It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club!
The second in our series of networking events in association with The Coach and Horses in Harrogate is an After Work Drinks event on February 23 from 5.30pm. Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district, get your tickets now by clicking or tapping here.
Three independent businesses in Harrogate , Husk beer emporium, Thug Sandwich Co and Pizza Social, have decided to collaborate to help each other out.
Customers at Husk beer emporium can get food delivered from Thug Sandwich Co or Pizza Social to enjoy in Husk’s James Street store.
The scheme is expected to be particularly popular on Wednesday’s quiz nights, where teams will be able to get pizzas delivered to eat while they compete in the quiz.
Husk’s location on James Street, just round the corner from Thug Sandwich Co, led to the two independents getting in touch and deciding to work together.
The three businesses discussed the idea over social media before putting the plan into action.
Danny James, co-owner and manager of Husk, said:
“With the Increasing energy bills, looming rising prices across the board etc we’ve recently teamed up with Thug Sandwich Co and Pizza Social…
This supports all 3 indies by increasing traffic to our bar whilst providing Thug and Pizza Social more remote seating at our place and hopefully more orders for their very awesome food offerings!”
Read more:
Harrogate BID reaches final of national In Bloom competition
Harrogate BID has reached the finals of the 2023 RHS Britain in Bloom UK competition.
The business organisation has been selected for its Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration, and will compete in the BIDS, Town Centres & City Centres category. Harrogate BID was named regional winner in the category last year.
Installation part of the floral summer of celebration
The summer of celebration featured a floral trail, an indoor exhibition, and a shop window competition. This was in addition to the 200 barrier baskets, shop doorway planters and hanging baskets around the town centre.
Harrogate BID Manager, Matthew Chapman, said:
“Harrogate is famed as a floral town, and over the years has won many accolades – regional, national and international. Our floral campaign, delivered by BID Project Manager Jo Caswell, was designed to celebrate our floral heritage.
It was brilliant to partner with a number of different businesses and organisations, including Blamey’s Florist, Harrogate Theatre, The Turkish Baths, Harrogate Library, Harrogate in Bloom and Harrogate Spring Flower Show, all of whom contributed to its success.”
The winners of the In Bloom awards will be announced at a ceremony in October.
Soaring energy bills a ‘kick in the teeth’, say Harrogate business ownersHarrogate business owners say soaring energy bills are a “kick in the teeth” in the wake of the pandemic.
They are calling for more government support, however they say they “are not holding their breath”, after receiving little help over the last two years.
And there are fears that it will be the final nail in the coffin for some, with the price hike affecting every business – from big to small.
Bills have doubled
Andy Preston, co-owner of F45 Harrogate gym on Albert Street, said it had just received its electricity bill and the amount had doubled.
He said:
“At the end of the day it adds an extra financial burden on the business that we have no control over realistically. It’s an extra overhead that we don’t really need.
“There’s nothing we can do, because it’s the world as it is right now. However, we are getting stung by it.
“It’s just another kick in the teeth after everything we have had to deal with over the last two years. We didn’t get much financial help during the pandemic. The government needs to step up and help businesses now.”
F45 Harrogate owners Andy Preston, left, and Matt Goodall.
Across the road at Thug Sandwich Co, owner Daniel Bell said he was waiting to find out just how much it was going to impact his business.
He said:
“I’ll have to tighten up in other areas. I’ll have to make sacrifices in my personal life – not pay myself as much. I’ve just put my prices up at the beginning of the year anyway, which is something I fought for three years.
“I can’t do that again because then I’m not competitive anymore. So it’s just going to affect my personal life more than anything.
“It’s just another thing to deal with after covid. I definitely wouldn’t hold my breath for any government support. Especially with the amount we got over the covid period. It just seems we are borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. It has got to come from somewhere.”
Read more:
- Vulnerable people in Harrogate having sleepless nights over rising bills
- Harrogate council to trial recycling wheelie bins
Extra blow for hospitality
Brett Lee, director and executive chef at Italian restaurant Stuzzi Harrogate, on King’s Road, agrees that it is an extra blow for the hospitality industry.
He said many restaurants have had to put up their prices already due to a large increase in food and import costs caused by a combination of Brexit and the ongoing effects of the pandemic.
Mr Lee, who also owns Stuzzi Leeds, said:
“It feels like another big obstacle on the road to recovery.
“Every household in the country will now be reviewing how they are spending money due to the rise in energy costs. This may push people to only visit their favourite restaurants once a month instead of a more frequent affair.
“It also means people have less disposal cash to spend in different sectors like retail. This doesn’t help our struggling high streets either and could also have a dangerous effect on restaurant lunch trade across the country.
“But we can’t take a negative approach, we must continue to adapt to the circumstances given to us, work hard, be creative and use our initiative.”
Brett Lee, director of Stuzzi Harrogate.
An ‘unwelcome burden’
Sue Kramer, owner of Crown Jewellers and head of the Commercial Street Retailers Group, described the situation as “worrying”.
She said:
“Whilst many of our shops may be small on Commercial Street, the financial impact of the energy crisis will undoubtedly affect every business – from the smallest up.
“The worrying part is that we have little control over what is going to happen, and basically have to accept whatever is thrown at us. Clearly having endured the uncertainty of covid for the last two years, this is an extra and most unwelcome burden.”
Sue Kramer, owner of Crown Jewellers and head of the Commercial Street Retailers Group.
The price hike comes after the energy regulator, Ofgem, lifted the maximum rate that suppliers can charge for an average duel-fuel energy tariff by £693 — an increase of 54 per cent.
This is to reflect the fourfold increase in energy market prices over the last year.