With a second lockdown now affecting Pateley Bridge High Street, Pat and Andrew Waite hope to bring some festive cheer.
The couple, who have run The Sandwich Box takeaway for 10 years, are currently collecting prizes for three hampers that can be won in a Christmas competition.
Local shops and and other businesses have responded enthusiastically by donating items for the hampers.
Numbered squares on a competition board, costing £5 apiece, will be on sale from 16 November and proceeds will help boost the Mayor’s annual appeal.
Mr Waite, said:
“It has been a strange old year for Pateley Bridge, starting with Storm Dennis and floods, followed by COVID-19.”
The coronavirus crisis, which has brought two lockdowns, has put paid next month’s late-night shopping event in the town and Mrs Waite, added:
“We thought that the hamper competition would be a way for Pateley Bridge to say a big ‘thank you’ to the customers who have supported the town through all the difficulties.”
Shops and other businesses in Pateley Bridge are supporting the Christmas hamper competition
All shops and other businesses that donate prizes will have their name listed against the item they have given.
The list will be on display in The Sandwich Box, in Back High Street, where entrants in the competition can also select a square or squares.
Because the business is a takeaway, it will remain open throughout the current lockdown.
The Mayor of Pateley Bridge, Councillor Mike Holt, who has donated a bottle of champagne for the competition, told the Stray Ferret:
“Pat and Andrew exemplify the community spirit that has helped us to tackle everything that has been thrown at the town this year.
“Naturally, we all hope that 2021 will be a better year for local shops, other businesses and residents and the money raised will fund activities that support our community.”
Following a successful Christmas lights appeal, supported by the town’s traders and residents, Pateley Bridge High Street will have enhanced Christmas decorations this year.
A collective effort saw the town council work alongside retailers and other business owners, Nidderdale Chamber of Trade and the local community to raise the funds for extension of the lights.
Harrogate Borough Council will provide two large Christmas trees.
Empty Ripon market reveals a city in lockdown
The sparse number of stalls on Ripon market this morning told its own story of a city that had woken up to day one of covid lockdown two.
Traders selling non-essential goods cannot work again at the market for at least four weeks — adding to the 11 weeks of lost business caused by the first lockdown from March until June.
Sonya Johnson, who would normally have been at Ripon market today with her female accessories stall, said:
“It’s not good obviously because it’s the busiest time of the year. We just need to grin and bear it and hope we can reopen for December. It’s come at the worse time ever as November and December are always really busy.
“We normally have the Christmas trade to tide us over through January and February but if we come back then it could be difficult.”
Non-essential shops attempted to maximise sales yesterday in the final few hours before lockdown.
So did salons and barbers, which stayed open late for customers desperate to get a trim.
Wetherspoon’s Unicorn Hotel – the largest pub in Ripon – offered its real ales at 99 pence a pint before it closed.
Cafes and restaurants served their last November customers in the hope they will be back in early December.
No takeaways
Oliver’s Pantry in Fishergate kept its head above water during the first lockdown by introducing a limited takeaway service, but is not doing the same this time.
Lou Grant, joint owner of the business with husband Tim, said:
“We have considered all options and made the decision to fully lockdown.
“Hopefully, we will only be closed for a few weeks. We will monitor the news and hope to be able to open again very soon with a big bang.”
A sign in the cafe’s window this morning sent a simple message to all of Ripon’s businesses – ‘Don’t quit.’
Harrogate survey: a third of Christmas shopping in town
People in Harrogate plan to do a third of their Christmas shopping in the town centre, as more people flock online.
The Stray Ferret worked with Your Poll by Judge Service to survey nearly 1,500 people in Harrogate. The survey is statistically robust.
All surveys with more than 1,000 respondents are statistically valid. Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill it out.
Where do you plan to do your Christmas shopping this year?
The survey found residents plan to do 30% of their Christmas shopping in Harrogate, 48% online and 16% elsewhere.
It will be important reading for the town’s businesses which hope, after a rough year, to have a bumper Christmas.
“Disappointed to lose the Christmas Market this year – I do a lot of my Christmas shopping there. Flower beds are gorgeous and love the lights in the trees.” – anon.
“The Christmas market is too early, not in long enough and is far too cramped. More seasonal markets would be good.” – anon.
Where do you plan to do your Christmas shopping?
The results from the survey also indicate, even though the majority head into town during the day, that residents only spend an hour to two hours there.
“Harrogate council needs to develop plans to respond to increasing online shopping by re-shaping the town centre over a period of time.” – anon.
“Harrogate is a great place to live, but work needs to be done to ensure it remains so. I hope that the town centre can endure.” – anon.
In the evening people are much more likely to spend two to three hours or even three to four hours in town.
Are you not entertained?
