Golden Ball in Scarborough

Sam Smiths pub, so it was closed,

So sad too see the golden ball in Scarborough is closed

Permanently closed...and has been for a few years.

Been closed since 21 so this is way out of date

Never Open, haven't seen it open in years. No real shame though as it's a Sam Smith's pub where they have more rules than North Korea

This pub was one of the best in Scarborough but it is a shame it is still not open and no sign of opening hence the ratings

Not open Monday 3rd July at midday despite the pubs website saying 11am til 11pm. Oh well never mind.

Closed at minute but old fashioned pub mobiles laptops discouraged in pub no music needs a lot of tlc in my opinion

BORING, say no more. Sam smith pub.

I think this place is now closed, unfortunately

This place has been closed since Covid!

Not open yet open up very soon I hope great pub

The organic beer is the best you can get ..the golden ball.pub is the best historical clean loveley clean and staff the best lovley old world atmosphere. Ghost walk around please reopen the no notice of off putting rubbish reviews

Was shut and has been for some time. Reviews all out of date.

Closed and in darkness at a peak time of the day. Hopefully not another failed Sam Smiths pub? Getting all too common now.

Nice to relax in the big armchairs and have a drink

Phone free pub , no wi fi , cash only nice black lounge , good harbour view

Good old traditional pub with a fine view over the harbour. Not a wide range.of beer and no food.

£6 for a glass of wine wont be going back Rip off.

Character pub. Views over the harbour and out to sea. If you like Sam Smiths , which I do, it's a good price. Super staff...Will miss them. Good luck in Hartlepool. X

Best fish chowder and fish and chips with great view over the harbour..

Nice Sam smiths pub on the front in Scarborough. It's a Sam smiths so does what it says on the tin 👍 🍻

Went into the first pub we could find on Scarborough front, that didn't look like it was aimed at day-trippers (even though we were day-trippers), and it turned out to be a Sam Smith's. Not that it's a bad thing - I like Sam Smith's; you see life in Smith's pubs, and the beer is good and cheap as chips. The Landlady was lovely, and we were chatting to her and others in no time.

A little tired maybe but very pleasant with a nice atmosphere. Looks straight out over the harbour and they have a ban on swearing, phones and laptops etc. and they encourage "beer and conversation" like pubs years ago. Unfortunate that meals are not available but given the size it would be impractical. The lady behind the bar ( on the day that we there, anyway ) can sign, so very good if one us deaf.

Good pint, good.price, lovely view

Samuel smiths brewery- quiet in family room at 6pm Great staff - quick service

Enjoyed a lovely weekend in Scarborough...The Golden Ball is a lovely little place with lovely staff.

Proper pub... All chattering away... Not a phone in sight... Great ales.

Really like the staff lovely stout

Fantastic views across the harbour, good pint, friendly service.

Old fashioned pub, very good prices. No technology allow which is great you have to talk to each other

Very strange no mobile phones lap tops ipads allowed to be used in pub it was how a pub used to be you end up having to talk to each other even if it's to moan about not being allowed yo use mobile phones lap tops and ipads

I find it hard to understand why Sam Smiths pubs insist on only serving only their own beer. To me the greatest attraction of a pub is discovering an old favourite or something new and tasty. Whenever I get to the bar of a Sam Smiths pub and realise I am in one I am always disappointed. On top of the mediocre beer choice this pub was cash only which seems archaic given the last 18 months we have all endured! We found much better places to drink in Scarborough.

Samuel Smiths finest beers, cosy bar + quiz night on a Tuesday...enjoyment !!

Love this little gem of a pub, looking out into the harbour

Bit of a sad place,if you like real ale in a pub with no atmosphere then this place is for you.

Love this place very friendly 🙂

All real ales,not allowed to use mobiles etc, felt like we back at school. My beer tasted funny as well.

This place is in a great location. If you're in a group of people over 18 you'll be able to go into the over 18's bar, which overlooks the harbour. It is quite small however with about 7 tables, but great views if you get a window seat. The range of alcoholic drinks was somewhat limited, and related predominately to Samuel Smith brewery on the whole. Having said that, it was great to try different beers however. This place is like a labyrinth, with so many levels, rooms and a beer garden. What (personally) let's it down is the lack of atmosphere. There's no music, and its really quiet.....and they actively promote "no use of tech devices". If however you fancy somewhere quiet, then this place is ideal. Not overly priced, but there are cheaper places around too.

