Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Blackthorn _ left this review about Whitby Brewery
This brewery was a very pleasant and unexpected find, having walked up the 199 steps from the town to the abbey and having no idea that it was here. Clearly plenty of people do know about it though, since the good sized outside seating area was pretty much full to capacity.
Internally it consists of a small room to the left which has little apart from the bar counter and some merchandise racks, and the brewery itself to the right which also has quite a bit more seating. The small bar area is quite rustic, with rough wooden boards cladding the bar counter and a solid slab of wood on top, with green glazed tiling on the walls. There were plenty of black beams on the ceiling, although whether these were structural, or just for show, I’m not sure. The brewery area had rough concrete on the floor, tables made from old pallets and seats made from old barrels with a cushion fitted on top. There was a large stage area at one end complete with lighting rigs and speakers, so music obviously features here on occasions. Large glazed windows give a great outlook over the abbey whilst the brewery equipment itself was clearly visible all along the back wall.
Beers on tap were all their own as would be expected, and on this occasion consisted of Whitby Whaler, Smugglers Gold, IPA, Abbey Blonde, Jet Black and Saltwick Nab, with the latter two both going down well. The solitary cider meanwhile was Stowford Press. Overall, I really liked this, the staff were friendly, the atmosphere relaxed and chilled and the beer good. The fact that I stumbled across it by accident is another bonus.
On 12th July 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2060 recommendations about 1962 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Whitby Brewery
Set high above the town in a series of buildings opposite the attractive Whitby Abbey, this is an impressive brewery taproom showcasing the wares of the town’s eponymous brewery. The servery can be found in a small room to the left of the main building – a rather inconspicuous space with a plain counter to the rear, surrounded by shelving full of the brewery’s bottled beer, much of which is in gift packs, making this feel more like a shop than a bar. The brewery is in a much larger room through a door to the right with floor to ceiling windows along the front, some of which are folding doors that can be opened out on a nice day, allowing plenty of light into the room. The brewing kit is mostly confined to the rear, allowing plenty of space at the front for a load of tables made from old pallets and stools comprised of upturned kegs with big cushions on top. As this kind of brewery taproom goes, it’s not the worst place to have an on-site drink, but what really elevates this place is the excellent gravel courtyard outside the front of the building, which offers four rows of large picnic benches and a few large upturned barrels from which to sample your beer should the weather permit. All outdoor seats come with a top-class view of the abbey and we enjoyed sitting out here as the sun slowly set after we’d spent a bit of time exploring the abbey itself. There’s a rather rustic toilet block to the left of the courtyard which I noticed a few swallows flying in and out of and when I popped in before leaving, I saw that they were nesting up in the eaves, with a few hungry chicks poking their heads out of the nests.
They had four of their beers available on cask – Abbey Blonde, IPA, Saltwick Nab and Jet Black. I tried a pint of the IPA, which I thought was okay, and a quick half of the Jet Black, which is probably my favourite of theirs. The staff were all really friendly and the place was doing a roaring trade on a lovely sunny afternoon.
I found Whitby Brewery beers a bit hit and miss during my time sampling them around the town, but the two I tried here were as good as any and this combined with the superb location and good service made for a very enjoyable visit. Whether I would have felt the same had I visited on a cold and wet evening, I can’t really say, but there was enough here to suggest it’s worth making a bit of effort to check out.
On 16th November 2021
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Whitby Brewery
Mid-sized brewery tap located in an old looking but fairly modern building opposite the ancient abbey, you enter into a tiny room with a servery (four pulls and bottle shop) then can pass through into the brewing area which is set out with pallet tables and seating on plastic casks. The tables are covered in graffiti so don’t forget a pen, an LP record topped with a bottle of artificial flowers decorates each table. Other than some of the brewing vessels and a pizza oven, there’s a small stage which on this occasion housed a drum set. Additional seating and toilets are outside. It’s the brewery tap so presumably the beer’s as good as it’s going to get.
On 14th November 2021
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3599 recommendations about 3279 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about Whitby Brewery
Through the previously mentioned glass doors you are faced with four hand pumps all from Whitby brewery. I had a fine IPA @ 5.2% ABV. The room to the right has been opened up to provide far more seating. It's just a shame where it is as this place is well worth coming back to.
On 28th January 2020
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Delboy 20 left this review about Whitby Brewery
Well worth the trek up the 199 steps! 3 beers on when I visited. I went for the IPA which was excellent.
On 21st July 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1821 recommendations about 1692 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Whitby Brewery
Tiny bar in one corner of the brewery, there are only two tables/5 chairs and limited standing space. There are some benches outside if the weather is fine.
Fine location nest to the Abbey and high on the cliff. Accessed through the farm/brewery yard and then via a sliding glass door. There is a display case showing the bottles you can purchase.
3 beers were on during my visit and the quality was exceptional!
Opening times 11am -5pm
On 6th April 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1542 recommendations about 1519 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Whitby Brewery
The brewery is in an industrial unit on a clifftop site a stone's throw from Whitby's iconic ruined abbey. The recently established shop and micropub can be found in a corner of the building, with the door to the brewery left open for visitors to see. The bar was apparently acquired from a private house: the owner having been forced to give up alcohol was obliged to sell his bar counter.
There are three hand pumps on the bar, and a selection of bottles, gift packs and glasses for sale on a small shelf unit near the door. Half a dozen seats and some tables complete the set up. Beers are all sold at £3 a pint or per 50cl bottle. The pub keeps shop hours - 10am to 5pm, which is understandable given its location at the top of Whitby's 199 steps and consequent lack of passing trade in the evenings.
Signs have been placed outside the abbey entrance and along the road - but beware, either strong winds or mischief makers may lead to the signs pointing towards a footpath which ends at a gate with another sign: "trespassers will be shot". This is not the way to the brewery.
On 9th January 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]