Olympic heroes visit Harrogate schoolHarrogate district set to become health destination in echo of Victorian past

Long before ‘wellness’ became a buzzword, the Victorians were effectively already practising it.

And Harrogate led the way — even back then.

The wealthy and fashionable flocked to the spa town to experience its green open spaces and recuperative and healing powers of spring waters, which were first discovered by William Slingsby in the late 16th century.

Health and wellbeing hotspot

Now, more than a century after the Victorian era, Harrogate Borough Council’s new tourism body, Destination Harrogate, is set to promote the district as a health and wellbeing hotspot once again.

It will draw on the district’s rich spa heritage and accessibility to the great outdoors to attract visitors, events and investment to create a strong local economy.

The approach forms one of three key objectives in a three-year plan, which sets out a vision, priorities and actions that will be put in place to make the district “a first choice destination”.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret, Gemma Rio, head of Destination Harrogate, explained what this would involve.

She said:

“People have been coming to Harrogate since 1571 to take the waters and have a leisure experience, so that’s not new, but it has developed over the years.

“Now you can still go to the Royal Pump Room Museum and understand the spa heritage and our roots and how we became this great leisure destination, but you can also go to the Turkish Baths, you can go and have an incredible spa experience at Rudding Park or Grantley Hall.

“So the whole district is very good at that traditional health and wellbeing piece.”

Rudding Park Spa.

Wellbeing different for everyone

Ms Rio, who was appointed in October 2020, said one lesson that had been learnt as a result of the pandemic was that health and wellbeing is different to everyone.

She said:

“For some people it is a massage and a jacuzzi, but to others it’s a walk in the Nidderdale AONB, or it’s seeing a show at the theatre, or it’s just being with family around the table at one of our great independent restaurants. So that’s what we are going to try and pull out in our campaign.”

The multi-channel campaign, which will have a digital marketing focus, is being launched in April and will run for most of the year.

Ms Rio said:

“If someone is a really avid walker, we want to tell them that story and plan itineraries for them around walking and country pubs.

“Our supporting campaigns will also try and pick up the same messages.

“Every year Visit Harrogate ran a successful gardening campaign. Our partners loved that campaign, they have seen some great results from it.

“Obviously as a destination, gardening is a real strength of ours as well. We’ve got RHS Harlow Carr, Newby Hall and various places that have great gardens.

“So even our gardens campaign is going to try and link in with the health and wellbeing priority as well.”

RHS Garden Harlow Carr.

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Attracting business events

The focus on health and wellbeing will also be used to attract more leisure and business events, with one of the target sectors for conferences being the medical industry, Ms Rio explained.

She said:

“Where else to hold your medical conference than a destination that has this incredible spa heritage and medical story to tell?

“Where better to base you new health and wellbeing business, or really any business?

“If you want to invest in a place, knowing that you’re going to be somewhere where your employees health and wellbeing will be looked after. A place where their work/life balance will be stronger. It’s much easier to employ people to come and join you if you base yourself somewhere like the Harrogate district.

“It’s a really exciting campaign.”

Collaboration is key

Ms Rio said when the three-year blueprint, known as the Destination Management Plan (DMP), was written, a consultation with residents and businesses was carried out in order to come up with the three main priorities set out in the document.

She said:

“This theme came up over and over again and I think in many ways it’s a bit of a no-brainer. We’ve got the history, we’ve got a great story to tell.

“Health and wellbeing has rocketed as a trend over the past couple of years. Plus we already have strong products, like the Turkish Baths. So it’s not trying to promote something that we are not actually that good at.

“It’s not rocket science what we have come up with. But I think what we have not done as a destination is work together to really push that in the same way that a place like Bath does.

“The story has always been there but we haven’t really taken advantage of it in a way that we can now.

“Everyone is really keen to work with us to see this become a success, and I think as a destination that’s the only way it can work. That collaboration is absolutely key.”

‘Core part’ of district’s identity

Ms Rio said the health and wellbeing campaign will continue to evolve and grow as a “core part” of the district’s identity.

She said:

“Other campaigns will run alongside it to highlight other strands such as retail or arts and culture, but there will always be this golden thread running through it.

“A trip to Harrogate district is good for you, regardless of whether you are into massage, theatre or walking.”

Nidderdale AONB.

One of the main messages that will be promoted by the campaign will be length of stay, which will aim to encourage visitors to come for long weekends or weeks away in the district.

