North Yorkshire Council has approved a plan to convert the upper floors of a Harrogate shop into flats.
The application, which was lodged by York-based developer Andrew Farr, will see six flats created on West Park above the Elite Bridal store.
Mr Farr had previously withdrawn a plan for the site. However, council officials have now granted permission for development to go-ahead after he resubmitted proposals in June.
The decision increases the trend towards town centre living. In the last month alone, plans have been approved for a 17-bedroom aparthotel above the Oliver Bonas store on James Street and for the former Kings Club strip club on Oxford Street to be converted into 12 flats.
Now the upper floors of numbers 21a, 21 and 22 West Park can be converted. Access will also be made from a retail unit at 21a, which is occupied by Boho Chic and could be forced to close as a result.
A planning statement sent to the council in support of Mr Farr’s application says future residents of the flats would be able to apply for monthly or annual parking pass for West Park multi-storey car parking.
It adds the scheme would “enhance the vitality of the Harrogate town centre” and bring vacant floors back into use “without any identified harm to the character of the host building and the neighbouring Harrogate Conservation Area”.
It concludes:
“It is considered that the proposed scheme responds to the constraints of the site, planning policy constraints and its heritage context and should fall within the parameters of acceptable development.”
Read more:
- Town centre living trend gathers pace in Harrogate
- New boutique in Harrogate aims to cater for all brides
Police cordon off cabman’s shelter on Harrogate’s West Park
Police have cordoned off one of the cabman’s shelter on West Park Stray in Harrogate.
Police and ambulance workers were at the scene before 9am this morning.
Officers at the scene did not say why the area had been closed.
The Stray Ferret has contacted North Yorkshire Police for further information.
West Park is still open to traffic.
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Ramshackle phone box transformed into Stray information point
A ramshackle red phone box in Harrogate has been moved and transformed into a history of the Stray.
The disused phone box on the Stray, just off Otley Road, had fallen into a dilapidated state.
So the Stray Defence Association, which safeguards the 200 acres of parkland against building and encroachment, hired a specialist renovation company to uplift it on March 16.
It was restored to its original bright scarlet and moved to a more prominent town centre spot on West Park Stray, where it stood beneath a white cover for several days.
Two children removed the covers at an unveiling ceremony this afternoon to reveal the new-look phone box with panels displaying the history of Harrogate’s Stray and the Stray Defence Association.
Its old position on the Stray, next to Otley Road, has been restored and reseeded to return it to Stray land.
Stray Defence Association chairman Judy d’Arcy Thompson and committee member Syd Bell
Judy D’Arcy Thompson, chairman of the Stray Defence Association, said:
“It is the Stray Defence Association’s hope that it will become a valued part of the West Park street scene and an intriguing and iconic information source for both local people and visitors to Harrogate.”
Today’s unveiling, which was attended by members of the Stray Defence Association, Harrogate In Bloom and Harrogate Civic Society, coincided with the 90th anniversary of the Stray Defence Association, which was formed on May 12, 1933
Cordelia, 7, and Harry, 5, performed the opening by cutting a ribbon to highlight how children are the future custodians of the Stray.
A Stray Defence Association donor paid for the renovation, which was approved by the Duchy of Lancaster and both Harrogate Borough Council and the new North Yorkshire Council.
The phone box being uplifted
Panels on the restored phone box tell the story of the Stray.
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New boutique in Harrogate aims to cater for all brides
The founder of a bridal company said the opening of a shop in Harrogate will honour a family link to the town dating back many years.
Joanne Wilson founded Elite Bridal almost 20 years ago in Hull, before expanding to Brighouse, Hessle and Castleford.
As the company grew, it became a family enterprise: husband Richard, daughter Holly-Ann, and sons Joshua and Ben all have roles in its boutiques, outlets and international wholesale trade.
Putting the finishing touches to the new boutique on West Park today, before its opening tomorrow, Joanne said:
“For years, I used to come here with my mum and my daughter. My mum just loved Harrogate – any special day, we came to Harrogate. I lost my mum three years ago.
“Richard and I came to Harrogate one day and saw the shop and I said, ‘that’s my shop’. It was up for rent and we contacted the agent immediately and they said, ‘do you want to look around?’
“I said, ‘you can show me round later, but we’re having it’.”
The Wilson family
She described the former Orvis store as the “perfect” location, offering views of the Stray, as well as options for brides and their friends and families to enjoy lunch or drinks nearby after finding their dream dress.
Many weeks of hard work have gone into transforming the shop and it is now completely unrecognisable.
A lounge area with cosy sofas and a fireplace sits next to the bar, offering drinks to visitors. As well as long rails of bridal gowns, there are three private suites for brides to try on the dresses and their closest friends and family members to help them make that final choice.
A comfy lounge for visitors
The range of gowns at Elite is designed by Joanne and Holly-Ann, meaning brides can choose one from the existing range, or ask for exactly what they want. She said:
“Sometimes when you go into a bridal store, you can only buy what they sell. I can design anything for you. You can have something really bespoke.”
