£70,000 energy bill increase forces Harrogate district farm shop to close

Ainsty Farm Shop is to close next month after its owners were told their annual energy bill was set to jump from £20,000 to £90,000 a year.

Farmers Lily and Stuart Beaton have run the popular store for 22 years and have been in their current premises off the A59 near Kirk Hammerton since 2005. The shop sells meat from their farm as well as other produce grown locally.

The couple’s annual energy bill is due to renew next month and they received a new quote last week that was so shocking they didn’t think it was real.

Ms Beaton said:

“I said they’ve sent the wrong quote, this can’t be right. Are you sure they sent the right quote?”

Massive price hike

They contacted an energy broker, who managed to get the quote down to £76,000, but it was still far more than they are able to afford.

It led to the heartbreaking decision to close the farm shop, which has turned their lives “upside down”.

Ms Beaton added:

“We just don’t have that extra £50,000, it’s not the type of money that sits spare.

“If we were to try and put an increase on prices and charge customers more, that wouldn’t be fair, it would exclude a lot of customers. We’d just price ourselves out of the market.”

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The cost of living crisis is now being felt by just about everyone, with wholesale energy prices soaring due to the war in Ukraine as well as high demand post-covid.

But for owners of small businesses like Ainsty Farm Shop, it can sting seeing oil companies like Shell and BP post record profits whilst they are forced to close their doors.

Ms Beaton said:

“It’s just phenomenal the record profits they are announcing for these businesses, yet everybody else underneath them is going out of business because they can’t sustain the rises. That’s where the problem lies, that’s what needs sorting out.”

‘Tip of the iceberg’

She believes the closure of their business is the “tip of the iceberg” and fears for how the food and retail landscape could eventually look.

The couple hope their plight acts as a warning to show that small businesses need more help if they are going to weather the current crisis and come out the other side. Ms Beaton said:

“It will be a very sad day when there are only supermarkets and no independents. It’s what will happen unless something is done now, but it’s been too late for our shop”.

Since announcing their closure over the weekend they have been heartened by the messages of support and goodwill from customers.

After September, they will continue to sell meat and produce from their farm via their online shop.

“Some of the customers came through the doors when we opened our first shop. They are very loyal, lovely customers. It’s heartbreaking to think these people you see weekly you won’t see them again.

“Its been a long time, our kids have been born since we’ve had the shop, they’ve worked here too during school holidays. It’s just all going to end which feels very strange.”

To sign up to the Ainsty Farm Shop mailing list for updates on how to still buy meat from them after they close, email sales@ainstyfarmshop.co.uk or call 01423 331897

Harrogate’s first Lidl set to open this autumn

Harrogate’s first Lidl supermarket is set to open this autumn, the company has confirmed.

Work began in February to demolish the old Lookers car dealership on Knaresborough Road to make way for the new store.

It will be the first Lidl to open in Harrogate, although there is already one in Knaresborough.

The multi-million-pound building includes a 1,263 square metre sales area, an in-store bakery, customer toilets and 94 parking spaces.

The new store will be open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

The German-owned company is currently on a recruitment drive for staff. A Lidl spokesperson said:

“We are delighted to confirm that construction of our new Lidl store on Knaresborough Road, Harrogate is well underway.

“The store is due to open this autumn and we are currently hiring for open vacancies, so would encourage anyone interested to visit our careers website.

“We look forward to sharing more information with the local community closer to the time.”

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Aldi looking to open second Harrogate supermarket

German supermarket chain Aldi has added Harrogate to a list of locations where it would like to open a new store.

Budget supermarkets have been making inroads into the Harrogate district in recent years. Aldi opened its first supermarket in Harrogate on Oak Beck Road in 2016 and another store in Knaresborough in 2021.

Aldi’s rival, Lidl, has had a supermarket in Knaresborough for several years and is currently building a new Harrogate store on Knaresborough Road. Lidl also has plans to open a supermarket at St Michael’s Retail Park in Ripon.

The cost of living crisis could see cheaper supermarkets continue in popularity and now Aldi has released a list of over 50 towns and cities, including Harrogate, that it is targeting in the coming years.

The company is offering a finder’s fee for anyone who recommends a suitable site, which it says should measure 20,000 sq foot, be able to accommodate 100 parking spaces and ideally be near a main road.

George Brown, national property director at Aldi UK, said:

“Despite our growth in recent years, some people still don’t have access to a local store, which is why it is our mission to continue on with our ambitious growth plans and change that.”

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Drone photo shows Harrogate’s first Lidl taking shape

A drone photograph has shown that work on the Harrogate’s first Lidl is taking shape.

The photo, taken by drone photographer Darren Leeming, who lives near the site, shows the roof covered in solar panels.

But a considerable amount of building work still has to take place before the Lidl can open.

