This story is sponsored by Knaresborough Golf Club.

One of the Harrogate district’s best golf clubs is urging newcomers to take up its winter taster membership before an expected influx of new members in the spring. 

Throughout the winter, Knaresborough Golf Club has been offering a discounted membership rate which is now £125 from February until the end of March.

Anyone taking up the offer who then renews their membership in April, gets the fee discounted from their annual subscription.

The club has three tiers of membership – Gold, Silver and Bronze – which determine when members may play. 

For example, the Bronze annual membership which allows play seven days a week after 12.30pm starts at just £270 for 19 to 23 year olds!

Club general manager Jason Thornton said: 

“We always see a spike in new members in the spring, so now is a good time come along before the rush – the offer only lasts a few more weeks.

“Golf is seeing renewed interest from female members, and we’ve also been getting more enquiries from younger people interested in playing.

“There’s been a real upswing in people joining since the end of lockdown – it’s a great way of exercising and socialising in a socially-distanced way.”

The club has three tiers of membership – Gold, Silver and Bronze – which determine when members may play.

Knaresborough Golf Club was founded in 1920 and for over 100 years has remained true to the original aim of a club run on “modest, unpretentious lines and devoid of class and clique distinction”. 

Its vibrant clubhouse hosts regular events, such as tribute nights, quizzes and games, and diners are drawn by the popular Sunday carveries and “Around the World” evenings, where members get a restaurant passport and “travel the world” through food. 

Jason said: 

“It’s notoriously difficult to get catering right at clubhouses, but now that we have, we are absolutely delighted. Our catering team, led by Gavin and Amie Farrar, do a fantastic job.”

Get that hole in one feeling with the membership taster offer.

Knaresborough Golf Club has recently been carrying out improvements to both its clubhouse and course – which includes one of the longest holes in Europe – all with sustainability in mind.

Single-use plastics are being phased out, new wildflower meadows will allow insect and bird life to flourish, and the club is working towards GEO certification, putting its environmental and social responsibility on a par with world-famous courses such as Gleneagles and St Andrews. 

Jason said: 

“We’ve got a stunning course, a fabulous clubhouse, and a range of affordable membership options.

“Whether you’re brand-new to the game or already smitten by it, the offer at Knaresborough Golf Club isn’t matched by any other club in the area.” 

Find out more:

If you’d like to try out Knaresborough Golf Club’s Winter Taster membership offer, or if you’re interested in annual membership options, visit the club’s website at www.knaresboroughgolfclub.co.uk or call 01423 862690.

The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2023 are for businesses across all sectors in the Harrogate district.

Over the next few weeks we will reveal what our judging panel is looking for when it comes to each of the 10 categories.

Next up is the Sustainable Business Award, which is sponsored by the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub.

This award recognises those businesses that have put sustainability at the top of their agenda.

These businesses are helping drive change and leading the way by reducing their impact on the environment.

Companies looking to enter for the Sustainable Business Award need to provide details of the changes the business has made, the impact the changes have had on the business and wide community with any details of any planned changes.

By giving vital recognition to those who have sustainability at the heart of their business, we hope others will follow their example.

Does your business deserve to win the Sustainable Business Award at the Stray Ferret Business Awards? Entries close on January 16. It’s simple and quick, so enter today!

Click here or the banner below to enter for the Stray Ferret Business Awards, sponsored by Prosperis.

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

A Harrogate business group meeting is set to focus on sustainability this month.

The event held by Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce will take place on Monday, September 12, at the town’s Cedar Court Hotel. 

Doors open at 5.30pm for open networking with the meeting proper commencing at 6.15pm.

It will feature talks from Cllr Keane Duncan, county councillor for transport, Paul White, from Auditel Limited, and Sarah Jones from Full Circle Funerals.

Meanwhile, Danny Wild, Harrogate College Principal and a member of Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition, will speak about its work on retrofit to support businesses.

Sue Kramer, Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce President, said: 

“With record temperatures this summer and a drought declared in Yorkshire, the environment has never been higher on everyone’s radar.

“I’m looking forward to hearing the individual stories from our three member businesses, as well as welcoming Cllr Duncan to our meeting, who will be informing us about his vision for transport in and around Harrogate, which I’m sure will include the Harrogate Station Gateway Project.”

Chamber members and guests can register their attendance here.

Networking event to be held in Harrogate

A networking event for businesses is set to be held in Harrogate this month.

Organised by Business Ladies Around Harrogate, it will focus on how firms can see out 2022 and head into next year.

It will take place at William and Victoria, Cold Bath Road, on September 9 and be hosted by Jo Smith, a development coach.

