Yemi’s Food Stories: making healthy eating delicious and irresistible

Yemi Adelekan is a food writer and blogger who was a semi-finalist in the 2022 series of BBC TV’s Masterchef competition.

Every Saturday Yemi writes on the Stray Ferret about her love of the area’s food and shares cooking tips – please get in touch with her if you want her to review a restaurant, visit your farm, taste the produce you sell or even share a recipe.

Growing up in Nigeria, vegetables were part of every meal as most dishes were based on a core selection of tomatoes, onions, peppers, ginger, garlic, garden eggs, aubergine, peas, sweetcorn, leafy greens and chillies.

Many meals were plant based with meat or fish added; that is how most of my dishes evolve making them suitable for vegetarians with the meat or fish being an optional extra.

I didn’t grow up eating steamed vegetables, so I struggled to incorporate some vegetables into my diet until I found ways to make them delicious and more worthy of being centre stage.

I can’t say that I have been completely successful as I am yet to find a way to enjoy Brussels sprouts despite trying many recipes from roasting and frying, to adding lemon, spices, cream, cheese, bacon, pancetta, honey, or chestnuts.

Vegetables can take centre stage and tease our tastebuds whilst nourishing our bodies but convincing fussy eaters to embrace vegetables can be a challenge.

Beetroot pasta in a tomato and pepper sauce

They’re also essential for a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle because they are packed with essential nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants that support overall health and well-being.

They offer a rainbow of flavours and textures, making meals more exciting and satisfying. From crunchy bell peppers to tender spinach leaves, each vegetable brings its unique magic to the table.

Tips for winning over fussy eaters

Blend and hide

For those who are hesitant about vegetables, try blending them into sauces, soups, or smoothies. Carrots, spinach, or cauliflower can easily disappear into a tomato sauce or creamy soup, adding nutrition without altering the flavour significantly.

I replace bananas with avocado in my smoothie as it gives me a smooth and thick consistency without the overpowering smell and sweetness of banana.

Roast to perfection

Roasting vegetables caramelises their natural sugars, enhancing their sweetness and creating irresistible flavours. Try roasting broccoli, carrots, or cauliflower with olive oil, garlic, and a sprinkle of parmesan for a delightful side dish.

Cauliflower with honey and crispy chilli oil

My current favourite way to eat cauliflower is to roast them until caramelised and add home made chilli oil and a drizzle of honey in the last few minutes creating a sweet, spicy and crunchy experience. The crunch comes from the crispy garlic and ginger.

Get creative with shapes and colours

Presentation matters! Use cookie cutters to transform vegetables into fun shapes or create colourful veggie skewers. Kids (and adults) are more likely to enjoy vegetables when they look visually appealing.

A drink made using beetroots, blackberries and currants is delicious and beautiful to look at.

Beetroot, currant and blackberries cocktail

Add cheese, spices or sauce

A bit of cheese or a flavourful sauce can work wonders in making vegetables more enticing. Think creamy cheese sauce over steamed broccoli or a tangy dressing over a mixed salad.

I tolerated cauliflower until I fell in love with it after eating it at Grantley Hall’s Restaurant & Bar 88; it was paired with a satay sauce and a lime gel resulting in a divine dish.

I love enhancing boiled potatoes by finishing them in finely chopped spring onions, onions, mustard seeds, salt and chilli flakes fried in a tablespoon of oil for 90 seconds.

Toss the potatoes in and coat with the seasoning. If you are not into spice, mix ground black pepper, salt, lemon juice and olive oil with chopped parsley to make a dressing for your boiled potatoes. Alternatively toss in onions sautéed with sun or semi dried tomatoes with some fresh basil.

Sweetcorn fritters in a red pepper purée with spiced potato

Involve fussy eaters in cooking

Let fussy eaters participate in meal preparation. When children have a hand in cooking, they are more likely to try new foods and develop a positive attitude towards vegetables.

Ask how they would like it; I am not a fan of raw tomatoes or peppers even though I would eat them. I swap them for the sun-dried version, or I part cook my veggies before adding them to salads.

Finally, be adventurous

For every vegetable you don’t like, there is another ten you can try. To make homemade pasta more special, add blended beetroot to the dough to get a beautiful hue and pare this with a simple pesto or red sauce garnished with fresh basil for a beautiful and elegant dish.