However, Joanne is keen to ensure the business is not just for those with the biggest budgets: off-the-peg options start from around £300.
Whatever the cost of the dress, she knows the experience of finding the right one is just as important to many brides. The team at the Harrogate boutique will be offering VIP appointments, complete with bubbly, cake and a goody bag to take away, to ensure it’s a memorable occasion.
The boutique has three suites for brides to try on their gowns while friends relax
The bridal advisors have a trained eye to understand what will suit different body shapes and find something from the range in the shop.
With sizes six to 26 catered for by Elite, and a warehouse of 11,000 gowns to choose from alongside the option of a bespoke design, Joanne is confident the boutique will prove a hit with customers – just as it has with potential employees.
“I’ve been inundated with ladies asking me for a job. A bridal shop is a nice job to have.”
Read more:
- Developer withdraws former Harrogate Orvis store flats plan
- Harrogate country sports shop Orvis set to close
Taxidermy displays star in Harrogate’s alternative Easter window
An alternative Easter window display is catching the eye of shoppers and passers-by in Harrogate.
Art collector Mark Hinchcliffe has curated the display at West Park Antiques, which hosts 40 independent traders on West Park.
Mr Hinchcliffe, who owns The Chapel on Grove Road, has created a window that combines taxidermy with Easter eggs.
A white peacock, a golden eagle and a black swan are among the star attractions.
Easter eggs and taxidermy
Mr Hinchcliffe, who is keen to shake-up Harrogate’s art and cultural scene, said the idea was to combine birds and eggs to promote the life-affirming Easter message in an original and less obvious way.
He said:
“It’s a left-field and Victorian gothic alternative to Bettys Easter window.”
West Park Antiques
Lisa Hawksworth, who owns West Park Antiques, said:
“We always do our own window theme and Mark approached us about doing something new. We’ve known him for years and know he’s creative.
“Mark has a great eye and knowledge of design and when you see what he has achieved at The Chapel, it was an easy decision to let him do it.”
The display is expected to remain in place until April 17.
Read more:
- Harrogate’s spectacular Egyptian artefacts go on loan to Swansea University
- Harrogate fashion show to celebrate town’s retailers
£29,000 to be diverted from street light budget to pay for Stray lights
A total of £29,190 is to be diverted from the Harrogate district’s street lighting budget to pay for the replacement of decorative lights on the Stray.
The trees line the Stray around West Park, Otley Road, Leeds Road, Montpellier Hill and York Place and are a popular winter attraction.
Last autumn Harrogate Borough Council replaced the old sodium lights with energy-efficient LED bulbs and wrapped them round trunks to prevent them hanging from branches and getting damaged.
The new lighting being installed
In a report due before Cllr Mike Chambers, cabinet member for housing and safer communities at Harrogate Borough Council, council officers are set to request retrospective permission to pay for the lights.
The report says the cost of the new lights “has been partly funded by parks and environmental service budgets” but a £29,000 shortfall remained.
Read More:
- New tree lights illuminate Harrogate’s Stray
- Call for parents to share maternity experiences in Harrogate district
The report says responsibility for annual maintenance of the Stray tree lights rests housing and property services.
It adds:
“However, parks and environmental services were able to provide one off funds to contribute from the cost of the new lights from underspends in the financial year 2021/22. This left a shortfall in funding of £29,000.
“The housing and property reserve includes £84,680 which has built up over the years in relation to street lighting cyclical works which had not been carried out.
“It is recommended that £29,190 of this should be utilised to fund the cost of Stray lights.”
The report adds the council has only received one complaint about the new lighting.
Stunning crocus displays in Harrogate thanks to planting by volunteers
There may be snow in the forecast, but Harrogate’s Stray is proving that spring is certainly on the way.
A sea of white, shades of purple, and splashes of yellow is carpeting the edges of the Stray as the district braces for a predicted cold snap next week.
Harrogate is well-known for its impressive display of thousands of crocuses each spring – many of them planted in recent years by local volunteers.
Bilton Conservation Group was one of several organisations to help plant the bulbs almost three years ago, along with Horticap and Open Country, in a project organised by Harrogate Borough Council.
Bilton Conservation Group chairman Keith Wilkinson said:
“It’s great news that they’re doing so well this year. It was a good turn-out on the day of the planting.
“The mixture we put in was the Harrogate mix — the pale, white with the vertical purple stripe. It was a special commission from Holland.”
The displays have improved in the years since the bulbs were planted in autumn 2020, and are likely to increase further in future as they self-divide.
Visitors have been enjoying the scene this week as the crocuses get into full bloom.
Young Emma, who turns two on Sunday (pictured above), was staying in Harrogate for a few days with her parents and took the opportunity to explore the flowers – and pose for photos.
