Starbeck Offers Hub for Creatives

A young entrepreneur turned craftsman is creating a new hub for artists and creatives in Starbeck, Harrogate.

Phil Fieldhouse, 27, spent lockdown crafting marble home accessories at Spa Studios, a flexible workspace within Spa Court which he runs with his brother, Lewis, on Spa Lane.

Phil Fieldhouse

The Fieldhouse brothers inherited Spa Studios after their mother passed away in 2019.

Phil said: “Lockdown gave us time as a family to really reflect and explore what positive impact we can create in our home town. We wanted to create a legacy for our mum, who was an entrepreneur alongside my father, and also very creative. She was fantastic at dressmaking, sewing and haberdashery as well as a gifted singer. She had a knack for interior design and an avid appreciation for fine art.”

Spa Studios offers affordable workspaces with their own entrance, inclusive of high-speed internet connection, a communal kitchen, and free parking. It also offers online space for creatives to sell their wares on its bespoke Spa Studios ecommerce shop, supported by social media.

Phil, a civil engineer and graduate in marine conservation, also runs a busy sustainability consultancy and has consulted on projects around the world on eco-friendly infrastructure projects.

Phil said: “I describe myself as an entrepreneur for the environment. I design climate resilient infrastructure, combining ‘green’ nature-based solutions with ‘grey’ engineering, to integrate nature within the built environment and make society more sustainable. I also work to empower businesses to integrate sustainability into their everyday operations and to get better results, not just for their profits but their people and the planet.”

“These are skills I can bring to Spa Studios. I have an ambition to invest in the property and create a business with a truly positive impact, for the community and our environment.”

Spa Court is already home to a number of artists on site, including stained glass artist’s, Caryl Hallett, Hilary Homes, fine artist Ruth Fitton and a commercial business, Saffie Bea Wax Melts, that creates toxin free and vegan friendly candles.

Caryl Hallet

Starbeck has been described as an “up and coming” area by entrepreneur Robert Thompson. Last month, a licence was granted to Mr Thompson for a new craft beer and coffee house in Starbeck, The Waiting Room, that plans to offer premium, local craft beers. Mr Thompson owns a number of bars across the district, including the SO! bars in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon.

Equidistant to Knaresborough and Harrogate, Starbeck also features the nearby Longlands Common, now a community-owned woodland after a successful campaign to the public.

Phil said: “There’s an exciting movement going on in Starbeck. Increasingly, people want to buy local and invest in local artisans. Lockdown has shown how important what’s on our doorstep is. We’ve had boarded up shops and a pre-dominance of take-aways on Starbeck high street. Starbeck has great community spirit and warmth, but it needs investment. I think there’s a real need for Spa Studios that offers a hub for creatives and small business owners, who share similar values.”

He added: “I think Starbeck has a lot of potential. It’s more affordable to live and work for young creatives than central Harrogate, and there’s a very strong community spirit.”

Spa Studios

For enquires to rent a studio, call Phil on 01423 202 611 and visit https://www.spastudios.co.uk/

Spa Studios
Spa Court
Spa Lane
Starbeck
HG2 7JF

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