Latest news with #GiulianAlonzi
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Harbour Bar: 'We've been here 80 years so we're doing something right'
Known for its 1950s American diner interior, yellow staff uniforms and Knickerbocker Glory sundaes, Scarborough's Harbour Bar has been serving up sweet treats in the seaside resort since the popular ice cream parlour celebrate 80 years in business the BBC paid a visit to find out more about its enduring appeal. Situated at the far end of South Bay Beach overlooking the West Pier, the Harbour Bar has been pulling in holidaymakers since it was opened by the Alonzi family at the end of World War owner Giulian Alonzi - who was born in the flat above - has been working at the shop on and off since he was just aged 77, over the intervening years he has come to know the business like the back of his hand."You get to the stage where you can walk through the building, you hear sounds and you know everything is OK," he says."Then you hear a different sound and you think, hang on what's going on? I have a sixth sense." The Harbour Bar was opened by Giulian's dad, Tony, mum Annie, and auntie, Lucy, in August 1945."My auntie used to drive trucks for a market gardener in Scarborough, who made a lot of money during the war," the owner explains. "We were a poor family and he financed us. I think it was about £7,000 and we were able to get these two properties, which were eventually knocked together."On the first day of business, the family could only open up shop for two hours due to rationing - but from day one it seems they were on to a winning formula."My father had certificates from the Ministry of Food, so he was able to get milk powder and sugar," Giulian says."He was also able to get black market milk from local farmers and managed to put together an ice cream recipe. "Within two hours, they had sold out, there was nothing left."The Alonzis took £48 on opening day - more than £2,600 in today's money - and were able to establish a successful business. From a young age Giulian said he and his two sisters were put to work, helping in the shop."I started when I was 12," he smiles."It's the finest thing that can happen to a child having a job, as long as they're looked after."I was quite popular with the visitors, I used to collect glasses. "On Saturday morning when they came into the Harbour Bar, they used to give me half crowns and two bobs which I used to spend in the amusements."Although Giulian went to Leeds to study accounting he soon came back to Scarborough to help out with the ice cream making. A few years later he met his wife Theresa, who has worked at The Harbour Bar for 46 years. "She was a great worker, that's why I married her," he laughs. In the heart of the parlour is a G-shaped bar lined with red stools, made to look like the first letter of Giulian's the years he says small, gradual changes have been made but the overall recipe is the same."The basic concept of people sitting around the bar, children coming in and standing on the stools and having an ice cream, everybody remembers that," he says. "We've changed the lino, we've changed the decorations but the layout and the way we do things have stayed the same."Although tempting to surrender to modern technology, Giulian decided against getting a coffee machine, choosing instead to stick to the old ways of making coffee that customers has also kept the yellow uniforms for the shop girls, inspired by the outfits worn by American diner girls he would see on TV."The yellow colour reminds people of The Harbour Bar, some people call them canaries," Giulian says. Giulian credits The Harbour Bar's success to the staff who work there. "You have to have a good idea but the most important thing is a good staff, and when you get good staff, you've got to look after them," he says. "We've been established a long time so I think we've got a bit of stamina but it's getting very tough in business."Among the staff working at the ice cream parlour is 24-year-old Molly Newham, who has been there for seven years. "I work here with my sisters, my grandma worked here for 35 years as well," she says."We'd come down here on Boxing Day because it's quite a big tradition and we'd spend quite a lot of the summer holidays here as well."Molly recalls getting a voucher from the kids club in the school holidays and sharing a big sundae with her grandparents."People have a lot of family memories associated with this place," she says four generations of a family sometimes work in the shop, as well as visit in the holidays. Asked why people keep returning, he adds: "I think it's trust because we give them good ice creams."When you've been here 80 years, you've been doing something right. "But you can't sit back, you've got to keep cleaning, keep opening, keep serving and that's what we do." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Daily Mirror
11-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Heatwave and dolphin double whammy give seaside town its best summer in 60 years
