Located on Whitby's handsome, cobbled Church Street, The Black Horse is a tiny Victorian pub is somewhat of a hidden gem. Away from the flocks of tourists, this unpretentious boozer is the perfect spot to escape to for a few drinks or a light bite. Having been operating as a pub since the early 19th century, The Black Horse has seen many changes in Whitby over the 200 years it’s been open, and actually features what is believed to be one of oldest public serving bars in Europe, brought from the US to discourage customers from manhandling the serving girls. Nowadays the Black Horse acts both as a drinking spot for locals and a quiet place for tourists to rest.
The pub’s frosted windows are etched with the word ‘bar’, while the central serving area straddles both the front and back rooms. Various prints and photographs hang from the pale walls but otherwise The Black Horse has very little by way of decoration. The front bar and the tap room are simply furnished with stools, pub tables and wooden benches sat on stripped wood floors. Having been declared a building of special architectural and historical interest, the pub’s old-fashioned charm will be retained for years to come.
Food menus don’t come much simpler than that at The Black Horse, which describes itself as ‘yapas’ (Yorkshire tapas). Options include a Yorkshire cheese board with a ciabatta roll and chutney, homemade crab pate, pork pies and Batchelors cup a soup. On top of this there are also various bar snacks which can be enjoyed alongside a few pints. In terms of drinks, there are four cask ales, regularly changing craft beers, as well as canned and bottled craft beers. The Black Horse also has an impressive range of gins as well as a dozen types of rum to choose from.