Seabirds, the Grand Hotel or Scalby Beck: Who's Polluting South Bay?
Yorkshire Water looks at drainage links with the Grand Hotel in its South Bay bacteria probe, Proudfoot closes three stores, bonfire night returns to North Marine Road, and Bananarama are booked for the Open Air Theatre.
Anyone who's paddled in the South Bay this summer will have wondered what was in it. Yorkshire Water is still wondering too. It's now looked at drainage links with the Grand Hotel in its bacteria probe, without blaming the hotel, and its money remains on the seabirds. A Durham University study has pointed at Scalby Beck instead. Three suspects, then, and no arrests.
Proudfoot has shut three of its stores, keeping Eastfield open. The family grocer started out in Seamer in 1948, and its 1959 Huntriss Row shop was Scarborough's first self-service supermarket. It's a McDonald's now, which is one way of keeping the self-service tradition going.
Scarborough Cricket Club's annual Fireworks Extravaganza is on Thursday 5 November at North Marine Road. Gates open at 5.30 pm, and the display starts at 7.30 pm. Tickets are £10; there's a new £25 pass for two adults and two children, and under-fours get in free.
Further ahead, Bananarama, Jason Donovan and Altered Images bring an all-eighties triple bill to the Open Air Theatre on Saturday 17 July 2027. Plenty of time to decide whether you'll admit to going. Get your tickets here.
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📰 Scarborough Life
🛒 Proudfoot Closes Three Stores. The family grocer, founded in Seamer in 1948, has shut three of its stores, keeping Eastfield open. Its 1959 Huntriss Row shop was Scarborough's first self-service supermarket. It is now a McDonald's.
🚆 MP Chases Direct Train to London. Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume is pressing ministers to revive the Scarborough Flyer to London. Whitby gets six trains a day to Middlesbrough. Newquay's line carries fewer passengers and gets fifteen.
🎤 Bananarama Booked for Open Air Theatre. They headline Scarborough on Saturday 17 July 2027, with Jason Donovan and Altered Images completing an all-eighties triple bill. Simply Red and Ronan Keating are already booked for 2027. Get your open-air tickets here.
🌊 South Bay Bathing Water Probe Widens. Yorkshire Water has looked into drainage links with the Grand Hotel in its South Bay bacteria probe, without blaming the hotel. Seabirds remain its main suspect. A Durham University study pointed at Scalby Beck.
🛏️ Mayor: No Tourist Tax Without Airbnb. Mayor David Skaith told Scarborough and Whitby councillors he won't introduce a visitor levy on overnight stays unless Airbnbs pay too. Up to five per cent per stay is proposed. No decision has been taken.
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🎆 Bonfire Night at the Cricket Ground. Scarborough Cricket Club's annual Fireworks Extravaganza is on Thursday 5 November at North Marine Road. Gates open at 5.30 pm, and the display starts at 7.30 pm. Tickets are £10, or £25 for a new two-adult, two-child family pass. Under-fours get in free.
🚂 Whitby Sets PM a Train Challenge. Whitby councillor Phil Trumper has dared Andy Burnham to reach Whitby from Manchester by train and return the same day. The Prime Minister would spend almost 11 hours on the rails, delays not included.
🎷 Simply Red Booked for Scarborough. Mick Hucknall's band bring their Summer Funk '27 tour to the Open Air Theatre on Tuesday 17 August 2027, with Soul II Soul in support. Ten months out, the Scarborough date is already low on tickets.
🛢️ MP Fights Own Side Over Fracking. Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume is pushing to close the loophole that allows small-scale fracking, after a Burniston bid was rejected. Her own government doesn't share her reading of the rules.
🚠 Whitby Cliff Lift Repair Bill Due. A draft repair report on Whitby's cliff lift, shut since 2022, is due by the end of October. Mayor David Skaith, who could help fund it, says the council still hasn't formally asked.
⚽ Hunmanby FC Keeps Its Pitch. Hunmanby Parish Council, near Filey, has dropped its bid to evict the village football club after more than 800 people signed a petition. It has since apologised to the village for its handling.
🚉 £1m Riding on Station Gateway Vote. Councillors vote on Thursday on Scarborough's revised Station Gateway forecourt plans, with officers recommending approval. Refusal could cost a £1m TransPennine Express upgrade inside the station. No money is yet secured for later phases.
🍺 Beck Hole Pub Takes Silver. Big 7 Travel has ranked Birch Hall Inn at Beck Hole, near Whitby, England's second-best pub for a pint. It has a sweet shop between its two drinking rooms. It's cash-only and shuts on Saturdays.
🔭 Stargazing Season on the Moors. The North York Moors Dark Skies Fringe Festival runs 23 October to 1 November, with stargazing at the new Dark Skies Station at Danby Lodge. Sutton Bank offers dusking, a Dutch ritual for greeting nightfall.
