Black Lion

The Black Lion is a character‑packed, long‑loved pub right in the middle of Scarborough’s buzzing town centre.

The Black Lion is a character‑packed, long‑loved pub right in the middle of Scarborough’s buzzing town centre. Just off the high street, this listed building pulls in loyal locals and a steady stream of tourists all year round, with great visibility and a solid £6,500 average weekly turnover to match. Inside, you’ll find two welcoming bar areas—one lively and traditional with pub games, the other a relaxed lounge perfect for easy socialising. Outside, guests can settle into the sunny front seating or the cosy rear beer garden, with room for around 30 covers in total. One of the Black Lion’s biggest and most exciting opportunities sits right upstairs: seven letting rooms that already bring in regular visitors but have so much more potential. Think breakfasts, simple evening meals, guest add‑ons and packages – there’s a huge chance to turn overnight stays into a major income driver. With the business currently trading around 90% wet and 10% rooms, there’s clear space to grow both the accommodation and food offer. The kitchen is fully equipped and ready to go, giving you the freedom to introduce anything from classic pub favourites to a compact, high‑margin menu that suits the area and the crowd. We’re genuinely flexible and committed to helping the right operator succeed. To give you a strong start, there’s an enhanced percentage available for up to the first six months, helping boost early cashflow while you build momentum. And if you stay six months, you’ll receive a £5,000 retention bonus too (T&Cs apply). With its central location, strong heritage, consistent trade and huge room upside, the Black Lion is packed with potential for someone who wants to put their stamp on a quirky, historic town‑centre pub. We’re open, flexible, and ready for a chat with anyone who thinks this could be their next big move. We understand that taking on your own pub business is an important decision. We are proud to operate under the provisions of the Pubs Code regulations (2016), by providing certain important information during the recruitment process which will enable you to make an informed decision about the pub business and the agreement which you are applying for. The recruitment process is structured to include meetings with our recruitment and operations team (virtually or in person). The process usually takes 3-6 weeks from application to offer, but varies depending on meeting dates, availability and information required for the completion of the business plan. For any of our partnership agreements you must have a personal licence to legally operate one of our pubs. We can help in the process of obtaining a personal licence through our partners at John Gaunt. A member of our recruitment team will be able to discuss this option with you as part of your application or enquiry. If you receive an offer from us, we will require payment of the full deposit at your earliest convenience. However, from time to time at the Regional Operations Managers discretion a part deposit payment may be made with an agreed deposit builder in place for the remaining amount. The deposit, or deposit builder, would need to be paid before the commencement of the agreement. Takings are banked in a Marston’s account in accordance with the agreements, to allow us to deduct our Management Charge. Your share (‘Retained Sum’) will be settled on a weekly basis. Any guaranteed annual Retained Sum is released on a weekly basis to you at the same time as your turnover % share Retained Sum. In any partner agreement pub with a Marston’s menu on offer there is no opportunity to put on your own version of food or specials due to allergies and food regulations. We do have a number of pubs that do not have a Marston’s menu in, and you are free to put on your own food menu. Marston’s are well aware that life doesn’t always go to plan, that’s why most of our Partnerships have an early termination clause which can be triggered by both parties. There is the option to give three or six months’ notice (depending on the agreement) for both parties and would need to be confirmed in writing to your Area Manager.