THE Scarborough Hotel looks set to re-open before Easter reports the

Illawarra Mercury.

The Illawarra’s oldest pub closed early February after the former operators’ lease expired.

The sudden closure shocked the close knit community, leaving the far northern Illawarra ‘publess’ from Austinmer to Stanwell Park.

The 125 year old watering hole will be operated by 2PS Corporation, whose director Penny Ball is the marketing coordinator at the Illawarra Hotel, Wollongong.

The new operators say they plan to reconnect with the community, expanding the food menu and ridding the Scarborough of its 12 gaming machines.

No major renovations are planned and beer is expected to be flowing by April 6.

– Mick Roberts