Progress at the new Starbucks site in Harrogate grinds on, but its planned opening date is still not known.
The Stray Ferret first reported that the former Leon site on Wetherby Road would become a Starbucks in August, when North Yorkshire Council granted planning consent to change the branding on the unit.
Starbucks advertised for new staff at the drive-through coffee shop in December, and then this week, new signage finally went up, giving coffee aficionados hope that the new outlet might brew its first espresso sometime soon.
But a Starbucks spokesperson told the Stray Ferret:
“We are always looking for new locations and opportunities to bring the Starbucks experience to customers in the UK, but at this time we have no updates to share about plans in Harrogate.”
Signs have gone up on Wetherby Road.
The Stray Ferret will continue to monitor developments at the site.
Starbucks currently has only one presence in the district, on Cambridge Street in Harrogate town centre.
Read more:
- Starbucks recruiting staff for new Harrogate drive-through
- Developers silent over planned Harrogate Starbucks
- Former Harrogate Leon site to become Starbucks
Relief for Ripon teenagers as access to skatepark remains open
Teenagers in Ripon have said they are glad they can continue using the city’s skatepark during the summer holidays.
While large areas of the Camp Close site on Knaresborough Road have been fenced off for safety reasons, access to the skatepark and basketball court remains open.
One teenager skateboarder spoke for his friends when he said:
“It’s a bit of a pain having to walk all the way around the outside to get here, but I’m pleased we can still use it.”
The skatepark and basketball court are adjacent to the 28-year-old leisure centre building, where remediation works on unstable foundations are under way.
The playing fields at Camp Close are now an active building site where large machinery is in use, carrying out the £3.5 million project behind large yellow hoardings.
There are numerous signs warning the public not to enter the area, while other signs call for parents to keep children out. CCTV cameras are also in operation.
However, as well as the many warning signs, construction company Willmott Dixon has installed one showing the route into the skatepark.
When the works began in June, North Yorkshire Council’s assistant director for culture, leisure, archives and libraries, Jo Ireland, said:
“By addressing these historic issues, it allows us the opportunity to ensure future generations will be able to access modern sport and leisure facilities in their city for many years to come.
“Once the works have been completed the original leisure centre facility can be refurbished as planned – which includes an extended gym, two new activity studios, a spin studio as well as meeting facilities – and complement the 25 metre, six-lane swimming pool that opened last year.”
Work is scheduled to go on until spring 2024 and in the meantime a temporary gym will remain in use on the car park near the entrance to the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre.
The £300,000 facility, operated by Brimhams Active on behalf of North Yorkshire Council, includes Technogym equipment.
Customers are able to use the changing and shower facilities at the swimming pool as well as the sauna and steam suite. Group exercise classes continue to be provided at Hugh Ripley Hall.
Read more:
- Ripon children invited to join the free summer Funfest
- Temporary gym installed at Ripon leisure centre
Two business partners have taken the next step in their future plans, despite the challenges of coronarivus.
Kevin Masheder and Marc Squires have owned the Harrogate franchise of Signarama since 2016 and, like most business owners, have faced the challenges of changing regulations since last March.
They have now decided to launch as an independent signage business under a new brand, SignHub, and hope the contacts they have built over the last five years will see them through the rest of lockdown and beyond. Marc said:
“When the first lockdown was announced, we closed for seven or eight weeks, when the shops were all closed. They started saying manufacturing could be open as an essential service, but it was all very uncertain.
“When retail opened, Kevin and I came in, then the other staff followed on part-time furlough. After we opened, we had a lot of work from people like landscape gardeners, who could work outside.”
The second half of 2020 was a mixed picture for the business, with quieter periods during tighter restrictions and over Christmas. The new lockdown from the start of the year saw work tail off, but Marc said the last two weeks have been busier again – and the pair are hopeful that the next stage in their business journey will be a success, despite the challenging circumstances.
Read more:
Initially employed as graphic designers, when Marc and Kevin took over the franchise they were given the opportunity to turn it into an independent business. However, they wanted to learn the ropes from outgoing owner Michael Webster, who stayed on to help them get established before taking full retirement.
With a host of local companies using their services to create signage and more, the pair hope the rebrand will only help to raise their profile. Customers have already been complimenting the new signs on their Knaresborough Road premises – but they won’t be in place for long.
The lease on the building ends this spring so, needing more space and covered areas to brand vehicles, they are moving to Killinghall Business Park. Marc added:
“When we could network, we got to know a lot of people in the business community. We thought if we can spread the word about the changes, it won’t be too bad.
“We are roadside now, so people do come past, but they only come in if they need what we offer – and at the moment, the retail side is click and collect only. A lot of our work comes from online, especially since covid began, and a lot of our bigger customers wouldn’t come to the shop anyway – they just email or pick up the phone.
“We also get a lot of referrals from our customers, so we hope that will continue.”