Read more:
- Plans for more Stray protection ‘not needed’ says defence group
- Wildflower planting programme launched at Ripon nature reserve
Bridal company to open boutique on Harrogate’s West Park
A new bridal shop is set to open on West Park as a Yorkshire business expands into Harrogate.
Elite Bridal is run by mother-and-daughter duo Joanne and Holly-Ann Wilson and already has boutiques in Brighouse and Hessle, as well as outlets in Castleford and Hull.
The new Harrogate boutique is expected to open in the former Orvis unit in the coming weeks.
Holly-Ann, the company’s retail director, told the Stray Ferret:
“We often visit Harrogate for weekends away: a little trip to Bettys for afternoon tea and a stroll round the town, but our love for Harrogate started many years ago when I was a little girl.
“My mum Joanne would take me to the bridal exhibition twice a year where we would do our buying for the year ahead. Over the last 10 years we have moved towards designing our own collections in house in Yorkshire and overseas and we now proudly exhibit as a wholesaler at the shows rather than visiting for trade.
“We have expanded our business in the last five years and doubled in size and Harrogate was one of our desired locations. When Joanne saw it, she knew it was hers. Destiny had arrived and now it’s finally happening.”
One of Elite Bridal’s other boutiques
Holly said she and chief executive Joanne focus on having thousands of designs available in their boutiques, with a range of sizes for brides to try on rather than just samples.
They plan to offer a luxury experience in the boutique, from selecting the right gown to having designs and alterations completed in-house.
The company, founded in 2003, will create up to four part-time and full-time jobs at the new Harrogate store.
Read more:
- Harrogate country sports shop Orvis set to close
- Developer withdraws former Harrogate Orvis store flats plan
Harrogate Restaurant Week: keep your tummy and bank balance happy
On Monday 5 February, Harrogate Restaurant Week will begin. Restaurants in and around Harrogate are taking part in a promotional week, serving up some tasty discounts and helping us enjoy the luxury of dining out for less.
Restaurant Week is running from Monday 6 – Friday 10 February.
To help you save your pennies, we have curated a list of six participating restaurants and their Restaurant Week offers.
The Fat Badger
The Fat Badger is offering a homemade pie with a pint of bitter for just £10 during the promotional week.
Customers can enjoy a hearty steak, mushroom and ale pie, washed down with Tetley’s Best.
For more information on the restaurant, visit here.
The West Park Hotel
The West Park Hotel is offering two courses for £15, or three courses for £20 during Restaurant Week.
Customers can choose their courses from the new Restaurant Week menu.
Click to find more information on The West Park Hotel.
The West Park Hotel will have a specific Restaurant Week menu.
Cosy Club
Cosy Club is offering customers a main and dessert for £15.
The Restaurant Week menu includes buttermilk fried chicken with fries, coleslaw and smoked red pepper aioli, along with a vegan baked vanilla cheesecake with raspberries.
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William & Victoria
William & Victoria will also be partaking in Restaurant Week, offering customers two courses for £15, or three courses for £20.
Customers can expect to see dishes such as honey glazed goats cheese, fresh Moules Marinière and affogato on the promotional menu.
The menu will be available during both lunch service from 12pm – 2.30pm, and dinner service from 5pm – 9m.
Rudding Park Hotel
Rudding Park Hotel’s Clocktower Brasserie is offering two courses and a glass of Prosecco for £20 during Restaurant Week.
The offer will be available from 12pm – 5pm during the promotional week.
Customers can choose their courses from the Restaurant Week menu.
For more information, click here.
The Clocktower Brasserie will be participating in Restaurant Week.
The Inn, South Stainley
The Inn, South Stainley between Harrogate and Ripon is also offering a starter and main course for £20.
The offer is available during lunch and dinner services.
The Restaurant Week menu includes a homemade soup and giant Yorkshire puddings.
Developer withdraws former Harrogate Orvis store flats planA developer has withdrawn plans to create six new flats above the former Orvis store in Harrogate.
The proposal lodged by York-based Balance Planning Solution Ltd on behalf of Andrew Farr would have seen the upper floors of the unit on West Park converted for housing.
Orvis closed its doors back in April 2022 after 25 years of trading in the town.
The plan would see part of the ground floor unit converted for access to the apartments, along with an entrance to the back of the building next to the Coach House flats on Robert Street.
However, the developer has since withdrawn the application.
It comes despite supportive comments from Harrogate Borough Council’s economic officers and Harrogate Civic Society.
Rebecca Micallef, economy and transport officer at the authority, said in a letter:
“Upper floor residential at this location will add to the vibrancy of the town, supporting both the daytime and evening economy.”
Meanwhile, Henry Pankhurst, of the civic society, said:
“The civic society has for many years – decades actually – supported the use or better use of unused or underused upper floors of town centre premises, especially residential use.”
Read more:
- Plan to create six flats above former Harrogate Orvis store
- Developer withdraws plan for 55 retirement homes in Kirk Hammerton
- Harrogate council refuses James Street aparthotel plan