Why the high street in Harrogate is still in a 'fragile state' despite return of shoppers

Harrogate BID unveils new board and says 'our job has only just begun' in battle to support town centre

Last Saturday, in particular, saw more families on the streets amid the twinkle of the town’s new Christmas lights in the retail heart of Harrogate than at almost any time since the Covid pandemic began.

Whether this is enough on its own, is another matter.

Harrogate businesses are giving it everything to tempt shoppers back and are still hoping that the few weeks before Christmas will make up for lockdown losses built up over many months.

Customers are coming back to the town’s independents whom many argue will play a key role in the future shape of the town centre.

But the picture remains patchy and the need for the public to shop locally is as great as ever as recent national news of more retail closures showed.

Support from readers for the Harrogate Advertiser’s #supportourindies campaing continues to flood in and traders themselves are trying to remain upbeat.

Sara Ferguson, Harrogate BID’s acting chair, said: “It was great to see the town busy at the weekend and footfall is certainly returning.

"But the reality is it won’t be until at least Easter that we are finally able to live and work without the fear of coronavirus.”

William Woods, chairman of prestigious Woods linen shop of Harrogate which is celebrating 125 years, said though things were going well on his particular street, he was worried about the town as a whole.

Mr Woods said: “Prince Albert Row appears to be thriving, especially with the opening of Hustle and Co cafe, and we are lucky to still be attracting customers from all over the north via online or by phone.

“But there is no doubt the high street in Harrogate is in a very fragile state, suffering from the affects of Covid and online competition.”

Despite the ray of light promised by the start of the rollout of a vaccine against the virus this week, the problem for weeks and, possibly, months to come is that the new rules of Tier 2 appear to be having just as damaging affect on some Harrogate businesses as was predicted.

It was expected that some smaller bars would be unable to reopen but restrictions of social distancing mean even such an iconoic Harrogate shop as Cordings country wear has taken the decision not to reopen this time round.

But the most damaging handicap facing Harrogate hasn’t been the ‘substantial meal’ rule which has hit pubs unable to offer food but, ratther, restrictions on households mixing.

It is this specific ‘Tier 2’ rule which has served so far to undermine the hospitality sector right across the board.

Independent cafes such as Bean & Bud on Commercial Street run by Phil and Helen Dolby report things being “quiet” so far.

Phil Dolby said: “The problem is a combination of people being very careful before Christmas, some people not knowing the rules, people shopping online and lousy weather.

“We are certainly not back to normal, and it doesn’t feel like we’re out of the woods yet.”

Peter Woolrich, the owner of Cold Bath Deli on Cold Bath Road, was succinct in his analysis saying “as long as the community continues to support us, we will do our upmost to keep going”.

As for Harrogate town centre’s future as it emerges from the shadow of Covid at some point next year, Mr Woods argues the town centre needs a complete change of direction.

Mr Woods said: “I believe there is a great future for Independents that focus on being unique,” he said.

“But I sincerely hope that Harrogate’s planning masterplan is looked at again otherwise it could have a very damaging affect on the town centre.”

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