Read all about our activities in the last year in our annual report (click the link to download, or read below).
News
Knaresborough Visitors and Residents Survey
Chamber has worked with Renaissance Knaresborough and the Civic Society, supported by funding from the Shared Prosperity Fund, to commission a report that seeks to understand opportunities for tourism development in Knaresborough.
As a market town with great appeal for visitors, on whom many businesses rely, this data provides invaluable intelligence for future developments in the town. It also reflects the perspectives of local residents who also want our town to be a great place to live as well as visit.Downloads: –
Royal Proclamation by Knaresborough Town Crier
On Monday 6 May 2024 the Knaresborough Town Crier, Mark Hunter, joined hundreds of town criers from the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man to proclaim the first anniversary of the Coronation of King Charles the Third and Queen Camilla.
At 12 noon, Mark stood on the Knaresborough Market Cross to read out The Royal Proclamation below, which was specially written for the occasion and agreed with Buckingham Palace.
Mark, who is also the Director of Music at St John’s Church in Knaresborough, was delighted and honoured to be representing the town to make this historic proclamation.
He explained: “From Medieval times, the town crier has been a primary means of news communication with townsfolk – from Royal proclamations, local bylaws, market days, to adverts and important information. It is a profession I am extremely proud to belong to, and to be able to announce the first anniversary of the coronation of our King and Queen to the residents of Knaresborough is a real honour.”
Bruno Peek CVO OBE OPR, Pageantmaster of The Royal Proclamation said: “We feel it is so important to celebrate this first anniversary of the Coronation of His Majesty The King, and Her Majesty The Queen Camilla, as it is such a glorious occasion for the whole country, and would like to thank Jane Smith our Principal Town Crier, and all those other Criers throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, for taking part in this unique Proclamation at 12noon on May 6. God Save The King”.
For more information contact the Town Crier at towncrier@knaresboroughchamber.org .
Knaresborough Christmas Market – 2 & 3 December 2023
Knaresborough promises to offer visitors a Yorkshire Christmas experience to remember as its popular Christmas Market returns on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 December 2023. Centred around the imposing Christmas tree in the town’s historic Market Place, this traditional Yorkshire market is a firm favourite with residents and visitors alike.
Organised by Knaresborough & District Chamber, Knaresborough Rotary Club and Knaresborough Lions, the market opens at 10am on Saturday 2 December, when the town centre will be filled with almost 60 stalls selling seasonal goods, decorations, cards, gifts and the best of locally sourced produce. Hot roasted chestnuts, mulled wine and performances by a wide variety of local dancers, brass bands and choirs will add to the festive atmosphere, as shoppers browse the brightly lit stalls and local independent shops.
Elsewhere in the town visitors can take in the picturesque viaduct river view, explore Knaresborough’s Castle grounds and Tudor Courthouse museum and visit the stunning Christmas Tree festival at St John’s Parish Church or Mother Shipton’s Christmas Experience (pre-booked tickets only).
As always, the market weekend will close at 4.30pm on Sunday 3 December with a fantastic firework finale, set against the dramatic backdrop of Knaresborough’s famous viaduct and the Nidd Gorge. This is best seen from any viewpoint which overlooks the river area. This year’s firework display is generously sponsored by Drakes Fisheries and 1858 Bar & Restaurant, where there is an after party on the Sunday night.
The centre of Knaresborough is largely pedestrianised for the event, but a free Park and Ride is available all weekend from the GSPK car park (HG5 8LF) on Manse Lane to Chapel Street, close to the market square.
For more information and entertainment timings, visit the event website at www.knaresboroughchristmasmarket.co.uk.
Knaresborough Banking Hub – Location Confirmed
Knaresborough Banking Hub location confirmed
Cash Access UK, the organisation set up to protect nationwide access to cash, is delighted to confirm that the new Banking Hub in Knaresborough will be located at 15 Kirkgate, Bowling Green Yard, Knaresborough, HG5 8AD.
The Hub, when it opens, will offer a counter service operated by the Post Office, where customers of all major banks and building societies can carry out regular cash transactions, It will also offer a Community Banker service where customers can talk to their own banking provider about more complicated issues, Monday to Friday, 9.00 – 5.00pm. Community Bankers will work on rotation, with a different bank or building society available on each day of the week. They are usually provided by the banking providers with the most customers in the local area. A schedule will be confirmed nearer the time.
Finding the right location for a Banking Hub that is convenient, accessible and works for everyone often takes time, so this development is a significant and positive step forward.
The team at Cash Access UK are now working hard to fit out the new premises and will update the community on progress and confirm an opening date as soon as they can. The Knaresborough Banking Hub page on the Cash Access UK website will provide updates as works progress.
