Pub Review: The Green Dragon Ale House, Whitby

The Green Dragon’s taproom may be tiddly, but the beer selection is leviathan…

What to expect at The Green Dragon Ale House

Opening in 2016 on Whitby’s historic Grape Lane, over a quarter of a millennium since famed explorer Captain James Cook served his naval apprenticeship on the very same street, The Green Dragon Ale House has a big enough booze assortment to please even the thirstiest of seadogs. And his mates.

Step inside the 15th-century terraced building and you’ll be greeted by a compact shop, well-stocked with hundreds of beers from all over the world. The kaleidoscopic collection of bottles and cans are a splendid spectacle against the wooden shelving and forest green walls. Through the doorway to the right, there’s a small, snug taproom with quirky decor, including taxidermy, Renaissance pet paintings and an assemblage of polaroids exhibiting punters’ pooches. Heated by an electric stove, it’s a cosy haven on cold winter days, but, as it’s a popular little place, you might struggle to get a seat if the town is busy.

What’s to drink at The Green Dragon Ale House?

The taproom has five rotating keg lines providing a good choice of different beer styles from UK breweries. When we visited, beers from Yorkshire’s Brass Castle Brewery (Malton) and Kirkstall Brewery (Leeds) were on offer alongside Bristol’s Arbor Ales, London’s The Kernel Brewery and a Scottish collaboration from Overtone Brewing Co. (Glasgow) and Fierce Beer (Aberdeen). We cannot resist a Hefeweizen, so opted for Brass Castle’s fantastic Herman Hefe and a lovely, smooth Export India Porter from The Kernel.

In the bottle shop there’s a huge range of beers and ciders, including a broad selection from Belgium and Germany. With pale ales, IPAs, lagers, wheat beers, stouts, porters, sours... there’s something to suit all tastes. The Green Dragon specialises in gluten-free options, passionate that everyone should be able to drink great beer. A wide choice of whiskies and gins, as well as The Green Dragon-branded merchandise, are also available.

Where can I find The Green Dragon Ale House?

The Green Dragon is in central Whitby on Grape Lane, a popular destination for its independent, quirky shops and restaurants. York is just over a hour's drive away and Middlesbrough around 50 minutes. Several parking sites are available; the carpark on Langborne Road, which is a 10-minute walk away, is usually a good option to find a space. Whitby is also accessible by bus or train.

Address: The Green Dragon Ale House, 4-5 Grape Ln, Whitby, YO22 4BA.

What’s on at The Green Dragon Ale House?

The Green Dragon hosts a variety of events throughout the year, which have so far included rum, whisky and tequila tasting evenings; beer festivals; and tap takeovers. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram and their website for details of upcoming events.

The Green Dragon Ale House, Whitby: Summary

-          Taproom

-          Bottle shop

-          Huge choice of beers and ciders

-          Dog-friendly

-          Parking close by

-          Good transport links

-          Historic location

-          Whitby town centre

-          Events hosted throughout the year

Where can I find out more information?

Information including opening hours and event listings can be found on The Green Dragon Ale House's on Facebook and Instagram pages and their website.

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