It's my wife's 40th next month and the 'girls' are going for some pamper session in the afternoon, leaving 6 blokes needing something to do in/around Harrogate.
I have been told no alcohol (fair call, I get drunk very easily and we are going out for a nice meal later). So - what to do? I am really quite stumped – only two of us have bikes so that's out and we can't travel too far as people are travelling from far and wide so won't be in Harrogate until early afternoon as it is, then we have plans from 7pm onwards anyway.
Inspire me!
Betty's.
Go and play on the swings in Valley Gardens. Make sure you ask permission from your wife first.
Brimham Rocks for a walk.
[url= http://www.turkishbathsharrogate.co.uk/Pages/home.aspx ]Get steamy together[/url].
Betty's.
The queue would sort 5 out of 6 hours 🙂
Mother Shipton's over in Knaresborough should kill a bit of time, I think you can still hire rowing boats and chance your luck on the Nidd in Knaresborough too.
Harrogate itself is a bit sh!t if you're not drinking from what I remember.
Wild Cats
Go to the Railway Museum in York...
Golf! is there a par 3 course anywhere?
A nice hilly walk?
Go ape type place?
Go Karts?
It was not a serious suggestion.
No-one in their right mind would queue for 4 hours to pay £10 for a scone.
Visit the Specialized store and finger some nice bikes? There's a Maplins and a decent cafe in the same parade of shops.
Go for a sauna?
How long do you actually have to kill?
Oh and do not go to mother shiptons. it's like someone wanted to make the world's most disappointing tourist attraction
You see. Nothing to do at all is there?
Brimham Rocks sounds like the best call so far – I could take our new puppy and one of the other guys has a dog too.
There's a paintball place back near the A1
The rowing boats in Knaresborough are pretty fun
Mooch round stif
Cinema?
there is a par 3 course - 6 holes http://www.ruddingpark.co.uk/golf/courses/repton-short-course/
and a bit at the driving range.
iiwy I'd leave the rest to sort themselves and take the bike. *grin* everyone should cycle!
massage with happy ending?
massage with happy ending?
They've stopped doing male only sessions at the Royal Baths for that very reason I believe 🙂
Oh and do not go to mother shiptons. it's like someone wanted to make the world's most disappointing tourist attraction
I'll admit, I've only ever been once, in the 70s on a school trip.
I'd offer up you all walk hand in hand along the Stray under the full blossom Cherry Trees.
It also has a McDonalds.
It also has a s****y bike shop up Cold Bath Road with a cafe, and huge TV screen where they stream all the Eurosport feeds (and more) It's called Prologue and 5mins walk from the Bath House.
But I think my hand in hand walks the best idea so far.
I'll admit, I've only ever been once, in the 70s on a school trip.
Nothing has changed.
Get absolutely mullered to show her who is the boss!
chemsex party? not technically alcohol
For something a little different, go to my uncle's (small) art gallery:
[url= http://www.mctague.co.uk/ ]http://www.mctague.co.uk/[/url]
Or go to my cousin's modern art gallery for something a little more edgy:
[url=http://] http://www.redhouseoriginals.com/ [/url]
Not sure if there are any events on at my cousin's gallery. It's always worth a look though, and I like the McTague one too, partly just the smell and the fact I always used to go there as a small child to see my uncle.
[url= http://www.karting-nation.co.uk/karting_in_/harrogate.asp ]Karting Nation - Indoor Kart Track[/url]
Or my preference:
[url= http://www.paintballyorkshire.co.uk/ ]Paintballing - spare clothes/showers/dirtworker may be required[/url]
Walk out through Valley gardens to RHS Harlow carr, stunning gardens, have a couple of pints on the walk back, a couple never hurt anyone. 8)
Go. To. The. Pub.
Bikebuoy - thank you and I know (I live in Harrogate!) I just can't think of anything that sounds remotely like a good idea for something to do that doesn't involve an afternoon in the newly opened North Bar or 10 Devonshire Place or Swan on the Stray or Old Bell Tavern or Coach & Horses or Tap 'n Spile.....
Walk out through Valley gardens to RHS Harlow carr, stunning gardens, have a couple of pints on the walk back, a couple never hurt anyone.
Or, as we live in Whinney Lane, we'd actually start at Harlow Carr, through the Pine Woods then exit Valley Gardens right next to Hale's Bar.