The event will include a workshop, as well as time for attendees to network with each other.

You can find out more information on the event here.

Read more:

• Oliver Bonas to open in Harrogate in September
• Harrogate men’s fashion retailer relocates to James Street

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Harrogate College in line for sustainable education award

Harrogate College has been shortlisted for a Green Gown Award, recognising the best efforts to build sustainability through education.

The college is nominated in the Tomorrow’s Employees category for “feedback driven curriculums brought to life through collaboration: embedding sustainability and excelling in retrofit provision”.

It faces competition from six other institutions, including the University of Aberdeen, Nottingham Trent University and York St John.

The category called for entries which demonstrated students were leaving education “future-fit” with an understanding of a sustainable industry and economy.

Harrogate College’s cultural, contemporary and heritage studies programme manager, Jason Parry, said:

“Taking college-wide steps to reduce our carbon footprint while supplying the green skills that our local economy needs is a key part of what we do.

“An important aspect of that over the past year has been our work, with Zero Carbon Harrogate, to promote eco-renovation through hosting special courses and information events.

“We are proud to be shortlisted, for a second year running, for a Green Gown award. It is a sign that the college’s work to become a centre of green excellence, by working with and supporting our many local partners, is being recognised.”

The awards are organised by the EAUC, an alliance for sustainability leadership in education, and sponsored by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Professor Sir Duncan Wingham, executive chair of the Natural Environment Research Council, said:

“Congratulate all the finalists. Their work is helping us to meet the challenge of ensuring environmental sustainability is an inherent part of research and innovation excellence.”

The awards will be presented in a ceremony at Loughborough University on November 8.

Read more:

• Business Breakfast: Harrogate’s Odeon cinema bought by property group
• £11.2m Harrogate Station Gateway will ‘boost business and house prices’

Cycling fundraiser in memory of Knaresborough company’s employee

An employee of pest control specialist Pelsis Group is cycling 550 miles from the Netherlands to the company’s Knaresborough headquarters to fundraise in memory of a former colleague.

Sales manager Chris Rodgers is undertaking the challenge to help raise funds for Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), which former Pelsis employee Derek Hurst died from in 2019 aged 49.

Named the “Tour de Derek”, the 13-day challenge will see Chris cycle from Pelsis’s office in Barneveld, the Netherlands, via its office in Bornem, Belgium, all the way to the company’s headquarters in Knaresborough.

All funds raised from the challenge will be split equally between the Cure CJD Campaign and St Teresa’s Hospice in Darlington, where Derek was cared for following his diagnosis.

Chris Rodgers from Pelsis with his bike

Chris said:

“Not only was Derek my colleague, but he was also my mentor and my friend. To be able to undertake this sporting challenge in memory of him is truly an honour.”

“Since Derek’s passing, it’s always been my intention to raise vital funds for the Cure CJD Campaign to help develop a treatment for cure for CDJ and increase awareness and understanding of the disease.”

For more information on how to donate to Chris’s Tour de Derek cycling challenge, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/raising-funds-in-memory-of-derek-hurst.

Melmerby eco business park set to expand

A business park at Melmerby, near Ripon, has been granted planning permission to build a further three units at its 60-acre site.

The park, owned by Potter Space, is located close to the A1 (M) and has previously won awards for its carbon neutral unit.

The new units will add 70,000 square foot to the site and include solar panels, electric vehicle charging points and cycle stores.

Potter Space operates five business parks across England with a business model that prioritises sustainability, biodiversity and wellbeing.

Jason Rockett, managing director at Potter Space, said:

“We’re pleased to be able to bring our latest investment plans to fruition at our Ripon business park and create more high-quality warehousing and industrial space to meet demand.”

Read more:

• Harrogate’s Nelson Inn sold to pub restaurant chain
• Harrogate district unemployment figures remain low

Nominations open for Knaresborough Business Awards 

Nominations for the first Knaresborough Business Awards are now open.

The awards, which will be held in August, have been organised by Knaresborough Business Collective.

Members of the public can now nominate their favourite Knaresborough business in 15 categories, including business of the year, favourite family run business, favourite group or class and favourite place to stay.

To nominate, click here.

A new Harrogate based childrenswear brand is due to launch at the Great Yorkshire Show in July.  

The high-end country style clothing store will be online, but will also have stands at various country events and shows.

It plans to sell a variety of sustainable products, from tweed coats to hand-knitted cashmere boots.  

Eleanor Charles’ tweed range

Mum of two and former solicitor Katie Heptonstall started the plans for Eleanor Charles after the pandemic hit.  

