Welcome to the Blue House

We are delighted to welcome you to our wonderful seaside cottage and really wish you have a fabulous time here.

The house was built in the 1700s and has lots of original features, some quirky ones. The wall mural above the wood burner was one of many in the cottage, most now beneath panels, depicting Scarborough at the time of painting at the end of the eighteenth century. 

We hope you enjoy as much as we do, the lovely views down the coast, the peace and quiet in this little oasis of calm, and the proximity to all that Scarborough has to offer.

Need Help?

If you have any questions or problems then please contact our caretaker and property letting agent, Spa Properties, on 01723 375289. Further contact details in your booking confirmations.

Useful Information

Parking

  • Private parking in front of The Blue House is big enough for one medium sized family car.  
  • Also park for free on Garibaldi Street up to 2 hours with a parking disc (in dining area cupboard – please return them for the next guests). Good for visitors or unloading.
  • Closest paid parking is on the corner of Longwestgate and Queen Street (bottom of the steps, turn right).
  • St Mary’s Church (top of steps) also open their field for paid parking in season.
  • Free parking is possible on Northstead Manor Road near Peasholme Park and some of the side streets off Filey Road on the North Cliff.  At least 30 minutes walk, so if you arrive in more than one car, unpack at the house with a disc and then move.

Wi-Fi

  • Our wi-fi network login details are available in the house information pack, not in the online version.
  • We have 3 wi-fi access points to improve coverage. Please don’t turn them off.

Central Heating & Hot Water

  • Hot water is available whenever you need it. 
  • Heating temperature is controlled automatically on a time schedule. 
  • If you need to adjust the temperature, press the round button at the bottom corner of the thermostat on the hall wall, and then touch the up or down arrows that appear.

Fires, Candles, Oil Burners etc

  • Our 2 open fires and wood burner stove are no longer in use for safety reasons.
  • For your own safety, we advise against the use of candles, oil burners, incense.  Never leave such things unattended.

Smoking

  • Smoking or vaping is not permitted anywhere inside the house. 
  • Smoking on the decking is also prohibited – dry leaves, seagull feathers and wooden decking don’t mix well with hot ash or cigarettes.

BBQs

  • BBQs are fine on the area outside the back door with the solid non-slip surface
  • For your own safety, please do not use BBQs on the decking.

Television

  • Our 2 televisions each have Freeview TV and a Roku streaming device with Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video and many other services.
  • When you first access Roku, after selecting your departure date, you can log into any of the streaming services your own logins.  On your departure date, you’ll be automatically logged out of all services to protect your privacy ready for new guests arriving.

Laundry

  • The kitchen washing machine is easy to operate.  You’ll need your own detergent.
  • The dryer is in the basement at the back of the dining area.  Mind your head as you go in, and again as you go down the stairs. 

Dishwasher

  • There are a small number of tablets under the sink.  If you need more, any brand is fine.

Bins

  • General and recycling bins are below the oven.  Please empty these into the wheelie bins in the parking area.  Recycling needs to be loose in the blue bin, no bags allowed.
  • Bin collection day is Friday morning, please move the bins onto the pavement in front of your car so they can be accessed without risk of damage.

Electricity Fuse Box

  • The fuse box is on your left just inside the basement door.  Mind your head! 
  • 2 torches at the bottom and mid stairs can be used, please return them to their cradles.

Water Stop Tap

  • The water stop tap is under the sink, lower right.

Beach Things

  • Sturdy hooks outside the kitchen door are ideal for hanging wetsuits to drip. Please rinse them outside using a plastic laundry bucket.
  • Storage for your drier wetsuits, body boards and other beach equipment is available in the basement.
  • We’ve also left a few things which you’re welcome to use, please return them after.

Looking for Something Else?

  • Books and games are available for you to enjoy, please return them before you leave.
  • Spare bulbs, first aid kit and a few other things are in the dining area cupboards.
  • Deckchairs and some cleaning equipment are in the boiler cupboard.
  • Other larger things like sunbeds are in the basement.
  • Please don’t leave the sun umbrella unattended, it could blow away and hurt someone.

Checking Out

  • Checkout is 10am, at which time our cleaning team will need access to the parking area.
  • No need to do your own deep clean but please put the dishwasher on empty your bins.
  • Make sure you’ve taken all your possessions – check drawers, hooks, washer & dryer, toiletries, food, fridge freezer, chargers in sockets, side of sofas…

Feedback – Our Guest Book

  • We would love to hear how you enjoyed your holiday, please drop us an email at holidays@the-blue-house.co.uk and let us know.
  • If you’d like us to keep you updated with special offers, reduced rates, late availability, and any other news about the house, please do sign up to our mailing list at www.the-blue-house.co.uk
  • We won’t be sending too many emails, and you can unsubscribe any time.

Local Amenities

Health

  • Doctor – Belgrave Surgery
    Address: 1A Belgrave Crescent, Scarborough YO11 1UB
    Phone: 01723 361279
  • Dentist – Smile Dental Care Scarborough
    Address: 26-28 Falsgrave Road, Scarborough YO12 5AT
    Phone: 01723 413110
  • Chemist – Cohens Chemist
    Address: 1A Belgrave Crescent, Scarborough YO11 1UB
    Phone: 01723 379659
  • Hospital A&E – Scarborough Hospital A&E
    Address: Westborough, Scarborough YO11 1NB
    Phone: 01723 226600

Supermarkets

  • Sainsbury’ s, Falsgrave Rd, YO12 5EA.
  • Aldi, Northway, YO12 7AB
  • Tesco, Westwood, YO11 2PN.

