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Ripon restaurant bookings picking up

Restaurants in Ripon are reporting lots of bookings for July 4 after being given the go-ahead by government to reopen, but the dining experience will be bittersweet due to social distancing restrictions.

Rick Jones, owner of Italian restaurant Valentinos, told the Stray Ferret they are “full steam ahead” and expecting a full house on July 4, albeit with a reduced seating capacity of around 30%.

It will be a different type of table service on July 4 and interaction between staff and customer will be minimised, which Mr Jones hopes won’t put too many customers off.

He said:

“We haven’t seen these customers for so long and you just want to hug them and embrace them. But we will almost have a sterile environment and you can’t interact as much as before.

“We know about all our customer’s lives and stories, but we literally have to serve them and walk away to eliminate contamination time.”

“It’s not going to be the grand reopening we expected with parties and celebrations but something is better than nothing. Even just a smile on someone’s face will be worth it.”

Richard Hughes and his partner Magdalena Torres are the owners of Spanish Tapas bar and restaurant Manchega. As a self-declared “party person” Mr Hughes told the Stray Ferret he’s missed the social aspect of running a busy restaurant.

Magdelena Torres, Jose Simo, Isabel Rodrigues – Manchega.

He said:

“I can’t wait. I’m a party sort of person anyway and a Tapas bar is all about the good times. The atmosphere is a big part of it so I can’t wait to get the buzz going again. That’s what it’s all about.”

But Manchega won’t be opening until July 14 as the owners are allowing their Spanish head chef return to his home country to visit family. Mr Hughes also wants to see how busy other restaurants are in Ripon from July 4.

Mario Fantino has been serving up traditional Italian food at Prima Pizzeria for over 30 years. He told the Stray Ferret it was “heartbreaking” to see it stand empty for many months.

He said they are almost fully booked for next weekend and the early signs are positive for the rest of the summer.

He also believes people in Ripon “can’t wait” to go out for a slice of Pepperoni or Margherita in his restaurant.

He said:

“People have been paid their furlough money but have not had the time to spend it, so there’s a bit of money around. We’ve got lots of bookings and I imagine everyone else has.”

“It will be great to see people sitting down again in the restaurant. It will be wonderful.”

More homes added to major Ripon scheme

Harrogate councillors have recommended that more homes are added to a major housing scheme in Ripon.

Harrogate Borough Council’s Planning Committee met virtually on Zoom and agreed to defer the building of 14 new homes at Bishops Glade to the chief planner for approval.

131 homes were approved by HBC in 2017 and building at the site is currently underway.

Developer Harron Homes sought to build an extra 14 homes and change the mix of housing to include more affordable housing and more four-bedroom homes.

Speaking at the meeting on behalf of the developer, agent Mark Beevers said the new four-bedroom homes were needed as “demand has fluctuated.”

Speaking against the proposals, Cllr Robert Windass said the number of four-bedroom homes already being built on the site is “over the top” and “all about profit for the developer.”

He added:

“They are not concerned about the mix as long as they get a maximum yield for the site”.

Cllr Pat Marsh said she was concerned at the affordable housing mix on the site and felt there are “ghettos” being built.

She also criticised the sustainable credentials of a plastic slide in the children’s play-area.

She said:

“As a council that says we want to get rid of single-use plastic within two years, that slide has to be metal. We’re not addressing the issues that are paramount to our world and looking at sustainability.”

However, HBC housing officer John Worthington reminded committee members that they were not there to “look at the site afresh” and planning permission has already been granted for the majority of the site.

Committee members voted in favour of the motion to defer and recommend for approval to the chief planner by six votes to five, with one abstention.

Ripon housing development refused

Harrogate councillors have refused a 38-home development in Ripon, citing concerns around the number of homes proposed and its impact on a nearby Grade 2 listed building.

Meeting virtually yesterday on Zoom and streamed live on YouTube, Harrogate Borough Council’s Planning Committee refused a full planning permission application from developer Newett Homes by a near-unanimous decision.

The site is designated for development within HBC’s Local Plan but was criticised for being almost double the suggested yield of 20.

Harrogate Borough Council’s Planning Committee meets on Zoom.

Mr James Mortimer, owner of the Grade 2 listed Prospect House, which stands around 30 metres away from the proposed development told the Committee that the homes would bring “substantial harm” to Prospect House.

He said:

“The development of this site fails to provide any unique public benefit and harms Prospect House a listed asset.”

However, Richard Mowatt, speaking on behalf of the developers, told the Committee that the development will have “environmental, societal and economic” benefits for the area.

Cllr Pat Marsh objected to the plans calling it a “compromise” due to the density of the site. She also said the 15 affordable homes were not enough.

