A reptile shop is set to open its doors in Starbeck and the owner is “frilled” to get started.
Yorkshire Reptile, at 67d High Street, will be the only shop of its kind in Harrogate.
Owner Tom Whittaker believes his emphasis on animal welfare will set his shop apart from other reptile businesses.
The shop will open its doors tomorrow, on April 1 – no joke – with snakes, bearded dragons, chameleons, tortoises and more.
One of the shop’s chameleons.
It also sells food for the animals, vivariums and decorations for the tanks. None of the animals that the shop stocks are venomous or dangerous in anyway.
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What started off as a hobby for owner Mr Whittaker has now become a full business venture.
Vivariums in the shop.
Mr Whittaker, whose background is in cyber-security, only decided to open the shop eight weeks ago.
He told the Stray Ferret:
“My dad took me to a reptile show in Doncaster when I was 12-years-old. Ever since then I have been fascinated by it.
“It’s just how they move, how they eat, how they shed, their temperament. There are so many different kinds.
“I don’t want to compare them to Pokemon but you feel like you have to get all of them. I am obsessed and so are a lot of people.”
Prices start at £50 for a corn snake up to a green tree python, which can set you back as much as £700.
Fire service investigates cause of Starbeck home blazeThe fire service has launched an investigation into the cause of a blaze which devastated a house in Starbeck last night.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, North Yorkshire Police and Yorkshire Ambulance Service attended the fire on Avenue Grove at around 8pm.
When crews arrived they found that the fire started in a bedroom on the first floor but had quickly spread to much of the first floor. Nobody was in the house on arrival.
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It also caused smoke damage to the ground floor and neighbouring homes. Two people required treatment for smoke inhilation.
The homeowner told the Stray Ferret last night that the fire started in her son’s bedroom while she was downstairs celebrating her birthday. She said she did not know what caused the fire.
Crews used breathing apparatus, three hose reel jets, 45mm jet, delta lance, triple extension ladder, lighting and thermal imaging camera to put out the fire.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue attended last night.
They evacuated neighbouring properties, cordoned off the area and advised people to avoid the area while they were dealing with the incident.
Now North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue has confirmed that it is investigating the cause of the fire.
Neville Scott, red watch manager at Harrogate fire station, told the Stray Ferret last night that:
“It had the potential to be a very serious incident and spread to other properties because it was a terraced house.
“But the firefighters were able to prevent that.”
The home had a smoke alarm and the fire service said it was a reminder of how important it is to have a working fire alarm in all homes.
Starbeck home owner ‘absolutely devastated’ after fireA woman in Starbeck says she is “absolutely devastated” after a serious fire at her home tonight.
The owner of the house, who did not wish to be named, told the Stray Ferret the fire started in her son’s bedroom while she was downstairs celebrating her birthday.
She said she didn’t know how it started but she was “absolutely devastated”.
The house had only recently been redecorated.
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Neville Scott, red watch manager at Harrogate fire station, said:
“It had the potential to be a very serious incident and spread to other properties because it was a terraced house.
“But the firefighters were able to prevent that.”
Homes evacuated in Starbeck due to fire
Homes have been evacuated in Starbeck as firefighters battle a blaze that broke out this evening.
Two people are being treated for smoke inhalation but there are no reports of any further injuries at this time.
The fire, in Avenue Grove, was reported to North Yorkshire Police at about 8.20pm tonight.
The area has been cordoned off.
A police statement said:
“Members of the public are advised to avoid the area while emergency services deal with the incident.”
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Plans to open a new micropub called the Office Ale House in Starbeck have fallen through.
IT consultant Kevin Jones previously said he hoped to get the venue at 67d High Street up and running by May, subject to planning permission.
He applied for a change of use planning permission on September 22, but nearly six months later Harrogate Borough Council was still to consider the application.
Mr Jones said the landlord of the building has now decided to offer the building to a different tenant.
