Yarborough Hunt

The Yarborough Hunt is a real-ale pub which was built in the 1700s and has re-opened after an extensive and painstaking restoration.

Camra pub of the season, Autumn 2003

Tuesday, 28 October 2003

Award presentation

On Sunday 26 October at 12 noon there was a presentation of the Scunthorpe CAMRA Pub of the Season 2003 to the Yarborough Hunt. Here is how it was written up in 'Iron Brew' - the magazine of the Scunthorpe branch of CAMRA:

Our Pub of the Season for Autumn 2003 is the Yarborough Hunt in Brigg. Conceived by Blyton businessman and CAMRA member Martin Robertson. this former Sargeant's brewery tap, which closed in 1967, was sympathetically restored to its former glory earlier this year, finally opening in May. Many of the original features have been retained, such as the timber beams over the bar, and the pub has an old-fashioned look and feel in the best sense of the word.

The long-forgotten art of conversation is not only possible here. but is encouraged. The design is open-plan, but segregated to provide four separate drinking areas, including one where families are welcome. Carefully chosen artefacts of Brigg's past are displayed on the walls to enhance the sense of history, and the pub is a welcoming, relaxing haven in which to unwind.

Tom Wood's Highwood Brewery supplies the beer, and Scott Melin is the licensee / manager. Scott was previously in charge at a Cleethorpes pub called the Railway. The Yarborough offers three regular cask ales Batemans XXXB (4.8% ABV), Tom Wood Best Bitter (3.5% ABV) and Greene King IPA (3.6%), supplemented by two changing guest beers. Belgian beers Leffe and Hoegaarden are also available on draught, plus a real cider and a selection of (mainly Belgian) bottled beers. Unusually the pub has no lager or food, although customers are welcome to bring in their own sandwiches.

There is also an attractive walled garden/patio, with wooden seating complete with a large gas patio heater for colder days. The Yarborough has already received a Brigg Civic Award for its excellent restoration. The pub is open 12-11pm (closed 2-4pm Mon-Wed) and 12-1030pm on Sunday.

Mark Elsome

Iron Brew can be contacted by email at: mark.elsome@ntlworld.com or by telephone on (Scunthorpe) 331056. You can become a member of CAMRA either by contacting Iron Brew or by writing to: Membership Secretary, CAMRA, 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL1 4LW.

Civic Award 2003

Monday, 22 September 2003

Martin Robertson (right) is seen here after receiving the Civic Award for his work - together with his colleagues - in restoring the Yarborough Hunt Public House.

The award recognises the many years of work put into the restoration and is thoroughly deserved. The pub is now a 'landmark building' for our town and is fast becoming a tourist attraction. Congratulations, Martin, Penny, Dave and everyone who helped ...

News: The Yarborough Hunt re-opens

21 May 2003

The Yarborough Hunt has re-opened (Wed. 21 May 2003). The new pub is shown on the left and has both the old Sergent's and the new Tom Wood's signs.

Pictured (right) are Scott Melin - the manager - and Hannah - PA of the Yarborough Hunt. Brigglife raises a glass to the new hostelry. Cheers!

News: Yarborough Hunt reborn

3 February 2003

Martin Robertson (Right) is a practical man with vision. Most people seeing a dilapidated building apparently fit only for levelling would have been daunted. Back in 1977 when he stepped through the empty doorway for the first time (the doors having been removed by the vandals who had stripped the property of everything worth taking) he must have wondered what he was taking on. 10 years had passed after the Yarborough Hunt closed in 1967 and the building had been reduced to a shell. Two complete renovations later, the owner of R&R Reclamation is set to do the ultimate form of recycling: to recycle the building back to its former use - a pub.

This Easter the pub on Bridge Street is due to open its doors once again to the Brigg public after nearly two years of renovation (helped by brother Andy left) with its original name: The Yarborough Hunt. Martin, however, will not be becoming a landlord. Instead the well-known local real-ale brewery owned and run by the Wood family will be taking over the tenancy.

Two years seems like a long time, but when you see the attention to detail that has gone into the restoration you realise where all that time and effort went. As far as possible, Martin has tried to re-use and recycle materials within the pub which gives an authentic atmosphere (unlike the many chain-pub conversions seen). In particular, the main room at the back (right) has an open, airy feeling with nothing to interrupt the view of the wooden beamed roof - the first floor having been taken back to its beams.

One side of the pub - the lounge and toilet area - was formerly a greengrocers. Martin's memory of helping the owner of this shop Ron Winterbottom to take his sacks of potatoes outside being the only reminder of its existence: the shop's window having been restored to its former Georgian frontage (Left). The lounge area may be named "Ron's" to commemorate the former greengrocer.

In one corner of the former shop, stands the new pub sign (Right: before it blew down in the gales), which is as close as possible to that originally hung by Sergeants Brewery. The original sign-mount still exists and is used on the White Hart, but the brewery, which used to stand behind the Yarborough Hunt, has long ago been demolished as have many houses and buildings to make space for Brigg's internal traffic relief road, Ancholme Way.

The former landlord's house, which is attached to the back of the pub, has been converted to a 'back room' - suitable for parties and meetings. (Left: back yard / beer garden under construction) Every part of the building is loaded with history, and Martin is busy gathering memories, historical records and physical remnants and reminders; with the intention of placing them on display within the pub. The Yarborough Hunt has stood on Bridge Street in Brigg since being built in the early 1700's for the Earl of Yarborough. Martin will bring this piece of Brigg's history back to life and keep it going for future generations of drinkers.

It is not only the building which is being preserved, but also the tradition of locally brewed beers. The Wood family have been seeking a suitable pub within Brigg to serve their own range of excellent beers. In the Yarborough Hunt they have found the perfect venue. (Right: Martin and Andy celebrate)

They will also be importing some of the best ideas from our continental neighbours: craftsman-made beers from Belgium and further afield and an element of the 'terrace lifestyle' in a beer garden at the back of the pub, which will have special patio warmers to take the chill off the air as their customers enjoy their beers outside in the summer evenings. Martin's vision will be complete. (Left: Dave the builder takes a break)