Brilliant pub cheap beer lovely staff Best of all an adults only room

Great place if you like real ale and don't mind stairs

No lap tops or phone's allowed and music boring

Very nice comfortable pub and very welcoming friendly staff.

lovely old pub right on the harbour .its a Samuels smith brewery stocked . So the ale is unreal . Loved our visit and staff are friendly to me mrs stayed for 2 or 3 before last orders ended our visit . Look forward to going back

Absolutely love love love the atmosphere here. I haven't been here for 4 years up until now. Phone free have a banter especially with staff and customers if your funny up for a laugh even better. Imogen staff lovely girl. Will definitely be coming back to the ball. Xx

5 stars says it all, very dog friendly, Archie loved it.

Great harbour with a fabulous view.

A Lovely pub, in a great location, right on the harbour. We always go in for a couple when in Scarborough 🍻

This iconic pub is situated by the harbour. Most people will not be aware this chain of Pubs are cash only, mobile phones are not encouraged, the cask beer range is very reasonably priced as are the spirit range & other alcoholic drinks. No food other than crisps, nuts etc but do not expect other heavily promoted beer brands! Little courtyard with benches at the back & something of a sun trap, called on a busy weekend & it seemed understaffed although could not fault staff who were there trying to cope with the numbers. No table service.

The most expensive Sam Smiths pub I have ever been in

I've been to hundreds of pubs, this is hands down the worst, there's signs saying you cannot swear(?) It's a pub, it's not a place for children, I went in to order a drink and literally EVERYONE is whispering, there's around 8 people in a room and you can hear a pin drop. The most ironic thing is that there's signs saying that you can't use phones or tablets as they encourage conversation, but nobody is talking past 3 decibels. Its the most surreal experience I have ever had in a pub and I got out of there as soon as we finished our drinks. Also two Gins were £15, I'd honestly rather just drink alone. The only thing I can say is the staff are friendly. AVOID.

Staff to good NO PHONES ALLOWED SO YOU HAVE TO TALK GREAT IDEA lovely wee pub try and get into the side with the fire n harbour view

Loved it,warm and friendly best place on earth 🌎

During virus emergency heat staff kept me safe.

Had a nice pint in here staff so friendly.

A top sam smiths pub just as it was before covi19 good staff and ale

Very very disappointed in this place!Prices inflated!!!Paid £5 10p for a pint of Sam Smith's and half a cider!!Have been in many many Sam Smith's pubs in different places and have never paid these prices!!!Also no mobile phones but the first thing they ask you is have you the test and trace app!Have been in this pub many times in the past and it was never like this!It was a click place anyway!!Wont be back!Felt like swearing but it's not allowed!!!just been looking on Sam Smith's brewery site and it seems it's their fault for all this not the tenants so I apologise!

Sam Smiths pub - no phones,no swearing ,no music - clean,good table service by lovely barmaid -is she married lol!

busy pub , great selection if drinks and I survived 2hrs without my phone

Always good atmosphere good beer vfm will always be back. Best in scarborough

Avoid avoid avoid... Totally unsociable.... We were told to take a seat because you can't order at bar and in 15minutes not 1 person took our order!!!!!!!!.... It wasn't even busy.... Crazy

Nice quiet pub with a suoerb view of the harbour from the front upstairs bar. The only issue we had was the beer. Samuel Smiths is an old favourite and, at £3.00 a pint, it was by no means pricey. It was therefore a huge disapointment to find that the beer was watery with no discernable taste. As I haven't had any Sam Smiths for a decade I have no idea whether the loss of taste is the fault of the brewery or this establishment. In these difficult times, and with Wetherspoons selling good quality real ales at really low prices, I can't see how any pub can maintain a thriving business with all but undrinkable beer.

Lovely friendly comfortable pub,great views

Do not do this Do not do that Do not sit there Do not talk in a loud voice Try not to breathe too loudly

I think the idea of this pub is that it is somehow supposed to be quaint. Unfortunately, it comes across as tired and outdated. No swearing signs. I get that, fine. No card payments. Daft. In these COVID times we need to be contactless. No mobile phones. I checked on my mobile for the nearest taxi rank, and was informed by the glass collector that ,“You’ll be barred”. In these days of ‘Track-and-trace’, app payments, and just needing to be in contact with loved ones, this pub comes across as sad and belligerent. Avoid.

Been in first time since lockdown. Prices have risen drastically.. £1.20 more for a pint of pure.. an was flat an not very nice. No track an trace inforced, seems like the people running it dont care. No sanitizing tables after people use them.. no social distancing. Should b reported tbh.

Been this pub last few years when in Scarborough but not as good now over price drinks compared to last time

A lot more expensive than before covid are you trying to to make all back this year and pocket what goverment gave you in 1 swoop

Its rubbish, you cant use phones,laptops tablets or anything like that, the people that own the place must be control freaks or something, you cant even call people lol

Pub coping well in circumstances

Nice traditional pub, cheap beer!