An improvement in the range of shopping and entertainment could bring more people into the town centre and for more time.
“A farmer style market regularly should be encouraged. A more diverse mix of shops should be encouraged.” – anon.
“A bowling alley would be ideal and would bring not just locals but people from outside the area into Harrogate” – anon.
More than 80% said there is “not enough” entertainment for young children and almost 90% said there is “not enough” entertainment for teenagers.
It contrasts quite strongly with the responses which said there are “too many” empty shops (97%) and charity shops (57%) in town.
Ripon is to lose two long-established shops, with the closures of Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Ponden Home.
Closing down sales signs are in the windows of both shops after Edinburgh Woollen Mill group – which owns both brands – filed a notice of intent to appoint administrators.
Staff at Edinburgh Woollen Mill’s store in Market Place East and Ponden Home in Kirkgate were informed of the situation in a letter on Friday.
The notice of intent is designed to give time for the group, which owns other high street names, including Jaeger and Peacocks, to enable insolvency experts to assess the business and advise on future actions.
The Ponden Home shop in Kirkgate.
While some parts of the giant retail group may be saved, the closing down sale notices were quickly in place at the group’s Ripon stores.
The notice of intention lodged in the High Court temporarily halts existing or pending creditor action by creating a 10-day period that protects them from the immediate threat of liquidation.
In a statement, Steve Simpson, chief executive of the Edinburgh Woollen Mill group, said the move would “provide a short breathing space to assess options”.
He added:
“Like every retailer, we have found the past seven months extremely difficult.
“This situation has grown worse in recent weeks as we have had to deal with a series of false rumours about our payments and trading, which have impacted our credit insurance.
“As directors we have a duty to the business, our staff, our customers and our creditors to find the very best solution in this brutal environment.”
Lights appeal will ensure that Pateley sparkles
Pateley Bridge may have lost its Christmas late night shopping event this year but the town has rallied round to ensure it will sparkle during the festive season.
The Mayor of Pateley Bridge, Councillor Mike Holt, was keen to highlight the efforts that have been made and to point out that Christmas in the town has not been cancelled.
Cllr Holt told the Stray Ferret:
“While the town council, along with traders is disappointed that the coronavirus crisis means we can’t hold the late night shopping event in December, Pateley Bridge will not be missing out on the festivities.”
He said the town had been forced to take a “longer-term view” because of the social distancing requirements caused by the coronavirus crisis. But organisations had pulled together. He added:
“Pateley Bridge High Street – which will have enhanced Christmas decorations – is alive and kicking, with new openings this year.
“A collective effort has seen the town council working alongside Nidderdale Chamber of Trade, Harrogate Borough Council and the local community and we will be in a better position than many other places.”
“Christmas markets in Harrogate and Knaresborough have been cancelled because of restrictions on large-scale gatherings and earlier this year the highly-popular scarecrow trails across Nidderdale also had to be called off, for the same reason.”
The Mayor of Pateley Bridge Councillor Mike Holt
HBC will be providing two large Christmas trees and a successful Christmas lights appeal led by the Chandler family, who own the Spar Shop and the bakers Yorkshire Born & Bread, along with the owners of Dales Market Corner and and Park View Stores, has raised thousands of pounds.
The money will be used to maintain and improve the lights in the town.
In previous years the purchase, maintenance, erection and storage of the Christmas lights and displays, and the two large Christmas trees for the town, has been funded by HBC and Pateley Bridge Town Council, but financial cutbacks have meant that greater emphasis has been put on fundraising among local retailers and residents.
Cllr Holt said:
“The fact that we have been able to raise enough money to improve the lights this difficult, lockdown year speaks volumes for the people of Pateley Bridge.”
WATCH: What do you want from Harrogate?
This is your chance to tell us what you really think…
The Stray Ferret has launched a major survey on the future of Harrogate town centre.
To get people talking, we went out onto the streets of Harrogate to find out why people visit, how they travel and what problems they think are facing our town. Watch the video to see what they had to say.
Do you agree? Make sure your voice is heard by completing our short survey. Everyone who takes part will be entered into a prize draw for some great free gifts – a Stray Ferret umbrella or a 12 pack of special Stray Ferret beer brewed by Harrogate-based Roosters. Participants must be aged 18 or over.
Click here to have a say on the future of Harrogate. The survey results, which will be published on our website, will help shape future debate.
Stray Ferret launches big survey on the future of Harrogate town centre
Harrogate’s town centre is at a critical crossroads.
The town has an enviable reputation as a destination for beautiful scenery, good bars and restaurants and independent shops.
But many businesses in the town are struggling. Many were under pressure before coronavirus – the Stray Ferret has reported on several well-loved local businesses ceasing to trade.
