The Little Beauty Rooms wins Ripon Christmas window contestRipon Business Improvement District yesterday announced The Little Beauty Rooms as the winner of its Christmas window competition.
The salon, which is on Westgate, was decked out with pink and silver baubles, pink reindeer, festive green garlands and Christmas lights.
Owner Lynne Stewart told the Stray Ferret the team had decorated the window at the start of November, meaning people had plenty of time to enjoy it. She added:
“This is the first time we’ve entered.
“So many people have told us how much they love it.”
A total of 34 local businesses entered the competition, which first ran last year, and the public voted for their favourite.
Last year’s winner, The Wakeman’s House Café, came second and Saint Michael’s Hospice took third place.
The salon’s team.
Ms Stewart added:
“We’re just so grateful to everyone who voted for us – thank you!”
The salon, which offers a range of traditional beauty treatments and services, has also won an advert in Review Ripon magazine as part of the competition.
Lilla Bathurst, manager at Ripon BID, added:
“We were thrilled that so many Ripon businesses took part in this hotly fought competition.
“The aim with all Ripon BID’s trails and competitions is to get locals and visitors exploring the city and discovering new businesses.”
One lucky local also won a hamper from the Ripon Hamper Company as part of the competition.
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Ripon’s free winter wonderland begins tomorrowRipon Spa Gardens will be transformed into a winter wonderland from tomorrow until Sunday.
The free public event will see the trees in Spa Gardens decorated with illuminations to bring the magic of Christmas.
There will also be activities, including Christmas carols and bellringing, from 2pm to 8pm from Friday, December 15 to Sunday, December 17.
Organiser Caroline Bentham hopes the event will ease financial pressure on families in the run up to Christmas as there is no charge to enter.
She said:
“When it gets to Christmastime everything gets so expensive.”
The event, which costs around £7,000 a year to organise, is made possible by donations, grants and volunteers.
Ripon City Council, North Yorkshire Council, the Ripon Inn, and Ripon’s community scrap fund have all given money.
All those involved are volunteers and all the crafts are made by local people.
The winter wonderland will host local performers, including Yorkshire Voices, Masham Hand Bell Ringers, Jolly Wassailers, and Brackenfield School.
Ms Bentham said:
“It really is a community event.”
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While the event is free, visitors are encouraged to make a donation or buy refreshments. The Sun Parlour cafe in Spa Gardens will be open.
This is the fourth year the wonderland has taken place.
Other free attractions in Ripon this week include a giant snow globe display.
The snow globe, which even has biodegradable snow, is popular for social media images.
The Greenhouse’s Christmas window entry.
There is also a Christmas window competition in town this week.
Visitors can vote for their favourite display among 34 entries.
Voting is open until Sunday, December 17.
Nearby 17th century house Grantley Hall will also be hosting jazz nights throughout the Christmas period.
Ripon businesses given new radios to tackle crimeRipon businesses are being given new radios to help combat crime.
The number of businesses with two-way Apex radios has more than doubled in the past few weeks, from 12 to 27.
Ripon Business Improvement District has funded the radios for its members as part of an attempt to take a proactive approach to crime.
Shopkeepers can use the radios to alert a central CCTV room in Harrogate to focus CCTV cameras directly onto potential shop thieves.
North Yorkshire Police have also agreed to carry the radios, where resources allow.
The scheme also operates in Harrogate and Knaresborough.
Kelly Hirst at the Black Swan is among those involved in the scheme.
Participating businesses are sent the names and photographs of suspected shoplifters four times a year.
The radios can also be used to find missing people.
A Ripon resident with dementia was found safe after the radios were used to report their disappearance.
Lilla Bathurst, manager of Ripon BID, said:
“We want to make sure Ripon isn’t seen as a soft touch for shop theft.
“We want to get ahead of the curve and ensure we don’t ever have an issue.”
Ms Bathurst also suggested it could help keep women working alone or in small teams safe.
Despite these safety measures, Ripon has a low crime rate.
The data analysis website CrimeRate reports that Ripon’s crime rate is 45% lower than Yorkshire and the Humber as a whole.
It is also 28% lower than the national crime rate.
However, shoplifting is more slightly more common in Ripon than the rest of North Yorkshire.
Ripon BID is funded by city centre businesses who pay a levy on their business rates. The organisation then runs initiatives to boost the city centre for traders.
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Giant snow globe heading to RiponA giant inflatable snow globe is coming to Ripon as part of the city’s festivities next month.
Residents and visitors will be able to step inside the inflatable to create a free Christmas photo opportunity.
The globe, which will have biodegradable snow, will be in Ripon from December 14 to 17.
Ripon Business Improvement District, which is funded by traders to increase the number of city centre visitors, has devised the scheme in partnership with tourism organisation Visit Harrogate.
They are marketing the snow globe as “a hugely popular attraction that instantly transports you to your very own winter wonderland”.
It will be in Ripon at the same time as the winter wonderland illuminations in Spa Gardens, which take place from December 15 to 17.