Lovely relaxing atmosphere and lovely beer

Update. Really good friendly NEW landlord and Landlady running this pub now. Normally our Local, until new years eve 2020' not any more..everyone kicked out before new year, more local people turned away who were hoping to see the new year in at the Ball, the hospitality was absolutely despicable and hostile and plain nasty . A special friend of ours drove all the way up from the south, a 10 hour drive...looking forward to a new years eve beer as soon as he arrived as planned in the Golden Ball. At the pub a Private party was starting at 11 for family only, so we knew it was going to be time to leave, we had no issue. , Our friend who is the jolliest kindest character simply said in passing as the glasses were getting cleared off the table '' why aren't we invited to the new year party'? he was spoken to with such hostility by the landlady in front of everybody. It is a quite pub , he explained he was only joking. The next Minuit the landlord/or glass collector who ever he was , appeared at our table and verbally attacked our friend with a sermon about his family party, a 70 year old does not need sermons. What a shame new years eve was spoilt by the hosts of OUR local pub. Won't spend another penny in here, won't arrange get together s in this pub anymore and will warn others about the way the golden ball has transformed from a friendly warm pub to a hostile pub. As a foot note Arthur Barred himself, and I will boycott the place with all our family and friends, Allen will return south, can't speak for him but I'll say me and Arthur will not step foot in here again, treating our friend like that and us having to listen to this bullshxx. My great grandparents , grandparents and my father used to frequent this old pub. and my grandmother used to clean it and our friends and family use it now...watch this space. This is one of the requisites asked for when running one of these pubs. (We want you out at the front, hosting the party!)

Great Sam Smiths pub 👍 No mobile allowed.... Only£1-38 a pint 🤗 Great pint 👍

Friendly pub,no phones,people actually speaking to one another. Great beers much cheaper than others in immediate area.

Good location, great beer, traditional friendly pub. Much better than the other harbour side pubs

Lively pub with lovely staff although i broke the rule in their time and time again taking photos haha

No phones or any kind of internet devices allowed while in here,great stuff. Very homely with open fire and great views over the sea. People very friendly and willing to have a conversation, worth a visit,once in there you won't want to leave.

Great Samuel Smith's traditional pub . They serve good beer at great prices the fruit beer is especially nice , cherry, apricot , strawberry and raspberry there is a no mobile phone rule which is enforced to make people talk to each not spend all their time on the internet . Some people dont like the rule but if you dont then dont go but the beer makes up for the lack of hand held technology .

Sam Smiths 👍👍 a Marmite Pub we found it pleasant and quiet chatted to locals

Great Sam Smith's Pub, best view in Scarborough.

Nice cosy Sam Smith's pub with delicious stout.

Been coming for years can't believe you can't use your phone won't be back lost some loyal customers

Fantastic traditional pub, no phones allowed so people actual have conversations. Sam Smith's beer £2 a pint. Can't wait to pop in again when I go to Scarborough

Always go to golden ball when on holiday. Good service great beer nice views from bar locals very welcoming

Lovely small bar area overlooking the harbour, coal fire in winter and Sam smiths at £2 pint. Can't go wrong methinks

A break from modernity with the Sam Smiths digital ban and with their best prices a true step back in time. A good place to go for a fair beer at a fair price and a good natter.

All ways vist this place when we call at Scarborough for a few days,nice people and good beer

No frills pub but clean and a nice pint. Staff nice.

Love this pub, Sam Smith's beer, great view over harbour and a very welcoming place.

Friendly. Inexpensive. Poor disabled entry

Typical Sam smiths ales cheap and cheerful, front up stairs gets packed quickly nice fire in the winter, service OK, no good if you don't do stairs

Love this place, especially the room overlooking the sea front. Good beer. Good atmosphere. No mobiles allowed. Good old fashioned talking. Yes.

I love that there's a no swearing, no mobile phone use and kids only in certain areas! Please never change these rules!

Great pub, lovely, warm and welcoming. Yes you can actually have a conversation without having to shout over the music.

Good pub, good beer, good prices and welcoming. However drops a star because of the mobile phone ban which is a bit draconian. Tried to look at maps in the pub rather than outside in the wind and rain to see where our restaurant was and it didn't go down well. Mobile phone chatter I can understand but other uses don't interfere with anyone.

Great beer at a great price - £2:30 for a pint of excellent lager. I'll be back again when I'm in the area.

Good beer+prices but far too many signs dictating what you can't do, no place for that in today's society

Only parked opposite outside of a friends house never been in this Pub.

Love this place great ales at a super price