Businesses in the Harrogate district have seen a huge demand for jubilee merchandise as residents gear up for four days of celebrations.

We spoke to five independents to find out how business is booming ahead of the four-day Bank Holiday weekend, which starts on Thursday.

Party Fever – Harrogate 

Red, white and blue balloons outside Party Fever.

Residents have been rushing to fancy dress and party shop, Party Fever, on Station Parade, to buy jubilee-themed attire and decorations since Easter.

The shop has now almost sold out of all its jubilee stock, with only a few Union Jack flags, bomber jackets, waistcoats and masks still remaining.  

Sue Savill, at Party Fever, said:  

“We have sold thousands of pieces of bunting, which I think is evident when you walk round the town centre, and also plates and napkins for jubilee street parties”.   

Party Fever currently has a Union Jack flag made from red, white and blue balloons outside the shop, where customers can pose for photos.  

HG1 Bakes – Harrogate

HG1 Bakes owner Charlie Lowe.

Charlie Lowe, owner of HG1 Bakes, said she had been busy with orders ahead of the jubilee weekend.

She said:

“I am supplying Pink Door Café, on Kings Road, with jubilee-themed cupcakes and lots of bespoke orders for jubilee-themed cupcakes too.

“It’s great to see our town of Harrogate getting into the spirit of celebrating the Queen’s jubilee.”

Huttons Butchers – Knaresborough  

Huttons Butchers’ special edition jubilee Scotch egg.

Huttons’ pork pies and BBQ packs have proved popular ahead of the bank holiday weekend, with customers stocking up for street parties and jubilee celebrations.

The butchers has also created a special edition Scotch egg for the jubilee, made from its ‘coronation jubilee’ sausage meat.

Alan Bell, from Huttons Butchers, said:

“We are making them as fast as we can.” 

West Park Antiques and Home Interiors – Harrogate

West Park Antiques manager Lisa Hawksworth.

Customers have been going crazy for bunting, royal memorabilia and Union Jack flags at the antiques store on West Park.

More than 100 packs of vintage-style bunting have been sold in the last week.

A Union Jack wedding dress, made by one one of the traders, has been displayed in the shop window and is catching people’s eyes.

Manager Lisa Hawksworth said:

“People are definitely getting into the spirit. We have had more than 250 people take photographs with our cardboard cut-out of the Queen. We have tried our best to have some fun with our display, with lots of red, white and blue.

“The Union Jack wedding dress is for sale for £600 – but we won’t be letting it go until after the weekend!”

The Union Jack wedding dress at West Park Antiques.

Twisted Cakes – Harrogate  

Jubilee cake decorations have been selling out at Twisted Cakes. 

Twisted Cakes, on Kings Road, has already sold out of all its jubilee cake decorations, with red, white and blue ribbons, Union Jack flags and printed toppers for cupcakes being the most popular amongst customers.  

Purple ribbons to match the jubilee theme and cake toppers with the official jubilee logo also sold out quickly.  

Debbie Smith, from Twisted Cakes, said:  

“I have noticed a lot of customers coming in to buy decorations for school events.” 

She added that people have been buying the jubilee products for at least six weeks.  

As part of Knaresborough’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, there will be a free Union Jack flag-making workshop for kids who can take their flag on a procession through the town.

It’s been organised by the people who usually run the lantern-making workshops at Christmas. It will take place on Saturday June 4 at Gracious Street Methodist Church from 10am to 11am.

The event is free and there will be refreshments at the workshop although there will be a donations box. All materials will be provided and children must be accompanied by an adult.

The procession will led by the Town Crier from the Market Place at 11.30am to the grounds of Knaresborough House for the Jubilee Garden Party.

Knaresborough’s Jubilee plans

Starting on Thursday June 2, Knaresborough will light a beacon on the top of the castle, along with 1,500 locations across the UK.

On Saturday June 4 at Knaresborough House, there will be an artisan market in the morning followed in the afternoon by a community garden party and performances event. There will also be a tea dance at St Mary’s Church Hall.

On Sunday June 5 organisers hope to hold a thanksgiving service. Sunday is also set aside for street parties.

Throughout the weekend the new Knaresborough Museum will open in the former Castle Girls’ School with a special community history event to mark the jubilee.

For information about what’s on across the district over the big weekend. Click the box below.