An excellent opportunity to acquire the freehold of the Alma Inn, a long-established and characterful town centre public house occupying a prominent position close to Scarborough railway station.

The ground floor public house, together with the cellar accommodation below, is currently let on a two-year lease expiring in December 2027 at a rent of £800 per calendar month, equivalent to £9,600 per annum.  There is also a 5% rent increase due in December 2026.  The large cellar is understood to be large enough to accommodate a microbrewery.

The upper floors are currently vacant and require refurbishment but offer an interesting opportunity for an incoming purchaser to add value, potentially through refurbishment to provide letting rooms or other accommodation.

Access to the upper floors is presently via a side entrance leading into a lobby which also provides access to the gentlemen’s toilets serving the public house. An incoming purchaser might wish to investigate whether an alternative access arrangement could be reinstated via an external metal staircase as part of any future refurbishment scheme.

The property therefore offers an unusual combination of an established public house producing immediate rental income together with substantial vacant upper floor accommodation offering scope for refurbishment and further income generation.

Location

The Alma Inn occupies a convenient town centre position on Alma Parade, within easy walking distance of Scarborough railway station, the very popular Stephen Joseph Theatre and the principal shopping areas of the town centre. Scarborough is one of Yorkshire’s best-known coastal resorts and attracts substantial numbers of visitors throughout the year, with the town centre supporting an established leisure and hospitality trade.

The Alma itself is a long-established public house and forms part of Scarborough's traditional town centre pub circuit. Its proximity to the railway station makes it a natural early stop for visitors following pub trails through the town, with at least one published Scarborough pub tour featuring the Alma at the start of its route. The property is also well placed for Scarborough's numerous tourist attractions, shops, restaurants and bars, while the railway station provides regular services to York and onward connections to the national rail network.

Accommodation

Ground Floor: Public Bar, Snug, Lobby, Gents WC, Ladies WC.

Cellar: Fully equipped and air-conditioned.

First Floor: Landing, Living Room/Bedroom, Bedroom, Kitchen

Second Floor: Landing, two bedrooms, 

Third Floor: Landing, bedroom

Outside:  Small forecourt and rear yard.

EPC

Current rating (E) 103.

Lease

Term: 30 December 2025 to 29 December 2027.

Rent: £800 per calendar month, exclusive of VAT, payable monthly. 

Rent Review: The lease provides for a 5% annual increase, which will take the rent to £840 pcm from 30 December 2026.

Deposit: £800, together with one month's rent of £800 paid in advance.

Utilities and rates: Tenant responsible for electricity, gas, water, sewer, telephone and internet, together with business rates and other taxes relating to its occupation.

Service charge: There is an extensive service charge mechanism allowing the landlord to recover a proportionate share of costs relating to common areas and facilities. Structural repairs and capital replacements are specifically excluded.

Insurance: The tenant insures its own contents and occupiers' liability. The landlord insures the building, with the tenant paying its proportionate share of the building insurance.

Services

It is understood that mains drainage, mains water, gas and electricity are laid to the property. There is central heating to radiators in most rooms. None of the services or associated appliances have been checked or tested. 

Business Rates

The property has a current Rateable Value of £9,700. Qualifying occupiers may be eligible for 100% Small Business Rate Relief and therefore have no business rates to pay. From 1 April 2026 new business rate arrangements have also been introduced for qualifying retail, hospitality and leisure properties, including specific support for eligible pubs. Interested parties should make their own enquiries of North Yorkshire Council regarding the rates payable and their eligibility for any relief. 

Floorplan

The floor plan is provided for identification and guidance purposes only and is not to scale. Due to restricted access at the time of inspection, some areas could not be inspected or measured and parts of the layout have therefore been estimated. The plan should not be relied upon as an accurate representation of the accommodation, dimensions or configuration of the property. Prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves as to the layout and extent of the property prior to bidding.

Tenure

Freehold with vacant possession of the upper floors.  The ground floor is subject to the existing lease.

Viewing

Strictly by appointment with the auctioneers on 0845 400 9900.

Solicitor

Symes Bains Broomer Solicitors, 2 Park Square, Scunthorpe, DN15 6JH. Ref: Kayleigh Clarke. Tel: 01724 281 616

Method of Sale

The property will be offered for sale by online auction with bidding commencing at 12 noon on Monday 28th September 2026 and closing on Wednesday 30th September 2026 at 1.00pm. For further legal information relating to this lot please log on to auctionhouse.co.uk/hullandeastyorkshire.

Conditions of Sale

The property will be sold subject to conditions of sale, copies of which will be available for inspection at the auctioneer’s offices, with the solicitors and online at auctionhouse.co.uk/hullandeastyorkshire prior to the date of the auction.

Additional Fees

The purchaser will be required to pay an administration charge of  0.3% inc. VAT is subject to a minimum of £900 (£750 plus VAT), and a buyer's premium of £1,200 (£1,000 plus VAT) in addition to the purchase price of the property.

Guide Price

Guides are provided as an indication of each seller's minimum expectation. They are not necessarily figures that a property will sell for and may change at any time prior to the auction. Each property will be offered subject to a Reserve (a figure below which the Auctioneer cannot sell the property during the auction), which we expect will be set within the Guide Range or no more than 10% above a single figure Guide.

Disbursements

Please see the legal pack for any disbursements listed that may become payable by the purchaser on completion.