local shop opens it will create 25 new jobs and also bring the former Topshop unit at 33-37 Cambridge Street back into use after four years.
While there’s not been too much movement at the store in recent weeks, the internal fit out is due to start before the end of November.
The developer plans to split the building into three seperate units. Sainsbury’s would occupy the largest on the left side.
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Skipton Building Society is also planning to move in but it is unclear at this stage which business will take on the third unit.
Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s Property Director, said:
“We’ll soon be moving to the next stage in the fitout of our new convenience store for Harrogate and I’m looking forward to seeing it take shape as it really starts to look like a Sainsbury’s Local.
“It won’t be long now until residents, workers and shoppers in the town centre will be able to enjoy great value, high quality products as well as the improved convenience and choice that a new Sainsbury’s store will bring.”
Mr Dunne added that his team is also in the process of finding a charity to donate excess food to.
Sainsbury’s already has four stores in Harrogate: a large store on Wetherby Road and smaller Local stores on Leeds Road, King’s Road and Cold Bath Road.
Harrogate Christmas shop window contest is backShops across Harrogate’s town centre are once again set to dazzle shoppers as they take part in this year’s Christmas Shop Window competition.
Harrogate Business Improvement District has partnered with the Rotary Club of Harrogate to organise and judge the annual festive contest.
It aims to promote town centre shops and push the ‘shop local’ message in the run-up to Christmas.
Businesses have until 8am on November 30 to dress up the windows. Shorlisting will take place on December 1 and the winner will be found on December 2.
The judges will be looking for three elements: illumination, innovation and the sprit of Christmas.
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The contest will be restricted to 50 businesses within the BID’s quarters of Kings, Montpellier, Victoria and West Park.
As in previous years there are three separate categories for large, medium and small retailers.
The overall winner will take home a special certificate and a bouquet of flowers.
Harrogate BID chair Sara Ferguson said:
“Last year, despite the restrictions that covid placed on retailers, Harrogate town centre looked fantastic thanks to our Christmas lights and the efforts of not just shops, but hotels, bars, cafes, restaurants and businesses across the whole town. I suspect that this year, town will look even more festive.”
Competition organiser and Rotary Club of Harrogate member, Graham Saunders, added:
“We are pleased that the competition is back to normal. We look forward to judging the shops and sharing in the awards ceremony.”
Which shops last year?
Mama Doreen’s Emporium was the winner in the large shops category, Helen James Flowers won the medium shops category, and Boho Chic, on West Parade, was the winner in the small shops category.
Helen James Flowers took the overall top spot.
Aim to make Ripon a focus of Christmas festivitiesPlans to make Ripon a focal point for the festive season are underway.
Last year the covid lockdown meant that the city and its traders were unable to capitalise fully on the £65,000 spent on a major expansion of Christmas lights and displays.
The decorations, paid for out of the parish precept, are designed to make the city’s streets more attractive for local residents and help increase footfall to benefit businesses.
This year extension, will see a tree lit up to the side of Ripon Cathedral and lighting from Bedern Bank to the Canal Basin, along Park Street, Church Street and Coltsgate Hill.
Ripon Town Hall will be one of the focal points for Christmas lighting
The lighting will be in place before the switch on event on the evening of 20 November, when a free to attend tribute act concert will be held on Market Square.
On 5 and 12 December, artisan markets will be held on the square and free children’s fairground rides will be in operation on those dates.
At the full city council meeting on Monday, members approved the production of a brochure for distribution in Ripon and surrounding areas, which will publicise Christmas activities in the city.
The brochure has been produced in previous years, but the pandemic put paid to its publication last year.
Council leader Andrew Williams, said:
“We want to reach as many people as possible living in the broad hinterland of Ripon and invite them to join in the city’s Christmas celebrations.”
Councillor Chris Davis pointed out that posters for placement in shop windows have previously been produced alongside the brochure and he hoped the same would happen this year.
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Festive lighting plan is unveiled for Ripon Town HallWith Christmas just over three months away, Ripon is gearing up for further expansion of the city’s seasonal lights.
Ripon City Council has unanimously agreed to support moves to create a new festive feature on the front of the town hall.
Costing £5,400, it would consist of a sequenced multi-coloured lights display that can be programmed to include seasonal and other messages.
Harrogate Borough Council, which owns the Grade II Listed building in the Market Place, needs to approve the proposal.
Last year, in a festive season affected by covid lockdown and restrictions, £65,000 set aside for public events that were subsequently cancelled, was used to enhance and extend Ripon’s Christmas lights.
The lights covered three miles of city centre and adjoining streets, including all major gateways and this year, in addition to the town hall plan, improvements will be made to light displays on High Skellgate and Westgate.
Kirkgate – the approach to Ripon Cathedral – was part of the three-mile display of lights last Christmas.
Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams said:
“A multi-coloured curtain of light across the town hall, which can incorporate messages, will have a wow factor and create a focal point for Ripon’s Christmas and New Year celebrations.”
Councillors were told that this would be be a temporary display and, if approval is received from Harrogate Borough Council, its installation will be timed to ensure that it does not clash with the Remembrance Day poppies display at the town hall.
The technology employed enables the lights to change colour and feature a range of pre-programmed messages.
New shop and bar openings in Ripon centre todayRipon’s bounce back from the covid lockdowns continues, with two new city centre openings today.
The Claro Lounge opens in its prime location next to Ripon Town Hall.
It will be the 149th Lounge opened in the UK by café-bar-restaurant operator The Loungers Group.
Also opening today in The Arcade, is a Yorkshire Cancer Research charity shop (below) in a large unit formerly occupied by Fultons Foods.
The opening of the Claro Lounge has seen the creation of 25 new jobs and staff will be encouraged to develop a relationship with the Ripon community by supporting local fundraising activities.
In addition to the new openings, Mountain Warehouse has doubled its floorspace with a relocation from Fishergate to Market Place East, where it took over premises formerly occupied by Edinburgh Woollen Mill.
Mountain Warehouse at its new location