She said:

“Rather than reaching for quality, we’re saying, ‘that’s just acceptable’.”

She also criticised the plans for not being environmentally friendly.

She added:

“There’s nothing in here for zero-carbon and homes that produce their own electricity. I’m saddened by that as well.

Responding, HBC housing officer Kate Williams, said affordable housing targets in the Local Plan are not “prescriptive”. She also said in Ripon there’s more of a demand for more 2 and 3 bedroom housing for market.

Other objections raised at the Committee included worries over a sinkhole in the woodland to the east of the site.

Councils urged to help pubs and restaurants create more space

As pubs and restaurants have now been given the go-ahead to reopen next month, the political debate has shifted kerbside as councils are urged to allow businesses to create space on pavements for drinkers and diners.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced this afternoon that pubs, restaurants and hotels will be able to reopen from July 4 after three months of lockdown.

The two metre social distancing rule will also be relaxed to one metre where possible, but people will be encouraged to use their “common sense” and keep their distance.

But the debate among local politicians has now shifted onto how to help businesses deal with the number of customers who are eager for a pint while abiding social distancing guidance.

Ahead of the announcement, trade bodies in the Harrogate district called for quicker licensing laws to help pubs and restaurants open more space onto pavements to increase capacity.

Geoff Webber, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on North Yorkshire County Council, said that the district and county authority should support businesses where possible and monitor social distancing.

He said: “My first reaction is that it is too soon.

“But as a county council we should do everything we can to assist business. There is a danger that the pavements can get congested, so it needs to be monitored.”

Andrew Jones, Conservative MP for Harrogate, said in the House of Commons this afternoon that he supported using outdoor space for hospitality and added that jobs in the district “depended on it”.

Pleased to be able to ask @BorisJohnson about using outdoor space to ensure space for hospitality businesses to open safely. Many jobs and businesses depend on this locally in #Harrogate & #Knaresborough. pic.twitter.com/lrdHA8qEpy

— Andrew Jones MP (@AJonesMP) June 23, 2020

In response to Mr Jones, the Prime Minister urged local authorities to “be more creative” and said that there was “plenty of space to be found”.

Julian Smith, Conservative MP for Ripon and Skipton, has been contacted for comment on the news but has yet to respond.

Jack Woodruff, owner of The Disappearing Chin in Beulah Street, Harrogate, said a quicker licensing process would help to open up more space in front of the bar.

He said: ”I’d like to hear a relax in outdoor licensing law from the government,

“I had one in from months ago but you have to go through several agencies.

“A relaxation to those rules would be ideal and it would be a really big help as we have a few areas that would allow that at the front but currently can’t use.”

The news comes as businesses in the district called for clarity on the the rule in order to reopen in July.

Pub, hotel and restaurant owners said the rule needed to be relaxed in order for their businesses to be viable after lockdown.

Harrogate restaurant suppliers anxiously await one metre update

The suppliers that provide Harrogate and Ripon’s restaurants with its meat, vegetables and dairy are hoping a government announcement on social distancing today will help kickstart their businesses.

JG Bellerby in Killinghall supplies several well-known restaurants in Harrogate with a range of produce — from fruit and veg to milk and cream.

But Luke Derbyshire of JG Bellerby told the Stray Ferret that it’s been a difficult few months.

He said:

“It’s been pretty rough, to be honest. Most of our customers were restaurants, hotels and cafes. Quite literally overnight that changed so we had to diversify with deliveries. But we’ve been hard hit, that’s for sure.”

With new social distancing guidelines for restaurants expected to be announced by the government tomorrow, Mr Derbyshire is hoping a relaxation of the two-metre rule will give his clients some confidence.

He added:

“It’s all very much up in the air with social distancing and it’s a difficult time. A lot of our customers are saying, ‘we’re a rural pub and with the two-metre rule we can’t justify opening’.

Mr Derbyshire suggested that due to a fear over catching coronavirus the “new normal” could spell the end of some familiar eating-out traditions.

“Some [restaurants] are starting to re-emerge but volume-wise it’s not what it was. I think we’ll be back by the end of the year, but the effects will go on a lot longer.

“Will still people want to eat out? Are the days of the Sunday dinner at the pub gone? Will people risk it?”

Marleys butchers in Ripon supply every restaurant in the city with meat as well as several in Harrogate.

Wayne Morgan from Marleys told the Stray Ferret that several restaurants have told them that with social distancing it may not be worth re-opening until they are allowed to be at full capacity.

The announcement on restaurants will have big implications for businesses like Marleys and Mr Morgan said the butchers is anxiously awaiting fresh guidance.

“We’re going to wait until they change it to one metre, then we’ll call out restaurants and have a chat with them.”

