Some people decided to decorate their house or get into a new hobby but some took it further by starting a new business in lockdown.

This has been a tough time for everyone. For those like Josh and Ellie at Paradise Tap and Taco or Ben at The Travel Journal it has presented unique challenges.

Both have set up new businesses in one of the toughest financial climates the Harrogate district has ever known.

With people told to stay home and “non-essential” shops told to close, it is tough for those starting out and making a name for themselves.

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Paradise Tap and Taco, which has just set up shop in the Coldbath Clubhouse, is one of those young businesses.

The couple used to run Major Tom’s Social and even had a couple of weeks of sold-out nights at Rooster’s Taproom with their tacos.

Ellie Stott and Josh Molloy are the couple behind the taco-based business, which wants to be a place for everyone. Josh said:

“We have been really blessed. Most Friday and Saturday nights before the lockdown we have had to turn people away.

“It has been difficult timing but we were able to get a government start-up loan. We sat on it for a little while before we found the perfect place.”

Ben Poole, the man behind The Travel Journal in Harrogate’s Montpellier Quarter, is facing a particularly tough climate for his business.

He opened his doors in September trading mainly on last-minute travel as quarantine rules make it difficult for people to plan ahead.

It may be a tough time for the travel industry but Ben remains buoyant about his prospects as he is one of the few travel agents with a prescence in town. He said:

“It is set up to work okay from home but I miss that face to face with customers. I think if you can sit it out then it will pay off in the end.

“Some people thought I was crazy when I opened but I saw a good opportunty to establish myself in Harrogate. So many come in to say it’s brave.”

A new travel agent has opened in Harrogate’s Montpellier Quarter.

The Travel Journal opened yesterday on the site of the former Isles of Wonder gift shop.

It has started trading at a time when quarantine rules are playing havoc with many people’s holiday plans.

However Ben Poole, the owner is buoyant about prospects.

Although some travel agents have seen bookings plummet during lockdown, as more customers turn to staycations, Mr Poole said bookings were bouncing back. He said:

“Business has been great for the past few weeks and green shoots are certainly appearing for our industry.

“The surge of high quality last minute bookings to places that remain on the government’s safe quarantine list has been a very welcome surprise as I had written off summer 2020 but I have probably done more business this summer last minute than I would have done any previous year.

“Yes there is a worry destinations could be added to the quarantine list without much prior notice but all my clients are made aware of the risks.”

This new shop is set alongside multiple other independent shops recovering from months of lockdown.

Mr Poole, who has been in the travel industry for 21 years, began his new venture at home in January and has been forced to cope with the impact of lockdown.

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He hopes the pandemic will encourage more people to use travel agents after hearing stories of people unable to get refunds from some online companies.