So what do you think should be done to improve the town’s fortunes? We want as many people as possible to fill in what will be the most comprehensive survey of its kind on how you use Harrogate town centre and what you think can help revive its economy.
We would like to hear views not only from Harrogate residents but also people in nearby places such as Ripon, Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge and Masham who use Harrogate for work and leisure.
The survey takes about 10 minutes and everyone who takes part will be entered into a prize draw with free gifts – a Stray Ferret umbrella or a 12 pack of special Stray Ferret beer brewed by Harrogate-based Roosters. You have to be over 18 to fill in the survey.
The survey results, which will be published on our website, will help shape the debate.
Revised timetable for Ripon BID after Covid lockdown
Covid 19 may have hampered the progress of the the Ripon BID, but it is hoped it will be back on track when businesses have emerged from lockdown.
In an online update for those engaged in the Ripon process, BID chair Richard Compton said that with the global pandemic, businesses are facing unprecedented challenges. He added:
“We must regroup and adjust to the ‘new normal’, when released from lockdown.”
Last year, a feasibility study was carried out and a task group formed, but the coronavirus crisis brought a temporary halt to the BID process in March.
Subsequent activities have been affected and a revised timeline published on the BID website has April next year as the target for a planned start of the Ripon BID.
Before then, a campaign will be conducted to present plans drawn up by the task group and a ballot of businesses carried out. If the majority vote ‘yes’, all businesses within the BID area will be required to pay a levy on their business rates to fund the project, with the cost to each worked out on a pro-rata basis.
Fountains Abbey
The Ripon Business Improvement District will cover a large area and, while the city centre is the principal point of focus, it also embraces heritage, hospitality sporting and visitor attractions within the wider Ripon district.
These include the Fountains Abbey World Heritage site, Newby Hall, Lightwater Valley and Ripon Racecourse.
Government social distancing requirements have put greater emphasis on the use of local shopping, leisure and exercise facilities, as travel to larger centres has reduced. Mr Compton said:
“It is therefore important that we are in a position to engage and retain this market. Our competition, whether it be for retail or tourism, will not have gone away and will be fighting hard for their share.”
Since September 2004, more than 300 bids have been developed in the UK, bringing more than £100 million of new finance for towns and cities including Harrogate, Northallerton and York to improve and promote their locations, with a view to attracting more shoppers and visitors.
Messages of hope and encouragement have been ringing out from a Ripon retailer to craftsmen and women in Rajasthan.
Liz and Kevin Hill, who own and run clothing and gift shop Karma in Kirkgate, have remained in regular contact with tailors, jewellers and leatherworkers in the north India state, where the majority of the goods they sell are produced.
Throughout the crisis, Liz has been writing messages inside a rainbow heart in the shop window – the latest being: ‘Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.’
Liz Hill, pictured on a visit to Rajasthan with leatherworker Chandra Goyal and his wife Anu (Photograph courtesy Karma, Ripon)
Others include: ‘Follow your dreams, they know the way’ and ‘kindness is free, sprinkle it everywhere.’
“The vast majority of people have been through a hard time in recent months and we hope that the messages give those who read them a bit of a lift – from passers by, to others many miles away who see them on WhatsApp.”
Kevin, added:
“This technology has enabled us to keep in touch with the leatherworkers, jewellers and tailors in Rajasthan, who make items ranging from handbags, to earrings, rings and dresses made from up-cycled saris. They are more like an extension of our family than suppliers.”
The Hills, who opened their Kirkgate shop in 2017, became lovers of India’s culture and customs when they first visited the sub-continent more than 20 years ago.
They sell goods that are ethically sourced, made and priced and have supported their suppliers during the difficult trading period by providing cash advances ahead of the supply of items, where production and delivery was interrupted because of the pandemic.
M&S Ripon opens with a trickle, not a flood
On a rainy Wednesday morning, there was more of a trickle than a flood of customers for the 8am opening of the new M&S Food store in Ripon.
Store manager Paul Nicoll told The Stray Ferret:
“Because of COVID-19 and the requirements for social distancing, we decided on a ‘soft’ opening to ensure the safety of customers and staff.”
He added:
“That’s why we didn’t make a big thing about publicising our first day opening time.”
The new store opened today with staff eager to serve their new customers.
The store, which is the first to open on the St Michael’s Retail Park on Rotary Way, Ripon, was scheduled to start trading on April 29, but the planned opening was put on hold because of the coronavirus crisis.
Even with the government relaxing social distancing from two metres to one, the need for caution was evident in store, with hand sanitiser, a one way in and one way out system for customers and staff wearing masks.
The first shopper through the doors was Janis Stone of Bishop Monkton, who said:
“I’m delighted that M&S are back in Ripon, I used to go to the small store they had in the city centre until it closed.”