Ms Rio added:

“The way we do that is we try and prepare itineraries. So we are adding some functionality to the Visit Harrogate website this year that makes it easy for someone to say ‘I’m going to go to this experience in the morning, have lunch at this pub, stay at this hotel’. That helps to encourage people to stay longer, which benefits the local economy.”

Ripon BID begins to light up the city

Ripon Business Improvement District will begin an initiative tonight to light up alleys and ginnels in the city.

The BID, which aims to increase footfall in Ripon to help businesses, will switch on festoon lighting in Lavender Alley, which links Fishergate with Old Market Place and Queen Street,

It will be the first alley and ginnel around the city to be lit up, as part of a BID-funded programme designed to make Ripon a more attractive place to visit.

Ripon BID manager Lilla Bathurst, said:

“Lighting up these key routes throughout the city has been a priority.

“Businesses want all our tourists and the local community to enjoy the most convenient routes as they navigate and explore the city.

“We have been pleased to work with local to Ripon lighting contractor, Fusion FX to deliver this project.’’

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Lavender Alley, was given a deep clean in November along with three other busy routes regularly used by pedestrians, shoppers and visitors, to access the city,

In December, Kirkgate, a key gateway to and from Ripon’s iconic cathedral and location for hospitality businesses and a strong mix of retailers, received a pre-Christmas deep clean, as the BID-managed work progressed.

Image Gallery: Harrogate feeling festive with first Christmas fayre

Harrogate Christmas Fayre began today with residents and visitors alike heading to the town centre to enjoy the festivities.

Market Place Europe is running the event in conjunction with Harrogate Borough Council and Harrogate Business Improvement District from today until December 12.

Andy Pidgen, operations manager at Market Place Europe, told the Stray Ferret:

“Everyone has been very helpful, Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council, all the businesses Harrogate BID all need a public thank you.

“From what I understand the Harrogate Christmas Market was very successful. We do four big Christmas markets. I think the wooden chalets give a festive feel, we dress everything up.

“It’s a toe in the water but from what I understand people are pretty pleased so far but we are just at the start of the 10 days.

“Hopefully if the Harrogate Christmas Fayre is successful we can come back next year with some extra additions as well.

“This latest variant is of concern but coronavirus was still there before that. We are all outside but we do have to be mindful of that.”

Can you spot yourself in our gallery?

Lots of visitors to Cambridge Street today.

Panto stars Cinderella and Prince Charming (bottom left), the mayor Trevor Chapman (back, left) with the mayoress, council leader Richard Cooper (back, middle), Matthew Chapman and Sara Ferguson (back, right) from Harrogate BID. Christmas elves flank on either side.

The Candy Cane Express road train.

Operations manager from Marketplace Europe, Andy Pidgen.

Jason Walker, of Gourmet Jay, selling sausage rolls and pasties.

Quite an array of cheeses to nibble on.

A hog roast.

Covid measures are in place.

A variety of cuisines.

Anna Lister (left), founder of Lily and Lister.

L&N Candles founders Laura Berryman and Natalie White.

Elves welcome visitors to the Harrogate Christmas Fayre.

Plenty of food to enjoy, including Lincolnshire sausages.

Traders and visitors give thumbs-up to first Harrogate Christmas Fayre

Traders and visitors have welcomed the first ever Harrogate Christmas Fayre, as the 10-day event gets underway in the town centre today.

The hot chocolate is flowing, Christmas gifts are flying off the shelves and people are enjoying the rides ahead of a big weekend for the town.

The fayre marks a big change for Harrogate’s festive offering, which used to centre on Montpellier Hill.

This event has organisers in the form of Market Place Europe, which is operating in partnership with Harrogate Borough Council and Harrogate Business Improvement District, as well as a new town centre location for stallholders — so what do people make of it?

L&N Candles founders Laura Berryman and Natalie White.

Laura Berryman and Natalie White, from Bilton-based L&N Candles at a stall on Cambridge Street, told the Stray Ferret:

“We were planning to attend the old Harrogate Christmas Market but when that was cancelled, we thought we would seize the opportunity and get involved here.

“So far we have been really busy, so we are really pleased and excited for the next 10 days.”

The founder of Mama Doreen’s is enjoying the experience.

