This Could Break Scarborough Tourism

Hey Scarborough! Here's what's happening this week 👋

This week’s newsletter captures a side of Scarborough that doesn’t always make the postcards. Alongside the usual events and outings, there are some bigger themes bubbling away that are worth paying attention to.

Tourism is under scrutiny again, with warnings that a proposed tax could push struggling hospitality businesses closer to the edge. It’s a debate that goes beyond visitors and directly affects jobs, wages, and the future shape of the town.

There’s also cautious optimism around plans for the train station gateway. Improving how people arrive in Scarborough might sound small, but it’s one of those changes that quietly influences how welcoming a place feels, day in and day out.

Meanwhile, concerns over local bus manufacturing jobs have been raised at a national level, highlighting how global decisions can hit local workers hard. It’s a story with long-term implications, not just headlines.

And for anyone feeling overloaded by it all, there’s a timely reminder this week that stepping away is easy. Goathland remains a calm counterpoint to coastal noise, offering space, walks, and proper quiet when you need it.

As always, you’ll find the full mix of news, events, and live music below. Take a scroll and see what catches your eye.

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📅 Plan Ahead - Book Now

Sat May 23 | 19:30 | The Simon & Garfunkel Story| Scarborough Spa

Sun May 24 | 19:00 | The Drifters| Scarborough Spa

Fri Jun 26 | 18:00 | Pete Tong & Ibiza Classics| Scarborough Open Air Theatre

Sat Jun 27 | 18:00 | Richard Ashcroft| Scarborough Open Air Theatre

Sun Jun 28 | 18:00 | Billy Ocean & Marti Pellow| Scarborough Open Air Theatre

📰 Scarborough Life

⚠️ MP slams tourism tax as coastal businesses struggle to survive. From pubs to hotels, the hospitality sector is facing what’s been called a perfect storm, and critics say a new tax could be the final straw for the Yorkshire Coast economy.

🚉 Big makeover planned for Scarborough station gateway. Fresh plans have landed to transform the area around the train station, with new seating, trees and smoother routes aiming to give visitors a much warmer first impression of town.

🌊 Why Scarborough’s Christmas raft race keeps everyone coming back. With colourful crews, packed crowds and a brilliant charitable cause, this year’s race proved once again why it’s one of the town’s most joyfully bonkers festive events.

🚌 Scarborough bus jobs face Chinese import threat. A Yorkshire Coast MP has taken the fight to Westminster, warning that cheap Chinese electric buses could derail hundreds of Scarborough manufacturing jobs just as major contracts loom for 2026.

🌾 Escape to the Heartbeat Village of Goathland. The Inn on the Moor Hotel is the perfect tranquil retreat surrounded by beautiful, open moorland. Take the quiet break you've earned. See room availability here: See if it's the break you need.

⏳ Clock ticking as council delays Eastfield regeneration decision. A proposed skate park, pump track and community hub are waiting in the wings, but the council wants a broader, fairer plan for all of Eastfield before releasing any of the £3.2m fund.

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🌒 Walk Scarborough’s Darker Streets at Night. Follow a theatrical guide through haunted spots and listen to tales of local legends, murder, and mystery. View the Full Tour Schedule.

📘 More stamps, more miles, more memories on the Coast to Coast. Funding from councillors means more walkers can grab the pocket passport packed with route tips, discounts and satisfying stamp stops from St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay.

☕ Arcade to americano? South Bay shake-up planned. A classic Scarborough amusement arcade could swap flashing lights for flat whites, with plans revealed to turn the Casino Royale on Sandside into a new harbourside cafe called Caffe Royale.

🎉 418 dippers, one icy sea, zero regrets in Whitby. The 50th Boxing Day Dip pulled in record numbers, packed crowds and serious festive bravery, turning Whitby beach into a joyful blur of costumes, cheers and charitable giving.

