Jolly Sailors Inn in Scarborough

T'was a dark February night. We entered the establishment to give the cold weather the slip. Soberingly, we found the temperature inside to be somewhat colder... Not in the air, but from the souls of the workers and drinkers already rooted here. I asked for 2 gins... Which were delivered sans smile. I felt my company and I were of great inconvenience to the being that hovered behind the wood. A fellow in an exuberant suit and chiffon scarf entertained 2 ladies by the fireside, one could mistake them for ladies of the night. But what really got to me was the wench sat at the bar, drinking vodka alone through her toothless mouth was complaining about wheelie bins or some other unimportant matter. We swiftly finished our drinks and left the establishment to head out into the -3 degrees celsius climate for a warm up. There are many, many splendid pubs in this beautiful town... The Jolly Sailor... Is not one of them.

Had a great evening here the staff lovely the drinks not expensive we found a nice quiet corner to sit in really enjoyable evening.

Mediocre food and cantankerous management. Sadly indicative of the wider chain, and it's well publicised jihad against its own customer base. A pity, as the beer is still very good and the old days of excellence are still within reach.

Pretty nice pub, good 6oz burger. Doesn't allow people aged 16 to drink. Gave seafood sauce with a burger which was a bit odd. Edit - as summer 2023 this place is closed and looking for new management. A local tipped me off that the landlord doesn’t treat them very well, and that he is behind the ridiculous no phone rule.

The jolly sailor lol no phones or lap tops etc ,watch your language etc And it's called the jolly sailor , the owner is killing his business in his pubs and has such a bad reputation when it comes to pub management, not a company you would want to work for

its closed looking for new mangment

A true traditional British pub. Keep it Phone Free

Staff are amazing. The gentleman bar man went out of his way to help me and mum who has dementia and cannot climb the stairs for the restaurant. I will be forever grateful for your kindness. Thank you x Food was outstanding. Very tasty, good sized portions and nicely presented. The pub itself is quite small but very clean and it's a lovely old brass and wood designed pub. Only lost a star for the "Digital Detox" but I definitely recommend this place if your happy to stay off your phone and actually talk to each other 🤣

SAM SMITHS ALES KEPT AT ITS BEST. AND GREAT PRICES TOO. SUNDAY LUNCH WAS DELICIOUS! BAR STAFF COULD NOT FAULT THEM.. AND LOVELY QUIET FRIENDLY PUB..Alan and Sue...LOUTH, LINCS

Peace and quiet with real conversation. Very friendly and great beers.

I didn't stay long enough to try any food. The "restaurant " was dirty and had an awful smell. The "chef" who came out to take the order had slops all over his whites which looked like they had been there for days. I think I've saved myself from potential food poisoning by leaving.

Cheap good Bitter £3 a pint! Still good value. Landlord and family seem nice.

Very nice and talkative landlady, but as it's a Sam Smiths house just the same old beers and the obvious rules that govern all Humphrey's pubs. Plus side two cask beers on.

Glad I hadn’t read some of the reviews before I booked otherwise we would have missed out on a very tasty Sunday lunch. Four of us went and really enjoyed the beef and turkey roasts. Staff upstairs (where they serve lunch) were very friendly and the man who served us at the bar downstairs was helpful when ordering drinks.

Upon entering this pub with my Dad, Auntie and Sister, I was yelled at by the barmaid. She said 'This is a Sam Smith's pub and you cannot use a mobile phone'. I was not aware of this rule and had only taken my phone out to check if my 17 year old daughter was ok. I don't particularly use my phone a lot as me and my family enjoy a good chat. The barmaid gave off a very negative and unfriendly vibe, my Auntie ordered a pint and half of beer and the barmaid got muddled and told my Auntie she had ordered incorrectly (she hadn't at all). Ironically, people were welcomed to use mobile phones to pay and the barmaid herself used her phone, whilst leaving customers waiting at the bar !!! Rules aside, this barmaid, (maybe called Sue)?? was aggressive and nasty and made a lovely pub really unwelcoming. The beer mats said it was good to communicate but she was absolutely vile and the other customers sat in silence, making it uncomfortable to talk at a normal level. Avoid this pub if you want a 'Jolly Experience' xx After being a nurse for 25 years and having never spoken to anyone the way she spoke to me and my family, I felt really disappointed. Overall, my visit to this pub spoiled my afternoon and really upset me and my family.

Now Under new management, had a lovely Sunday dinner which was perfectly cooked. Definitely would recommend eating here

Omg awfull atmosphere and vicious bar staff! Wont come again, literally got told off for getting phone out of bag and family came in and got told no kids! Twice; bar women was really customer friendly not!!!!

No phone policy, nothing wrong with that, its they who own it, But funny how I waited for a pint while the barmaid was on her mobile.

Was closed on Sunday 14th May Went here to get a carvery !

Unfortunately Roy and Alison have left this establishment now let’s all welcome jimmy and his son Isaac let’s all support them and hope they can produce the quality of food that Roy and Alison delivered especially the Sunday roast and Alison to dye for cauliflower cheese good luck guys

Weird larger but food was really good

In a nutshell this is a Samuel Smith's Pub, yes unfortunately that means still no phones allowed and while that can have an effect if you're going in for a pint by yourself it also can bring out opportunities for conversations with other people. It does feel this is more of a local's type of pub however that I feel adds to the uniqueness of the venue considering how busy Whitby can get! Had a nice chat with Jude who was behind the bar, the staff work incredibly hard while having to put up with a lot of nonsense from their higher ups, so If they tell you off for using your phone or for swearing don't have a go at them and cut them some slack, they are only doing their job! Personally I would say Still some of the cheapest pints I've seen especially in Whitby when I expected everything to be expensive especially pints! £3 (As of Writing) for a pint of Double Four Lager? Yes Please! It is my personal favourite out of the Samuel Smith's range with the Organic Lager (£4.20 as of Writing) a close 2nd! Definitely will come back here when I return to Whitby next time. P.S I find it rather funny and contradictory you can use your phone if you are making a payment by card (Yes, They accept Card Payments now) where as you can't actually use your phone for any other reason, might want to have a think about that one and take it into consideration!

