When, just after Covid had eased, my father-in-law told us of a "decent pub" in Scarborough where, even though he'd been insulted by the landlady about how he'd entered the place not observing their strict post-lockdown rules, you could get craft ales that were well kept and priced like it was the 70s my interest was piqued. This was, mind, now over a year ago so when I found myself in the vicinity I decided to go on the hunt. Not difficult to find (camra rarely gush but when a local wins pub of the town/city at least 10 ten times it's not the usual hyperbole) it's a 20 second stride from the cricket club which I guess would mean it's a place that makes a fair living off the sport but to be fair when I entered (last week of October well past peak cricket) there was still a nice buzz about the place with several obvious locals sampling the waters so to speak. A closer ear detected some conversation about the ales (overhearing discussion about where to drink in York I threw in The Phoenix as a starter for 10) as well as the usual daily wind-down from work. Though mostly male clientèle the atmosphere was welcoming and I didn't feel any undue attention raised to my increasingly soft southern tones. It's worth saying now, even if I hadn't been made to feel welcome, the price of this really superbly brewed and kept beer compared to Bristol's made me think very hard about the move back North. Downsides are hard to find (though I could have lived without the landlord's cough that sounded either like he needed to give up his 40 a day habit or else Covid never actually left his premises) and even though microbreweries abound down South this establishment wears a spiky NE crown as king of its kind here in God's own. It might be on the "wrong" (quieter?) side of Scarborough so not worth the trot across town if you're here for just a couple of days on the spa side but remember these places aren't catering for the masses - but you make the choice - lager lout or cask ale tout?