Scarborough Tops Empty Shop List

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

Scarborough's retail landscape is looking a bit thin on the ground lately. New figures show nearly one in five of our shops are currently sitting empty. At 18.6 per cent, it is a rate that well exceeds the national average and makes our neighbours in Whitby look positively bustling by comparison. The council is leaning on the "Brunswick excuse," but for those walking the high street, the gap between redevelopment and reality feels quite wide.

The town is also eyeing a potential £52 million windfall from a proposed visitor levy. The idea is simple: a £2 charge per night for visitors. However, the political friction is already starting, with Scarborough representatives demanding that coastal revenue is spent on coastal projects. Whether York agrees to play fair remains to be seen.

Finally, we are looking at the looming October deadline for Alpamare. After the developer collapsed and a significant loss of £7.8 million in public money, the water park still lacks a long-term operator. North Yorkshire Council is "exploring options," a phrase we have heard frequently since 2022. Hopefully, a splash of clarity is on the horizon before the Flamingo Land deal expires.

👉 Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for more updates!

👉 Sign Up Here to receive “The Scarborough Rundown” twice a week - it’s free!

Personalized GLP-1 Care, Led by Real Doctors

🎁 Kickstart your weight-loss journey and save 25% on your first month!

Discover a smarter, clinician-guided approach to weight loss with JRNYS. Our metabolic health programs may include GLP-1 medications when clinically appropriate, helping many members reduce cravings and stay consistent.

With JRNYS, you’re supported by licensed providers every step of the way from your initial online assessment to ongoing care throughout your journey. Everything is 100% online and built for real life.

Why JRNYS?

• Clinician-guided care

• Ongoing provider support

• HSA/FSA eligible

• Plans starting at $89/month*

👉 Use code JRNYS25 at checkout to save 25% on your first month.
⏳ Limited-time offer.

Get started today at JRNYS.com

See If You’re Eligible

_{*Medication cost not included. Eligibility varies.
Clinician-guided wellness care; eligibility varies. Medications prescribed only when clinically appropriate.}

📰 Scarborough Life

🏪 Scarborough has the highest shop vacancy rate in North Yorkshire at 18.6 per cent. Well above the national average and two-and-a-half times Whitby's. The council says the Brunswick redevelopment skews the figures, which is true, and Brunswick has been under redevelopment since 2022.

💷 A £2 per night visitor levy could raise £52 million annually for York and North Yorkshire. The national consultation closed yesterday. Scarborough councillors want guarantees that money raised on the coast stays on the coast. York has not yet confirmed it shares that view.

🎭 Y Perform are staging Legally Blonde Jr. at YMCA Theatre this weekend. The youth production runs on Friday, 20th February at 7 pm and Saturday, 21st February at 2 pm. Tickets are £10.

💷 Whitby Town Council has approved an 8.5% council tax precept increase. Band D households will pay an extra 11p a week - the highest of the three options considered. The budget projects income of £160,050 against expenditure of £598,695. The increase adds £5 to general reserves.

🌊 Scarborough's Alpamare water park is without a long-term plan. Flamingo Land's contract ends in October, leaving North Yorkshire Council exploring options for a site it acquired after a developer collapse and £7.8 million in public money. All options are on the table, which is where they have been for some time.

🛢️ A proposed gas drilling rig near Scarborough has had its planning decision halted. The government intervened days before North Yorkshire Council was due to rule on the scheme, following 1,600 objections. Europa Oil & Gas called the delay unnecessary. The local MP called it a relief.

🏛️ North Yorkshire Council has voted down £100k to help towns absorb county services. The funding would have supported places like Scarborough taking on responsibilities promised when the authority was created in 2023. Scarborough had already answered that question without being asked.

📢 Scarborough u3a is seeking a volunteer to lead marketing and communications. The retirement learning group runs over 40 activities from pickleball to intermediate Spanish and needs committee support to grow its membership. Join or volunteer, or email Susie at [email protected] regarding the marketing role.

⚽ Scarborough Athletic has secured a £150,000 loan from North Yorkshire Council. The fan-owned club has been playing home fixtures in Bridlington since structural defects were discovered at the council-owned pitch. The council hopes the club will not need to use it.

🚂 North Yorkshire Moors Railway has raised £130,000 towards stabilising Bridge 42. The temporary propping will cost £250,000, with permanent repairs adding another £550,000. The charity-run heritage railway aims to reopen in 2026, assuming the bridge holds until then.

🏛️ Scarborough residents met to discuss the town's future, but council officers stayed away. About 50 people attended Monday's United Scarborough Residents' Group meeting to talk about the West Pier, public toilets, and Scarborough 400. NYC councillors were there; the officers weren't. Residents wanted to get things done.

🏠 North Yorkshire Council has kept its 100% council tax surcharge on second homes. The policy raised £10-12 million in its first year, ringfenced for housing. A councillor near the first planned project pointed out that the road there is crumbling, and the money can't touch it.

