Plans have been revealed to transform a village building into a ‘vibrant and inclusive’ food and community hall.
The owners of Wilsons Food Hall in Seamer have won a tender to acquire Newby and Scalby Community Hall near Scarborough.
Louise and Adrian Wilson plan to turn the building into Wilsons Food & Community Hall, a go-to destination for all ages, backgrounds and abilities.
They recently won the tender to acquire the hall, which dates from 1922, from the Newby and Scalby Community Hall Trust.
Adrian said: “We are excited to become the new owners of this historic local building.
“Our vision is to create a vibrant and inclusive community hub while continuing the hall’s legacy as a space for local clubs, activities and social engagement.”
The 4,000 sq ft hall, located in the village of Scalby, was previously run by Scarborough Borough Council before ownership was transferred to the trust.
It’s Louise and Adrian’s second business in the area. They opened Wilsons Food Hall in November 2024, which has quickly became a success.
Wilsons is a popular all-day bistro combining a café, deli, wine bar, bakery and takeaway, which champions local and regional independent producers. Central to its success is its team of 27 staff, aged from 14 to over 70.
Wilsons Food Hall was also recently crowned best Start Up Business at the prestigious FSB and HSBC Small Business Growth Awards for Yorkshire, The Humber and the North East.
Louise said: “We’re passionate about creating strong community spaces that people can feel proud of. Wilsons Food Hall is highly valued by local residents – and we want to replicate that in Scalby.
“Our vision is to expand even further our involvement within the community, and learn from all the engaging and supporting activities and projects already implemented within the Seamer village and its surroundings.
“The hall will continue to serve as a base for local clubs while also hosting food-related events, community meals, educational workshops and social gatherings.
“And we want to improve and upgrade the facilities of the hall to provide showering and washing facilities for local sports clubs, such as the local Scalby tennis and bowls clubs, giving them a provision similar to that of a clubhouse.”
Other possible additions include a café, local food initiatives and small-scale commercial opportunities that fund community activities.
Adrian added: “We want to build on our success with Wilsons Food Hall, where we’ve created a safe, welcoming space for the community to work, rest, relax, socialise and catch up.
“Our aim is for Wilsons Food & Community Hall to be a go-to destination for the village, offering a mix of sport, recreational activities, crafts, fairs and entertainment featuring singers and pianists, and opportunities for private celebrations, like birthdays, baby showers and group meetings.”
Adrian and Louise are holding a meeting where residents can ask questions in Newby and Scalby Community Hall on Thursday, 25 June from 2pm to 5.30pm.
“We encourage residents to come to the event to meet us,” said Louise. “We’re here to listen to your ideas and discuss any worries, and we’d love to share our vision. We’re looking forward to making the hall a thriving and welcoming hub for everyone in the village.”
For more information on the event, residents can email: [email protected]