Here’s where you can find the snow globe:
December 14 — 1pm to 7pm The Ripon Inn, Park Street
December 15 — 1pm to 7pm Ripon Cathedral forecourt, Minster Road
December 16 — 1pm to 7pm Ripon Market Square
December 17 — 1pm to 7pm Ripon Market Square
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Business Breakfast: Ripon introduces loyalty scheme to boost Christmas salesAre you already thinking of how to reward your employees this Christmas? Why not choose the Harrogate Gift Card?
The Harrogate Gift Card can be spent in over 100 businesses in Harrogate town centre including retail, hospitality and leisure, whilst keeping the spend locked into the local economy.
Complete a corporate bulk order of over £250 and receive 15% discount from November 1 to 15 with the code ‘HGT15’.
Ripon BID is to launch of a loyalty scheme to boost the local economy and support the city’s independent businesses in the run-up to Christmas.
Totally Locally Ripon aims to encourage support for local businesses. Residents and visitors who spend money with participating independent businesses will get their ‘Ripon Passport Poster’ stamped. Once they get enough stamps on their passport, they’re in the chance of winning cash or vouchers.
The BID is encouraging businesses to get involved. For more details visit the Ripon BID website.
Ripon’s late night Christmas shopping event is on Thursday 30 November.
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Masham based W E Jameson & Son Ltd have celebrated success at The Yorkshire and Humberside Family Business Awards 2023.
W.E. Jameson & Son Ltd provide animal feed, farming services and advice to farmers.
Organised by The Family Business Community, the awards were held at The Majestic Hotel in Harrogate.
WE Jameson were announced as the winner of the wholesale category.
A spokesperson for the company said:
“We are delighted to receive this award on behalf of all the staff. The company was founded by Eddie Jameson, a family man, in 1930. He would be very proud that the company still holds true to his family values and has continued to do business with many farming families over the generations.”
Ripon gets set for Saturday’s festive lights switch on
Ripon’s festive season gets into full swing on Saturday, with the switch on of the city’s Christmas lights, combined with an afternoon of family entertainment.
The illuminations will come on at 5pm and before then, Market Square will be a hive of activity from 1pm onwards with Santa and his reindeer, free fairground rides and live music between 3pm and 6pm.
The event is being organised by the city council, with support from Ripon Business Improvement District.
Festive lights on Fishergate are ready for Saturday evening’s city-wide switch on
Enhancements have been made to the city council’s decorative displays thanks to £4,000 of funding from the BID and the £7,000 raised through the Christmas Lights Appeal, run by Councillor Eamon Parkin during his three consecutive years in office as Mayor of Ripon between May 2019 and May 2022
The year-on-year improvements ensure that the city centre and adjoining streets will be lit with festive lights throughout the season.
For the second year running, the BID has paid for the production and distribution of 25,000 brochures, promoting Ripon as an attractive retail destination for both residents and visitors.
The brochure, which is being delivered to homes in the city and surrounding areas, highlights a strong mix of independent traders, while providing details about the events that will be happening in Ripon, between now and New Year’s Eve.
Main picture: Santa and his reindeer are due to arrive at 1pm
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Business group plans to bring banking hub to RiponThe introduction of a banking hub was among plans unveiled by Ripon Business Improvement District at its annual review meeting this week.
Sine the BID launched in autumn 2021, banking facilities in the city have reduced with the closure of the Barclays and Halifax branches, leaving HSBC as the only high street bank with a presence in Ripon.
A banking hub would provide a counter service where customers of major banks and building societies can carry out cash transactions. One is set to open in Knaresborough after it lost its last high street bank.
BID manager Lilla Bathurst told Monday’s meeting at the Old Deanery:
“We are seeking to bring a banking hub to Ripon to enable businesses to access and deposit cash more readily than they can at the moment.”
The HSBC Bank on Westgate.
The BID, funded through a £170,000 annual levy raised from businesses in Ripon and the surrounding area, is also looking to support the fight against crime.
Ms Bathurst said:
“We plan to invest in a Radiolink scheme for businesses to reduce shop theft and antisocial behaviour, by having a means of sharing information with each other about suspicious characters or perceived threats that they see.
“We will also ensure that all night-time economy businesses are offered this.”
The review meeting marked the BID’s second year of operation.
Ms Bathurst said the highlights included a reinvigorated events calendar featuring live music, street parties run as part of the Totally Locally campaign instigated by independent traders in Kirkgate and support for the Ripon Theatre Festival in June, which saw an 86 percent increase in audience numbers.
The BID supported the festival in its inaugural year of 2022 and this year and will again be a sponsor in 2024.
Other BID activities in the year included the installation of new boundary signs and the creation of walking maps that encourage visitor flow around the city and work in conjunction with refurbished noticeboards that contain mapping, tourist and regularly updated events information.
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In his introduction at the review meeting, Richard Compton, chair of the BID board, said:
“Our vision is to develop the unique Ripon city region as a great destination for tourism, culture, creativity, innovation and business.
