NY Highways will start the £13.4 million Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) project on behalf of North Yorkshire Council, which is focused around Station Parade.

The scheme will improve access to Harrogate Train Station for pedestrians, cyclists and bus passengers, supporting more environmentally friendly travel options for learning and employment within the area.

The pedestrian route beneath the One Arch railway bridge will be renovated, creating a safer and more attractive link to the town centre.

Before work starts and throughout the scheme, the council will engage with businesses to provide information, explain how the works will be carried out and discuss any concerns they may have. This will include drop-in sessions and visiting businesses directly.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for highways and transport, Cllr Malcolm Taylor, said: “After almost six years in the pipeline, we welcome the start of this scheme which represents a significant investment in Harrogate town centre.

“Before and throughout the programme, we will be talking with local businesses to explain what is happening and listen to them.

“We understand that any scheme of this scale can raise questions, particularly around how it will affect trade, so those ongoing discussions are important.

“We will try and reduce disruption wherever possible, so we are starting the work in the New Year to avoid impacting businesses over the busy trading period.

“Local businesses are at the heart of Harrogate, and this project is to ultimately drive economic prosperity through improved access to employment and future investment, so we want to take businesses with us every step of the way.”

Harry Braid of Harrogate-based property investor and owners of The Exchange, Rushbond PLC, said: “As the new owners of The Exchange, we are delighted to see the ambitions of North Yorkshire Council, and the provision of substantial capital to improve the arrival experience and connections between the railway station and Harrogate town centre.”

Gary Millar of Sheet Anchor Evolve, which operates Victoria Shopping Centre, added: “We mark the gateway to Harrogate’s established retail centre, and we support this upgrade at a point that aligns perfectly with our own ambitions.

“We are particularly excited about plans for Station Square and look forward to the variety of events it will host in the coming years.

“Refreshing and diversifying the shopping experience by investing in our public realm is key to driving more footfall and supporting Harrogate’s fantastic retail offer.”

It is hoped that the scheme will be completed in autumn 2028.

The project is predominantly funded through the Government’s TCF, which is a major programme of transport infrastructure investment covering North Yorkshire and the Leeds City Region.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority is contributing £11 million, with a further £1.35 million from York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority and £1.05 million from North Yorkshire Council.

A total of £38 million was allocated to deliver the TCF schemes in Harrogate, Selby and Skipton. For full details, visit northyorks.gov.uk/tcf.

Built during Harrogate’s Victorian expansion as a leading spa destination, the property has operated as a hotel for well over a century. Occupying a prominent position on Ripon Road in the town centre, the hotel sits within walking distance of key local attractions, benefiting from a year-round mix of leisure, corporate, and conference guests.

The hotel features 135 en suite bedrooms alongside five dedicated function suites with capacity for up to 350 guests, holding an established reputation as a weddings, events, and conference venue. Its main dining room accommodates 350 diners while preserving original Victorian architectural features, supported by the Promenade Bar for drinks and light meals.

Set on a four-acre site with parking for over 100 vehicles, the grounds include a separate 10-bedroom Victorian house adjacent to the hotel, as well as a detached former garage and workshop with significant potential for redevelopment.

Christie & Co is marketing the property on behalf of James Dewar and Alistair McAlinden of Interpath, Joint Administrators of Strathmore Hotels Limited.

“Hotels of this size very rarely become available in the much sought-after spa town of Harrogate,” said David Lee, Regional Director – Hotels at Christie & Co. “The hotel trades at a good level presently and has huge scope to develop, including an extensive spa and leisure offering.”

The Cairn Hotel is offered on a long leasehold with approximately 70 years remaining on the lease, with offers invited in excess of £6,000,000. Further details are available online at christie.com.

During the month-long closure, the iconic Yorkshire venue underwent a full refresh. Regulars will notice a brand-new Bettys To-Go Hatch at the entrance, allowing garden visitors to grab picnic items and takeaway treats before exploring the grounds.

The tea room has also introduced table bookings at Harlow Carr, making it easier for families and afternoon visitors to guarantee a spot without waiting in long queues.

“We are delighted to be welcoming people back into our new look Bettys at RHS Harlow Carr,” said Graeme Sharp, Branch Manager at Bettys Harlow Carr. “We have a very unique location here on the edge of the RHS Garden, and we hope the changes we have made will enhance our customers’ experience of both our Café Tea Rooms and the Garden itself.”

Liz Thwaite, Head of Site at RHS Garden Harlow Carr, added: “Bettys has long been an important part of the visitor experience at RHS Harlow Carr, so we’re thrilled to see the new-look Café Tea Rooms unveiled, ready for the autumn season. With the garden looking particularly spectacular at this time of year, visitors can enjoy a fantastic day out, taking in the seasonal colour before relaxing and enjoying all that Bettys has to offer.”