It’s time to experiment with flavours and spices to help us fall in love with vegetables. Let me know if you have a recipe that will make me fall in love with Brussels sprouts and I will cook it and share it in a future post.

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From craft ales to cocktails – 7 pubs and bars in North Yorkshire to suit every taste

(Lead image: Pixabay)

Whether you’re a fan of real ale, a lover of a delicious cocktail, or simply appreciate the ambience of a place, you’ve got a whole host of options to pick from in North Yorkshire.

The Stray Ferret has picked a diverse selection of seven pubs and bars across the region, that each tick a different box.

For good pub grub

Three’s a Crowd, Harrogate

Three’s a Crowd

Three’s a Crowd describes itself as a ‘modern gastropub serving quality British food in a relaxed setting’, with a menu that puts great emphasis on fresh and seasonal produce.

Diners can expect to tuck into traditional dishes with a modern twist, such as fish and chips, chicken schnitzel and a classic charcuterie board – as well as plenty of plant-based options too.

Drinks include a bespoke cocktail list, and a carefully curated array of wines and beers – all to be enjoyed while overlooking the green expanse of the Stray.

Three’s a Crowd is located at 11 West Park, Harrogate, HG1 1BL.

For a quintessential village pub feel

The Fauconberg, Coxwold

North York Moors (Image: Pixabay)

The Fauconberg is a 17th century coaching inn situated in Coxwold, surrounded by the beautiful countryside of the North York Moors National Park.

Stepping inside, a sense of history can really be felt, from the exposed wooden beams and traditional flagstone floor to the log fire and menu of hearty Yorkshire pub fare.

The village is a great destination for walkers exploring the North Yorkshire scenery, and true to its roots, the inn also has guest rooms for visitors looking to extend their stay.

The Fauconberg is located at Thirsk Bank, Coxwold, York YO61 4AD.

For a classy cocktail (or two)

Locus Bar, Harrogate

Photo of proprietor Flavia Milovi and manager Natasha Murray behind the bar at Locus Bar in Harrogate.

Flavia Milovi and Natasha Murray behind the bar at Locus Bar in Harrogate

Locus Bar joined Harrogate’s nightlife scene in November last year, but has already established a reputation for creating delicious cocktails in a chic setting – to the backdrop of a toe-tapping 70s and 80s playlist.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret on the day of its launch, bar manager Natasha Murray said:

“We want to give people a reason to get out of their homes and come to a nice, welcoming place that feels just as comfortable, but more stylish.

“We’re strong on wines and cocktails, with a range not just of the classics, but also of some that guests might not have tried before, like the Locus 21 and the Lost in Locus.”

Locus Bar is located at 21 Cheltenham Crescent, Harrogate HG1 1DH.

For real ale enthusiasts

 One Eyed Rat, Ripon

One-eyed Rat

Found in one of the oldest parts of Ripon, One Eyed Rat is a ‘family-run, independent ale house since 1996’, according to their social media.

With six cask lines of real ales that are switched up periodically, as well as a selection of continental larger, traditional ciders and other wines and spirits, this is certainly the destination for those who like to strip back the layers and appreciate their pint.

Deceptively spacious, the pub has many nooks to sit and soak up the laid back atmosphere, as well as a beer garden to the rear, popular with both locals and tourists alike in summer.

One Eyed Rat is located at 51 Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LQ.

For a family-friendly feel

The Squinting Cat, Harrogate

The Squinting Cat

Part of the Greene King enterprise, The Squinting Cat boasts a big draw for families with younger children for one key reason – there’s a Wacky Warehouse attached.

Located on the outskirts of Harrogate, the old coaching inn has a large beer garden for sunnier months, as well as a dedicated kids’ menu, and the ability to host parties at the adjoining soft play area.

For the grown-ups, the pub stocks an extensive range of cast ales and lagers, and shows a selection of live sporting events, including premier league matches shown on Sky and TNT.

The Squinting Cat is located at Lund House Green, Harrogate, HG3 1QE.

For the ultimate quizmasters

Six Poor Folk, Knaresborough

Six Poor Folk

Wednesday night is quiz night at Six Poor Folk, and competition can be fierce – but friendly, of course.

Set in one of Knaresborough’s oldest buildings, a 15th century almshouse nestled just off the ancient market square, the event starts at 7.30pm and booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.