He said he was “seriously upset about it” and criticised the council’s planning department:
“Starbeck has lost what would have been a community asset.”
“Now all the money I have spent on it has been wasted.”
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A council spokesperson blamed the covid pandemic for the delay:
“We would normally endeavour to determine an application for a change of use within eight weeks. This can sometimes take longer should revisions to a scheme be needed and/or further information required.
“But, like all local authorities, the planning application process was disrupted considerably last year due to the on-going global pandemic and the numerous lockdown and social distancing measures introduced.
“Once remote meeting were introduced, along with government measures for carrying out the planning process safely, we have successfully reinstated this process. However, as a result of the aforementioned issues, some application decisions are taking longer to determine.”
A different building on Starbeck High Street will be turned into a pub called the Waiting Room, after Harrogate Borough Council’s licensing sub-committee granted it a licence to sell alcohol last month.
The premises was previously occupied by Greenalls and Your Factory Bed Shop.
Harrogate dentist drops plans to stop NHS servicesA Harrogate dentist has dropped plans to stop providing NHS services after patients raised concerns.
Chatsworth House Dental Clinic proposed in August transferring NHS patients to Starbeck Dental Centre.
The provider never made a formal approach to the NHS and has now confirmed it has no intention to stop the service.
The owners of Chatsworth House Dental Clinic said in a statement to the Stray Ferret:
“At the time, the practice was merely seeking opinion from our patient base about the possible merging of NHS services with another practice in the locality.
“We decided not to pursue this any further after feedback from our patients and the logistics of such a proposal.
“We have no intention of ceasing NHS services and the practice is fully committed to providing NHS services for the long-term future at its current location.”
The decision surprised the management team at Starbeck Dental Centre, which was set to take on the NHS contract.
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Jonathan Campbell, group operations manager at Starbeck Dental Centre, said:
“I can confirm that the transfer to Starbeck Dental Centre is not happening following the unexpected withdrawal from the owners of Chatsworth House Dental Clinic.
“At Target Dental Group our aim is to provide the best possible care to the patients to both NHS and private patients of Harrogate and surrounding areas.”
Investigation into NHS dentist provision in Harrogate district
It comes after an investigation by the Stray Ferret found that just two NHS dentists in the Harrogate district are currently accepting patients and they have a waiting list of at least two-and-a-half years.
We looked into the availability of free NHS services at the 18 district dental practices listed on the NHS website.
Many have not updated their information for years. But they all fall into one of three categories: they have a long waiting list; they have such a long waiting list that they are not taking on new patients; or they no longer hold an NHS contract.
Of the 18 practices, only MyDentist in Knaresborough and AW Jones Dental Practice in Boroughbridge are taking patients — with waiting times of two-and-a-half years and three years respectively.
Harrogate Railway FC raises £2,000 for school defibrillatorHarrogate Railway FC has generated almost £2,000 for a defibrillator at Starbeck Primary Academy and sports equipment at Hookstone Chase primary school.
To raise the money, the club spent two years organising events, including Halloween and Christmas parties.
In total, the club raised £950, which was match-funded by Barclays Bank, taking the amount raised to £1,900.
Railway’s juniors recently made Harrogate High School their new home base.
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Railway’s youth chairman Lee Holmes paid tribute to Rob Warren, Claire Hayden, and Jenny Vincent for their efforts organising fundraising events.
He said:
“We’re big on giving back to the community and we do as much as we can for our local schools.”
“Starbeck is a really close-knit, fantastic community.”
New Starbeck bar granted alcohol licence
A new bar is set to open in Starbeck after Harrogate Borough Council’s licensing sub-committee granted it a licence to sell alcohol.
Robert Thompson, director of Appetite for Life, hopes to have The Waiting Room open in May, covid restrictions permitting.
The building at 34 High Street was previously occupied by Greenalls and Your Factory Bed Shop, but has stood empty for some time. The name of the bar ties in to its location near Starbeck railway station.