“We are helping to drive footfall into our retailers, restaurants, bars, museums and attractions – both in the city centre and the outer areas – through our online presence, events and marketing.”
He added:
“Everything we do is focused on growing the profits of our members.”
The picture shows Ripon BID chair Richard Compton (left) at the annual review meeting with BID communications executive Layla Martin, BID manager Lilla Bathurst and Alex Stainsby, operations manager of the Old Deanery
Council to seek costs for replacement ‘Welcome to Ripon’ signsTraditional wooden signs that welcome visitors to Ripon and invite them to ‘stay awhile amid its ancient charms’ are in need of replacement.
At last week’s full city council meeting, former Mayor Councillor Eamon Parkin, said:
“The signs have been dropping to bits and I first asked for them to be replaced six years ago, but they remain in place and in a poor condition.”
Parts of the sign on North Bridge have fallen victim to the elements and vandalism
Last month, as part of Ripon BID’s commitment to improve wayfinding it announced it had partnered with North Yorkshire highways to put new metal boundary marker signs in place on Ripon bypass, Boroughbridge Road, Kirkby Road and Studley Road.
One of the metal boundary signs that is now in place
The project was supported by city and North Yorkshire councillors Barbara Brodigan and Andrew Williams through donations from their locality budgets.
The welcome sign on Rotary Way
However, at the city council meeting, Cllr Williams said:
“These were never intended to replace the wooden welcome to Ripon signs, which are part of the city’s heritage.”
Councillors agreed for costings to be sought for wooden replacement signs and, once obtained, for these to be considered at a future meeting.
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Ripon remains in party mode for Bank Holiday fiestaThe focus turned to Kirkgate and Minster Gardens yesterday, as Ripon’s extended weekend of Bank Holiday entertainment continued with a fiesta of food and live music.
Saturday had seen fairground rides and a concert featuring tribute acts on Market Square, in the last large-scale public event of the summer staged by Ripon City Council and paid for from the parish precept.
Sunday and Monday brought a Little Bird Artisan market to the square and yesterday, independent businesses in the city, with administrative support from Ripon BID, joined forces for the second Bank Holiday street party of the year.
The Little Bird Artisan Market
Kirkgate closed to traffic and an al fresco dining and entertainment from the junction with Duck Hill to Minster Road.
In the evening the party moved to Minster Gardens, where there was a paella picnic, including performances from violin virtuoso Nadia and guitar duo Bailey Brown (pictured below).
Richard Hughes, owner of the Manchega Tapas Restaurant, who was one of the organisers of yesterday’s event told the Stray Ferret:
“This shows what can be achieved when independent businesses come together and stage events that are designed to attract more visitors and local residents onto the city’s streets.”
Richard Hughes
He added:
“Working alongside Ripon BID, the council and all other interested parties in Ripon, we are looking to build on this success, with the aim of doing even more next year, with the objective of making the city a must-visit destination.”
Ripon prepares for a Bank Holiday weekend of free family entertainmentRipon is preparing for another bank holiday weekend of free family-focused entertainment, featuring live music, fairground rides and a Spanish-flavoured fiesta.
Tomorrow (Saturday) a ferris wheel and Mini Miami ride will be among the attractions on Market Square from 12 noon until 8pm, as part of the last public event of the summer organised by Ripon City Council and financed through the parish precept.
From 7pm until 11pm music will take centre stage, with tribute acts performing the hits of Neil Diamond, Elton John and Robbie Williams, before the Big Boyband Reunion provides a rousing end to the entertainment.
Popular tunes and ancient tradition will come together at 8.55pm when a member of the Ripon hornblower team sets the city watch with blasts of their horn at the four corners of the obelisk.
The Easter street party in Kirkgate brought hundreds of visitors to the city
Bank Holiday Monday street party
As a follow-up to the highly-successful Easter Bank Holiday Monday street party held in Kirkgate, Ripon’s independent businesses have joined forces once more to arrange an event designed to draw visitors into the city and entertain local residents.
Kirkgate will close to traffic from 9am, for a day of entertainment running from 11am until 4pm and including buskers and on-street food and drink offers.
Between 5pm and 9.30pm, Minster Gardens will be transformed into a musical fiesta venue, with decorative lighting for a paella picnic among the trees.
The entertainment will be provided by Knaresborough Vista Social Club, Bailey Brown and virtuoso Ukrainian violinist Nadia.
There will be a horsebox bar and a pop-up paella restaurant supplied by Manchega Tapas Restauarant, whose owner, Richard Hughes, said:
“Ripon should be the destination for anyone visiting the north of England! It has everything to offer.”
He added:
“This whole event is an example of the local business community promoting a can-do attitude. It has been funded almost entirely by donations from local businesses and also by sponsorship from Voneus Broadband, along with ongoing administrative support from the Ripon BID, as part of the excellent Totally Locally initiative.”