Oyez, oyez, oyez! the pronouncement from Ripon Bellman Geoffrey Johnson rang out loud and clear on Ripon Market Square last night,

The simple message for the economy of The Cathedral City of the Dales is that Ripon has many attractions for both tourists and local residents to enjoy’ and now has new boundary signs to attract more visitors.

To emphasise the point, the official unveiling of the signs was also attended by Patricio Maglio, a member of the Ripon Hornblower team who, like Mr Johnson, features on notice boards at key locations.

Following the bellman’s announcement, the hornblower performed the nightly ceremony of setting the city’s watch minutes after the new signs were officially unveiled.

As part of Ripon BID’s commitment to improve wayfinding it partnered with North Yorkshire highways to upgrade the boundary signage on the bypass, Boroughbridge Road, Kirkby Road and Studley Road.

The project was supported by city and North Yorkshire councillors Barbara Brodigan and Andrew Williams through donations from their locality budgets.

The BID also worked with the highways team to refurbish, repaint and restore the notice boards and finger posts that include bespoke maps and tourist information’

BID manager Lilla Bathurst told the Stray Ferret:

“These have been designed to help guide visitors around Ripon’s ancient streets, while providing an insight into the city’s rich history and heritage attractions.

“Our objective is to generate increased footfall to benefit the local economy and we are pleased to say that Ripon now has signage befitting a cathedral city and we hope that our businesses, residents and visitors will all agree that it’s a huge improvement.

“The boundary signs are designed to tempt motorists into Ripon from the road network, while the notice  boards help tourists to locate the attractions, while also  including information about events happening in the city, which is updated weekly.”

Pictured with Ripon bellman Geoffrey Johnson (right) and hornblower Patricio Maglio at last night’s unveiling event, are: Councillor Barbara Brodigan, Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams, Ripon BID manager Lilla Bathurst and BID directors Richard Taylor and Stuart Baldwin.

Read more: 

• Chance for Harrogate district community groups to win £3,000
• Search begins for Ripon’s community stars of 2023

Staff well-being and culture have rapidly risen up the priority list for many employers.  At the next Stray Ferret Business Club  we’ll hear from award winning employer, LCF Law, on how organisations can ensure their teams are productive and happy. 

The lunch event is lunch at Manahatta, on June 29th at 12.30pm. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Ripon business organisation held its first networking event this past week as traders shared their concerns with the town’s MP Julian Smith.

Ripon Business Improvement District hosted the session at the Town Hall which was chaired by Stuart Gill of the Newby Hall Estate.

It included a question and answer session with Mr Smith as well as discussion over anti-social behaviour in the city, business rates and banking facilities.

Lilia Bathurst, manager at Ripon BID, said:

“Ripon BID would like to thank all those who attended, Stuart Gill for chairing the meeting and Janet Moore from Wakeman’s House Café who provided the excellent buffet lunch and looks forward to being able to host another networking event soon.”

Knaresborough firm wins award for fourth time

A Knaresborough car finance firm has won an award for the fourth time in a row.

Oracle Car FInance, which is based on Manse Lane, won the best specialist finance provider at the Credit Strategy Car Finance Awards 2023.

Staff from Oracle Car Finance at the ceremony.

Held at Lancashire Cricket Club, the event aims to recognise dealers, brokers and independent lenders in the car industry.

Oracle picked up the award after winning it in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

A spokesperson for the firm said:

“The win is a huge testament to the hard work and dedication that everyone at Oracle Finance put into ensuring that we remain the ‘gold standard for car finance’ – not our words, the words of a number of our lenders on our expansive panel.”

Read more:

• Business Breakfast: Harrogate entrepreneur wins Pride award
• Cost of living crisis prompts Boroughbridge café to close

Musicians busked in the bright Bank Holiday sunshine in Ripon as performers in many different musical genres attracted extra footfall to the city’s streets.