Quiz master Munro hosts the evening, posing questions from a vast array of subjects, while competitors can sip on a selection of beers, wines or spirits, and tuck into loaded fries, a special quiz night addition to the menu, available between 8pm and 9pm.

Six Poor Folk is located at 25 Castlegate, Knaresborough HG5 8AR.

For a good pub garden

Craven Arms, Appletreewick

Yorkshire Dales (Image: Pixabay)

 A former 16th century farmhouse-turned-pub, Craven Arms is so named because of William Craven, a Dick Whittington-esque local character who travelled to the capital to make something of himself, and eventually became Mayor of London.

The terraced beer garden is a sun trap on hot days, and offers customers a view across Wharfedale, where Simon’s Seat rises over the landscape.

Their unmissable signage is sure to get people talking too – it reads ‘Welcome to the Craven Arms, gateway to the ales’.

Craven Arms is located in Appletreewick, Skipton, BD23 6DA.

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Boroughbridge vineyard hosts first food and wine fair

A North Yorkshire vineyard is to host its first food and wine fair this weekend.  

Dunesforde Vineyard is a six-acre site in Upper Dunsforth, four miles from Boroughbridge. The vineyard produces cool climate wines in one of the most northerly locations in the UK.

The fair will take place on Saturday (April 20) from 12pm to 6pm. The event is free to attend and will see local artisan food businesses showcasing their products, alongside the vineyard’s wine.

The site was established in 2016 and is owned and managed by the Townsend family. A total of 6,000 vines across four different grape varieties are grown at Dunesforde.

Dunesforde’s head of wine development, Peter Townsend, will host talks throughout the afternoon where visitors can learn about the vineyard and sample wine.

He said:

“Our wines pair excellently with a wide range of foods and it will be fantastic to bring them together with the very best in local artisan food.”

 For more information click here.

The vineyard’s first harvest wines were released in 2019.

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Review: RAOS’s Sister Act is happy, hilarious and vibrant

Lauren Crisp is a book editor, writer and keen follower of arts and culture. Born and raised in Harrogate, Lauren recently moved back to North Yorkshire after a stint in London, where she regularly reviewed theatre – everything from big West End shows to small fringe productions. She is now eager to explore the culture on offer in and around her home town.  You can contact Lauren on laurencrispwriter@gmail.com. 

Ripon Amateur Operatic Society brought the house down at Harrogate Theatre last night with their take on the feel-good musical comedy, Sister Act.

Grace Knill assumes the role of sassy heroine Deloris van Cartier, a singer and wannabe star who is forced into hiding in a convent after witnessing a hit by her gangster boyfriend. Arriving to a frosty reception by the nuns’ stern Mother Superior (an excellent Rowenna Naylor), Deloris ultimately finds her purpose: to help the ladies learn how to sing.

Knill makes for a perfect Deloris; with joyful energy, she captures the humour and warmth of her character, belting out one showstopper after another with ease.

There are so many great personalities in this show, and the cast do them real justice, embracing their roles with gusto, providing a sense of warmth, familiarity and connection; audience members are drawn into the narrative easily.

Chris Wall as Deloris’ nasty ex, Curtis, and his trio of hilariously hapless gangsters, TJ (Luke Bailey), Joey (Will Thirlaway) and Pablo (Elliot Hutchinson), drew the biggest laughs, their choreography planned and executed to a T.

RAOS transport us to 1970s Philadelphia, with set, costume and sound combining to create an eruption of vibrant vivacity and fun on stage. John Atkin’s band sprinkle sparkle on the musical, with a good splash of soul and upbeat funk.

I had some difficulty hearing the occasional lyric early on, and many of the songs are appreciably tricky ones to sing, especially above a band, but any initial teething issues were swiftly ironed out. With banger after banger, you’re sure to come away feeling good.

A production filled with habits aplenty, gun-wielding gangsters, confession boxes and knockout showtunes, but mostly with colour, happiness and charm, the amateurs of Ripon know how to put on a show.

Sister Act is at Harrogate Theatre until Saturday, 20 April.

(Lead image: Helen Tabor Photography)

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5 things to do in and around Harrogate this weekend

Get out and about with our guide of the top cultural goings-on from 19-21 April.

See the bluebells of Nidderdale

Now that the weather is finally fine and dry, it’s time to dust off those walking boots and get out into the great outdoors. And this walk is especially for you if you’re an experienced hiker as it’s a 20-mile loop.