🦇 Whitby Abbey Named a Secret Wonder. Lonely Planet's new Secret Wonders of the World names Whitby Abbey among its top ten vampire hunting hotspots. The ruins are lit up over half-term. Bram Stoker let the secret out in 1897.
🚁 Final Push for Air Ambulance Base. Yorkshire Air Ambulance needs a final £400,000 to equip its new £9m Northern Airbase near Thirsk, which will cover North and East Yorkshire. The charity gets no day-to-day government or NHS funding.
⭐ Readers’ Choice: Top Posts From Last Issue
💰 Council Wants Your Say on the Budget. North Yorkshire Council's Let's Talk Money survey closes 26 November, feeding into next year's budget.
🔔 Ring's video doorbell dropped in price. The Battery Video Doorbell Plus is over 50% off; see and speak to visitors and watch deliveries. Check the deal. Ad
🌊 Alpamare's Fate Finally Settled. A preferred bidder has been chosen to take over the water park, with an early 2027 reopening planned.
🎸Events, Activities & Live Music
We keep it short here - head to our EVENTS PAGE for links and future events.
Thursday, 8 October
09:45 🎳 Social Bowls (Thu) - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
10:15 🎨 Crossgates Art Club - Crossgates Community Centre, Scarborough
11:00 🧘 Women's Strength & Stretch class - The Temperance Hall, Scalby
13:30 🎭 The Highwayman - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
14:00 ⛪ Dementia Friendly Worship - Queen Street Methodist Hall, Scarborough
18:30 🎨 Evening Art Session - Robin Hood's Bay Studio & Gallery
19:00 🤝 Deaf Group - Room 22 - The Street, Scarborough
19:00 🎶 Music Evening With Milestone! - The Lighthouse, Scarborough
19:00 ❓ Quiz Night - Brew & Bao, Scarborough
19:30 🎭 The Highwayman - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
20:00 ❓ Big Quiz with Growler - The Crown Tavern, Scarborough
20:00 ❓ Quiz Night - The Tunny Catch, Scarborough
20:00 🎤 An Evening With… Alastair James - The Crescent Lounge, Scarborough
20:30 ❓ Quiz Night - Highlander Hotel, Scarborough
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Friday, 9 October
09:45 🎳 Social Bowls - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
10:00 💃 Easy Sequence Dancing - Cayton Village Hall
13:00 🧵 SEWcial Sewing & Textile - Stitched by the Beach, Scarborough
14:00 📚 Newby & Scalby Poetry Group - Newby & Scalby Library
18:00 📖 Book Launch: Charlotte Oliver - Old Parcels Office Artspace, Scarborough
18:00 💃 Line Dancing - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
19:00 🎳 Social Bowls - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
19:30 🎶 The Rob Dylan Band - Scarborough Spa
19:30 🎭 The Highwayman - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
20:30 🎤 Open Mic Night - The Crescent Lounge, Scarborough
21:00 🎶 Live Music Night - The Merchant Irish Bar, Scarborough
Saturday, 10 October
09:00 🏃 Scarborough Woodlands Parkrun - Graffiti Bridge, Scarborough
11:30 🧘 Yogalates - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
14:30 🎭 The Highwayman - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
15:30 🎉 Autumn Streets Community Parade - Scarborough Town Centre
19:00 💃 Easy Sequence Dancing - Cayton Village Hall
19:00 🍺 Oktoberfest 2026 - Scarborough Open Air Theatre
19:30 🎶 Forever Jackson - Whitby Pavilion
19:30 🎭 The Highwayman - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
19:30 🎭 The Cast of Phoenix Nights - Scarborough Spa
19:45 😂 The Noise Next Door: Comedy - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
20:00 🎉 Bongo's Bingo Halloween Special - Scarborough Spa
20:00 🎶 Phil Ragnar Live - Black Lion Hotel, Scarborough
21:00 🎶 Live Music Night - The Merchant Irish Bar, Scarborough
21:00 🎶 Ska Punk Band - The Bull Inn, Gristhorpe
Sunday, 11 October
10:00 🛍️ Table Top Sale - Crossgates Community Centre, Scarborough
10:30 ⛪ Harvest Festival - St Marks Church, Scarborough
14:00 🤼 American Wrestling - YMCA, Scarborough
16:00 🎤 Under 20s Open Mic - The Crescent Lounge, Scarborough
17:00 🎯 Sunday Socials - Haddock Hideaway, Scarborough
19:00 🎶 Sunday Sessions - The Crescent Lounge, Scarborough
19:30 🎶 Eddi Reader - Whitby Pavilion
📅 Got A Local Event To Share? Submit Here (8 days before the event date)
👋 That’s All For Now 🎬
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Sue | Editor | The Scarborough Insider