Lovely pub. Staff very friendly. Also digital devices are not allowed, people actually talked to each other.

Nice Sunday lunch and friendly staff

2 sides to this review, 1st the hosts run a tight ship, notices up that no mobile devices are permitted to be used on the premises - albeit still had people using their phones without any confrontation 2nd the food we had was very good, I had the scampi which was very nice and my partner had a cheese and pickle sandwich with no complaints.

No kids, no dogs, pleasant change in Whitby, we spent a couple of quiet hours here. We didn't partake of any food, but they had a very reasonable menu.

Stood for well over 10 minutes waiting to be served, while 2 staff tried to work the coffee machine, walked out in the end it was farcical and embarrassing for the management.

smiths pub not any good anymore so boring inside wont go again shouted at me for taking a photo on my phone!!

Had to laugh, we were in whitby and met up with our parents and decided to go for a drink, all the pubs seemed to be full, we came across the jolly sailor, we had our dogs with us so sat in the beer garden as dogs weren't allowed in, as we went in we read a sign saying no kids allowed either, parents wanted a coffee but they didn't do coffee, wife wanted a fruit cider but that another thing they didn't do Goes without saying why this was the only empty pub I'm no landlord but I could certainly figure out why this pub was dead

Lovely food and beer. Superb secret pub

Love it ..proper old pub no music no phones good choice of beers friendly staff.. lovely open fire on winter night

Smashing pub with lovely welcoming staff and a good local atmosphere. Excellent food and great prices. Highly recommend

Absolutely amazing experience. The lady and the chef was super nice, also the bartender was very helpful. The food was delicious aswell and would recommend. Love the no phone rule Will definitely come back again x

Sorry no OBB on hand pump, fizy keg only. Come on Humphrey get real alw in all your pubs

Very nice food at reasonable prices

Strangely quiet as have been before. Good beer and friendly staff.

Went for Sunday lunch today 6 of us absolutely spot on

I'm so sad. We ALWAYS drop in here for drinks and atmos. Policy is choking this pub and I for one am against its total execution within. It's ruining a loved place and its beer inventory. I've eaten here too upstairs in the past and enjoyed that... I felt sorry for the bar staff and wish them well.

Best Sunday dinner i have ever had

Wow, excellent top quality food, cooked to perfection, the cauliflower cheese was simply delicious. If you’re wanting a good home cooked Sunday Lunch then look no further than the Jolly Sailors!

Lovely pub on the water front, beers and food were excellent. very helpful staff my wife is in a wheelchair so the staff arrange d for the food to be brought down to us, excellent.

Nice friendly pub with restaurant upstairs. Food was freshly made to order and was very nice. Prices reasonable too

Where do I start with my review? Roy & Ali run a tight ship in the best Sam Smith's hostelry ever! Always receive a wonderful warm welcome, greeted like old freinds, and they've turned what was an average Sam's into the amazing venue it is today! Great selection of Sam's products and the best kept beer in the Northern hemisphere. Shout out to Alex too who works behind the bar, assisting Roy & Ali who always has a smile and freindly banter. On top of all this, Roy and Ali serve the best home cooked Sunday Lunch (and other meals throughout the week) that you could ever wish to eat, with incredible prices and great produce, not a frozen carrot in sight! They work tirelessly to maintain the reputation that they have built, with a genuine desire to make every guest feel welcomed, delivering 5 star customer service. Worth visiting Whitby just to come here. See you very soon, Tracy & Col xx

We visited the jolly sailors yesterday 26/2 for Sunday lunch. We had a table booked and it was perfect with a view overlooking the harbour. There was 4 of us , chez ,me , r Nicola and Lee lard . The Waitress, chefs and the bar lad downstairs were all very friendly and excellent at there jobs. We all had the beef Sunday lunch with colly cheese. There was loads but all of it was well presented , hot and tasty ! All for of us said we would definitely visit again . Cheers for a lovely lunch . See ya again ! 👍

Food is excellent, service is fabulous, beer selection is good. But remember no swearing or electronic devices are allowed to be used whilst here which is great

We had a very not nice time here. The man said no to my friends and mes phones. I wasn’t happy was we. I and my friends won’t be back will we.

Had an amazing Sunday lunch here , top class fresh tasty food. Reasonably priced excellent service we will definitely return Thank you

Food was excellent. Service was great too. Really nice, helpful staff, we thoroughly enjoyed it

Awful service, extremely annoying educational tape playing none stop, and generally cheap reno (tables chairs etc). Overall has potential but very poor executed.

Nice cosy pub with open fire, visited a Monday evening only two other people in !! Typical Sam Smith pub, ie no phones,laptops, cameras etc. allowed, they want punters to talk to each other

More atmosphere at a funeral and I'm not joking. Didn't even buy a drink, one loop around the bar and escaped... fans of the hills have eyes will appreciate this pub. WEIRD! Oh and there's a no phones policy and no music.

Samuel Smiths technology free pub mobiles not allowed no TV or Jukebox. