An ‘official announcement’ is expected soon about Harrogate‘s newest restaurant.

The Stray Ferret revealed on Thursday the Mexican restaurant and cocktail bar was due to open on Cheltenham Crescent the following day.

The article generated more than 300 comments, with many people welcoming the opportunity to buy tacos and burritos in the spacious town centre venue.

But The Rooftop opened to mixed reviews online from customers who posted their experiences on sites such as Restaurants Harrogate Review Club Facebook page.

A social media account for The Rooftop replied on the thread:

it said:

“We know there have already been speculations circulating among the public.

“Currently we are in the process of sorting things out before making an official announcement.

“Please let’s all be kind to each others. We truly appreciate everyone.

“We are hoping to publish an announcement as soon as possible.”

Leeds-based owner Mason Elyas initially declined to comment when the Stray Ferret asked him to clarify the situation but later said the restaurant remained open as usual. It is open Thursday to Sunday each week.

Mr Elyas took control of the premises above Sukhothai on the corner of Cheltenham Crescent and Cheltenham Parade just three weeks ago.

Le Bistrot Pierre occupied the site for many years. It was then briefly occupied by Samsons and then HG1 Grill and World Bar.

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A Mexican restaurant and cocktail bar is to open in Harrogate tomorrow.

The Rooftop is situated in the large upstairs premises above Sukhothai on the corner of Cheltenham Crescent and Cheltenham Parade.

The short-lived HG1 Grill and World Bar opened on the site in November last year. It was previously occupied by restaurants Samsons and Le Bistrot Pierre.

The Rooftop is divided into two areas — a restaurant that can seat about 70 people and a cocktail bar that can cater for about 100 customers.

The restaurant will serve Mexican meals, including tacos and burritos, and will feature tapas options.

The restaurant area

The late night bar will have live DJs at weekends.

Owner Mason Elyas, who lives in Leeds, has been involved with several restaurants in West Yorkshire but this is his first in Harrogate. He said:

“I’ve always loved Mexican food and I thought there was an opportunity in Harrogate. It’s a beautiful place and local people seem very supportive.”

The Rooftop, which employs 16 staff, will welcome its first customers at 4pm tomorrow. It will then open from 4pm to midnight on Thursdays, from midday to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and from midday to 10pm on Sundays.

It will be closed Monday to Wednesday.

Mr Elyas said he took control of the site just three weeks ago and new signs were due to be installed tonight.

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63rd+1st was set up by TGI Fridays UK. Named after the street in New York that was home to the original TGI Fridays, its Harrogate venue joined the likes of Yo Sushi! and Estabulo on Albert Street last year.

The restaurant area

The company said at the time it would generate 30 part-time and full-time jobs. Those affected were told the news today.

The restaurant, lounge and bar was built to seat 101 people and to serve Manhattan street food.

The company said it wanted to attract customers ranging from early morning coffee drinkers to late evening drinkers.

A new cocktail bar is to open in Harrogate in 12 days.

Cosy Club will be situated in the heart of the town on Cambridge Street.

Loungers, which owns the venture, operates 193 sites in England and Wales, including Leeds and York.

The company issued a press release today confirming it will open on what is predominantly a retail street on August 31. Forty jobs will be created.

It said in a statement:

“The popular Victorian spa town of Harrogate has been a target of ours for some time.

“Our new restaurant offers a very strong location, linking the main retail and leisure pitches within the town. The externals of this historic building have been extensively renovated by our landlord, Broadland Properties.”

The release said the building had “an arts and crafts feel with wallpaper originally designed in 1895, table lamps throughout the restaurant which were made by hand and the main bar featuring lots of bespoke handmade stained-glass work”.

Work is taking place on Cambridge Street to complete the refurbishment.

It added the “opulent all-day bar and restaurant brand” would “bring a touch of glamour and our fresh, modern menu to the food scene”.

The menus will include “fresh and modern classics, extensive brunch, gluten free and vegan menus”

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Cosy Club’s licensing application proposed opening hours of 8am to 1am Monday to Wednesday and Sunday and 8am until 2am from Thursday to Saturday.