The supermarket is being built on the site of the former Lookers car dealership on Knaresborough Road.

How the supermarket will look.

Councillors granted planning permission to the German chain in August and work on site began in February.

It will be the first Lidl in Harrogate, although there is already one on Chain Lane in Knaresborough.

The new store will be open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

The Stray Ferret asked Lidl for an update on work and an expected opening date but has yet to receive a reply.

Ripon supermarket submits plans for car valeting pod

Morrisons supermarket in Ripon could be getting a car valeting pod.

The supermarket hopes to offer a ‘wash whilst you shop’ service in the store’s car park.

Morrisons would remove 10 car parking spaces to create the pod, which could be a prefabricated single-storey structure.

Services offered would range from a basic wash to upholstery and seat cleaning.

Plans have been submitted to Harrogate Borough Council this week and will be decided at a later date.

Documents submitted on behalf of the supermarket said:

“Wm Morrison Supermarkets Ltd would also add that car park valet offer a service which is highly valued by Morrisons customers and firmly aligns with their plan to bring more and more popular and useful services to the communities that they serve.”

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Harrogate gran in tears after being wrongly accused of stealing in Sainsbury’s

A Harrogate grandma was left in tears after a Sainsbury’s shop worker accused her of stealing an item she had already paid for.

Pam Forster has shopped at Sainsbury’s on Wetherby Road in Harrogate for more than 20 years but said she won’t be going back after her experience on February 27.

Ms Forster was leaving the store when the security barriers started beeping and a shop worker asked to see her receipt. But because she had used the self-checkout machines and chosen not to get a receipt, she didn’t have one — she had bought a pair of wellies and some food and didn’t expect to have to return any items.

Because Ms Forster didn’t have a receipt, the member of staff asked her to accompany her to the till so they could print a receipt. The shop worker then looked through Ms Forster’s bags, matching items with items listed on the receipt.

During this, she said a packet of salmon had not been paid for but Ms Forster insisted it had. The shop worker left Ms Forster to speak to a colleague and later returned to say “you really should get a receipt next time, sweetheart” and walked away.

Ms Forster’s receipt

The Harrogate office manager was left “mortified and very upset”, adding she didn’t know if she was free to leave at this stage because she was left standing near a till.

‘Humiliating experience’

Ms Forster eventually left and “cried the whole way home”. She knew she hadn’t stolen anything and, after checking, found the salmon was indeed listed on the receipt.

Ms Forster said:

“She just walked away and left me, I was mortified. All she needed to say was ‘sorry love, you were right I just missed it on the receipt’ but instead she just left me standing there. It really wasn’t a good experience.

“I imagine she was embarrassed that she’d missed it on the receipt but if she’d just apologised I’d have drawn a line under it. Instead I was left feeling humiliated.”

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Ms Forster said she previously visited the shop every week and that “98% of her wardrobe is from Sainsbury’s” because it’s so easy to get it all from one place.

She called the customer care line the same day and managed to speak to a phone operator, who said someone would be in touch. Her daughter also tried to contact the retailer but no one responded.

Since the Stray Ferret contacted Sainsbury’s about the incident, the supermarket has been in touch with Ms Forster to offer a £15 gift card as a gesture of goodwill. Ms Forster said she rejected it because she won’t be going back.

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said:

“We are in touch with Ms Forster to apologise and reassure her that we’re investigating this experience.”

Co-op claims new Tesco would cut takings at Jennyfields store by 15%

The Co-op has submitted an objection to Tesco’s plans to build a new supermarket on Skipton Road, saying it would reduce takings at its Jennyfields store by 15%.

The Co-op on Jennyfield Drive is less than a mile from the old gasworks site where Tesco hopes to build its new supermarket.

It also operates smaller shops tied to petrol stations on Skipton Road and Ripon Road.

Planning consultant Barton Willmore submitted the objection last week on behalf of the retailer.

It was submitted two days before Waitrose submitted an objection of its own that claimed a new Tesco would have a “significant adverse impact” on its large supermarket on Station Parade as well as the large Asda on Bower Road.

Questions over retail assessment

The Co-op has criticised a retail assessment written on behalf of Tesco that was produced to support the retailer’s claim that a new supermarket is needed in that area of Harrogate.

The assessment suggested a Tesco would only divert 4% of trade from the Co-op in Jennyfields, which the Co-op called “absurd” in its objection.

It said the true number would be closer to 15%.

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Tesco’s retail assessment also said the Co-op was “locally-focused” and is “essentially a facility for the Jennyfield community”.

It said any adverse impact from Tesco would be compensated for because residents at new housing developments around Skipton Road and Killinghall would use it.

The Co-op has disputed this suggestion and called on Tesco to produce new data that gives a “more accurate reflection” of the number of new homes that will be built in the area.

‘Consider all feedback’

Tesco submitted plans to Harrogate Borough Council to build the new store in December.