🚽 Filey's Royal Parade toilet block has been closed after structural defects worsened. The facility and an adjacent cafe have been fenced off following sustained rainfall. North Yorkshire Council inherited the site from its predecessor. Temporary toilets are expected by March.

🐴 North Yorkshire Council has approved a second riding arena at a farm near Scarborough. The 60m by 40m menage at Seamer will host occasional invitation-only equestrian events between March and October. Four neighbours wrote in to support it. Nobody objected.

⭐ Readers’ Choice: Top Posts From Last Issue

🧖 Relax at Feversham Arms. This Helmsley hotel blends Victorian charm with a boutique spa feel for the ultimate unhurried escape.

🚂 The Sconesman Cometh. If you missed Valentine’s Day, pull it out of the fire with the Flying Sconesman. Running daily until 22nd February.

🎨 A Brush With The Law. The Royal Hotel is re-painting its façade after a pink mix-up left it without consent.

📮 Community Classifieds

🏨 Rated #1 out of 379 hotels on Tenerife by Travellers - JOIA Salomé by Iberostar - Refurbished, luxurious, and exclusive adult-oriented hotel. View more

🎤 60s legends The Manfreds return to Scarborough on 20th Nov with original members performing their classic hits. A theatre show focused on timeless songs. Details

🌊 Scarborough's Sea Life Centre is Open Year-Round. You can see turtles, rays, and colourful sea life; it’s the perfect indoor family day. Reserve your tickets.

Now Men Can Fight Eye Bags From Home

Worried about eyebags, dark spots and wrinkles? Particle Face Cream is the #1 selling solution for men to tackle these issues. Boasting over 1,000,000 satisfied customers, Particle is easy, effective and worth adding to your routine. Get 20% off now with the code BH20!

Get 20% Off Today

🎸Events, Activities & Live Music

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

Friday, February 20

09:45 🎯 Social Bowls - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
11:00 🌊 Rockpool Safari - South Bay, Scarborough
13:00 🧵 SEWcial Sewing & Textile Craft - Stitched by the Beach, Scarborough
18:00 💃 Line Dancing - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
18:00 🎭 The Wind in the Willows - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
19:00 🎶 Jet Blax: Live - Whitby Brewery, Whitby
19:15 🌌 Dark Skies Festival Event - Ayton Village Hall, Scarborough
19:30 😂 The Comedy Store - Scarborough Spa Theatre
19:30 😂 Comedy Double Headline - The Royal Hotel Whitby
20:30 🎤 Open Mic Night - Crescent Lounge, Scarborough
21:00 🎶 Live Music Night - The Merchant Irish Bar, Scarborough

Saturday, February 21

09:30 📖 Bookbinding Workshop - No.7 Farfield Business Park, Scarborough
10:00 🐎 Scarborough Obstacle Clinic - Rascals Equestrian, Scarborough
10:00 🧵 Half Day Sewing Workshop - Ebberston Studios, Scarborough
11:30 🧘 Yogalates - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
13:00 🐉 Dungeons & Dragons - Level 1 - Fights And Fancy, Scarborough
14:00 🎭 The Wind in the Willows - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
18:00 🎭 The Wind in the Willows - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
19:00 🌌 Dark Skies Talk - YHA Whitby, Whitby
19:00 👻 Tour: Dark Tales - To The Grand Hotel, Scarborough
19:30 🎸 Tailor-Made Straitjackets: Live - Pier Inn, Whitby
19:30 🎶 Eliza Carthy & Special Guests - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
21:00 🎶 Live Music Night - The Merchant Irish Bar, Scarborough
00:00 🎉 Kids Half-Term Party - Tunny Catch, Scarborough

Sunday, February 22

10:00 🛍️ Table Top Sales - Crossgates Community Centre, Scarborough
10:00 🌿 Magical Menopause Retreat Day - The Old Chapel, Scarborough
11:00 🐾 Sighthounds & Sandcastles Walk - The Cobles Coffee Bar, Filey
13:30 🚶 Whitby Abbey Circular - Whitby Abbey Headland Car Park
16:00 🎤 Under 20s Open Mic - Crescent Lounge, Scarborough
19:00 🎶 Sunday Sessions - Crescent Lounge, Scarborough

📅 Got A Local Event To Share?

📅 Submit Here (8 days before event date)
Complete starred sections. For a FREE LISTING, check the box on the promotions page.

✉️ If you’re not already on our mailing list, you can sign up here to receive “What’s On Banff” five days a week - it’s free! 👉 Sign Up Here

➡️Know someone who’d enjoy it? Feel free to forward this email. 👉 Sign Up Here

Want to get in touch? For feedback, local stories, or questions, reply to this email. We'd love to hear from you!

👉 Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for more updates!

💡 This newsletter includes affiliate and sponsor links. I may earn a commission if you purchase through them, at no extra cost to you.