Like JG Bellerby, Marleys has relied on home deliveries to bring in some crucial revenue whilst restaurants have been closed.

Mr Morgan added:

“It hasn’t worked out so bad for us. A house isn’t as big as a restaurant but at least we had something to fall back on.”

M&S confirms opening date for Ripon food store

Marks and Spencer has announced that it will open the doors to its food store in Ripon next month.

The new shop will open for the first time at 10am on July 15 and has created around 60 jobs in the town. It will be open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 8pm, and on Sunday from 11am to 5pm.

It was originally due to open at the end of April but it was delayed because of coronavirus.

The M&S Food Store is part of the £10 million Saint Michael’s Retail Park development which was also delayed.

Ripon is currently served by four supermarkets – Aldi, Booths, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s.

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Store Manager, Paul Nicoll, has worked at M&S for 34 years and said he was looking forward to getting to know the local community:

“My team and I are really excited about our new store in Ripon. We’ll be working hard to provide outstanding service and help make every penny count for the community.”

What the food hall interior will look like.

As well as food, customers will also be able to shop for M&S’s full clothing and home collections through the click and collect service.

Mark Rothery, Managing Director of Rothstone Estates, said:

“Announcing the opening date is a really exciting milestone in the project. I would like to thank the Ripon community for their support and continued patience as we work hard with all parties to deliver this great investment in the city.”

Harrogate Council approves leisure services overhaul

Harrogate Borough Council will set up a new company to run leisure in the district as part of a shake-up of the service and press ahead with borrowing £26 million to invest in facilities.

Senior councillors on the authority’s cabinet last night voted to create the company, called Brimham’s Active, to run services such as the Harrogate Hydro.

The authority will also look to approach the government’s Public Works Loans Board to borrow £26 million to fund two capital projects, which include a refurbishment of the Hydro and a new leisure centre in Knaresborough.

It follows a council consultation which saw nearly half of respondents disagree with the move and residents in Starbeck vowing to fight any future threat to the area’s 150-year-old baths.

Councillors said the investment strategy and the new company go “hand in hand” and will help to reduce costs on maintenances and running leisure and sport.

Stan Lumley, cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport at the authority, described the decision to set up the company as a “major decision” for the council.

He said: “It is the biggest financial decision for the council for many years and the investment strategy is crucial to enhance services.

“The company does what it says on the tin. It is not a privatised company, It is something I have been pushing for these past two years to make clear that it is administered by the council.”

Harrogate Hydro is among the facilities which will be run by the new leisure company.

Among the facilities that will be run by Brimham’s Active will be the Harrogate Hydro, Ripon Leisure Centre and Nidderdale Leisure Centre.

Leisure services in the district currently run at a loss of £3.5 million a year and some facilities have increased in cost year on year.

The council will spend £300,000 to set up the company through project start up costs and it is expected to operate from August 2021.

The decision will now go to a full council meeting to be rubber stamped.

Harrogate Council to borrow £26 million to fund leisure overhaul projects

Harrogate Borough Council is expected to borrow money to fund two projects worth an estimated £26 million as part of its overhaul of leisure services in the district.

The council has linked the investment plan and the part privatisation of the service saying to two come “hand in hand” in order to save money. However, the reality is that the two don’t necessarily have to be connected and the investment in leisure could happen without the partial privatisation if councillors chose to do this.

Two projects are lined up as part of the proposal, including refurbishing the Harrogate Hydro at a cost of £13.5 million and building a new leisure centre at Conyngham Hall in Knaresborough to replace the current site which is estimated to be £13 million.

The schemes would see an investment in current and new leisure facilities which the council said will help to reduce maintenance costs of the Hydro.

According to a council report due before cabinet, the authority said borrowing for the projects would help to free up funds for its coronavirus financial recovery plan.

It said: “Given the unfunded nature of the capital strategy, beyond the existing five year programme (2020 to 2025), it would be prudent to fund the two schemes by external borrowing (given the council’s heavily under-borrowed position), though there may be potential to finance the design development from internal borrowing.”

When asked whether the council could invest in its facilities without a company, Councillor Stan Lumley, cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport at the authority, said the two go “hand in hand”.

He said: “The two decisions are separate but they go hand in hand.

“We need to invest in our stock to give us the best chance to save on the service. We looked at every option, compared them with each other and decided that this was the best option not just for the council but for the public.

“In order to free up our ability to provide a service, it has to be a commercial service.”

It comes as the authority’s cabinet will vote on handing over services to an arms-length company called Brimham’s Active on Wednesday in order to save money.

If given the go-ahead, it would mean facilities such as Harrogate Hydro, the Turkish Baths and Ripon Leisure Centre would be run by the new company.