It would be 38,795 square feet and include a petrol filling station, 200 car parking spaces, electric vehicle charging points and 24 cycle spaces. A new mini-roundabout would also be built on Skipton Road.

Tesco says 100 jobs would be created.

A Tesco spokesperson said it will consider all feedback from other supermarkets about the application.

They said:

“We will consider all feedback received on our application and will have further discussions with Harrogate council about the issues raised.”

Harrogate Borough Council will make a decision on the plans at a later date.

Waitrose objects to plans for new Tesco in Harrogate

Waitrose has submitted an objection to Tesco‘s bid to build a new supermarket on Skipton Road in Harrogate.

The objection, which was submitted last week by planning consultants First Plan on behalf of the retailer, says the new store would have a “significant adverse impact” on both Waitrose on Station Parade and Asda on Bower Road.

It also claims other retailers could be affected and questions shopping data provided by Tesco to support its application.

Tesco submitted plans to Harrogate Borough Council to build the new store in December.

It would be 38,795 square feet and include a petrol filling station, 200 car parking spaces, electric vehicle charging points and 24 cycle spaces. A new mini-roundabout would also be built on Skipton Road.

Tesco says 100 jobs would be created.

Assessment ‘lacks detail’

Waitrose’s objection says a retail assessment by Tesco in December to support its application “lacks detail”.

It says the assessment does not provide enough evidence to support the claim that a new Tesco supermarket would not harm retailers in the town centre.

Tesco has argued that the Bilton, Jennyfields and New Park areas of Harrogate are poorly served by major supermarkets.

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Its assessment, written by town planning consultants Martin Robeson Planning Practice, said Tesco will “add to local consumer choice” but will not cause “any significant adverse impact on existing shopping centres”.

The document adds:

“The northern part of Harrogate, particularly the extensive Bilton community, has very limited provision for food shopping.”

Change in shopping habits

However, Waitrose says the data around shopping habits in Harrogate used to underpin Tesco’s conclusions does not give an up-to-date picture.

Tesco’s retail assessment makes several references to the 2014 Harrogate Retail Study, which was undertaken by Harrogate Borough Council to identify trends in shopping habits.

It also says an increase in online shopping, which has been accelerated by the pandemic, has reduced the amount of spending in ‘bricks and mortar’ stores.

The six-page objection letter concludes:

“The cumulative impact of the proposed Tesco store and other recent permissions on town centre foodstores unquestionably represents a ‘significant adverse’ level of impact on the anchor Waitrose and Asda foodstores, with associated implications for the wider vitality and viability of Harrogate town centre, which has already been impacted by a number of high-profile closures in recent years and this should, in our view, constitute a reason for refusal of the application.”

A Tesco spokesperson said:

“We will consider all feedback received on our application and will have further discussions with Harrogate Council about the issues raised.”

Harrogate Borough Council will make a decision on the plans at a later date.

New Tesco in Killinghall to open on Friday

The new Tesco Express in Killinghall will open on Friday.

The shop is located on the site of the former Three Horseshoes pub on Ripon Road in the heart of the village.

Tesco confirmed the news today, saying the new store will provide 15 jobs and be “an exciting new addition for the community”.

It will open for the first time at 8am on Friday and then be open from 7am to 11pm every day.

The Three Horseshoes in Killinghall

The Three Horseshoes in Killinghall before it was destroyed.

Store manager Matthew Gilbert said:

“We are extremely excited to be opening our Killinghall Express store and helping to serve the local community at this difficult time.

“The safety of our customers and colleagues is our number one priority and we have been working hard to introduce the social distancing measures designed to keep everyone safe, whilst still offering the local community brilliant service, a broad range of products including fresh food and food to go, and we look forward to welcoming our first customers.

“We have new colleagues joining the team at the store who are from the local area and that local knowledge and experience will be so important as we look to build connections and play our part in the community.”

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A statement by Tesco said the shop will give community grants and contribute to local food banks.

Any local groups that would like to apply for grants can do so here.

Tesco has submitted a planning application to open a large store a mile away on the site of the former gas works at New Park.

Work begins to build new Harrogate Lidl

Workers have this week begun to demolish the old Lookers car dealership on Knaresborough Road, Harrogate, to make way for a new Lidl supermarket.

Councillors granted planning permission to the German chain in August to build the supermarket, and six months later work is finally underway.

It’s the first Lidl to open in Harrogate, although there is already one in Knaresborough.

The multi-million-pound proposal includes a 1,263 square metre sales area, an in-store bakery, customer toilets and 94 parking spaces.

A CGI image of how the supermarket will look.

The new store will be open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

A public consultation for the store revealed 87% of more than 1,000 responses supported it.

The Stray Ferret asked Lidl for an expected opening date but we did not receive a response at the time of publication.

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