New guide to promote some of Harrogate's best spots for food and drink

Harrogate's food and drink sector is set to be showcased in a new guide as part of efforts to attract new visitors to the district.
Visit Harrogate is currently mounting a campaign to draw one million more visitorsVisit Harrogate is currently mounting a campaign to draw one million more visitors
Visit Harrogate is currently mounting a campaign to draw one million more visitors

Copies of Eat:Drink Harrogate are expected to be available from mid-May and will showcase more than 60 restaurants, cafes, bars and producers across Harrogate.

Visit Harrogate is currently mounting a campaign to draw one million more visitors by 2020,.

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Richard Spencer, CEO of Visit Harrogate, said the sector was already a major draw for tourists.

He said: “There are many great reasons to visit Harrogate but we have noticed in recent years the significant growth in the value of our eating and drinking market which now exceeds £75m.

“Coming here to enjoy our hospitality is as important to our visitors as our shopping experiences.

“It’s also important to our visitor economy that employs over 7,000 people.”

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In the forward to the guide Mr Spencer also stated that figures from Visit Britain showed that of those visiting the district on business close to 90 per cent said they would return as a tourist, ahead of destinations including London and Edinburgh.

Harrogate has the UK’s 12th largest number of high scoring restaurants in Harden’s 100 Best Restaurants ranking.

Alongside interviews with owners and staff, the guide’s list covers offerings across the town ranging from Betty’s to chains such as Las Iguanas

Ruth Hampson of Bean and Bud on Commercial Street, which features in the guide, welcomed the opportunity to showcase the variety of independent offerings in Harrogate.

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She said: “I think this will be really good, especially for independent food businesses in Harrogate and there are quite a few of us here. This will be putting us back on the map and encouraging people to try them out.”

She added: “Once the guide is available I am sure it will help to bring people into the town and show them where to go. Following the recent Tour de Yorkshire there will be a lot of visitors and anything to capitalise on that would be fantastic.”

The guide, which will be free, is the first in an annual series.