The Turkish Baths, Harrogate, is among the facilities earmarked to be handed over to the council-owned company

The council’s services are currently running at a loss of £3.5 million and some centres and swimming pools in the district have increased in cost year on year.

But the leisure plan has been met with opposition from the community in Starbeck over the future of the 150-year-old swimming pool in the area and union’s raised concern over the authority’s consultation process.

Pat Marsh, leader of the Liberal Democrats group, said the authority needed to arrive at the right decision over the plan.

She said: “We have not been properly briefed on the proposal, so we have questions about it.

“Whatever decision the council makes it has to be right, because this is not a statutory service and the council does not have to run it.”

The Stray Ferret asked Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, for a comment on the proposal but has not received a response at the time of publication.

Ripon market traders argue for rent reductions

Ripon’s non-essential market traders returned to their stalls today after months of lockdown. But some traders believe they have been poorly treated by Harrogate Borough Council.

Harrogate Borough Council, which is planning to increase the rent for each stall by up to 32.4%, has offered the traders no rent holidays or reductions as they get back up and running.

The stallholders argue that due to the inability to trade over lockdown rental reductions should now be offered as they ease back into trading.

Nick Farnsworth, who has been selling women’s nightwear and underwear at Ripon for 25 years, said:

“It’s a disgrace that we are still being charged the full whack, when other areas are doing their best to help their market stallholders.”

Ripon market traders want more support from the council as they adjust to trading again.

One market trader, Andrew Sutcliffe, who also trades in Knaresborough, agreed with other traders that more support from the council is necessary. He told The Stray Ferret that other markets he works on are currently offering rent holidays and reductions as they adjust to trading at full capacity.

In the week beginning 1st June, other local authorities including Barnsley and Leeds allowed stall holders selling goods classed as non-essential, to trade however the council decided to delay reopening to this week.

Harrogate Borough Council responded to the traders’ claims that they felt unsupported. They said:

“Throughout lockdown, the markets at Knaresborough and Ripon have continued to open in line with government guidance. We supported those essential goods traders to ensure they could continue to work. We’ve not charged for any trader who chose not to attend or wasn’t allowed to because of the coronavirus restrictions.

“Where we have charged, fees have been held at last year’s rates. It’s disappointing to hear that one or two traders feel we’ve not been supportive. We’ve done all we can to ensure our markets can fully re-open safely and to enable traders to get back to business as usual.”

Black Lives Matter: Newby Hall uncovers links to slave trade

Newby Hall has uncovered its connections to the slave trade, leading its current owners to say that we must “recognise, take serious note and learn” from the past.

It is the first time that the Compton family, who are current residents, have spoken publicly about Newby Hall’s links to slavery and follows in the footsteps of many stately homes in England.

The family made the announcement after The Stray Ferret pointed out that the Weddell family, of which the Compton family are direct descendants, invested in the South Sea Company.

Richard Compton has updated the history page on Newby Hall’s website to detail its connections to the slave trade and highlight its work with the BAME community.

“It is known that the South Sea Company had significant financial involvement with the slave trade. It is not known to what extent this contributed to Thomas Weddell’s wealth but we do know that what was acceptable in the 1700s is abhorrent now.

“Newby is a modern and inclusive business and we have supported the BAME community. There is lots more we can do and post-Covid we look forward to renewing our links. The past is something we cannot change. We need to recognise it, take serious note and learn.”

“BLM” has been left near the war memorial in Harrogate.

The Newby Hall revelation comes in the wake of George Floyd’s killing and a wave of protests around the world. The Black Lives Matter movement believes systemic racism dates back to the slave trade.

What is the South Sea Company?

South Sea Company was a public-private corporation that supplied slaves to the islands in the “South Seas” and South America.

Some historians estimate that the company set out to transport just over 34,000 slaves but around 4,000 slaves died on the voyage.

Others found that investors ended up with substantial returns if they got out before the “South Sea Bubble” burst in 1720. Thomas Weddell was one of those investors.

Thomas Weddell was the great-uncle of William Weddell and left him with a legacy that Thomas used to buy Newby Hall.

No plans for a review into Harrogate’s past

This week, a statue of Queen Victoria in Leeds has been sprayed with graffiti relating referring to slavery and Leeds City Council has said it is reviewing its statues. However, Harrogate Borough Council said that it has no plans to launch such a review.

The Queen Victoria statue in central Harrogate

Many councils in England are reviewing their memorials after protesters in Bristol toppled the Edward Colston statue and dropped it in the harbour.

There has also been pressure on other authorities and organisations to remove statues of people with links to the slave trade, such as Cecil Rhodes, whose statue in Oxford has drawn criticism because of his links with imperialism and colonialism.

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What is the South Sea Company?

No plans for a review into Harrogate’s past