Welcome to the September edition of the Harrogate BID newsletter.
September has been a particularly busy month for Harrogate BID, with the launch of our first Harrogate Action Days, continued work to keep the town looking its best and a range of events and initiatives supporting local businesses as we head into autumn.
Our first Harrogate Action Days have been a fantastic success. Over four days, businesses, volunteers, community groups and partners came together to carry out practical work across the town, from litter picking and street sweeping to weeding, cleaning and painting street furniture. We originally set a target of 80 volunteer hours, but thanks to the fantastic response we received, we achieved an incredible 180 hours.
It was particularly encouraging to hear positive comments from members of the public while the teams were out working, with many people stopping to thank volunteers and asking if we would be doing the Action Days again. The initiative was about more than the physical improvements – it was an opportunity to encourage civic pride and demonstrate what we can achieve when people come together to care for the place we all share.
Supporting businesses remains at the heart of our work. This month we’re bringing businesses, police and business crime experts together for our Fight Back Against Retail Crime event, giving businesses an opportunity to learn more about preventing and responding to retail crime, sharing information and working with partners.
We’ve also continued our work on the ground through our Street Ranger service, responding to issues around the town and helping keep Harrogate clean, welcoming and looking its best.
Looking ahead, we’re already preparing for the busy autumn and winter period, with Christmas preparations well underway and a programme of festive attractions and experiences taking shape across the town centre.
As always, our focus remains on delivering value for levy payers, supporting local businesses and ensuring Harrogate continues to thrive as a vibrant and welcoming destination.
If you have any feedback, ideas or would like to get involved with any of our projects, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch with the BID team at info@harrogatebid.co.uk.
Thank you for your continued support.
Yours sincerely,
Simon Midgley
Chair, Harrogate BID
Harrogate Action Days: 180 hours of volunteering
Over four days, businesses, volunteers, community groups and partners came together to give Harrogate a bit of a spruce-up – and we far surpassed our original target of 80 volunteer hours.
In total, we clocked up an incredible 180 hours of volunteering. Even with the weather cutting some of Friday and Saturday’s volunteering short, everyone put in a huge amount of time and effort.
Together, we got stuck into:
Litter picking and sweeping the streets
Weeding, deadheading and tidying planters
Painting bollards, lamp posts, railings and bicycle racks
Cleaning street furniture and bins
Clearing doorways and tidying areas around the town
A huge thank you to everyone who gave up their time to get involved and help make Harrogate look its best. It was brilliant to see so many people getting stuck in and working together, and we received lots of positive comments from members of the public while we were out around the town.
A big thank you to Starling for hosting us throughout all four days and keeping everyone fuelled along the way.
We’re already looking ahead to the next Harrogate Action Days. Keep an eye on our social media for details. Whether you’re a local business or an individual resident, everyone is welcome to get involved and help us keep Harrogate looking its best.
Gold for Harrogate at Yorkshire in Bloom
We’re pleased to share that Harrogate BID has been awarded Gold and named the category winner in the 2026 Yorkshire in Bloom Yorkshire Rose Town/City Centre/BID category.
The award recognises the work taking place across Harrogate to enhance the town centre and create a welcoming environment for residents, businesses and visitors.
This year, that has included our work with partners on floral displays and installations, as well as the wider improvements and initiatives taking place across the town centre.
We’d like to thank Helen James Flowers and Harrogate International Festivals for their support and collaboration, alongside the businesses, partners and BID team who help bring these projects to life.
It’s a fantastic recognition of the collective effort that goes into making Harrogate a place we can all be proud of.
Fight Back Against Retail Crime
Retail crime affects businesses of all sizes, from shoplifting and anti-social behaviour to the wider impact on staff and customers.
On Wednesday 30 September, we’re bringing retailers, police and business crime experts together at The Crown Hotel, Harrogate, for a free, practical session focused on what businesses can do to prevent and respond to retail crime.
