The outdoor music venue that 'saved a town'

Scarborough is a town that was built for entertainment. In its well-heeled Georgian and Edwardian heyday, there were orchestras at the Spa, dances in the ballrooms of the grand hotels, and for the more adventurous, big game fishing for tuna.

After the war, when wealthier visitors began to holiday abroad, it became known for family-friendly amusements and "kiss me quick" ribaldry.

Yet ask many people in the seaside resort today to tell you what keeps Scarborough going as a destination, and they will say the Open Air Theatre - the venue that has brought the likes of Britney Spears, Sir Elton John and Will Smith to the Yorkshire coast.

The "OAT" actually dates back to the 1930s, when it was built on an island in the middle of a lake in Northstead Manor Gardens. It put on plays during the summer season, but its fortunes declined with the town's, and it closed in 1986.

It was renovated and reopened in 2010, but it was not until 2016, when a 10-year deal was signed with music promoters Cuffe & Taylor, that it really took off as a venue.

By 2024, more than 116,000 people attended 18 concerts, and those working in Scarborough's hospitality industry say they now depend on the crowds the OAT brings.

The council-run complex has seen performances by Busted, Tom Jones, Christina Aguilera and Kylie Minogue.

Karen and Steve Ritchie, who run The Headlands Hotel near the venue, said it would have been "catastrophic" if the theatre had not been brought back to life 16 years ago.

Ritchie, who has lived in the town his whole life, said their bookings for 2026 were much higher than in 2025, with 200 additional nights reserved.

He said that was "largely down to the Open Air Theatre" and that the impact it has had on the town was "almost immeasurable".

"The buzz when the gigs are on, the impact on local businesses, the bars, the cafes, the hotel rooms - it's huge.

"Has it saved the town? It's hard to argue that it hasn't. I think it's really put Scarborough on the map," he added.

More than a million tickets have now been sold for shows at the venue since it reopened to the public.

Last summer's run of 18 concerts - with headliners including Will Smith, Gary Barlow and The Smashing Pumpkins - boosted the local economy by £8.8m, according to North Yorkshire Council.

And with 10 extra shows at the venue in 2026 - and major international stars such as Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé and Teddy Swims appearing on stage - the authority predicts this summer's series will bring a £15m uplift to the Yorkshire coast.

The season begins tonight with Rick Astley and Lottery Winners.

Peter Taylor, co-founder of Cuffe & Taylor, said this summer was going to be the "biggest and best-ever at Scarborough Open Air Theatre".

Lee and Cathy Davis, from Scarborough, are big fans of the venue. They have booked around 10 gigs there over the summer.

Over the past 16 years they have seen dozens of acts there including Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Gary Barlow, Sterephonics and Blossoms.

Cathy said: "It's literally a 20-minute walk from my house here and it's a great night out, it's absolutely buzzing. Quick to get home afterwards, no mad dash for the car park - it's just really convenient."

The price of tickets varies depending on the artist and demand - but usually cost between £45 and £60 each.

"You get what you pay for," Cathy said - adding the shows were "worth every penny."

Chris Marson owns The Hideout Cafe Kitchen and Bar in North Bay - not far from the Open Air Theatre.

He described working in hospitality at present as "challenging" and said the venue was a "lifeline" for businesses like his.

"Over the winter there's losses in the business - it's really difficult to make a profit," he explained.

"What the Open Air Theatre does in the summer is that it allows us to fill that gap.

He added: "I think it's really impressive that they've got an additional 10 gigs there this summer - it would be good to have assurances that level is going to stay there."

When asked whether he thought the Open Air Theatre had saved Scarborough as a tourist destination, Marson said "without a shadow of doubt" it had.

Rachael Cumming runs Doorstep Adventures - a shop on the seafront at North Bay which backs on to the Open Air Thetare.

They opened in 2010, so have been there for as long as the music venue.

She said it had been "an interesting 16 years" with "lots of ups and downs".

However, she added the Open Air Theatre had "definitely been a huge benefit to the town" - and said businesses "feel the impact when people come from far and wide."

She said she had been to several gigs there and lived nearby - so they often enjoyed a free concert from the comfort of their own home.

Stuart Clarke, head of venues and attractions at North Yorkshire Council, acknowledged the venue had its critics in the early days.

The then-Scarborough Council invested £3.5m in restoring the site, which some people thought was a waste of money - others were concerned about noise and traffic.

However, Clarke said that since then the venue had paid for itself "10 times over" and had a "fantastic" impact on the town.

"I think, for us we always knew it would be a journey, we always knew at the time we needed a partner that could help us grow - people can see it now, it explains itself really.

"When you've got the likes of Teddy Swims selling out two nights in a couple of hours, that sort of act coming to Scarborough would have been unimaginable 15 or 16 years ago," he added.

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