Gareth Oakley, CEO at Cash Access UK said: “We know the new Banking Hub has been eagerly anticipated by the local community and so we’re delighted we’ve now been able to secure a fantastic location for you in the heart of the community. This brings us a significant step closer in being able to deliver improved access to cash services to individuals and businesses in Knaresborough”.
What services will I be able to do at the new Banking Hub?
You will be able to:
- Withdraw cash
- Deposit cash and cheques
- Make balance enquiries
- Pay utility bills
- Talk to a Community Banker from your own bank about managing your account, payments and transfers, getting online – and many other things too.
Will my bank provide a Community Banker?
Cash Access UK will be able to tell you nearer the time which banking providers will provide a Community Banker. Ten firms are supporting the Hubs in the UK:
Bank of Ireland, Barclays, Danske Bank, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide Building Society, NatWest Group, Santander, TSB, Virgin Money
Community Bankers are usually provided by the banking providers with the most customers in the local area. Please check the Hub window or the Cash Access UK website to find out which day your bank will be in the Hub.
Which services are available for local businesses?
Business customers are welcome to use the counter services. These include cash withdrawals, cash and cheque deposits and other cash services such as floats and coinage.
Who can use the Banking Hub?
Personal and business customers can use the Hub. Customers of all major banks and building societies can use the counter service, and you can speak to a Community Banker on the day your bank is in the Hub.
When will the new Banking Hub be open?
The team at Cash Access UK are now working hard to fit out the new premises. They will confirm an opening date as soon as they can and regular updates will be provided through the Cash Access UK website.
Who are Cash Access UK?
Cash Access UK is owned and funded by ten of the UK’s biggest banking providers: Bank of Ireland, Barclays, Danske Bank, HSBC UK, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide Building Society, NatWest Group, Santander, TSB and Virgin Money. These firms have come together to provide shared services available to all their customers.
Knaresborough Party in the Castle – 24 June 2023
Get your picnic rugs ready for a free community screening of the BBC coverage of Glastonbury Festival in Knaresborough Castle grounds on Saturday 24 June 2023 (5pm – 11pm).
House rules:
- Please bring your own low backed chairs or picnic blankets
- There will be no food and drink concessions on site, so please bring your own food and drink and remember to support local where you can
- All children under 18 need to be accompanied by an adult
- Clean up after yourselves – bins and bin bags will be provided
- Please respect the town’s historic Castle grounds and its neighbours so that we can continue to host more free community events like this in the future
A big thank you to the fantastic local community, businesses and volunteers who have pulled together to help these free Party in the Castle community events happen and to North Yorkshire Council for their grant funding support.
NOTE: THIS EVENT IS NOT ENDORSED BY OR AFFILIATED WITH THE BBC OR GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL
Chamber ‘Dress Up’ Competition Winner – June 2022
Congratulations to the winners of our recent Jubilee Dressup Competition. We had lots of great entries, but we really liked the innovative nature of Amanda and Joanna’s ‘Trooping the Colour’. They even had their own trainer!
Amanda, one half of the winning horse ‘Betsy’ commented
‘We’re so pleased that the Chamber appreciated our mad idea. It was a hot day to be wearing a horse’s head, but worth every minute when we saw people’s reaction’
Co-winner Joanna and her husband Max, who moved to Knaresborough in March, would love a shout out to the wonderful community spirit and the local businesses who have blown them away with their welcome and customer service since they moved here, including Huttons, Appletons, Wild Thing, Perfect Nails, Fred Browns and Kelly Teggin Hair and Beauty. Hopefully they will choose to spend their £50 winnings in one of Knaresborough’s fantastic local businesses!
When not dressed as a horse, Joanna works for the organisers of the new Marco Pierre White Food Festival, which is coming to Harrogate at the end of October to celebrate the great Yorkshireman’s 45th year in catering.
We ran our ‘Dress up for Jubilee’ competition in honour of the Queen’s upcoming Platinum Jubilee. Entrants were asked to upload a photo of themselves or their team in their best 1950’s or Jubilee themed outfit using #knaresboroughjubileedressup and tag in @knaresboroughct. There was a £50 cash prize for the lucky winner. The person uploading the photo had to have the consent of anyone featured, or their parent or guardian if under 18.
The competition launched on Monday 30 May 2022 and closed on Monday 6 June 2022. See full terms and conditions below.
There were also various community events taking place over the Jubilee Bank Holiday period, including a children’s flag making workshop, a flag parade through the town, an artisan market in the Market Place, 1950’s themed Garden Party and live entertainment in the grounds of Knaresborough House and a dog show on St John’s Church field. You can find out more by joining the official Knaresborough Jubilee Facebook group or following the Platinum Jubilee Facebook Page.
Dress up for the Jubilee Competition Terms and Conditions
Promoter: Knaresborough Chamber of Trade & Commerce, c/o 8 York Place, Knaresborough, England, HG5 0AA
Opening and closing date: The competition will launch on Monday 30 May 2022 and close at 11.59pm on Monday 6 June 2022.
