More police in Harrogate as town gears up for busy night ahead

Harrogate enjoys busiest day in months as lockdown restrictions eased

Day time has seen four police patrols in separate parts of the town centre in what was a largely civilised rebirth for Harrogate's food and drink sector.

To the relief of one and all, fears of 'Super Saturday' being ruined by gatherings of drinkers failed to materialise in the afternoon.

But landlords the Harrogate Advertiser spoke to admitted the pinch point was likely to come later when evening levellers ventured out for their first Saturday night back at the pubs for four months.

Diners, drinkers and coffee fans could be in no doubt that life had not returned to complete normality despite the biggest easing of lockdown since March; the appearance of face masks made sure of that.

But behaviour was good in the first hours of reopening as businesses increased safety precautions for customers and pub-goers.

Here is how things look in Harrogate today as pubs and bars reopen

During a mostly cloudy, windy day which threatened but rarely delivered summer rain, there was a light but unmissable police presence in Harrogate town centre as part of North Yorkshire Police's general strategy for the district on this important day.

The atmosphere as the police were seen at the Crown Hotel area of town was relaxed with families strolling as if the months of lockdown had merely been a bad dream.

Meanwhile, anyone getting carried away enough by the reopening of the town's bars to step into a car faced road checks across North Yorkshire by police officers with breathalysers at the ready.

All concerned are hoping the civilised rebirth of Harrogate's food and drink sector lasts and there are no repeat of the scenes in the West Park run of bars last month.

Earlier today in the hours before reopening, Mick Wren, co-owner of Cold Bath Brewing Co bar on Kings Road expressed what many had been thinking at he start of the day.

Mr Wren said: "Will peoples drinking habits changed?

"Will they stick to the new rules after a few?

"Will people stay at home more for a drink now?

"To be honest, I have no idea how it’s going to go but we are looking forward to getting back to work."

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