Jessica Wyatt, founder of Mama Doreen’s Emporium at a stall on Station Square, added:

“It is just great to get involved in Harrogate Christmas Fayre, see a lot of my regular customers and spreading the word.

“I haven’t been here long but I am loving it, it’s great. This is how I started Mama Doreen’s with a market stall so it really takes me back.”

Fancy a coffee?

Anna Lister, the founder of Lily and Lister, is selling coffee and treats on Cambridge Street. She said:

“We converted a horsebox and sell our own blend of coffee. We also do luxury hot chocolates and brownies.

“So far lots of people have said this version of the Christmas market in the town centre is much better.”

Not only are the stallholders enjoying the new Harrogate Christmas Fayre, the visitors also seem to welcome the changes.

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Helen Nash, a Harrogate resident who went straight out to take in the atmosphere, told the Stray Ferret:

“I think it’s a really good idea to have it in the town centre. It’s all on a level, it’s not muddy and there seems to be a good selection of stalls including some locals.

“So I hope people can come out and support it. This is really good for the town, the weather has been kind so far too.”

Nick Jackson, from Skipton, visited the Harrogate Christmas Fayre. He said:

“We always went to the Harrogate Christmas Market on Montpellier Hill, so it’s nice to see a bit of a change.

“It’s a great experience, especially coming into the town centre with all of the festivities in place.”

New Christmas express train from London to Harrogate

A Christmas express train is to operate from London to Harrogate this year to attract people to the town’s new festive market.

Tourism organisation Visit Harrogate has partnered with rail company LNER to set up the service for the new Christmas Fayre on Friday, December 10.

The first class service will depart King’s Cross at 9.33am and arrive in Harrogate just under three hours later. Tickets cost £140 and include a goodie bag of Harrogate treats. It will cost £100 from Stevenage and £80 from Grantham.

Passengers can spend one or two days in Harrogate.

A giant inflatable snow globe is being installed at King’s Cross station today and tomorrow, offering people the chance to have selfies taken inside a winter wonderland scene, while learning more about the special event.

Visit Harrogate is planning the biggest Christmas campaign in its history after covid ruined last year’s festivities.

Gemma Rio, head of destination management at Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“We are delighted to be working with LNER to bring more visitors to Harrogate for a festive break. Overnight visitors spend money in our hotels, restaurants, shops and visitors attractions – which is exactly what our local businesses need after a difficult year.

“The direct service from London is a real asset to our visitor economy, so we’re committed to working closely with LNER in the lead up to Christmas and beyond to ensure potential visitors from the south east know just how easy it is to reach us.”

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Harrogate Borough Council and Visit Harrogate are planning to work with LNER on a regular basis to attract visitors from London throughout the year.

Kate McFerran, director of communications at LNER said:

“We are excited to announce that Harrogate will be the destination for our very first Christmas market event. It’s such a stunning location for a weekend visit, offering something for all the family and it promises to be especially magical this Christmas.”

Harrogate’s Christmas offering

Harrogate Christmas Fayre, which is being jointly staged by the council and Market Place Europe, will take place on Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent from December 3 to 12.

It will be open between 10am and 7pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am and 9pm Thursday to Saturday, and 10am and 4.30pm on Sunday.

About 50 traders will take part in the fayre.

In addition, Little Bird Made is set to hold a festive artisan market in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 December, with times to be confirmed.

The artisan market will feature approximately 60 local and regional traders and producers who will sell a variety of festive arts and crafts, clothing, homeware, jewellery, as well as food and drink.

Harrogate district care homes to reopen doors to visitors

Care homes in the Harrogate district will be able to open their doors for visitors from Sunday.

With strict procedures still in place, a resident will only be able to see one designated visitor.

However, in care homes where there are covid outbreaks, visits will be stopped to protect residents.

It comes after North Yorkshire County Council advised care homes to stop visits throughout October amid rising infection levels.

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While those infection levels are still on the upward trend, the county council is keen to balance safety and wellbeing.

Richard Webb, the corporate director for health and adult services at the county council, said:

“North Yorkshire is currently still in tier one. But if part, or all, of the county moves into a higher level of restrictions at any point, then decisions about visiting may be beyond our control.

“However, I have already alerted Public Health England that we would like to see a more flexible approach to care home keeping in touch arrangements than the current tier two and tier three restrictions allow.”

Meanwhile, as previously reported, almost a quarter of North Yorkshire care homes have reported at least one covid infection since the second wave.