Kicking off the series, The Ivy is paying tribute to the unmistakable sound, wit, and spirit of the Queen of Country herself. The national tour is visiting 26 restaurants across the UK and Ireland, combining live music celebrating Dolly’s iconic songbook with a dose of pure Nashville glamour, and the exact dates for Yorkshire have officially been revealed:

• The Ivy St Helen’s Square (York): Tuesday 29th September
• The Ivy Harrogate Brasserie: Thursday 1st October
• The Ivy Victoria Quarter Brasserie (Leeds): Tuesday 6th October

For £60 per person, guests can settle in for a specially created three-course menu accompanied by a side and a glass of Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Champagne.

The feast blends Ivy classics with plenty of tableside flair. To start, diners can choose between Steak Tartare with Toast, Hand-pulled Burrata with Olive and Sun-blushed Tomato Tapenade, a Whipped Feta, Fig and Candied Pecan Salad, or Gratinated Scallop and Prawns with truffle spinach and lobster velouté.

Mains feature a choice of Grilled Centre-Cut Fillet Steak with Brandy Peppercorn Sauce, Salmon Supreme and Caviar, Chicken Escalope Caesar, or Tableside Mafaldine Pasta served with artichoke, courgette, sun-blushed tomatoes, olives, and capers in a roasted red pepper sauce.

For a suitably showstopping finale, desserts include a Flambéed Crème Brûlée flamed right at the table, alongside signature Ivy favourites like the Chocolate Bombe, Half-baked Cookie, and Sticky Toffee Pudding topped with clotted cream and real gold flakes.

The Dolly Parton tribute marks the opening chapter of the A Night Of… series, which will run right through to 9th December with a line-up of other music legends set to be announced in the coming weeks. Tables are available to book online now while availability lasts.

Located on West Park overlooking the Stray, the dining spot has introduced a range of hearty options. Main courses include a game pie made with meat sourced from Yorkshire’s Sykes House Farm, served alongside crushed peas, aged pancetta, and port jus. Other seasonal additions feature an outdoor-reared pork chop with white bean, sage, roast tomato, and mustard jus, alongside braised oxtail with horseradish mash and confit shallot.

Seafood and vegetarian options have also been expanded. The menu features pan-roasted hake with roast baby potatoes, caper beurre noisette, and samphire, alongside plant-based alternatives like roast celeriac with caramelised shallot, walnut, hispi cabbage, and pickled pear. Small sharing plates include braised ox cheek, wood pigeon breast with parsnip purée, prawn cocktail croquettes, and Togarashi squid.

“Autumn is a great time of year to cook because you can really lean into those deeper, more comforting flavours,” said Mathew Casey, Head Chef at Three’s a Crowd. “We wanted this menu to feel familiar and approachable, but with plenty of detail and a few surprises throughout.”

Alongside the menu launch, Three’s a Crowd in Harrogate and its sister restaurant, CrowdedHouse in Leeds, have partnered with Save the Children. From September 2026, a discretionary £1 donation will be added to every guest bill across both venues to support the charity’s emergency relief and family assistance programs.

The festival acts as the build-up to the award-winning Thought Bubble Comic Convention, which opens its doors in Harrogate for a landmark 20th edition over the weekend of 14th and 15th November.

Highlights of the 2026 festival programme include An Evening with Kristyna Baczynski & Darryl Cunningham on Wednesday 11th November, celebrating Yorkshire non-fiction graphic novels, and a special launch event for new UK publisher Cosmic Lighthouse at Everyman Harrogate on Friday 13th November featuring sci-fi author Adrian Tchaikovsky.

Additional programming includes Leeds Libraries’ GIGS: How to Make a Worryingly Prescient Graphic Novel with Mark Mosedale and Si Smith, the annual Pints and Pencils social drawing night at Brew Society, and the academic Comics Forum focusing on the theme of welfare. On Friday 13th November, the festival will also team up with Diamond Comics UK for Free Comic Day, distributing thousands of all-ages comics through Leeds libraries.

Organisers have also announced over 25 new guest additions for the weekend convention at Harrogate, including The Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard, Eisner Award-winning author Jeffrey Brown, GLAAD winner Caspar Wijngaard, writer Al Ewing, and Thought Bubble co-founder Tula Lotay (Lisa Wood).

“For our twentieth festival, we wanted to nod to the past with some classic festival features that people know and love, while keeping things fresh with exciting launch events and new guest talks,” said Thought Bubble Festival Director Martha Julian.

For the third consecutive year, the council has received the maximum grant amount available through the national Chewing Gum Task Force. The scheme, established by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and administered by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, provides funding to clean pavements and install measures designed to discourage gum littering.

Waste and street scene teams will target busy hotspot locations across both towns. In previous years, the council deployed the grant funding to carry out pavement cleaning in Malton, Northallerton, Scarborough, and Selby.

