October 2023 Newsletter
October seems to have gone by in a flash, but what a successful month it has been!
Firstly, we are thrilled to have won a gold award at the RHS Britain in Bloom finals on Monday 23rd October for our Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration campaign! This was only ever a pipe dream around three years ago so we couldn’t be happier. A huge thank you to all of the organisations involved.
The first Harrogate Music Weekender was another success for October, with over 15 venues and 30 live music events across the weekend. Thank you to everyone who got involved to make the inaugural event a success and to everyone that attended. We hope you enjoyed the events as much as we did, whether it was DJ Mark Green, Singo Bingo or any of the superb acts in town centre venues. It was a great showcase of the Harrogate music scene and we look forward to an even bigger event next year!
Christmas planning is now well underway, our colleagues from Visit Harrogate have shared the plans for Christmas in the town with our members at the October BID Club at Hotel Du Vin, if you couldn’t make it, please do get in touch with the BID team for more information. We are also excited to share that the Christmas lights will be switched on, on Thursday 16th November in the town centre.
Finally, entries for the Christmas Shop Window Competition are now open. We are pleased to be partnering with the Rotary Club of Harrogate once again for the renowned competition, find out more information and how to enter below.
As always, thank you for your continued support. If you wish to discuss anything, please reach out to myself or the BID team.
Yours sincerely
Dan
Dan Siddle
BID Chair
Harrogate Music Weekender
That’s a wrap! The first Harrogate Music Weekender proved to be a huge success. The campaign saw three days of live music events across town centre venues in an aim to increase footfall and spend at a typically quieter time of year for our hospitality businesses before the Christmas rush. It was great to see so many venues get on board. A huge thank you to everyone that got involved.
Here is some footage from the weekend – https://youtu.be/3Ju2OZB4INo
Plans for Christmas
Thursday 26th October saw the Christmas BID Club with Visit Harrogate who shared the exciting plans for this year’s festive season in the town. This year will see the return of the Harrogate Christmas Fayre for an extended period from 1st – 17th December, the Candy Cane Express and the ice rink and other attractions at Crescent Gardens. A new addition will be the open-top bus experience which will give visitors a greater access to attractions and businesses across the duration of the Christmas Fayre. Please visit Your Christmas starts in Harrogate – Visit Harrogate for more information.
Harrogate BID are excited to share that the Christmas lights in the town centre will be switched on, on Thursday 16th September. As previous years, there will be no official switch on event and a ‘soft switch-on’.
Harrogate BID are also proud to be sponsoring the North Pole Post Office at Harrogate International Festival Box Office, where children of all ages can drop off their letter to Father Christmas in the lead up to Christmas. The North Pole Post Office will be open from Thursday 16th November.
The Father Christmas Experience with Enchantica’s, that Harrogate BID also proudly sponsor, will be returning for a third year running at the Cedar Court Hotel, beginning on Saturday 2nd December.
Tickets for the Father Christmas Experience are on sale now, it isn’t one to be missed! Buy tickets here Harrogate Father Christmas Experience (enchanticas.co.uk)
Britain in Bloom Awards Success
Harrogate BID is funding free parking to give town centre retailers an Autumn boost before the busy Christmas period. Visitors heading into town from Monday 19th – Sunday 15th October, will be able to park free of charge from 4pm (until close, Monday – Wednesday 11pm and Thursday – Sunday midnight) in the Jubilee Multi-Storey Car Park.
The free car parking campaign also aims to support three great events that are happening across that week in the town centre; Harrogate BIDs Harrogate Music Weekender, Visit Harrogate Restaurant Week and Harrogate Theatre Comedy Festival.
Corporate Gift Card Offer!
Are you already thinking of ways to reward your employees this Christmas? Why not give the gift of Harrogate? The Harrogate Gift Card is the perfect reward that keeps money locked into the local economy and is supported by over 100 businesses in Harrogate town centre.
We have a special offer for corporate orders…from 1st – 15th November, get 15% off bulk orders of over £250, with the code ‘HGT15’ (online sales only). Redeem the offer here
Harrogate Soccer Aid
Harrogate Soccer Aid is back for a second year and is taking place on Wednesday 1st November from 5:30pm at Rossett Sports Centre. This year Harrogate BID are raising funds for our close colleague and friend David Simister, who suffered a life changing stroke earlier this year. We are raising money to go towards equipment for David.
Please do come and support the teams, which are made up of local businesses in Harrogate. We are also hosting a drinks/trophy reception at the Cold Bath Brewing Clubhouse which supporters are welcome to attend.
If you would still like to donate, please visit Crowdfunding to raise money for our close colleague and friend, David Simister. on JustGiving
Harrogate Christmas Shop Window Competition
Harrogate BID are excited to once again be partnering with the Rotary Club of Harrogate to organise and judging the Christmas shop window competition for 2023, which entries are now open for.
Participating businesses will have up until 8am on Tuesday 28th November to dress their windows, taking into consideration three key elements that the judges will be looking for: illumination, innovation and the Spirit of Christmas.
Shortlisting will take place on Tuesday 28th November and the judging will take place on the afternoon of Thursday 30th November at 3:30pm. The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday 7th December.
If you are a town centre business and would like to enter the competition or find out more information, please email info@harrogatebid.co.uk. As the number of entries is limited, these will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.
Anti-Social Behaviour Meetings
The previously delivered BID anti-social behaviour meetings are soon to merge with the returning Harrogate District Businesses Against Crime ‘Shopwatch’ meetings. Merging these meetings will ensure we have a consistent Police, CCTV and partner attendance alongside the most up to date figures and information.
The next meeting will take place at 8:30am on Friday 10th November in the Winter Gardens meeting room (near the rear entrance) and your place can be confirmed by emailing info@harrogatebid.co.uk.
Rossett Careers Fair
Rossett School’s annual Careers Fair is taking place on Wednesday 13th December from 9.30am – 1pm in Rossett Sports Centre, Pannal Ash Road Harrogate HG2 9JP.
The event is a chance for students to find out what local companies and organisations have to offer, and for businesses to build their local talent pipeline by engaging with and inspiring students aged 11 to 18.
Students are encouraged to talk to a variety of employers, gain an understanding of what their jobs entail, the different roles available, the qualifications they require, and the skills needed to be successful in today’s labour market. Students can ask any questions they may have, and are encouraged to do some research on the employers and providers attending the fair so that they can get the most out of the event.
If you would like to get in touch to promote your opportunities or to discuss collaborating with Rossett School in any way, please email wainwrighte@rs.rklt.co.uk.