Mr Thompson told the committee this morning that he hopes the bar will attract a different clientele to the nearby Prince of Wales pub.
He said:
“We see Starbeck as an up and coming area that lacks a high-quality, modern hospitality venue. We want to change that through an investment of up to £100,000.”
Appetite for Life’ already runs a number of bars in the Harrogate district including the So Bars in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon, and the Tap on Tower Street.
The bar will also sell coffee from 7am Monday to Saturday and from 9am on Sunday, with a deli counter open during each day. It will close at 11.30pm Monday to Wednesday and 00.30am during the rest of the week.
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Starbeck is currently served by one pub, the Prince of Wales, plus two clubs.
However, the high street could see the addition of a second new bar called The Office Ale House, which submitted plans to Harrogate Borough Council last year.
Owner Kevin Jones told the Stray Ferret that he is confident that Starbeck is big enough for the two new venues, and thinks covid has highlighted how important pubs are for local communities.
Starbeck set to get new micropubDrinkers in Starbeck could soon be spoilt for choice with the opening of a new micropub called The Office Ale House.
IT consultant Kevin Jones, who has had experience running pubs in the past, said he hopes to get the venue on 67d High Street up and running by May, subject to planning permission and covid rules.
It would be another addition to Starbeck’s high street after plans were unveiled last week for a bar at the former Greenalls carpet shop at the high street’s junction with Spa Lane.
Kevin told the Stray Ferret that The Office Ale House will be in the vein of smaller hostelries such as Blind Jack’s in Knaresborough which specialises in cask ale, bottled craft beer, and the best from local breweries.
He said:
“I believe Starbeck needs it and covid has made us all desperate for human interaction.”
Kevin Jones.
Kevin says he is confident that Starbeck is big enough for the two new venues, and thinks covid has highlighted how important pubs are for local communities.
He added:
“I’m not worried about covid. I think it’s shown us we have to get out and socialise. I want somewhere where people can get off the train, have a couple of pints and a chat.”
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If approved by Harrogate Borough Council, the pub will be open seven days a week from 12pm to 9pm. It will also be dog friendly.
Starbeck is currently served by one pub, the Prince of Wales, plus two clubs.
The Henry Peacock closed in 2012 and has now been demolished and replaced with retail units.
New bar could open in former Starbeck carpet shopStarbeck could have an addition to its high street if planning permission is approved to open a new bar.
Local pub company Appetite for Life is planning to open its eighth bar at the former Greenalls carpet shop at the junction with Spa Lane.
It already runs a number of bars in the Harrogate district including the So Bars in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon, and the Tap on Tower Street.
The owners said they hope to be open in May if covid restrictions are eased and that the new venue will offer something for everyone, including live music.
The building, 34 High Street, was previously occupied by Greenalls and Your Factory Bed Shop, but has stood empty for some time.
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Robert Thompson, director of Appetite for Life, hopes to open a brand new “quality independent cafe bar” called The Waiting Room, tying in to its location near Starbeck railway station.
If all plans are approved, the space will become a licensed craft beer and coffee shop, with a deli counter open during the day. At night the owners say it will have more of a bar feel.
Mr Thompson said it will have a modern feel which he hopes will appeal to people from across the district and create a buzz in Starbeck, adding:
“We have had Starbeck in our sights for a long time. We see it as a bustling, up-and-coming area within Harrogate that offers a vibrant retail, commercial and residential market for us to expand in.
“We feel that there is an opportunity to open a quality independent cafe bar and really add to the development of Starbeck.”
If approved, the plans will see the unit returned to one open space with the removal of a partition wall. An area to the rear will also be converted into a storage room from a bathroom.
Mr Thompson’s application for an alcohol and music licence will be heard by Harrogate Borough Council next week. An application has also been submitted for a change of use of the building from a shop to a restaurant/cafe and take-away.