Harrogate's Frog restaurant changes name after challenge from Adam Handling's restaurant group

The Frog restaurant in Harrogate has been forced to change its name following a legal challenge from the Adam Handling Restaurant Group (AHRG).

Owners Charlie Moorby and Tom Moxham launched the venue in April with the name they said was inspired by Moorby’s family history.

But a spokesperson for AHRG, which operates the Michelin-starred Frog by Adam Handling restaurant in London, said the similar name had “caused confusion” among customers who thought the two businesses were linked.

On social media, the Frog Harrogate's team described the restaurant as a “fiercely independent” venue which offers small and sharing plates, cocktails and beers. It also features a free library and hosts live music nights.

But in a post shared on its social media accounts, the team said they had been told they were unable to use the name ‘Frog’ without approval from Handling’s legal team.

Handling filed for trademark of ‘THE FROG' in November 2016 and it was registered in March 2017.

The Frog Harrogate team wrote: “Anyone who knows us, knows that we always strive to remain fiercely independent and as such the idea of our name being approved by an outside party wasn’t something we were willing to entertain. Please know this was not an easy decision, as it means we lose a name that has been part of our DNA for generations and had a deep affection from all of us working here.”

A spokesperson for AHRG said: “The Adam Handling Restaurant Group has been in touch with Frog Harrogate because its choice of name conflicts with our earlier rights and has caused confusion amongst many of our diners and within the hospitality industry, as they thought that we had opened a new restaurant in Harrogate. The directors of Frog Harrogate have responded and we anticipate resolving matters amicably soon.

“Our Frog name is very valuable and important to us, to our existing restaurant group and to our expansion plans. We have no choice but to protect it from both deliberate and accidental conflicts.

“If you don’t protect and enforce your trademark against these types of conflicts, you become exposed and could lose your rights.”

This is the second time this year AHRG has issued a legal challenge to a hospitality business over its name. In July the Frog bakery in London’s Camberwell announced it would have to change its name after receiving a cease and desist letter from AHRG.

An AHRG spokesperson added: “We appreciate that these conflicts can be accidental but, in this instance, Frog Harrogate have advised that they were actually aware of our name. We urge new business owners to conduct the relevant due diligence through the IPO website as unfortunate situations like this can become costly for both parties.”

The Frog Harrogate has announced it will change its name to Lilypad and said everything else in the restaurant would stay the same.

The team wrote on social media: “All that is left to say is Frog is dead, Long live Frog, and a very warm welcome to Lilypad!”