The repeated heatwaves have left Brits sweltering but given a much needed boost to Britain's tourist towns and cities, with Scarborough enjoying its best summer in 60 years The triple heat waves have been providing a tourism boost for Britain's seaside towns, with some saying it's the 'best they've seen in 60 years'. Businesses in Scarborough in North Yorkshire are jumping for joy thanks to a double whammy from the "amazing" sunshine - and the pods of dolphins who've set up home off their coast. As the UK swelters in the third heatwave this summer and 33C temperatures, Brits are being warned to take care in the sunshine with the UK said to be heading for the hottest July on record. But the heat has also given tourism a boost, leaving many UK seaside resorts rubbing their hands with glee. In recent times North Yorkshire and Redcar and Cleveland have seen a 'notable' rise in visitor numbers. Scarborough's Richard III pub owner Sara Griffiths, 60, said: 'When we get weather like this nobody can beat us. We are having a really good run. 'I think the weather is helping us no end, everyone likes the sun and it brings people out." She points out what Scarborough has to offer including several bays, beautiful gardens, pods of dolphins and the open air theatre bringing big name acts. 'There's a lot of people spotting the dolphins when they go out in the boats. We had a walrus last Christmas and it stayed for a few days. We're normally quiet in winter but everyone came to see that.' Giulian Alonzi, whose family have run the Harbour Bar, an American style ice cream parlour since 1945, described it as the best it's been in 60 years. His parents and aunt started the business in 1945 and it's their 80th anniversary this year in August. 'It's getting back to the old-day feel of the 1960s. I think the UK has improved, there's nicer businesses. It's really cool. It's the best it's been in 60 years, we are getting the rewards of this sunshine and for being patient." He says the dolphins have helped too, which can be spotted most days. 'The dolphins are all out in the bay swimming around. They can't afford to go abroad these days! He jokes. He also says people feel a lot safer at home not wanting to risk the wildfires in Greece. 'Obviously when the sunshine is out we sell ice cream. We have queues and queues, sometimes with maybe 70 or 80 people in, they are long but people are being orderly. They may have to wait ten to 15 minutes but they know at the end of that there's a fantastic treat. 'This sun is absolutely amazing. Even the evenings are pleasant. People want to be happy and ice cream makes them happy, it's a happy food. 'It is one of the best times for years and years but you've got to remember a lot of businesses were obliterated during covid. The furlough scheme saved me.' Retired solicitor Stuart Baines, 66, who runs the Scarborough Porpoise Facebook page and is a Sea Watch Foundation member, started recording wildlife 15 years ago and says the dolphins off the coast are encouraging visitors from around the country. 'The dolphins weren't around when I started, that's a recent thing. We'd get 3 or 4 sightings a year off Scarborough and last year that was 600 sightings. They enjoy the Yorkshire coast and most days they are off Scarborough. 'More people are visiting from all over the country to see the dolphins. We've had people from the Midlands come up. They have got a lot of attention. The dolphins are bottle nosed dolphins and are four metres long. They are very animated and real showstoppers. 'There's a north sea population of more than 200 but we seem to get them most days. I've seen some this morning and there were 20 to 30 in that group. 'I think it's given Scarborough an all year round boost because they are here in the quieter season too. Scarborough doesn't need the sun to bring people here but it's popular at the moment too because of the heatwave.' Rudi Barman, who runs Scarborough speed boat rides, agrees the sunshine and several pods of dolphins, have helped keep visiting numbers healthy. 'The dolphins are 100 per cent helping tourism. You can see it on Marine Drive, the coastal road. One morning there was a huge crowd of 100 people watching the dolphins. We're very lucky and have seen them nearly every day last 3 weeks 'This week we've seen 3 or 4 minke whales. It's a great sign the sea's alive and there's wildlife out there. The sunshine also helps bring in the visitors as Scarborough has three different bays and a lot going on. 'I have been running speed boat rides for ten years and we've always seen dolphins here and there but in the last few years several pods of dolphins have started hanging round Scarborough and the local wildlife expert says once they have calves they never leave. It's wonderful to see we see amazing displays backflips 'They often come up to the boat and eyeball us and play with the wash. They're incredibly inquisitive and playful.' Helen Roberts, who owns Oliver's Fish and Chip restaurant in Redcar with her husband, Michael, said: 'When it's sunny it brings people out. We are getting prepared for a busy weekend, the sun does increase footfall. They come in on the trains and buses. 'We do have a really nice beach and promenade but the High Street is horrendous and long term we need to attract customers all year round. The council needs to sort out parking charges that are excessive and we have so many parking attendants. They go round in twos. It's a crying shame." More than 32 million people visited North Yorkshire during 2024, a 3.8% increase on the previous year, according to North Yorkshire Council. The authority said the tourism sector was worth more than £4bn annually, supporting more than 38,000 full-time jobs. North Yorkshire Council say an 'increasing number of people' are coming to the country. New figures have shown that the tourism sector is worth in excess of £4 billion every year. The data has revealed that 32.2 million people came to North Yorkshire in 2024 including both day and overnight visitors, which is an increase of 3.8 per cent on 2023. The visitor economy supports more than 38,000 full-time jobs in the county The council's leader, Cllr Carl Les, said: 'The new figures clearly show just how important the visitor economy is to North Yorkshire. We are blessed with some of the most beautiful locations anywhere in the country."