Then you've answered and covered all options..
Pub it is then 😆
You could go help the BIL on the Farms up on Lady Lane.. It's both Calving and Lambing season.......
....
We have spare wellies.
You could go help the BIL on the Farms up on Lady Lane
5 minutes from my house 🙂
Who puts up a thread asking for suggestions for things to do where they already live?
Fancy a ride one day?
johndoh - Member
Bikebuoy - thank you and I know (I live in Harrogate!) I just can't think of anything that sounds remotely like a good idea for something to do that doesn't involve an afternoon in the newly opened North Bar or 10 Devonshire Place or Swan on the Stray or Old Bell Tavern or Coach & Horses or Tan 'n Spile.....
Had North Bar in Leeds for ages and it truly is EPIC! Full of tw4tw4nkery types and quite expensive, but a [u][b]great[/b][/u] selection of beers.
Who puts up a thread asking for suggestions for things to do where they already live?
Somebody who can't go to the pub?
I'd go to the pub.
Hotel room, loads of coke and hookers.
No booze in sight and the Mrs will now know she can trust you, winner.
@ allan23 - Aspin Park or Meadowside??
OP - If you do go for the row boats in Karesborough there is also Pitch and Put just along the road at Conyngham hall plus pleanty of space for walking the dogs. Near the boats there are multiple tea rooms, homemade ice cream and the occasional p. u. b.
http://www.harrogate.gov.uk/pos/Pages/ConynghamHallGrounds.aspx
http://www.marigoldcafe.co.uk/
Who puts up a thread asking for suggestions for things to do where they already live?
[b]Somebody who can't go to the pub[/b]
This - I can think of plenty of things to do in Harrogate involving beer and things for the family, but it's a bit thin on the ground for much else, especially for a group of blokes.
Brimham Rocks still has it for me.
Go to the pub anyway - but critically, don't get pissed. Surely this is possible for a group of adults?
Take them to the pump room museum, make them drink the water.
Mercer gallery sometimes has some decent stuff on, if nothing else its free.
Gokarts at tockwith/flaxby
Repton course at rudding (of your golf is as bad as mine this could fill days)
Crazy golf in the valley gardens.
Borrow a bmx and get shown up by the small children at the ramp/skate thing in the valley gardens (opposite the hire hut for the crazy golf/pitch and putt)
Depending where in Harrogate you are walk down Nidd gorge out to Knaresborough Boats on the Nidd pitch and putt at coningham Hall. (just seen whiney Lane so Nidd gorge is possibly a trek too far past too many pubs)
Might be worth checking what's on at Ripley castle and in Knaresborough (fever "festival" might be around that time)
Cinema. Earplugs. Snoozysnooze.
@ allan23 - Aspin Park or Meadowside??
Neither, primary school in Bramley, Leeds. They got a bus and we could take a packed lunch. It was brilliant - except we didn't get to take any old crap to hang up at the well.
Not been to Aggas for a while (Is christies still open, then that 3 storey nightclub just down the way?).
But the pitch and putt is pretty good and then a walk up to 10 pin bowling.
But pints really.
Near the boats there are multiple tea rooms, homemade ice cream and the occasional p. u. b.
Also a small bike shop near the castle (head out the gate of the car park which isn't by the police station) I've not been in yet so if nothing else you could do a bit of a recce for me?
a walk up to 10 pin bowling
Gone - it's a Travelodge and gym now.
I hear their doing a 2 for 1 at the balls shop.
Drive out to Stif cycles for a mooch only 10 miles away in Summerbridge
Sounds like hell, the whole weekend
Nip over to Bolton Abbey and try to jump the Strid.
Borrow bikes, go for a ride.
Edit: and go for a beer tour
😀Brimham Rocks still has it for me.
I know nothing else about the area!
Stopped off there on a ride round the country when I was 20.
Visited friends in Leeds 15 years later in Leeds, looking for an interesting walk without much mileage (injury). Back to Brimham rocks. Great spot. Special visits both times.
Go watch a footie match on the stray or pay a few quid and watch harrogate town or railway.
If not already suggested, Spa Cycles. Tough on the non cyclists, but that's the price of being a weirdo I guess.
