A Weekend in Whitby

Whitby is one of my favourite places in the North East. Not only is it a beautiful little town, it is absolutely brimming with things to do. Recently my dad and I had a run out on a very sunny, yet windy, day and I was reminded of just how much I love this place (even in the not-so-warm weather). 

Every street is jam packed with cafes and chip shops, old-fashioned sweetie stores and independent businesses, meaning Whitby is totally one of a kind in its shopping scene. One of the best things (for me, anyway) about visiting a new place is finding pretty trinkets to commemorate the visit, and Whitby is not short of places to find these. Sea-shell shops line the coast and I remember being obsessed with collecting every rock and gem that I could get my hands on as a kid ... although sometimes sparkles still have that effect on me, even now.

Cranberry Swamp cafe.

As you can probably tell from my blog content, I am a teensy bit of a tea lover. Discovering a new place to have a good old slice of cake and a cuppa always makes my day. Cranberry Swamp, The Walrus & The Carpenter and Marie Antoinettes all make a cracking brew and are worth a trip if you're in the area.

The Walrus & The Carpenter.

Of course, I couldn't forget Whitby Abbey, The 199 steps and The Dracula Attraction - if you're looking for a lil' bit of culture. There is also Pannet Park, and my personal favourite - Doodle Pots - where you can paint your own pottery. I could go on. There is a never-ending list of things you could keep yourself busy with here.

"Hey MTV, welcome to my crib" style.

 If you ever happen to find yourself in the North and stuck for plans I'd definitely recommend taking a quick trip here, even if it's just for a walk along the cobbled streets with an ice-cream. Hopefully, you'll find it quickly becomes one of your favourite spots, just like it is mine.

The Sitting Room

Last week Faye and I went on another foodie adventure, this time swapping cake and tea for cocktails ... and many of them. 

The Sitting Room has recently opened up on Church Street, Guisborough and, after loving their beautiful cafe in Saltburn for so long, I couldn't be happier about it. Offering an amazing selection of cocktails, craft beers, and wines, The Sitting Room is the perfect place to go if you fancy a drink with your friends, partner or even parents (as I discovered on their opening day)!

Not only does The Sitting Room serve amazing drinks, they have a quality selection of food. Offering a street eats inspired lunchtime menu, from sharing platters and Greek salads to mac & cheese balls and even deep fried pickles. They also serve homemade cake throughout the day, perfecto!

Faye and I went for a teatime treat, choosing sourdough pizzas, skinny fries (served with paprika salt, but there are a number of different choices) and the most amazing garlic sauce, made from garlic that was hand foraged by Ruth herself! Faye is pretty much a garlic sauce connoisseur and even she admitted that this one was extra special.

We have already booked in for another visit next week, so you should probably prepare yourselves for a second post on this lovely little place. Especially considering that I'd quite like to make my way through both the cocktail and the food menus. Maybe even by the end of summer ... is that too optimistic?