North Bar in Harrogate is hosting a sober night out to promote Dry January.
The event will be hosted by North Yorkshire Connected Spaces, which was launched in September last year to provide support for the recovery community in North Yorkshire.
The 80s and 90s themed night is also supported by North Yorkshire Council and the Drink Drug Hub, which provides safety information about drink and drugs.
A spokesperson for NYCS said they “join together people and groups from all walks of life, meeting the needs for a stronger community, well-being, recovery from addiction and other harmful issues”. They added:
“Our aim is to get out in the community and run events so we can offer support for individuals involved with social issues connected with addiction. This includes homelessness, domestic violence, trauma, mental health, social care and probation.”
The group is working with the NYC public health team to tackle the harms associated with alcohol use.
NYCS said:
‘’North Yorkshire, connected spaces have been working with North Yorkshire Council on supporting their dry January campaign. As part of the campaign NYCS have organised the sober night out social event for people who are completing the month off booze.
“Dry January is a great opportunity for people to reflect on their relationship with alcohol.”
The event will be a “good chance to socialise with friends, have a boogie and meet new people – just without alcohol”.
North Bar will have DJ for the night playing 80s and 90s hits in the function room and said the event will have the capacity to hold 45 people. Dress up is optional and anyone can buy food from Pizza Social next door and bring it into the venue.
The event takes place on January 19 from 7pm
Dry January facts:
- Dry January started in 2013 with 4,000 people and over 175,000 took part last year according to Alcohol Change UK
- Alcohol Change UK say a month going alcohol-free lowers blood pressure and cholesterol and reduces the risk of diabetes and cancer
- 90% of people who participated in Dry January in 2018 saved money, 71% slept better, 58% lost weight and 67% had more energy, according to a 2019 study by the University of Sussex
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Harrogate pubs say Pubwatch troublemaker app makes town centre ‘safer’
Members of Harrogate Pubwatch have said an app to keep bars informed on troublemakers is helping to keep the town centre safer.
Harrogate Pubwatch has approximately 40 bars and pubs registered. Together they can ban a person from all venues who’s behaviour is deemed inappropriate or dangerous for a set period.
Last month, the group imposed a lifetime ban on someone found carrying a knife in Mojo. It has recently added three more people to the banned list, two for violence and one for drug use.
The group also uses an app, sponsored by Harrogate BID, which gives details on all those banned but also provides live information on anyone causing trouble to give other bars the opportunity to refuse them entry before getting inside.
Simon Colgan, a member and owner of the Empress on the Stray and Blues Bar, praised the app. He said:
“If a person’s behaviour is deemed unsafe and dangerous we have a vote and decide the length of the ban. Bars working together like this is a real benefit for the town, it means we can keep venues safe for people to enjoy.”
Harrogate Pubwatch operates under the National Pubwatch guidelines and has set ban lengths for different offences. For example, drug dealing would mean someone is banned for 18 months and sexual harassment such as groping is nine months.
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Hannah Ingram, supervisor at Hales Bar, agreed bars working together is hugely positive:
“We work within a really good system, we all support each other. At Hales Bar we, of course, have different customers to Mojo for example but if someone is stopped there it maybe they try come here. The app means we know who to look out for.
“Harrogate is safer for it because there are more eyes about.”
Gabrielle Marcinkeviciute, general manager at North Bar, said:
“In general I don’t want people to think they can act badly and then the next day it all be fine. People know that if they misbehave in a bar that’s part of Pubwatch they won’t be welcome, it makes them more well behaved because they know they could be banned from numerous places.”
Harrogate BID initially sponsored the app for one year but after positive response from businesses and an increase in membership it has extended it for a further 12 months.
Harrogate Pubwatch Secretary Alan Huddart said:
Rate My Takeaway YouTube star back in Harrogate“Pubwatch is making a real difference, and over the last 12 months we have seen our membership grow by 100 per cent. It’s helping alert participating venues in real time about any incidents, and helping identify troublemakers in the process.
“Harrogate is a great town with superb pubs, clubs and bars. It’s a safe town and Pubwatch is helping make it even safer.”
A YouTuber with nearly 500,000 subscribers returned to Harrogate yesterday to give his verdict on another of the town’s takeaways.
Danny Malin, the man behind Rate My Takeaway, caused a stir when he visited Thug Sandwich Co last month and rated it his “number one takeaway”.
Mr Malin dropped in on Starling Independent Bar Cafe and Kitchen yesterday and, and in his usual style, set up his camping chair and folding table outside on the street to give his review.
The restaurant and bar on Oxford Street serves craft beer, hot drinks and pizza, as well as a brunch menu.
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Staff at Starling said Mr Malin rang in the morning to say he’d be coming and when he arrived ordered a meat sweats pizza and Philly fries. His video verdict is expected to be uploaded on Saturday.
Mr Malin’s reviews can have a significant impact on trade. Thug Sandwich’s glowing rating led to a surge in business and staff at Starling said they were preparing for an influx of customers over the weekend and next week.
James Smith, who works at the Oxfam Bookshop over the road from Starling, took the photo of Mr Malin digging into his food outside the JoJo Maman Bébé shop.
The Rate My Takeaway channel has 498,000 Youtube subscribers and each video attracts from 100,000 to 350,000 views.
The cool Harrogate bistro, inspired by fashion photographer’s childhood dream
This article is sponsored by Fashion House Bistro
With a delicious seasonal menu serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, fresh coffee and fine wines, there’s plenty to love about Fashion House Bistro.
David Dresser’s dream of opening a restaurant was born whilst he was in sixth form, growing up and working in his father’s pubs.
He put his dream on hold to become a successful fashion photographer, working all over the world with the likes of All Saints, Sonneti Jeans, Lewis’ and Laura Ashley.
Then in July last year, David decided to return to his childhood dream and channel his passion into creating the Fashion House Bistro on Swan Road. The walls pay homage to David’s photography career and other artists regularly host their work.
“Opening a restaurant has been something I’ve been contemplating for many years, in fact ever since a sixth form classmate at Granby High School suggested it!
“Working for my father as a teenager gave me an early insight into the hospitality trade and what was needed to run a successful business.
“It also taught me that to achieve this you need a number of key ingredients, namely the right product at the right price, and a great team to deliver it.”
The Food & Drink
The most important part of any restaurant is the food, and the Swan Road venue is no different. Head chef Richard Fagg has cooked up a spectacular breakfast and brunch menu, which includes classics like the FHB breakfast and beans on toast, and customer favourites like steak & eggs, eggs benedict, and American-style buttermilk pancakes.
The main menu offering includes quality burgers, freshly made pizza, and a new ‘small plates’ menu which includes Cajun Buttermilk Chicken, Spicy King Prawn Skewers and Szechuan pepper squid.
Experienced baristas are on hand to ensure your caffeine fix is perfectly attended to. Or, if you’re looking for something a little stronger, the bistro boasts an extensive menu of international beers, fine wines, and cocktails.
Get £25 worth of Fashion House Bistro’s delicious food for just £15 with our special offer!
Events
From Halloween costume competitions and Christmas party packages, live music sessions to Caribbean tasting sessions, the Fashion House Bistro team certainly know how to throw a party.
You can find details of the latest events on the Fashion House Bistro website.