King Street
Robin Hood’s Bay
North Yorkshire
YO22 4SH
01947 880337
The Dolphin is currently CLOSED. The new owners have started a major refurbishment which is expected to take several months with a likely reopening in 2023.
Robin Hood’s Bay has two narrow main streets which wind their way downhill to meet at the harbour. The Dolphin has entrances on both streets, with the main frontage on the quieter King Street (photo 1).
When the pub was built in the 18th century, the village was one of the busiest smuggling ports on the east coast. Robin Hood’s Bay featured in the TV series Villages by the Sea presented by archaeologist Ben Robinson, and showed that a tunnel from the harbour used by smugglers runs right beneath the Dolphin.
The other main industry in the village was fishing and a dolphin features on the Fishmongers Company coat of arms, although, as the inn sign shows, the pub name probably comes from a ship of that name (photo 2).
The pub is on two levels, with the top bar on the New Road side and the atmospheric main bar on the King Street side. There is live music every week, with the Folk Club on Fridays and a live band on Saturdays. Four real ales, real cider and lunchtime and evening meals are served.
Click or tap photo to enlarge