The Ripon Indie event, organised by independent traders and featuring a host of highly-talented local and regional artists, was supported by Ripon Business Improvement District.

There was a large gathering on Kirkgate, where performers included the rock band Time Machine (main picture) and singer-songwriter Alannah Creed, pictured below.

The day also featured a Little Bird Artisan Market in the city centre which, alongside the musical entertainment and a team of Bollywood-style dancers, brought hundreds of people in to Ripon.

Buskers were strategically placed in Market Square, Westgate, North Street and The Arcade and their music acted as a magnet to those wishing to follow the busking trail.

Popular Ripon performers Lily Worth (above) and Freddie Cleary (below) were among the entertainers who showed the depth of young musical talent that the city boasts.

Yesterday’s event proved a natural follow-on from the successful street party held on Kirkgate on Easter Monday, which ran under the umbrella of the independents’ Totally Locally Campaign backed by Ripon BID.

Read more:

• Ripon beekeepers urge the public to report swarming bees
• Ripon businesses prepare to host theatre festival events

It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. Our next networking event is after-work drinks at Manahatta, on May 25th at 5:30.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A hotel company which runs three hotels in the Harrogate district has been listed in a Sunday Times workplace guide.

The Inn Collection Group has been recognised as one of the best places to work in the national guide for 2023.

The firm, which operates the Harrogate Inn, Knaresborough Inn and Ripon Inn, was included alongside organisations such as the Alzheimer’s Society Bella Italia, and Octopus Energy.

The inns were previously known as the St George Hotel, the Dower House and Ripon Spa Hotel.

Local companies CloudNine and LCF Law were also recognised.

Liz Robertson, people director at the Inn Collection Group, said:

“We’re delighted that our people are enjoying their time with ICG and that we have been officially recognised as a great place to work as a result.

“Supporting our teams is incredibly important for us, be that with our exciting development programmes, our Inn Safe Hands initiative or even just our excellent benefits package.

“Making people happy is what we are about and that extends to our own too.”

Ripon retailers organise bank holiday buskers

Retailers in Ripon have organised for buskers to perform in the city centre this coming bank holiday weekend.

Organised by Ripon Business Improvement District and independent businesses, performers will be situated around the streets to draw in more people to the centre on Monday, May 29.

Visitors will be invited to follow a route around the city, taking in Kirkgate, North Street and Westgate.  

Little Bird Artisan Market will be on the marketplace.  From there, visitors can find maps showing the streets where buskers will perform and where shops are hosting fun activities and special offers.

Busking is throughout the city all afternoon, with music from Ripon and visiting guests from Teeside, York and Leeds. 

For more information on the event, visit the Ripon BID website here.

Read more:

• Business Breakfast: Boroughbridge company celebrates long-service staff milestone
• Business Breakfast: Harrogate businesses recognised as ‘best places to work’

Ripon has been chosen to be one of five areas in North Yorkshire to pilot new community networks.

The networks will aim to bring together public, private and voluntary sector organisations to “unleash energy and ambition” and drive change.

North Yorkshire Council‘s decision to create the networks has generated controversy because members won’t be elected, leading to fears they are undemocratic and could duplicate the work of existing councils.

One Conservative councillor even branded them “crackers”.

But Ripon’s two councillors on North Yorkshire Council welcomed the move to make Ripon one the first areas in the county to trial the networks. Easingwold, Leyburn and Middleham, Sherburn-in-Elmet and Thornton-le-Dale have also been selected.

Cllr Andrew Williams, an Independent who represents Ripon Minster and Moorside and is also leader of Ripon City Council, said he and Cllr Barbara Brodigan, a Liberal Democrat who represents Ripon Ure Bank and Spa, both recognised the networks’ potential for improving the city.

He said:

“They will bring together groups across the city and create an opportunity to explore ideas and issues.”

Cllr Williams added the networks would “not replace any level of local government” but would allow people to talk more broadly about improving their local area in ways in which the constraints of formal council meetings did not allow.

