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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 15th June 2025) with aleandhearty
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Ian Mapp
Submitted on Thursday, 5th June 2025
With picture contributions to 1331 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (22 more images)
Detail Pages
The Birch Hall Inn, Whitby
Beck Hole
Postal town: Whitby
YO22 5LE
Served areas
Reviews of The Birch Hall Inn (Average Rating: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Ian Mapp left this review about The Birch Hall Inn
I walked the Inn Way to the North Yorkshire Moors 8 years ago - basically a 6-7 day pub crawl over 80 odd miles. I was looking forward to my visit here but the itinerary had be arrive either on a day it didnt open or had just closed. Remained on my bucket list since.
Back in the area this week, so made sure to consult the opening times - having failed to notice it is cash only! A 5 mile walk from Goathland (not the direct route) and we arrived at midday Thursday to see the front door open. Then I saw the cash only sign. But wait, I have some shrapnel for parking in my rucksack. Would you believe to the penny it was the correct amount for a 2 drink round and a packet of Rhubarb and Custard from the sweeet shop that bisects the pub :-)
The currently landlady has run the place for 44 years, taking over from someone who ran it for 54 years. The smaller bar was locked but the bigger bar (four tables!) was open and we sat in the corner having a lengthy chat to the landlady through a serving hatch. Like one of those offsales holes you got in pubs in the before the 80s.
Two real ales on - I went for the house Beck Watter - a brown ale. Excellent condition.
Impossible for me to be so glib as to rate. As an experience, it was wonderful. As a local, would I be fed up with the tourists? Maybe this is why it doesnt open on a Saturday.
I'll load plenty of photos. Not sure how many will be accepted!
On 5th June 2025
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1607 recommendations about 1584 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Birch Hall Inn
Absolutely splendid little pub in an idyllic location by a stone bridge over the rocky river. The main action is in the little public bar, which has not so much a bar as a hatch through to the ancient sweetshop and general stores next door, with the same person serving at both. The ceiling is brown painted boards and the walls have antique floral wall paper. To say the furnishing is traditional is an understatement - the benches round the sides have ancient cushions, with a handful of old dining chairs to help out. Somehow a dartboard is squeezed in the middle, but there isn't really room to play if there are more than half a dozen customers. An old gas lamp hangs over the hatch but a couple of electric bulbs provide light nowadays. Some way down a stone passageway past the toilets there is a riverside garden. The tiny bar at the front of the building is equally timeless and even smaller but does at least have a counter. It is not always open however. Ales on were Black Sheep and two from North Yorkshire brewery, including the rather nice malty house ale and in excellent condition. Food is limited to pork pies and butties, and it is popular with walkers, which is handy as parking is limited to a handful of roadside spaces. A definite experience and worth seeking out.
On 9th May 2022
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3680 recommendations about 3615 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Birch Hall Inn
We walked here from Goathland on the old railway incline, after having read with enthusiasm the pub's entry in Camra's inventory of historically important pub interiors. We entered the "big bar" on the left, which is apparently the original pub, but having manoeuvred through the packed crowd to the bar, found no one serving. We therefore went out and to the "little bar" next to the shop, which dates back to the 1940s. This was also full to bursting, but we spied a couple of hand pumps and after a short wait we were served. The choice was Black Sheep Bitter or the house beer: Beck Watter brewed by the North Yorkshire Brewery. The weather was fine and warm, for January, so we went outside and begged a little space on one of the benches. This is a lovely village and an interesting pub, unique even. I would not say that it was one of my more impressive pub experiences, though.
Date of visit: 8th January 2017
On 21st February 2017
- rating: 5
[User has posted 4348 recommendations about 3996 pubs]
View more reviews of The Birch Hall Inn (7)
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- Facebook page of The Birch Hall Inn - www.facebook.com
- Review of the Birch Hall as well as some others in North Yorkshire - www.whitby.manymore.net
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Birch Hall Inn - whatpub.com
- Historic Pub Interiors - pubheritage.camra.org.uk
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 09 May 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 09 May 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 09 May 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 04 October 2011 by hondo .
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 09 May 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Car Park : No last updated 09 May 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Child Friendly : No - Not in public bar at least - last updated 09 May 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Darts : Yes last updated 09 May 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 09 May 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Function Room : No last updated 09 May 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Hot Food : No last updated 09 May 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Jukebox : No last updated 09 May 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Karaoke : No last updated 09 May 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 09 May 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Micropub : No last updated 09 May 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Pinball : No last updated 09 May 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Pool Table : No last updated 09 May 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Quiz Night : No last updated 09 May 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 04 October 2011 by hondo .
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 09 May 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 09 May 2022 by Graham Coombs
- WiFi : No last updated 09 May 2022 by Graham Coombs