After moving from London back to Harrogate when her father-in-law suffered a heart attack, Mrs Heptonstall and her husband chose to stay in the town after the birth of their children, Elle and Charlie, who the business is named after. 

She said:  

“I am really excited to bring together everything we have been working so hard on over the last few months and to bring Eleanor Charles to life at the Great Yorkshire Show. 

“It has been a complete change for me in my career, I have learnt so much over the last few months and I have enjoyed every second of it.” 

The shop will launch at the Great Yorkshire Show , which runs from Tuesday, July 12 to Friday, July 15, where the clothing stand will also have a sofa for breastfeeding, a baby changing area, a colouring table and a photo wall.

The Alice Hawthorn pub wins three regional awards for architecture 

The Alice Hawthorn pub in Nun Monkton has won three regional RIBA awards for Yorkshire, celebrating its architecture and sustainability.  

The hotel and pub won the regional Yorkshire award, the Yorkshire sustainability award and the Yorkshire client of the year award at the ceremony held in London.  

Twelve new guest bedrooms were recently designed by De Matos Ryan, with the aim of preventing the pub from closing.  

Since four local taverns closed down, The Alice Hawthorn is the only remaining pub in the village.  

The new timber frame buildings include the sheds, field barn, stables and tack room

De Matos Ryan director Angus Morrogh-Ryan said: 

“We are delighted that this project has been recognised by the RIBA Yorkshire jury in this way.  

“It has been an honour to collaborate with such a brilliant client and contractor team, and together ensure that this village pub will continue to sustainably service its community but also welcome visitors from afar.” 

The ensuite bedrooms were designed with sustainable elements including timber frame buildings, low energy lighting and a heat pump for hot water and heating. 

The Alice Hawthorn has now been shortlisted for the RIBA national awards, which will take place later this year.  

Rural property firm GSC Grays has opened a new office in Boroughbridge.

The High Street branch, which opened on Monday, is the company’s ninth office to open in the past 10 years.

It now employs over 100 people, mainly in the north of England. Twenty-three are based at the Boroughbridge branch, five of whom have been newly recruited. 

A number of the farm and land management consultants are from the local area, and some members of staff grew up or live on farms.  

Managing director Guy Coggrave said:  

“This gives us exceptional expertise at a time when the farming industry is dealing with the impact of the Agricultural Transition Plan, the biggest change in agricultural policy in half a century.”

GSC Grays specialises in land and farming, estate agency, planning and development, and environment and sustainability.  

HSBC and Harrogate BID install third contactless donation point for Street Aid

A third contactless donation point for Street Aid has been installed by HSBC and Harrogate Business Improvement District in Harrogate town centre.  

The ‘tap terminal’ encourages people to make donations to Street Aid, which supports people in Harrogate who have experienced homelessness.  

The most recent donation point is in the Cambridge Street branch of HSBC, where donations from £3 to £20 can be made via a contactless payment.  

The new donation point in HSBC

Linda Lewis, senior network manager at HSBC, said:  

“It’s our pleasure to be part of this scheme and house the third Street Aid terminal.  

“Since its installation, I’ve seen a number of customers tapping it with either a card or a phone to make a donation.” 

The scheme was launched in October 2019, after research was conducted by Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire Police, Harrogate Homeless Project and North Yorkshire Horizons.  

Since then, the charity has raised over £20,000 through online donations and the three donation points. 

The two other stations are in the Oxford Street M&S window and in Victoria shopping centre. 

Harrogate BID manager Matthew Chapman said:  

“We are delighted to throw our weight behind the Street Aid scheme, which helps those who are genuinely in need get back on their feet. 

“We want Harrogate to be known as a friendly, caring, welcoming town.” 

Money raised has been administered by Two Ridings Community Foundation to fund items for 28 individuals, ranging from fishing equipment, furniture, a gym membership, bikes and clothing.  

Theakston’s Brewery in Masham increased its turnover by £861,000 in 2021, despite dealing with the effects of lockdown and the Omicron variant.  

The brewery only had 5 months of normal trading in 2021 due to the pandemic, and for 3 and a half months, it was forced to close completely. 

The company suffered a pre-tax loss of £2,000 last year, but in the height of the pandemic in 2020, the loss was much more significant at £334k.

Pre-covid in 2019, the brewery had made profits of £235k.  

In the latest financial statement, the company said:  

“T&R Theakston Ltd ended 2021 as a well-balanced business with enhanced capabilities across more channels, a stronger organisation, a more flexible business approach, greater consumer engagement and a continued reputation for the high quality of its beers.” 