You’ll hear from speakers including the National Business Crime Centre, North Yorkshire Police, ShopSafe, Sainsbury’s, Eboracum, Smoke Screen and Apex Radio Systems, alongside Harrogate BID.
The session will cover practical approaches to tackling retail crime, working with partners, sharing information and the support available to businesses.
Wednesday 30 September
11am–1pm
The Crown Hotel, Harrogate
Free to attend
Free cybersecurity event for local businesses
Cybercrime continues to pose a challenge for businesses of all sizes, so understanding the risks and knowing how to respond is increasingly important.
ASE Computers’ CyberShield Show 2026 takes place on Tuesday 13 October at Pavilions of Harrogate and is free to attend.
The event will cover current cybercrime threats, protecting your business, minimising disruption, what to do following an attack and the importance of staff awareness.
Confirmed speakers include Microsoft, Sophos and the Police Cyber Resilience Centre, with further speakers to be announced.
Last year’s event sold out, so businesses are encouraged to book their place.
Street Ranger update
Our Street Rangers have been busy around Harrogate, helping keep the town clean and looking its best as we head into autumn.
Following the recent high winds, they have been out around Royal Parade, clearing leaves that had gathered on pavements and in the gutters.
They have also been busy behind the Royal Pump Room Museum, where autumn leaves had collected along the pavements. After blowing and sweeping them away, Sam used the jet washer to give the pavements a thorough clean, making a real difference to the area outside The Place Harrogate.
Graffiti reported on the fire doors outside M&S was dealt with by Harrogate BID’s Street Rangers within 48 hours, with the doors repainted using two coats of specialist paint designed to provide up to eight years of protection.
The incident has also been reported to North Yorkshire Police, with investigations ongoing.
We’ll continue to respond to issues like this as quickly as possible to help keep Harrogate clean, welcoming and looking its best.
If you spot graffiti or other issues affecting the town centre, please report them to us so we can help get them addressed.
Upside Down Design arrives in Harrogate
We popped along to the opening of the new West Park shop to see what’s on offer – and there’s plenty to explore.
Having built a reputation in York since 2017 for its distinctive homeware and vintage-inspired pieces, Upside Down Design brings its colourful style to Harrogate, with everything from soft furnishings, tableware and candles to jewellery, beauty products, books and gifts.
The new shop also offers interior design advice and services, including room planning, made-to-measure curtains and blinds, cushions and upholstery.
The shop is now open, so pop into West Park and have a look at the colourful collection for yourself.
Adding colour to Harrogate’s streets
Over the course of the summer, we’ve funded the painting of a number of BT boxes around Harrogate by the incredibly talented mural artist Murals by Sarah.
The designs welcome visitors to Harrogate while celebrating the floral and spa heritage that makes our town so distinctive.
There are lots of little details to discover in each design, too. Our favourite is the one on Kings Road, outside the Harrogate Convention Centre and right next to the historic King’s Road Well.
The design takes inspiration from the artwork at the Royal Baths, Harrogate’s spa water and the serpents that feature throughout the town’s history and imagery. The nearby King’s Road Well is another reminder of Harrogate’s heritage as a spa town, when visitors came from far and wide to experience the town’s famous mineral waters.
Have you spotted the murals around town? Which one is your favourite?
Clintons Harrogate gets a new look
Clintons in Harrogate is getting a brand-new look as the store is rebranded.
To celebrate, the store is holding a special customer event on Saturday, 10th October from 9am.
The first 300 customers to spend £10 will receive a free goody bag, containing a tote bag, card, A4 stationery and a Popplin.
It’s a chance to visit the newly rebranded store, see the new look and pick up a few goodies along the way!
Clintons Harrogate
Saturday 10 October, from 9am
Terms and conditions apply.
We’re hiring – join the Harrogate BID team
We’re looking to recruit a Marketing & Communications Officer to join the Harrogate BID team.
We’re looking for a confident and creative communicator who can bring our work to life and help us tell the story of Harrogate town centre.
To apply or find out more information, please email info@harrogatebid.co.uk.