The Stray Ferret has asked Loungers if it still plans to operate between these hours. It replied to say it will open from 9am each day and would confirm the closing times shortly.

Loungers was founded by a trio of friends from Bristol: Dave Reid, Alex Reilley and Jake Bishop.

They opened their first first venue in Bristol in 2002 and then opened the first Cosy Club in Taunton eight years later. They set up the separate Cosy Club brand to cater for larger sites.

Harrogate’s answer to a Manhattan cocktail bar will open it’s doors on Friday, with the launch of 63rd+1st.

Decked out in trendy dark blue and gold, and featuring lots of greenery, the restaurant, lounge and bar on Albert Street is aimed at customers who might just want a nibble and a drink after work or a meal out with friends.

The restaurant area.

The extensive selection of cocktails, priced at around £10, include the likes of a New York Hangover and a Fuhgeddaboudit, as well as a more traditional selection. There is also a good choice of low alcohol or alcohol-free options.

With plenty of other restaurants in the area, as well as bars on nearby John Street, the venue will need to stand out from the crowd.

And general manager Eva Souza, from Harrogate, who has been in the hospitality industry for 15 years, believes it will.

She said:

“The location is really great in the town centre. I believe we are the right cocktail bar and restaurant for this particular place.

“People love to go out here and enjoy nice surroundings and I believe this is the right place for Harrogate people.

“There are a lot of Italian restaurants in this area and this is something unique. I believe it is something new for the town.

“Our bartenders are really well-trained and the bar itself is beautiful. You can sit around it and watch them prepare the cocktails.

“It’s like a home away from home and we want to be a nice, cosy place for everyone. The place is very stylish and I hope guests will be very happy here.”

General manager Eva Souza enjoying a cocktail in the lounge area.

The new 3,380 sq ft venue, which was formerly Ask Italian, seats 101, as well as another 12 outside.

The menu is inspired by Manhattan street food and features small plates to enjoy with a cocktail, as well as larger dishes.

It includes a ‘signature burger’ steaks and seafood, as well as savoury donuts, a crayfish roll and a corndog. Small plates include arancini and calamari.

Head chef Nick Chappelow, who is also from Harrogate, said:

“I’m excited to cook all of it. The menu is great.

“I like the fact that there are sharing plates on the menu. It’s more relaxed and you get to just graze, so it’s somewhere in between tapas and a main meal starter size.

“The jammy chicken lollipops are insane.

“There’s a really good team here. I’ve been a head chef for 20 plus years, so I’ve seen a lot and it’s nice to go into this going forward.

“It’s fresh and funky and we are going to hit the ground running.”

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Brunch will be served from 9am on a Friday and over the weekend and there will also be a Sunday lunch option. Diners can also choose table service or they can order and pay using a tablet.

American-style booths in the restaurant area.

The venue, which will generate 30 part-time and full-time jobs, is being developed by Hostmore PLC, which also includes TGI Fridays as part of its portfolio. It is named after the street in New York that was home to the original TGI Fridays and where Tom Cruise filmed Cocktail.

Harrogate’s branch is the third to open in the UK behind Surrey in May and Glasgow in September.

• 63rd and 1st opens on Friday, November 26, at 9am.

The opening date of a Harrogate cocktail bar and restaurant, which is owned by TGI Fridays UK, has been revealed.

63rd+1st will welcome its first customers on November 26.

The venue, named after the street in New York that was home to the original TGI Fridays, will generate 30 part-time and full-time jobs.

Joining the likes of Yo Sushi! and Estabulo on Albert Street, the company has said it wants the place to attract customers ranging from early morning coffee drinkers right to late evening drinkers.

The restaurant, lounge and bar will seat 101 people and there will also be an outdoor dining area. The menu is inspired by Manhattan street food.

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Robert Cook, chief executive of 63rd+1st said:

”63rd+1st represents the coming together of people, culture, tastes and styles. Inspired by over 50 years of unique heritage it is a cocktail bar and restaurant where great things happen.

”We have always felt the loyalty from our Yorkshire fan base and we can’t wait to welcome them to enjoy the 63rd+1st experience in Harrogate.”