Managing director Simon Theakston added:  

“The last two years have been tough for all sectors, including the British brewing industry.  

“As our 2021 results show, we are well on the road to overcoming this latest challenge.” 

Theakston’s Brewery was founded in 1827 and is now run by the family of original founder, Robert Theakston.  

Harrogate business EnviroVent celebrates 2 millionth filterless fan  

Harrogate manufacturer EnviroVent celebrated its 2 millionth filterless fan last week.  

A special edition sustainable fan was created for the occasion, as well as a filterless fan celebration cake and 200 cupcakes. 

Managing director Andy Makin with the 2 millionth filterless fan.

The fans were designed for the social housing sector, and help to reduce mould and condensation in homes across the UK.  

Andy Makin, Managing Director at EnviroVent, said: 

“We are really excited to be celebrating the two millionth Filterless Fan to be produced in our factory. 

“We are very proud of the innovations we have made to ensure it is still one of the most sustainable fans on the market.”

The fans have saved several tonnes of replacement extractor fans going to landfill sites, as well as reducing the amount of plastics going into the production process.

Read More: 

• Harrogate firm EnviroVent sets 2030 net-zero target
• Beer barrel maker graduates in rare and peculiar Masham ceremony

Local estate agent Feather Smailes Scales (FSS) has won the British Property Award in Harrogate for its sales department.  

The team was congratulated for its outstanding performance throughout the judging period, which looked at customer service levels.  

Partner Richard Smailes said:  

“I am delighted that we have been recognised by an independent adjudicator as “best in class” and winning the gold award.

“It is testament to my wonderful team who show dedication, hard work and a caring nature at all times and a true depth of knowledge with regard to the housing transaction process. I couldn’t be more proud.” 

The awards were created by a team of former estate agency owners who hope to change the way estate agents are perceived by the public. 

They consider a set of 25 criteria that consumers often overlook, and aim to highlight excellence in different towns across the country. 

Robert McLean, from The British Property Awards, said:  

“Winning agents should be proud that their customer service levels provide a benchmark for their local, regional and national competition”.  

FSS has now been nominated for a number of other national awards. 

Three Harrogate spas nominated for good spa awards 

Rudding Park, Three Graces Spa at Grantley Hall and The Swinton Country Club have all received nominations for the good spa awards 2022.  

Rudding Park is nominated for the best destination spa, whilst Swinton Country Club and Grantley Hall are nominated for two awards each. Swinton is hoping to win awards for sustainability and wellness, and Grantley Hall is in the running for wellness and best destination.  

Swinton Estate said it was “delighted” to be nominated for both awards, adding:  

“Wellness and wellbeing, both physical and mental, sit at the heart of our commitment to all guests.” 

The hotel was also the first in the UK to install a biomass boiler, a sustainable alternative for heating water at the spa.  

Last year, Three Graces Spa at Grantley Hall won the best spa for fitness and wellbeing, and Rudding Park won in 2020 for the best outdoor facilities.  

Voting is open until 5th June, and the winners will be announced on 20th June at the spa life convention in Gloucestershire.  

Read More: 

• Harrogate estate agents take on Yorkshire Three Peaks
• Four wellness retreats in the Harrogate district to re-energise mind, body and soul

Bettys and Taylors have won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development.

The business, based in Harrogate, is best known for its Yorkshire Tea and Bettys tearooms has a global tea and coffee supply chain which works in partnership with more than one million farmers and workers in 22 countries.

The award recognised the company’s work to integrate sustainability and collaboration with suppliers, partners, and the wider industry, to address social and environmental challenges within the industry.

Amongst these were projects in developing countries to install clean water systems; support tree planting partnerships; improve living and working conditions of workers, and to provide training to women in business management, entrepreneurial, literacy and financial skills.

Planting trees in Kenya Credit: Bettys and Taylors

Keith Writer, Supply Director at Taylors, said:

“Over the last five years, we’ve relentlessly focused on securing quality tea and coffee in partnership with our suppliers on the social and environmental issues they face, alongside addressing the systemic challenges across the tea and coffee supply chain through industry initiatives.

“We acknowledge there is always more to do, however we are honoured to be recognised for our ongoing efforts.”

The Queen’s Awards are presented in four categories and are decided each year by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister and her panel of judges. The winners are announced on the Queen’s birthday, and are valid for five years.

B&T also received a Queen’s Award in 2001, 2007, and 2017 for its commitment to sustainability.

Read more:

• Listing calories on menus is ‘bizarre’, says top Harrogate hotel boss
• The Ship Inn near Boroughbridge to reopen after serious fire