Starting in Hampsthwaite, you’ll walk along the River Nidd then onto Brimham Rocks and Ripley Castle, and on it you’ll see all of the springtime sights including the beautiful bluebells of Nidderdale.

Free, 8am, April 20, starting at Hampsthwaite Church, Station Lane, Hampsthwaite, Harrogate, HG3 2HB. Unfortunately no dogs are allowed on this guided walk.

Paint like Picasso

(Image: Annie Dalton’s Picasso-inspired Two Sleeping Dogs)

Unleash your creativity at one of PopUp Painting’s events held at Harrogate’s Major Tom’s Social Bar. Themed on artist Annie Dalton’s Picasso-inspired Two Sleeping Dogs, try your hand at painting a masterpiece that you can hang on the walls of your home afterwards.

The two-and-a-half-hour class includes all art supplies, and you can also ask for guidance if you so wish.

£35.99, 3-5.30pm, April 21, Major Tom’s Social Bar, The Ginnel, Harrogate, HG1 2RB.

Watch Sister Act the Musical

You can’t go wrong with a musical, and Sister Act the Musical is especially uplifting. The community production presented by Ripon Amateur Operatic Society tells the story of Deloris van Cartier who witnesses a murder and takes refuge in a convent.

Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and uptight Mother Superior and she turns the convent choir into a soulful chorus complete with a Motown repertoire.

From £20, 7.30pm April 17 – 20, and a matinee at 2.30pm on April 20, Harrogate Theatre, 6 Oxford Street, Harrogate, HG1 1QF.

Attend a printmaking workshop

(Image: Pixaby)

Learn the basics of how to use printing blocks at this workshop at St Mark’s Church where you can pick your own pattern to stamp a pattern or a message onto a piece of fabric.

All materials are included, as well as light refreshments.

Free but suggested donation £5, 10am-4.30pm, April 20, St Mark’s Church, Leeds Road, Harrogate, HG2 8AY.

Watch The Making of Motown

Local author Derek Shelmerdine is co-presenting Harrogate Film Society’s Season 1 of Music Legends.

The first film of the series of four is on Friday night is Hitsville: The Making of Motown that details the golden age of the soul music legend. It looks at the birth of Motown in Detroit in 1958 until its relocation to Los Angeles in the early 1970s.

Featuring rare performances, interviews and behind-the-scenes footage offer insight into the history and cultural impact of Motown Records.

£6 or £5 for HFS members, doors open at 7pm and the film starts at 7.30pm, April 19, Bilton Club, Skipton Road, Harrogate, HG1 4LL.

Also check out… French Impressions that explores music by two of the great French Impressionist composers: Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. It’s on at Ripon Cathedral at 7.30pm on April 20 and tickets cost from £20.

Do you have an event that you’d like us to potentially feature in the future? Drop me an email at francesca@thestrayferret.co.uk

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Amber’s restaurant at Cedar Court Hotel in Harrogate is now open

Amber’s at Cedar Court Hotel in Harrogate is now open.

The hotel, which has been undergoing an extensive refurbishment over the last 12 months, has invested £500,000 into the venture.

Yorkshire-based interior design practice, Studio Two, orchestrated its redesign and renovation, which has been designed to elevate the usual hotel restaurant experience. Inspired by the building’s rich history, think ornate detailing, earthy warm tones, and intricate details.

Offering a Yorkshire take on contemporary British cuisine in a sophisticated setting, the chefs have been working closely with local suppliers to design a carefully curated menu.

Beef brisket at Amber’s

Dishes include 28-day dry aged steaks Hereford breed beef, sourced locally from Sykes House Farm, Wetherby, roasted Gressingham duck breast and Sunday lunches with all the trimmings.

Meanwhile, its bar offers a mixture of traditional and modern drinks and includes the signature Amber’s margarita cocktail, which is made with pineapple tequila, agave syrup and lime juice. This is inspired by Lady Amber Fitzwilliam and her travels to South America, a fictional character, which has been invented to add depth and intrigue to the backstory of the new restaurant.

The private dining room at Amber’s

Alongside its main restaurant and bar which seats 75 people, there is a newly created private dining and entertaining venue, The Imaginarium, which offers capacity for up to 28 people, and the refreshed banqueting venue, known as The Queen Suite, has a capacity of up to 250 people.

