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18
Sept 2020
Outdoor tables set to remain at The Empress
Harrogate Borough Council appears to have withdrawn its threat to remove tables and chairs outside The Empress.
More than 3,000 people in a week signed a petition by owners Simon and Sharon Colgan calling on the council to reverse its decision.
The Colgans say they now only needed to reduce the distance between the outside tables and chairs, while still adhering to two metre social distancing guidelines.
The couple have also been told to remove tables and chairs from outside The Blues Bar, which they also own but that situation remains under review.
Read more:
- More than 2,000 call for council to leave tables outside Harrogate bars
- Harrogate council threatens to remove tables from outside bars
The council had given both pubs one week to remove all of their tables and chairs over fears they could damage the Stray.
Ms Colgan told the Stray Ferret the latest development was good news for her workforce and for customers:
The Stray Ferret approached Harrogate Borough Council for comment today but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
Update: A council spokesman said: “Following a positive meeting with the Empress public house, we have agreed to provide a temporary licence that allows them to use an area outside to maintain social distancing.”
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