How to enter: The competition is open to any person or organisation in the HG5 postcode area who uploads a photo to Twitter, Facebook or Instagram of themselves or their team in 1950’s or Jubilee fancy dress, using the hashtag #greatknaresboroughdressup. The person uploading the photo must have the consent of anyone featured, or their parent or guardian if under 18.
The Promoter accepts no responsibility for entries which are not successfully registered, or which are delayed, due to a technical fault, technical malfunction, computer hardware or software failure, satellite, network or server failure of any kind.
Prizes: There is one cash prize of £50, as stated.
Winner selection: One winner will be drawn by a panel of judges from all valid entries within 10 working days of the closing date.The judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into, except with the winner(s). The winner may be asked to participate in publicity following selection.
Notification: The winner will be notified by the promoter using the details displayed on their social media account, or if necessary via Direct Message or the contact section of their business website. If the winner fails to respond to the notification within 14 days of receipt, the prize will be awarded to the runner up. The winner should allow 28 days from responding to the promoters notification for delivery of their prize.
Winners details: The winners details (name or company only) will be available 28 days from the competition closing date for a period of 6 weeks by sending a SAE requesting the information to c/o 8 York Place, Knaresborough, England, HG5 0AA.
Agreement to terms and condition: entry to this competition constitutes acceptance of these terms and conditions and an agreement to be bound by them.
Withdrawal of competition: The promoter reserves the right to withdraw, cancel, suspend this competition or amend these terms and conditions without prior notice and without liability to any party if it becomes necessary to do so.
Knaresborough Trading Conditions Survey – May 2022
A recent survey undertaken by Knaresborough Chamber of Trade suggests that the town may be bucking the national trend. 3 out of 4 traders said that conditions were either the same or better than pre-COVID suggesting that all the efforts to support local during the pandemic are bearing fruit. However, they also reported growing pressures on costs of both stock and overheads, which were the top concerns of traders impacting on profitability.
Chamber Committee member Charlotte Gale says “whilst we’re obviously pleased that most traders in Knaresborough are positive about current conditions there is also a real concern about the impacts of rising prices for both business costs and people’s spending power over coming months.”
When asked what would further support recovery Traders said that most effort should be put into encouraging existing and new residents from the town’s local housing developments to continue to shop local. This message was part of the joint initiative between Chamber and Knaresborough Connectors, the Lions and Rotary with the ‘Welcome to Knaresborough’ booklet distributed free to all new residents.
Peter Lacey, another Chamber Committee member, says “everybody in the town wants to see a thriving business community for convenience, recreation, jobs and ensuring an attractive visitor experience. It’s only by working together in that goal that we can weather whatever the cost of living crisis sends out way.”
Some of the comments by traders in the survey responses reflect the cautiously optimistic mood reflected in the survey.
“We need to keep working on making the High Street tidier.”
“The recent Spring Fair was brilliant because it supported business and didn’t compete with them.”
“Never seen Knaresborough so busy its fantastic. Town is buzzing”
Chamber attends Knaresborough Voice workshop – April 2022
Chamber is part of a group of community organisations that are exploring key issues relating to the future reorganisation of local government.
A recent event organised by Chain Lane Community Hub and Knaresborough Connectors, but involving about a dozen other town groups, reviewed findings from several recent local surveys to identify areas where working together could bring positive change. Charlotte Gale attended the three hour workshop on behalf of Knaresborough Chamber, with Peter Lacey also chairing the event.
The group includes members of the new Town Council, so we’ll hopefully be singing from the same hymn sheet as a town when discussing what responsibilities we wish to see devolved from the new Unitary Authority from April 2024.
There were also other matters of significance for local businesses which came out of the recent surveys. These included attracting businesses that could fill town centre gaps and in encouraging more people from the town and surrounding areas to use the centre for shopping and recreation. Chamber will continue to play a key role in these discussions going forward.
You can find out more about this initiative at www.knaresboroughvoice.org.uk.
Chamber Knaresborough Banking and ATM Update – 2022
The loss of all seven banks and building societies, as well as all but two of Knaresborough’s town centre ATMs, had a significant impact on the town. Not only due to loss of local amenities, but also reduced footfall and other challenges for the local business community.
Knaresborough Chamber campaigned against banking closures and more recently has worked with local councillors to help address the needs of local businesses and work towards solutions to the town’s banking problems.
Current banking projects include a multi-bank Banking HUB, the re-instatement of a Market Place ATM and a community branch of Newcastle Building Society in the library. Both the Banking HUB and Newcastle Building Society projects will include provision for the business community.
Newcastle Building Society are also looking to recruit staff to join their Knaresborough team. For more information, visit https://www.newcastle.co.uk/careers.