The main dining room at Amber’s

Wayne Topley, Managing Director, Cedar Court said:

“It is fantastic to finally be able to share our brand-new restaurant, Amber’s, with guests, visitors and members of the local community after months of hard work.

“We can’t wait to welcome everyone to our event on Tuesday 16 April to showcase what we have been working on, celebrate and make connections!”

Amber’s Restaurant, Cedar Court Harrogate, Park Parade, Harrogate, HG1 5AH.

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‘Van life’ – the lifestyle trend hitting the roads of Yorkshire and beyond

(Image: Denson Automotive)

“Having a camper van means that if people want to pop to Scarborough for fish and chips they can, or if they want to travel up to Scotland for three months, they can do that too.”

That’s the kind of freedom that owning a camper van represents to Linden Kitson, the managing director of Wetherby-based business Denson Automotive. And it seems that the public are in agreement; according to a report by Statista in 2022 the number of new motorhome registrations reached approximately 11,600.

Spurred on in part by the Covid-19 pandemic, people increasingly turned to the kind of nomadic, road-tripping lifestyle that vans can offer – a movement further fuelled by aspirational social media content.

In 2023 the #vanlife hashtag had been viewed more than 12 billion times on TikTok, and there was upwards of 15 million posts using the phrase on Instagram. Travel influencers have made profitable careers out of showing life on the road, including ‘tours’ of their camper van conversions.

So as a region, is Yorkshire reflective of the national trend?

Selling a lifestyle

The interior of one of the vans (Image: Denson Automotive)

When Linden established his business in January 2020, intentional or not, it was auspicious timing to capitalise on the van life phenomenon.

Indeed, Linden believes that Denson Automotive is fundamentally a ‘lifestyle company selling a concept’. When customers arrive at the workshop in Thorp Arch they’re taken to the ‘Dream Room’ to discuss the vision for their new home on wheels.

If they’re going completely custom-made, from counter colours to exterior wrap, every aspect is decided on before the team source the van and start to outfit it. While Denson does accept vans that people bring to be transformed, Linden explained that it’s very rare that people have found one beforehand, choosing instead to trust the team to pick something.

He said:

“It can be hard for the average customer to see the potential in a van, but we know what to look for. We take what people might think are rough and ready builders’ vans and make them into someone’s dream.

“There’s a massive market for budget-friendly camper vans; we feel like we’re really in that sweet spot.”

Linden and his team convert 10 vans a month and while many are straightforward jobs, there’s been a few surprising – and specific – requests.

“One of our jobs was turning a van into a replica of Nigel Mansell’s 1980 racing car. Another lady was really into astronomy and had a wolf and stars across the exterior.”

Before and after (Image: Denson Automotive)

Living the dream

Hand in hand with the idea of van life is the concept of digital nomads – another term for remote workers who can take their job on the road.

More than 72 per cent UK employees said they were planning on working remotely in a different country, so they can both earn money and travel freely, according to research from the Post Office.

Nine in ten respondents said they imagine digital nomadism becoming a key part of the future of work, with 50 per cent citing the reason as wanting to increase their work-life balance and it give them the opportunity to see the world whilst staying employed.

Camper vans can offer a chance at living this type of lifestyle – and according to Linden, his customer base is wide-ranging; from retired couples looking to take weekend breaks, to young people taking the plunge and hitting the road.

Camper vans can offer a chance at a digital nomad lifestyle (Image: Denson Automotive)

He added:

“We’re helping people to achieve a dream van and a life that they might not even know about beforehand.”

Not only is North Yorkshire is blessed with some of the country’s most spectacular scenery, but there’s a plethora of campsites – as well as legal, on-road parking spots – scattered amongst the national parks.

Popular spots around the Harrogate area include sites at Rudding Park, Knaresborough and Ripley but there’s a whole host of other locations across the North York Moors, the Dales and the Wolds – as well as the enduringly popular seaside spots.

In fact, many of the most well-known sites are often booked months in advance, especially during the summer and school holidays. So perhaps this year you’ll join the thousands of Brits hitting the roads of Yorkshire and beyond for a camper van holiday – and maybe you’ll even take the next step and join the van life movement for good.

Ferret fun facts

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Local history spotlight: Dr Laura Veale

If you’re walking down Victoria Avenue in Harrogate and keep your eyes peeled, you’ll notice a brown sign affixed to a stone wall outside one of the impressive town houses.