Cllr Richard Foster, executive member for managing our environment, said: “Although most people dispose of their gum responsibly, it continues to spoil the appearance of high footfall areas and well-used public spaces. This additional funding will be used to expand our efforts and invest in more specialist equipment which can remove even the most stubborn gum.”

North Yorkshire Council is one of 50 local authorities across the country awarded funding in the latest round. Over the past four years, the Chewing Gum Task Force has distributed £6.46 million in grants, cleaning more than 4.15 million square metres of pavement and reducing gum littering by up to 86 per cent in targeted areas.

The expansion will see the creation of a boutique neighbourhood of nine energy-efficient, premium family homes in a highly sought-after location on the south-west edge of the town. With an estimated gross development value of approximately £5 million, the scheme will consist of a high-quality collection of three-, four-, and five-bedroom properties.

In keeping with modern environmental standards, every home within the new phase will feature solar panels and an electric vehicle charging point as standard. These sustainable additions are designed to help incoming homeowners significantly lower their energy bills while supporting low-carbon living.

Alongside the physical build, Newett Homes has committed £65,000 in planning contributions to support local infrastructure and community investment in the surrounding Harrogate area.

Will Newett, Chief Executive of Newett Homes, said: “Harrogate continues to see strong demand for high-quality family homes, particularly in established locations where opportunities for new development are increasingly limited. The acquisition of this site enables us to build on the success of the first phase of The Pastures and gives us the opportunity to deliver another collection of homes that reflects the expectations of today’s buyers.”

He added: “As a Yorkshire-based housebuilder, there is always a real sense of pride in delivering new communities within our heartland. Building close to home allows us to draw on our local knowledge and understanding of what buyers in the region are looking for, while continuing to invest in the places where we live and work.”

Construction on the new phase is scheduled to begin immediately. The homes have already been released for off-plan sales through local estate agent William H Brown, with the first residents expected to move in by February 2027. The entire development is slated for completion in May 2027.

Interested buyers looking for more information on available plots can contact the William H Brown Harrogate branch directly at 01423 502282.

The menu centres on elevated small plates intended to be mixed and matched across the table. Standout additions include Baked Feta with hot honey, Beef Brisket Tacos with gochujang, and Karaage Sticky Chicken. For those looking for something more substantial, large plates like Teriyaki Duck Breast and Roasted Aubergine with som tam join long-standing favourites like Pad Thai and Miso Salmon.

The innovation continues behind the bar with a revamped cocktail list featuring adventurous serves like the Banana Jungle Bird (using discarded banana peel rum) and the Hot Honey Bee with Patrón Silver. For wine enthusiasts, the bars are also introducing wine tasting flights, allowing guests to explore premium labels by the glass or carafe.

All Bar One also continues to champion the social brunch scene. Their Brunch Club Sharing Board for two is a highlight, with the option to upgrade to bottomless drinks. Selected bars will also feature the Saxy Bottomless Brunch, where a live saxophonist provides a jazzy backdrop to the weekend.

For those looking for a midweek treat, the popular Tapas Tuesday offers four small plates and a bottle of wine (or two cocktails) from £32, making it an affordable day-to-night destination for any occasion.

Reservations are now open at www.allbarone.co.uk.

The clinic offers advanced diagnostics for concerns including fatigue, hormones, fertility, and cardiovascular risk. This science-led model allows for earlier investigation and reassurance, aiming to identify potential issues before a person becomes symptomatic.

Founder Sam Naughton launched Cocoon in 2024 as a pregnancy and women’s wellness clinic. In a previous interview discussing how pregnancy after loss comes with anxiety, she spoke about her determination to create compassionate support for difficult healthcare journeys. Her decision to expand into cancer screening was further shaped by the personal loss of a loved one to cancer in their 40s.

Sam Naughton said “What began in 2024 as a pregnancy and women’s wellness clinic has naturally evolved into something much bigger. We are seeing more and more people who do not want to wait until something becomes a crisis before they are taken seriously. What makes this different is our ethos of science-led diagnostics, soul-led care. Losing somebody close to me to cancer made the need for earlier answers feel even more urgent.”

The leadership team is strengthened by Consultant Radiologist and Medical Director Dr Adam Culverwell and Clinic Director Kate Ward, who brings 27 years of NHS experience.

Dr Culverwell said “Earlier insight can make a meaningful difference, whether that is providing reassurance, identifying an issue that needs further investigation, or helping someone better understand their long-term health risks.”

Kate Ward said “For many people, understanding what is happening in their body can feel overwhelming. Our focus is on combining timely diagnostics with calm, compassionate care, so people feel supported, understood and confident in the next steps of their health journey.”

Visit www.Cocoon-Hgt.com for more information.