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.
Confederate flag taken down in Harrogate antiques store after complaintA flag has been removed from sale in a West Park antiques shop in Harrogate after a woman complained.
The flag was hanging near the back of 27 West Park Antiques. It has now been taken down and the owner has apologised for causing offence.
Tim Ward, Owner of 27 West Park Antiques said:
“The flag was bought along with a job lot of American state flags which came from a country and western club that closed down. It was bought from a car boot sale so no offence was intended and the flag has been taken down.”
The complaint was made by Kira Dyer who lives in York and was in Harrogate on a shopping trip with friends. Ms Dyer approached staff at 27 West Park Antiques to complain, before tweeting about it yesterday evening.
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Ms Dyer said:
“I have no problem with them selling the flag, I just feel that to display it in such a way is inconsiderate of its racist heritage and highly offensive. I understand a store of its nature will have items of controversy but there is a big difference between its display on a shelf along with other items and it being flown mid store.”
The confederate flag is seen as a hate symbol. In the early 1860s, 11 southern states withdrew themselves from the US to continue being part of the slave trade. The withdrawal formed the Confederate States of America and the American Civil War followed soon after.
Mr Ward said his antiques shop generally researches the historical context of what is being brought in and rarely receives complaints. However, he apologised for displaying the Confederate flag.