A curving city centre hostelry, perfectly placed for both commuters and football fans. Built on the site of an 18th-century manor house, the Scarborough’s seedy appearance belies its tasteful country house-style interior and its very debonaire clientele. Lunchtimes are bustling with well-heeled local workers supping sneaky pints in their suits. Slap bang in front of the train station. The olde-worlde windows afford a charming view of belching vehicles clogging up the major traffic arteries of Neville Street and Swinegate. A good place to stop for a drink when your train’s been delayed. Perfectly pleasant pub grub (served Mon to Sat 11.30-5pm) such as chicken and bacon salad (£3.50) and steak pie (£3.75) at impressively, low prices. Visit before 5pm and you can get two mains for a fiver. Alternatively just help yourself to the free bowls of crinkly crisps on the bar - remember, the seventh generation urine rule doesn’t apply if you scoff the whole bowl before anyone else can touch it. A selection of fine ales with silly names, my personal favourite was the York Brewery’s Wet 'n' Wild at just under two quid a pint. Those with no sense of adventure can content themselves with Guinness, Grolsch, Calsberg and Tetley’s, while sophisticates should try a glass (or even a bottle) of Hardy’s Stamp or Blossom Hill wine.