Harrogate food hall to close after just six months

Harrogate’s first food hall is to close just six months after it opened in the former Jamie Oliver restaurant on Parliament Street.

Solita Food Hall Harrogate, which is set over two floors and a rooftop terrace, started serving customers in May.

It has six different stalls, all under the Shoot The Bull brand, and also welcomes other independent businesses on board. It created 30 jobs.

Founder Chris Harrison, chief executive of Shoot The Bull, told the Stray Ferret earlier in the year he hoped Harrogate would welcome the concept with open arms. However, Mr Harrison confirmed today that the Harrogate venue will close at the end of the year.

He added that staff would be offered employment at the next restaurant set to take on the building.

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Tomahawk Steakhouse, which had been planning to move into the empty Bistrot Pierre restaurant on Cheltenham Parade, is now planning to move into Solita Food Hall’s space.

The steakhouse had planned to open in January but with the change of location it is unclear at this stage when it will open for business.

A post on its Facebook page said:

“We’ve decided to go BIG and move into the former Jamie Oliver site on Parliament St! Expect an amazing roof garden that will be usable 52 weeks of the year!”

Co-founder Howard Eggleston has been planning to bring his steakhouse brand to Harrogate for four years.

Sneak peek: First food hall opens in Harrogate next week

Harrogate’s first food hall will open its doors next week to serve up a range of cuisines under one roof.

Solita FoodHall Harrogate, on Parliament Street, has had its rooftop terrace open over the last month with a reduced menu.

Now it is ready to invite people indoors as restrictions ease. The food hall is set in a huge building over two floors. There is room for 80 covers inside with social distancing.

Watch the chefs cook your food.

But it will open fully next Monday with Rupert’s Coffee House, Rotisserie & Grill, Solita Wagyu Burger, Slice Me Nicely Pizza, Cure & Pour Wines and Solita Fish Bar.

As well as the six original stalls, all under the Shoot The Bull brand, Solita has welcomed other businesses on board and is in talks with even more.

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Huddersfield-based Kwas, which is promised to be another first for Harrogate as a natural wine shop, will open next week. It will stock more than 100 vegan, organic and eco-friendly wines.

An eco-farmer from Sheffield is also opening up a stall on the ground floor. Leaf and Shoot will sell house plants, flowers and pottery.

The double bacon cheese burger.

Shoot The Bull already has restaurants in Manchester, Hull, York, Beverley and Sheffield. The Harrogate branch has created around 30 jobs.

Chris Harrison, CEO of Shoot The Bull, told the Stray Ferret:

“I am so passionate about food and the whole team has so many different ideas. So I think when we saw this venue we saw it as a place to unleash all of those ideas under one roof.

“Our food hall is just a food experience, more of an emporium. We want people to come here as a family or with friends and everyone be able to get the food they want.

“It’s completely different and this is something Harrogate has not got. It’s a lovely, busy town. There are a lot of big players here so we think we will fit in here.”

There is plenty of room, even with social distancing.

Food hall to open in Harrogate this summer

Harrogate will get its own food hall this summer, a concept which has become increasingly popular across the UK.

Solita FoodHall Harrogate will see see six different stalls, all under the Shoot The Bull brand, set up shop in the former Wagyu building on Parliament Street.

The food hall plans to open its roof terrace on April 12 and then open fully on May 17. From then it will be open in the morning until late at night.

However, once established the company has said it will be open to working with different street vendors.

Customers are then able to order a mixture of different cuisines including burgers, pizzas,  fish and chicken through an app on their phones.

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Chris Harrison, CEO of Shoot The Bull, told the Stray Ferret:

“There is so much that goes on in Harrogate and there is a big draw to the town so I jumped at the opportunity to open our first food hall here.

“Especially after the coronavirus lockdowns I think people will be desperate to meet up with friends over some food.

“Food halls tend to be quite popular with younger people but I think this will bring in quite a mixed demographic.”

Shoot The Bull already has restaurants in Manchester, Hull, York, Beverley and will soon have another in Sheffield.