Asked to give examples, he said the networks might develop a 10-year masterplan for Ripon or consider ways to get neighbouring parishes more involved in the city.

North Yorkshire Council isn’t providing any funding for the networks but Cllr Williams said this wasn’t an issue:

“It’s about considering what Ripon would look like in an ideal world if there was a magic wand and then going off and seeking funding for various schemes.”

He said he expected organisations such as Ripon City Council, Ripon Business Improvement District, Ripon Together and Ripon Museums to be involved.

Read more:

• Opposition North Yorkshire councillors criticise ‘community networks’ plan
• Council orders deep clean for Ripon War Memorial

North Yorkshire Council’s ruling executive will meet on Tuesday next week to ratify the pilot areas, with a view to later rolling out 30 networks across the county.

Carl Les

North Yorkshire Council’s Conservative leader, Cllr Carl Les, said:

“The networks will mobilise communities, unleashing energy and ambition and giving people a stronger voice to tackle those issues that mean the most to them.”

Cllr David Chance, the council’s executive member for stronger communities, Cllr David Chance, said the pilot areas would “help us shape the model for the community networks as they are set to be introduced across the county”.

Today’s Totally Locally party in Ripon provided a taste of how Kirkgate could be utilised throughout the year if the street was permanently pedestrianised.

The event, which was organised by independent traders in the city with the backing of Ripon Business Improvement District, attracted hundreds of visitors.

Despite an unfavourable forecast, the day of sunshine and showers saw family groups and individuals arrive from 10am to listen to live music, purchase gifts and enjoy some alfresco dining, as cafes, restaurants and other retailers lined the street with their stalls, tables and chairs.

Performers included the Hyde Family Jam (main picture) the All for One Ripon band (pictured above) and the Knaresborough Vestal Social Club Band.

Richard Hughes, one of the event’s organisers and owner of Manchega Tapas Bar on Duck Hill, told the Stray Ferret:

“Independent businesses, not just in Kirkgate, but throughout the whole of Ripon, have made this happen.”

Mr Hughes, (pictured above, centre) with colleagues from the left: Tilly Whild, Brad Lucas and Felix Lees, added:

“It shows what Ripon could do by properly pedestrianising Kirkgate and enabling small businesses to work together to unlock the street’s full potential by making it a vehicle free area.”

Ripon BID manager Lilla Bathurst, said:

“It has been great to see how traders in Kirkgate and other parts of Ripon have collaborated to create such a tremendous community event under the Totally Locally banner and we hope that there will be many more to follow.”

Read more:

• Ripon Spa Croquet Club offers free taster sessions
• New sponsorship deal for Ripon Races

Ripon Business Improvement District launched its Easter windows competition today as it seeks to attract more visitors to the city centre over the upcoming holiday period.

BID manager Lilla Bathurst told the Stray Ferret:

“Our aim is to encourage visitor movement around BID businesses and we have been working in partnership with the wonderful team at Jennyruth Workshops, who have created 40 decorated Easter eggs for businesses to display and build their themed windows around.”

Jennyruth Workshops is a social enterprise in Ripon where adults who have learning disabilities are trained in a wide variety of skills.

Ms Bathurst added:

“We already have 35 businesses involved and the five eggs that we have remaining are available to any BID member wishing to participate.

“Any trader who would like to be part of this year’s competition can email manager@riponbid.co.uk”

Yorkshire Building Society has already received its decorative egg produced by Jennyruth and branch manager Rosanna Ferrazzano, said:

“It is beautifully made and stylishly decorated and will take pride of place in the window display that we create.”

The winners of the Ripon Business Improvement District Christmas windows competition have been announced.

In the online public vote, the silver salver and first prize went to the Wakeman’s House Cafe in Market Place South, while the window display created by young people at Ripon YMCA in Water Skellgate (pictured below) received the judges’ award and silver cup.