British Bulldogs
Hide and seek
Knock a door runaway
Wrestling
Make a swing
Build a dam
Sniff some glue
Sport - either play or watch
There must be something somewhere you can watch in person or on TV
You could try to go and play something - golf, snooker, pool, darts, go karting
A thought - why not just lend the four without bikes one each of yours?
You do have at least 5 yes?
If not your Mrs should accept that you need to procure a few more in order to allow the people [b] she's invited[/b] to [b]her birthday party[/b] to borrow one each so you can all go for a ride as [b]she wouldn't want her guests not to enjoy her birthday[/b]. So it's easy go buy enough extra bikes so everyone can ride one then go for a bike ride. Obviously these additional bikes should be in a size and of a format which suits you so they aren't then left going dusty in the garage as that would be an indulgence too far for her birthday (and everyone can manage the wrong size bike for one ride).
She said you can't go to the pub? She didn't specifically say no drinking though?
Go and sit on a park bench, drink loads and loads and loads of cider, then shout at buses, and piss yourself
Issue each chap with a deerstalker and pipe and go and find out what happened to mastiles fanylion. If you don't like the Victorian look try luxurious black moustaches and suffix all your names with P.I.
Starter for 10 - he's got twins.
http://www.stagweb.co.uk/stag-weekends/harrogateactivities.asp
You're basically after the stag do 'activity' in the daytime, before boozing gets hardcore
Well Harrogate still has a Debenhams (IIRC) across the road from Jamies, so I'll add another to my list..
Lunchtime shepherds pie, peas and chips and tea then head into the depths of the Womens Underwear section..
bikebouy - Member
Fancy a ride one day?
Are you local (to Harrogate) then?
binners wins! 😆
The paintball place near the A1 is a good about, you can easy pass the time there and have a laugh.
Go and sit on a park bench, drink loads and loads and loads of cider, then shout at buses, and piss yourself
😀
Starter for 10 - he's got twins.
So do I! 😯
(To be fair, there are three sets of twins in our girls' year at school and another two sets in the year below – they are almost as common as Range Rover Vogues in Harrogate).
Re-reading the OP I have a better idea. Go card shopping for with deepest sympathy cards or similar. Write "Sorry for getting pissed" and, for your mates, "Sorry for getting pissed, you're driving home".
Go to the pub.
Present said cards to ladies upon arrival at the restaurant, circa 8-9pm.
Go home and watch the telly?
Actually, just pay for her to get a cab there. Then you can go for a ride instead
for your mates, "Sorry for getting pissed, you're driving home".
All well and good until you find out that "pamper afternoon" was code for sitting in a luke warm bath where no one can tell you're breaking wind and drinking champagne all afternoon and the specific reason there is to be no drinking in the male group is the ladies will be half cut by 7pm and their respective other halves have been collectively volunteered for driving duty.
Could you not stand around in the foyer of the health spa with your coats folded over your arms, huffing occasionally?
All go to a charity shop and buy a "special"outfit for the evening.
Wear it to the park with the cider.
dangeourbrain - Member
bikebouy - Member
Fancy a ride one day?
Are you local (to Harrogate) then?
We've two family Farms just up the road from the OP, I get up there very often and ride a lot up over the Moors (CXer or Roadie) hence my Q..
Great area, shame it gets cold in the winter.. 😀
If you do head to stif/brimham rocks you could pay a visit to howstean gorge further up the valley. not sure if they still do it but used to have a via ferratta course.
[url= http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-08/call-this-number-and-chat-to-a-random-swede/7309664 ]Hours of fun[/url]
[url= http://www.hazelbankshooting.co.uk/contact ]Manly things[/url]
find out where my work colleague lives (clue - somewhere in harrogate) and then burn their house down, with them in it.
It has not been a good week.
PS, I'll vouch that i saw you in the park drinking cider and pissing yourselves at the time the fire started
dangeourbrain - Member
Take them to the pump room museum, make them drink the water
This is part of what my suggestion was going to be.
That takes up ten minutes of your time. spend the next five hours fifty minutes on the crapper. that stuff is minging
I get up there very often
Ah now it explains the south downs bit in your profile!
I do keep thinking that we should try organising something like the mnpr for those on the enlightened side of the hill. Though likely it would just end up being MNP, and just me, maybe with a book or a paper copy of ST and a (borrowed) whippet