New landlords of The Nag's Head pub in Scarborough gear up for reopening on Valentine's Day

The Nag’s Head in Scalby closed last year after the previous landlord left in October.

New licensees James Durham and his partner Stacey Stringer agreed to take over the pub shortly afterwards and had hoped to have it open again fairly quickly.

However, it transpired that emergency electrical work had to take place to make the building safe.

This work as well as some essential maintenance has now been completed.

Despite the extended period of closure, residents will still recognise their local when they return on Friday night as much of the work has been done behind the scenes and the look of the bar and lounge is remaining the same as before.

The well-loved Scalby pub is at the heart of the village and James and Stacey are looking forward to re-establishing it as a hub for the community.

James said: “We wanted a proper community pub for us and our children and the Nag’s Head is renowned for that.

“For us it is a long term plan to run the pub.”

Stacey is born and bred in Scarborough and James has lived in the town for the past 15 years. Both are keen to establish the Nag’s Head as their new home.

Doors will reopen at 5pm on Valentine’s Day with music from rock and roll duo the Beale Street Brothers to entertain the visitors.

Food will be on offer in a novel new way – served from a horse box in the courtyard.

Arthur’s Horse Box will provide street food for guests on evenings and weekends where demand calls for it.

The pub is well known for supporting events in Scalby and James said they plan to continue with this, particularly Scalby Fair which lasts for a week, for which the Nag’s Head has long been the centrepoint.

On Saturday February 15 the Scalby Folk Group will be back in the venue from 2pm-5pm entertaining visitors.

James and Stacey have already attended Scalby Fair and Scalby Folk Festival meetings and plan to support those events going forward.

The cricket and football teams will also be welcomed back to the pub.

James said he was keen to start a darts team and asked anyone interested in heading up a team to contact him or Stacey at the pub.

He added: “We want the Nag’s Head to be the heart of Scalby village again.

“We want it to be a traditional village pub and that’s how it’s going to stay.

“We’re not going to turn it into a gastro pub.”