Both of the winning entries caught the eye of the independent judging panel, which included the Mayor and Mayoress of Ripon Councillor Sid Hawke and his wife Linda and the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd. John Dobson.

BID manager Lilla Bathurst, said:

“This is the first year that we have run the competition and we were pleased to receive 23 entries from across the city.

“The theme that we set was peace and sanctuary and the judges and online voters were asked to bear this in mind when assessing the window displays.”

The Wakeman’s House Cafe entry with its doves, crib, and small, cosy Christmas houses captured the theme perfectly with a window design created by Jenny MacNair.

Ms MacNair, who works at the cafe, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are absolutely delighted to win the public vote. All members of our team contributed to the display by bringing in ornaments and other decorations.”

An independent panel of judges, braved heavy showers to view and cast their votes for the 23 entries in the Ripon Business Improvement District’s Christmas Windows competition.

The panel, including the city’s Mayor and Mayoress Councillor Sid Hawke and his wife Linda and the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd John Dobson have had their say, but the final outcome of the competition rests with a public vote and the winning entry will be announced on December 19.

Dean John judging the window at Specsavers

Ripon BID manager Lilla Bathurst, said:

“Like Strictly Come Dancing, the votes of the public will be added to the marks given by the judges.”

More details on how to vote for your favourite Christmas window click here

Children were involved in producing the window display at Cathedral View Cafe

Ms Bathurst, pointed out:

“The theme that we set was peace and sanctuary and the judges were asked to bear this in mind when assessing the entries.”

She added:

“We are delighted with the number of businesses that took part, as the window displays combined with the city’s festive lights and our free parking after 3pm initiative on the Fridays running up to Christmas, all add to the attraction of Ripon.”

Dean John, said:

“It’s great to see the business community embracing the central Christmas messages of peace and sanctuary in an imaginative way that helps to lift all of our spirits in these difficult times.”

Local organisations are in unison with their reaction to the autumn statement, warning there will be a ‘tough winter’ ahead of us.

Small businesses are expected to struggle as result of this morning’s autumn statement, with consumers predicted to cut disposable spending.

Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce chief executive David Simister said the statement was “exactly as previewed”:

“Whilst it will no doubt have reassured the markets, there seems very little to support businesses when they need it most.

“The cost of running business will continue to rise and these increases will have to be passed on to the customers, who in turn are worse off with soaring inflation and eye watering energy prices…

“I’m afraid to say many businesses are looking at a very bleak future.”

David Simister

Harrogate BID chair Sara Ferguson echoed the chamber’s projection:

“There was little in today’s autumn statement to boost our high street economy… Everyone is going to have less disposal income, this will mean consumers pairing back on their spending, which will shrink the economy further.”

Mr Simister and Ms Ferguson also agreed that the £13.6 billion business rates relief package would help soften the blow of April’s expected rise.

Sara Ferguson

Read more:

• Government grants needed to help finances, says county council leader
• ‘It’s still too high’ – Harrogate residents on the government’s energy announcement

Ripon BID welcomed some elements of the statement, such as the increase to pensions and benefits in line with September’s inflation rate as well as the early news of the rising national living wage for over-23s.

In a statement, the organisation said:

“The UK falling into recession was expected and Ripon BID hopes that the chancellor’s measures to reduce inflation will be in his words ‘as short and shallow as possible’, however we would welcome any help available to businesses from the government and urge them to come up with non-inflationary measures which would aid them.

“Now more than ever it is important that we try and support our local businesses by shopping locally and giving support to our Ripon city region independents.

“Ripon BID is here to help BID businesses and would urge those businesses to get in touch with us to enable us to help promote their business and any promotions over the festive season and into the new year.”

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered the autumn statement earlier today. Millions across the country will face rising taxes and Mr Hunt spending cuts have been made to “tackle the cost of living crisis and rebuild our economy”.