Pub Review: Mallyan Spout Hotel, Goathland

Mallyan Spout Hotel is a traditional country inn, but with added luxury.

What to expect at Mallyan Spout Hotel

With its striking backdrop of expansive rolling moorland, Goathland gained UK-wide fame in the nineties as the setting for the fictional village of Aidensfield in the popular ITV show, ‘Heartbeat’. The village, however, was a prominent tourist destination long before housewives were swooning over Nick Berry treading the moors with his custodian helmet. Victorians swarmed to the area in the 18th century to behold the natural splendour of Yorkshire’s tallest waterfall, Mallyan Spout. And today, not too far from this spectacular 70-foot cascade, there’s another good reason to visit Goathland – the Mallyan Spout Hotel.

At the Mallyan Spout Hotel you’ll receive a warm Yorkshire welcome in a lavish location, whether you’re there to stay, to eat or to simply sup a pint or two. Inside the impressive Grade II listed building there’s a choice of bars and rooms to sit in, beautifully-furnished in classic country pub style, involving armchairs, exposed brickwork and cosy woodburning stoves. It’s reassuringly traditional, but with a luxurious feel. The classy Valley View Restaurant provides stunning views across the Esk Valley, and the sizeable beer garden is the perfect spot to soak up the summer sun (although there was no sign of that when we visited!). Adjacent to this is the newest addition to the Mallyan, The Coach House, a homely cafe. If you’d like to stay, you can choose from a variety of deluxe rooms, all with bed and breakfast and with the option of including dinner.

What’s to drink at Mallyan Spout Hotel?

Mallyan Spout Hotel serves two rotating real ales – Old Speckled Hen and Deuchars IPA, both by Greene King (Suffolk) were the choices when we visited. We stopped by for a halfway-point pint when completing the lovely 3.5-mile linear Rail Trail walk from Grosmont to Goathland and back, and both opted for a pint of the Deuchars, which went down nicely. Premium lagers and Inch’s Medium Apple Cider (St Austell Brewery, Cornwall) were also on offer, along with spirits, wines and soft drinks. If you’re after a hot drink, you can have one in the Hotel or could try the lovely Coach House coffee shop next door.

What’s to eat at Mallyan Spout Hotel?

Mallyan Spout Hotel has a choice of places to eat, depending on what you’re after. For light snacks and homemade cakes, The Coach House coffee shop is a nice option. To treat someone (or yourself!) to a fancy afternoon tea, this can be arranged in the Hotel by advance booking. For a more substantial lunch or dinner, there are two possibilities: The Spout Bar, which offers high-quality, home-cooked food in a casual setting; or the Valley View Restaurant, for more refined fare in an elegant dining room. Ingredients are sourced locally as much as possible and change seasonally. Sample menus are available here for The Bar and here for Valley View. On Sundays, the roasts are very popular.

Where can I find Mallyan Spout Hotel?

Mallyan Spout Hotel is in the captivating village of Goathland in the North York Moors National Park. Goathland is a short drive from Whitby (about 9 miles), 40 miles from York and just over 30 miles from Middlesbrough. Parking is available at the Hotel and roadside, or, alternatively, the large Goathland Car Park is just over a 10-minute walk away. Goathland Station is a stop on the North York Moors Railway, which connects villages from Whitby to Pickering. There is also a bus stop outside the Hotel, serviced by buses running between Leeds and Whitby.

To visit Mallyan Spout waterfall follow the footpath behind the Hotel. Please note that, whilst it's not a particularly long distance, it does include some steep and rocky areas, which can also be slippery and muddy when wet, so do take extra care. If you’d like to incorporate a visit into a longer walk, the linear Rail Trail between Goathland and Grosmont is an excellent option, as is the 3-mile circular beginning at Goathland Car Park and leading to West Beck.

Address: Mallyan Spout Hotel, Goathland, Whitby, YO22 5AN.

Mallyan Spout Hotel, Goathland: Summary

-          Traditional country house hotel

-          Several bar areas

-          Restaurant with high-quality food

-          Cafe

-          Dog-friendly

-          Woodburning stoves

-          Beer garden

-          North York Moors National Park

-          Not far from Mallyan Spout waterfall

-          Ample parking

-          Luxury accommodation

Where can I find out more information or make a reservation?

Follow Mallyan Spout Hotel’s Facebook and Instagram pages for the current offers and updates. To book a table, give them a call on 01947 89486 and, for opening hours or to reserve a room, use their website.

Have you visited Mallyan Spout Hotel? What did you think? Find more pub reviews from North Yorkshire on our blog.