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Council plot to ditch the Town Hall
🌟 The Scarborough Rundown - Events, Activities, Live Music & Good News! 😊
Sue W
March 12, 2026
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Hey Scarborough! Here's what's happening this week 👋
North Yorkshire Council is certainly keeping us on our toes this week. On one hand, they are worried about empty shops and want to auction off high street leases to spark some life back into the centre. On the other hand, they’re planning to move their own workforce out of the Town Hall and up to the A64🤔. Moving hundreds of potential lunch-break spenders to the edge of town isn't exactly a ringing endorsement for the high street.
Nature, thankfully, is far more predictable. The puffins have returned to Bempton Cliffs as of March 4, signalling the start of the 2026 season. They are early, as usual, but it gives us something to look forward to while the council sorts out its office space.
Back in town, the Scarborough Punk Festival is looming. The daily schedules are out for the March 28 weekend, so you can now plan your stage-diving with precision.
For those looking to avoid the noise entirely, the Churchill Hotel in York is dangling a 10% discount for direct bookings. It’s a late Georgian mansion that’s far enough away to forget about the "ghost town" debates for a night or two.
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📰 Scarborough Life
🏢 Town Hall exodus? North Yorkshire Council is facing a backlash over plans to move from Scarborough Town Hall to a modern office on the A64. While the move could save millions in maintenance, local leaders fear it will gut town centre footfall, leave a historic landmark sitting empty and leave the town centre looking like a ghost town.
🛍️ Scarborough High Street reset. North Yorkshire Council is considering a pilot scheme to auction off leases of shops left empty for over a year. It is a bold move to stop our town centre from looking like a ghost town.
🌬️ Batten down the hatches. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for the Yorkshire Coast this Thursday. Expect gusts up to 70 mph on the cliffs and potential travel chaos from Whitby to Bridlington.
✨ 10% Off Stays at The Churchill Hotel, York. The late Georgian mansion hotel, just a short walk from York Minster, is offering 10% off room rates when you book direct using code DIRECT. Guests can also receive 5% cashback through The Guestbook. See the offer details.
💦 A £9m lesson learned. A new report into the failed loan for Scarborough’s Alpamare water park urges North Yorkshire Council to improve transparency and due diligence. After the developer went bust, the council was forced to write off £7.8m in unpaid debt.
📅 Save the date. The Scarborough Punk Festival has finally shared which bands are playing when on 28-29 March. It’s a weekend of chaos at the Spa, but you’ll need to nip in quick for tickets.
🐧 Puffin season begins! The very first puffins of the 2026 season were spotted at RSPB Bempton Cliffs on March 4. While these early arrivals won't settle in properly until the end of the month, the reserve is gearing up for the return of roughly 3,000 birds.
🏥 Hospital safety in focus. Despite 93 recorded crimes, the Trust claims they are hitting a five-year low for incidents at Scarborough and York. They're urging staff to report every scuffle to ensure "appropriate action" is taken against offenders.
🏠 Whitby’s Airbnb crack down. MP Alison Hume wants a proper licensing system for holiday lets to save our housing. She’s also tackling the vandals who’ve made a right mess of the local train and bus stations.
🎭 SJT's musical mayhem. Rehearsals are underway for "Murder for Two", a madcap whodunit arriving at the Stephen Joseph Theatre on 28 March. Two actors play thirteen characters and the piano - it's a proper tour de force.
🏏 Wykeham's pavilion power-play. Wykeham Cricket Club has secured the green light for an extension to its pavilion. Council planners reckon the new timber addition hits for six without bothering the neighbours.
🌊 Coastal spirits at The Treasury. A new premium bar opening this summer is championing Whitby Distillery as its lead gin. The venue aims to celebrate the best of North Yorkshire's coastline through a curated menu of seasonal releases and botanicals.
🍺 Hobbits on the pavement. The Middle Earth Tavern on Church Street has reapplied for a pavement licence to place outdoor seating in front of the pub. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a pint while overlooking the River Esk.
🚉 Scarborough Station's smart upgrade. Network Rail has the nod to install new state-of-the-art help points across our historic station. These inclusive gadgets connect you straight to call centres for train info or emergencies without damaging the old masonry.
⚽ Barrowcliff’s big result. More than £200,000 has been secured to transform a shabby Gallows Close site into a proper multi-use games area. The new 2G pitch will finally replace those dodgy patch repairs for local footballers and cricketers.
⭐ Readers’ Choice: Top Posts From Last Issue
🎬 Scarborough Film Festival Returns. Swap the sofa for the cinema as fabulous films and events take over our town this March.
✨ Book Early and Enjoy Luxury for Less. Stay at the five-star H10 Atlantic Sunset Horizons Collection in Playa Paraíso, Tenerife. Find out more.
⛲ A New Bronze Belle. Scarborough's 400th anniversary as a spa town brings a striking sculpture to South Bay.
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🎸Events, Activities & Live Music
We keep it short here - head to our EVENTS PAGE for links and future events.
Friday, March 13
09:45 🎯 Social Bowls - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
13:00 🧵 SEWcial Sewing & Textile Craft - Stitched by the Beach, Scarborough
18:00 💃 Line Dancing - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
19:00 🎭 Junior Showbusiness - YMCA Theatre, Scarborough
19:30 🎤 Bridget Christie - Jacket Potato Pizza - Scarborough Spa
19:30 🎭 Meet Fred - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
20:30 🎤 Open Mic Night - Crescent Lounge, Scarborough
21:00 🎶 Live Music Night - The Merchant Irish Bar, Scarborough
21:00 🎉 Bongo's Bingo - Scarborough Spa
Saturday, March 14
10:00 🧶 Craft Destash Sale - Newby & Scalby Community Hall, Scarborough
11:30 🧘 Yogalates - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
17:00 🎤 Taylor Reloaded - Royal Hotel Scarborough
19:00 🎭 Junior Showbusiness - YMCA Theatre, Scarborough
19:00 🍀 St Paddy's Day with Mackie! - The Scarborough Arms, Scarborough
19:30 🎤 Man In the Mirror - Scarborough Spa
19:30 🎭 Meet Fred - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
21:00 🎶 Live Music Night - The Merchant Irish Bar, Scarborough
21:00 🎸 The Bull - Bull Inn, Scarborough
Sunday, March 15
10:00 🛍️ Table Top Sales - Crossgates Community Centre, Scarborough
10:30 🛍️ Lilly's Independent Street Artisan Fairs - The Royal Hotel, Scarborough
16:00 🎤 Under 20s Open Mic - Crescent Lounge, Scarborough
19:00 🎶 Sunday Sessions - Crescent Lounge, Scarborough
19:30 🎶 The Paul Simon Songbook - YMCA Theatre, Scarborough
20:00 🎱 Bingo for Mother's Day - Newby and Scalby, Scarborough
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👋 That’s All For Now 🎬 From town to coast, there's always something happening in Scarborough. Sue | Editor | The Scarborough Rundown |  |
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