Old Smuggler Cafe, Whitby
We've opted to include this old café as we love Smuggling legends, in our opinion a place just feels so much more interesting when it has lore regarding pirates or smugglers or fairies. That last one is a big jump from the first two, but you get the point. The blur between fact and fiction is where you'll find us!
So naturally a closed café hidden in the maze of Whitby streets with a name like this was bound to catch our attention. What we didn't realise until we came home was just how historic this little building was!
Originally the Old Ship Launch Inn, the site, complete with its yard at the back of the building, was one of the important smuggling locations in Whitby. Built around 1401, this former inn was a key location for those crossing the quiet moors in the dead of night with their smuggled goods.
The idea was that they'd pull a cart filled with kegs, one of which would have a quill in it. The purpose of this marked one was that if they were caught they could bribe the witness with a free sample and go on their way. With the heavy tax on goods, especially alcohol, this worked a treat as smuggled goods were really the only thing sustaining both Inns and their communities during times like this, so smugglers were actually often protected by those in the know that benefitted from the crime. Once at their destination, the quill would be removed and the keg sealed ready for use.
It is said that the Old Ship Launch Inn, now the Old Smuggler Café due to its part in these crimes, has a tunnel leading to the Station Hotel so at least these two businesses benefitted from the smugglers visits! Local folklore has the wooden carving fixed to the yard wall as a hull decoration from one of the old smuggling vessels, even Historic England says that this carving is of 'uncertain provenance' which adds fuel to the fire in our book.
Unfortunately, the café is closed so we can't see inside or ask anyone about it, but at some point the building was listed as a Grade II so it is being preserved. There is history here and to be honest we love sites that boast their dodgy history especially when it comes to smugglers. It was a rife practice back then and the elaborate ways they went to in order to get it done was so dangerous but fascinating that it is one of our favourite pieces of history.
DISCLAIMER: Now for the official bit. This blog does not receive any paid promotions from the places mentioned above. We have not been approached to promote or act as spokespersons for any attraction mentioned within this post and this is simply a post intended to act as a day in the life of a couple on a cute date. All photos included are taken by ourselves and as such the rights for these images are ours, no links, brands, or companies mentioned otherwise belong or are associated with Phantom Adventures UK. We are responsible only for this blog. Opinions are our own and not influenced by any third party source..
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