If you stop to take a closer look, the person commemorated by this plaque might not be known to you – but Dr Laura Veale has left a worthy legacy in the field of medicine, both in Harrogate and beyond.

As the first female doctor in North Yorkshire, she’s been described as a pioneer and a trailblazer, but it can be argued that both words fall short of encapsulating her extraordinary life.

The early years

Dr Veale was born on August 30, 1867, in Hampsthwaite, a village near Harrogate. It appears as though medicine was something of a family affair; her father Dr Richard Sobey Veale was a prominent doctor in the area, and both her brothers Henry and Rawson Augustus also pursued medical careers.

It was sadly unsurprising, and reflective of the general sentiment of the time, that Dr Veale encountered hostility and derision when she expressed her intention to follow the same path as her family.

Despite the fact her father was associated with the Leeds School of Medicine, it would not accept her as a student, which led her to apply to the University of London instead.

She felt as though she had received an ‘unsatisfactory schooling’ compared to her male peers which made the university’s matriculation especially daunting.

Hampsthwaite

In a move that must have been considered quite unusual at the time, the headmaster of Harrogate College allowed her to work with the sixth form boys in order to improve in the areas she felt she lacked knowledge.

Dr Veale then went on to the Royal Free Hospital to complete her medical studies in 1904, and once qualified she returned to Yorkshire and took up a position at the Hospital for Women and Children in Leeds.

After six months, she moved back to Harrogate and set up a general practice at 3 Victoria Avenue, cementing her status as the first female doctor not only in the town, but in the North Yorkshire region too.

An advocate for women and children’s health

While in Harrogate, Dr Veale made a big impact not only in the medical profession, but in the local community too.

At a time when not only were women and children still considered inferior to adult men, she was at the forefront of advocating for improvements in the care offered to those groups, especially in deprived communities.

Notable achievements include setting up a dispensary in New Park, acting as medical officer at the Municipal Babies Hospital and helping set up numerous child welfare and antenatal clinics in Harrogate.

The clinic at 2 Dragon’s Parade still stands today, and is a base for child and adolescent mental health services.

Dr Veale worked as an obstetrician and a gynaecologist at Harrogate Infirmary for many years. By 1937, the first maternity ward was finally opened at the hospital – something that she had campaigned hard to establish for nearly three decades at that point.

Outside of her profession, she continued to improve life for residents of the area, and was heavily involved in several charitable organisations, including the Yorkshire Council for the Empire Cancer Campaign, and organising the Yorkshire Children’s Jewel Fund.

She retired from medicine in 1936 but continued to play a huge part in the local community, taking on an integral role in establishing the Women’s Voluntary Service for Harrogate during the Second World War.

A continued legacy

The plaque outside 3 Victoria Avenue

Dr Laura Veale died on August 14,1963, at Scotton Banks Hospital in Knaresborough at the age of 95.

Her obituary in the British Medical Journal described her as a ‘remarkable woman’, and The Harrogate Advertiser accredited her with having a ‘noble mind’ that kept pace with the ‘vast changes in her profession’ over the years.

In 2017, the Harrogate Civic Society installed a brown plaque on Victoria Avenue, where her general practice had been located.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret in 2020, Dr Paul Jennings from Harrogate Civic Society History said:

“She deserves recognition as an important figure in the history of both medicine and feminism and a key figure in medical provision, especially for women and infants, in her native county and more particularly Harrogate.

“It is as a pioneering woman in the medical profession and through her wider work for the community that she is so important to Harrogate.”

Sources for the article include an article on nycroblog.com, the Harrogate Civic Society website, the Harrogate plaques website and Dr Veale’s obituary on bmj.com.

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Did you know there’s a hidden Spa Room in Harrogate’s Turkish Baths?

Everyone knows about the Victorian Turkish Baths in Harrogate, but did you know that there’s more rest and relaxation to be had in the somewhat secret Spa Room?

An overview of the baths

Harrogate is known for its Turkish Baths: visitors and residents alike have flocked to them since 1897. Indeed, residents of Harrogate are lucky to live in a town that still has Victorian baths – only seven that date back to the 19th century remain today. The baths are run by Harrogate Borough Council.

What’s it like to visit the Turkish Baths?