Pubs

  • The Merchant, 27-29 Eastborough
  • Leeds Arms, 26 St Marys

Restaurants

  • Tricolos (Italian), 36-37 Newborough.
  • Ask Italian – by the harbour.
  • Many others around town.

Cafes

  • Cafe View, 57 Eastborough, YO11 1NH. Beautiful views, delicious coffee and cake
  • The Lookout, side of the harbour above the fish market. Great coffee and breakfasts

Take Aways

  • We no longer accumulate menus – they go out of date so quickly.
  • Deliveroo have many options with delivery to the door.

Things to Do

  • The North Bay (attractions including Peasholm Park, Alpermare water park, Sealife Centre, crazy golf, Open Air music venue, wonderful beach etc) is up the steps and through the Churchyard. The Castle is on your right. The cliff is left then right, or right then left – either work.
  • The South Bay (attractions including another fine beach, the harbour, amusement park, slot machines, pool and 10 pin bowls at the Olympia, the Ferris wheel in season, Spa theatre and conference centre) is down the steps, turn left to the end then right.
  • Town and its many shops are down the steps, turn right, first left to the market, then right up to the main shopping area.
  • There are many other routes and places to visit – Google maps, TripAdvisor and the internet are your friend.
  • It’s also a wonderful town to just walk around and explore.

Fire & Emergency Procedures

Fighting Fires

  • Only attempt to put out a fire with extinguishers of fire blanket if it is small and contained.
  • In the event all larger fires, don’t attempt to fight the fire except to clear your route for safe exit.

Main Exit Routes

  • Your safest route will normally be to leave via the front door to the parking area and wait for the Fire Service on the opposite pavement.
  • If this is unpassable, aim for the back door from the kitchen to the decking, out the gate and onto the alley way, then turn right onto the road.
  • Leave the door keys in their locks when the doors are locked, or close by. Ensure all occupants know where they are.
  • Keep both doorways free from obstructions in case of an emergency. 
  • If evacuating from upstairs, collect fire extinguishers and emergency torches on the way down if needed to help your escape.
  • Wake or alert other occupants and assist their evacuation as you pass.
  • If you cannot get downstairs, head for one of the bedrooms which is free of fire and smoke.  Once all remaining occupants are inside the room, close the door, put a duvet or towels at the base of the door to hold back smoke whilst you open the window to call for help.

Exit by Window

  • Open the lower half of the sash window to ease your escape. 
  • First open the lower secondary glazing by sliding it upwards.
  • Then turn anticlockwise the Sash locking bolt with your fingers until it is loose enough to flick up out of its latch. 
  • If you need to remove the secondary glazing completely, squeeze the 2 tabs at the top, pull the pane inwards from the top and lift it out.
  • Once you’ve unlocked the sash, or if it was not already in the locked position, slide the lower sash upwards.  If it’s difficult push from below on the upper part of the wooden frame.
  • This will allow you to climb out or be rescued by the fire service.
  • Lower bedroom window enables unaided exit onto the shallow-sloping roof of the kitchen, and a drop from as little as 7 feet.
  • Middle bedroom faces the road and enables assisted exit by ladder.
  • Top bedroom is the worst option, but assisted exit with ladder is still possible.

Fire Alarms

Heat, smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms are all interlinked so that if one detects a possible emergency, all the alarms will sound.

  • The alarm is tested regularly and tests monitored and recorded remotely.
  • To silence a false alarm, press the Hush button on the remote control on the cupboard next to the Fire Blanket in the kitchen.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Exit Procedure

  • Carbon Monoxide alarms are in the kitchen and boiler cupboard.
  • You should exit swiftly through the front door and call the fire service out.  Keep the door open for ventilation.
  • You will not need fire extinguishers, nor not need to consider a window exit. 
  • If the CO detectors sound individually without raising the alarm in every room, it signals a possible elevated but not critical level of CO.
  • In this scenario, check the screen on the CO detector and make a note of the level, or take a photo.  Then withdraw, open doors and windows for ventilation, and call the caretaker (see page 1) to arrange a specialist call out.

Fire extinguishers

  • There are 3 extinguishers – located
  • Inside the top toilet room
  • On the landing outside the lowest bedroom
  • In the dining area next to the basement door
  • These locations will enable all occupants to make their way down to the exit doors, clearing the route of fire.
  • The extinguishers can be used on all types of household fire, whether electrical, solids, liquids and gases.  You can expect less than 10 seconds spraying out of each extinguisher so be prepared to make it effective. 
  • To remove an extinguisher from its holder, simply pull the end of the plastic belt keeping it in its holder, pull away from the extinguisher and it will unclip.
  • Once you have the extinguisher and encounter a fire on your exit route, follow the PASS acronym:

Pull the Pin in the handle to make it ready

Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire

Squeeze the trigger to the handle to spray

Sweep the spray to the burning areas, moving forward to clear your route if safe to do so.

Safety Lights and Torches

  • 2 safety lights on the stairs come on when motion is detected. In a power cut, these automatically turn on the brighter torch light which lasts for 3 hours.
  • One light is outside the middle bedroom providing light up the stairs to the top bedroom and down the stairs to the bottom bedroom.
  • The second light is in the hallway at the bottom of the stairs, providing light up the stairs to the lowest bedroom and down the stairs to the kitchen.