⛔ Fracking fight heats up on the Yorkshire coast. Campaigners say a loophole lets Burniston gas plans dodge the fracking ban, and they want councillors to wait until new national rules decide whether fossil fuels still get the red carpet.

⭐ Readers’ Choice: Top Posts From Last Issue

🎬 North Bay Playhouse returns to the big screen. Scarborough’s cliff-top cinema has been reborn after years of near misses in a much-loved historic space.

🅿️ Ban backfires as vans flood side streets. Thousands of complaints later, councillors admit the overnight campervan ban has had "unintended consequences." 

🚂 Scarborough land train idea gathers steam. Councillors have thrown enthusiastic support behind plans for a land train linking the town centre, seafront, and both bays.

🎸Events, Activities & Live Music

We keep it short here - head to our EVENTS PAGE for links and future events.

Mon, 29th Dec

09:45 🏅 Social Bowls - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
13:00 🎭 Beauty and the Beast - Scarborough Spa
13:00 🎭 Sleeping Beauty - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
13:00 🎭 Pantomime - Treasure Island - YMCA Theatre, Scarborough
18:00 🎭 Beauty and the Beast - Scarborough Spa
18:00 🎭 Pantomime - Treasure Island - YMCA Theatre, Scarborough
18:30 🧘 Kundalini Yoga - Unit 9 Manor Rd Bus. Park, Scarborough
20:00 🎶 Live Music: Folk Club - The Merchant Irish Bar, Scarborough

Tue, 30th Dec

13:00 🎭 Beauty and the Beast - Scarborough Spa
13:00 🎭 Sleeping Beauty - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
13:00 🎭 Pantomime - Treasure Island - YMCA Theatre, Scarborough
13:30 💃 Line Dancing: Beginners - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
14:00 💃 Line Dancing: Improvers - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
18:00 🎭 Beauty and the Beast - Scarborough Spa
18:00 🎭 Sleeping Beauty - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
18:00 🎭 Pantomime - Treasure Island - YMCA Theatre, Scarborough
19:30 ❓ Quiz Night - The Merchant Irish Bar, Scarborough
20:30 🎶 Eastside Soul Club - Crescent Lounge, Scarborough

Wed, 31st Dec

13:00 🎭 Beauty and the Beast - Scarborough Spa
13:00 🎭 Sleeping Beauty - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
13:00 🎭 Pantomime - Treasure Island - YMCA Theatre, Scarborough
18:00 🎉 New Year’s Eve Party - Grand Hotel, Scarborough
19:00 🎉 New Year's Eve Celebrations - Royal Hotel Scarborough
19:00 🎉 New Year's Eve at The Lodge - East Ayton Lodge, Scarborough
19:00 🎉 New Year’s Eve Celebration - Filey Bay Holiday Resort
19:00 🎉 NYE Party - The Mayfield, Scarborough
19:00 🎉 NYE Party: Best Served Cold - Crescent Lounge, Scarborough
19:00 🎉 NYE Hospice Hootenanny! - Scarborough Spa, Scarborough
19:00 🎉 NYEl: Live Music & Buffet - East Ayton Lodge
19:30 🎶 Tony Skingle as ELVIS - Scarborough Spa, Scarborough
20:00 🎷 Scarborough Jazz - The Spa Pub, Scarborough
20:00 🎉 NEW YEAR’S EVE - Warm Up - Rack n Roll Sports Bar, Scarborough
20:00 🎉 New Year’s Eve Celebration - The Black Lion Hotel, Scarborough
20:30 🍽️ New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner - Crown Spa Hotel, Scarborough
20:30 🎟️ Charity Race Night - Scarborough Anglers Social Club, Scarborough

Thu, 1st Jan

11:00 🥶 New Year’s Day Plunge - Scarborough Beach, Scarborough
13:00 🎭 Beauty and the Beast - Scarborough Spa
15:00 🎶 Scarborough Spa Orchestra - South Bay, Scarborough
20:00 📱 Smartphone Quiz - Station Inn Whitby

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