Turkish Baths

(Image: Harrogate’s Turkish Baths)

The baths are a place where you can fully immerse yourself for a few hours of total relaxation with no phones allowed.

Visit the steam room, the three hot rooms that gradually increase in heat all the way up to 70 degrees, the cold invigorating plunge pool to dip into between the rooms – or swim if you’re brave enough, as well as a rest area, and winter garden lounge where you can order food and drink.

This is all to the backdrop of impressive ornate Moorish-style décor, Italian mosaic terrazzo floors, walls of vibrant glazed brickwork and arabesque painted ceilings.

But where’s the hidden Spa Room in the Turkish Baths?

(Image: Spa Room – David Lindsay, photosbydavid.co.uk)

Tucked away around the corner inside the main Turkish Baths, there’s a Spa Room that features a Jacuzzi, aromatherapy steam room, foot spas and cold bucket shower that not many people are aware of.

It can either be booked in conjunction with a Turkish Baths session to extend the time you’re at the Turkish Baths, or it can be used before or after a treatment.

It costs just £10 for 1.5 hours and up to six people can use the room.

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5 things to do in and around Harrogate this weekend

Get out and about with our guide of the top cultural goings-on from 5-7 April.

Attend a calligraphy course

(Image: Pixaby)

Handwriting seems to be somewhat of a dying art form, partly due to the rise in technology. Learn the skills of beautiful handwriting at this two-hour calligraphy workshop in Knaresborough.

Aimed at beginners and improvers, you will learn the strokes that are based on ancient manuscripts and get the knowhow to create Celtic designs.

£25, booking is required as spaces are limited, 10am-12noon, April 6, Briggate Art, 9a Briggate, Knaresborough, HG5 8BQ, 07931 778 276, chameleonartclasses@gmail.com.

Meet the artist exploring the life of a curlew

(Image: Paco Valera)

Did you know that the curlew is the largest European wading bird, found on estuaries in winter and the moors in summer?

Head up to the Yorkshire Dales this weekend and meet one of the artists behind the Curlew Calling exhibition, Sally Zaranko.

Sally’s work is shown alongside Paco Valera’s photography as well as experienced and highly regarded North Yorkshire artists including Judith Bromley, Hester Cox and Robert Nicholls.

You can chat, draw and write about the beautiful bird at the event.

Free, 10am-3pm, April 6, Dales Countryside Museum, Station Yard, Hawes, DL8 3NT.

Attempt to grow the tallest sunflower

(Image: Pixaby)

You know warmer climes are on the way when you’re sowing sunflower seeds. And this weekend is the last chance to take part in the Sunflower Challenge at F Tate & Sons in Ripon.

Plant your sunflower seed at the planting table at the nursery, take your seed pot home and then post the results on social media by August 15, tagging @FTateandSons and @RiponBID for a chance to win one of three kids’ gardening prizes.

Free, 10am-4pm, April 6, F Tate & Sons, Larkhill Nurseries, Studley Road, Ripon, HG4 2QR.

Visit Goldsborough Hall gardens

(Image: Goldsborough Hall gardens)

This week is Community Gardens Week for the National Open Garden Scheme, and to mark the occasion Goldsborough Hall is opening its gardens to the public on Sunday 7 April. Visitors can expect to see colourful displays from spring bulbs, the woodland walk and a stroll up the quarter-mile long Lime Tree Walk that is lined by a carpet of more than 50,000 daffodils.

There will also be garden talks in the Kitchen Garden at 12pm and 2pm by Goldsborough Hall’s head gardener, and a plant stall on the terrace too.

£7.50 per adult, children free, 11am-4pm, April 7, Goldsborough Hall, Knaresborough, HG5 8NR.

Last chance to see For the Love of Art at 108 Fine Art Gallery

(Image: For the Love of Art at 108 Fine Art Gallery)

Forming part of 108 Fine Art Gallery’s collections that breathe new life into the stories they tell, For the Love of Art explores personal narratives and shared experiences.

Showcasing the works of artists Paul Wager and Laimonis Mierins, expect to see work that’s from the heart and explores memories and personal connections that have been made.

Free, 11am-5pm, until April 6, 108 Fine Art Gallery, Cold Bath Road, Harrogate, HG2 ONA.

Do you have an event that you’d like us to potentially feature in the future? Drop me an email at francesca@thestrayferret.co.uk

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