Scarborough is preparing for an invasion of visitors the likes of which the Victorians could never imagine when they settled in the genteel seaside resort and made it their preferred place to holiday 160 years ago.
The oldest seaside resort in the UK is preparing to shrug off its reputation as the Grand Dame of coastal Britain, changing out of its bathing suit and into its wetsuit to host the UK Professional Surfing Festival on October 1 and 2 for the first time, neatly shifting Yorkshire from the 'Knightsbridge of the North' to the Newquay of the North.
Hundreds of the UK's best surfers will be in action over the first weekend of October on Scarborough's North Bay, a place more commonly associated with deckchairs than dudes, competing to win the UK Professional Surfing title.
Quite what the afternoon tea takers along Scarborough's esplanade and coach parties visiting the castle will make of the tribes of surfers, the accompanying skateboarders, BMX bikers and bands who will also be a part of the festival, remains to be seen, but that is the point. Scarborough wants to diversify because it recognised almost 10 years ago that the town's appeal was fading and, some would say, stagnant.
Hosting the UK national surfing tour is another initiative to encourage further regeneration in the town and attract a younger crowd to stay and spend their money in Scarborough, part of a project started in 2002 by Yorkshire Forward, the Regional Development Agency - in partnership with the residents and the borough council - which designated Scarborough a pilot Urban Renaissance town.
Since then Scarborough has undergone a significant programme of updating with millions of pounds spent on restoring some of the town's fading former glories such as the Spa refurbishment and the recent reopening of the Open Air Theatre, the largest in Europe, by her Majesty the Queen.
Surfing might not be the traditionalists cup of tea but the organisers will be hoping it encourages a new generation of holidaymakers to choose Scarborough as their seaside resort of choice, proving that there is room for coach parties and campervans along Scarborough's historic promenades.
Guest blogger Lewis K Cooper is a travel writer.
