New Harrogate bars' courage and optimism in the Christmas run-up

Much-loved Harrogate restaurant offering a warm Christmas welcome to customers despite Tier 2 challenges

Footfall may also be back to its best levels for months but businesses which have reopened full of hope still face restrictions which are limiting their ability to trade.

Cafes such as the popular independent Baltzersen’s which now has an outlet in Knaresborough, as well as Harrogate, may be welcoming back customers for sit-down and takeaway service - and two news cafes Hustle & Co and Grön Kafé have just opened - but ‘Tier 2’ rules banning different households from mixing, combined with social distancing is impacting on potential revenue for a substantial number of businesses.

For bars which face the additional hurdle of having to serve a ‘substantial meal’ to every customer, the situation is even trickier.

The lights are still out on a number of bars in Harrogate, including the Harrogate Tap at the town’s railway station, Devonshire Tap House off Skipton Road and the Little Ale House on Cheltenham Crescent, though the latter is offering an online service.

But faith in the future of Harrogate town centre is being shown by a wave of new bars which have opened in the last week.

Hidden opened on The Ginnel at the weekend when local owners Louise and Jay Robertson-Rennard unveiled the new glittering bar which specialises in fresh delicious chef-made pizza.

Another Harrogate born-and-bred couple Josh Molloy and Ellena Stott recently launched Paradise Tap & Taco offering Mexican Street Food and rare or hard to find beers as a pop-up next door to Cold Bath Brewing Co on King’s Road.

Familiar faces from their days at Major Tom’s Social, Hoxton North and Rooster’s Brewing, they said: “We’re funded by a small Government “start up” loan, we don’t come from rich families or have ties to big chains, and we’ve opened in the face of adversity at the most difficult time for our industry in decades.

“We don’t have figures pre-Covid to compare to but our attitude is one of courage and optimism. We’re proud to be creating an accessible and enjoyable environment at a time of much negativity.”

Robert Thompson has reopened three of his seven independent bars, including his So! bars in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon. Even so, he says he is operating on only 40% of normal hours.

Mr Thompson said: “We are trading about 50% of last year, but a lot via our takeaway services such as Deliveroo etc, which is another blow, as we have to give these national companies 30% commission. We would rather people use our own app so2go.”

The owner of the district’s So! Bar chain has been linking up with leading Harrogate indie brewers Rooster’s this week.

Although the So! Street food offer ends its current run today, Thursday at the brewery’s socially-distanced tap room, Roosters’ commitment to serving customers is, if anything, being stepped up.

Located on Hornbeam Park in full view of its state-of-the-art brew plant, local owners, the Fozard family, have decided to open the Roosters Taproom seven days a week until Christmas Eve in a bid to boost their festive trade.

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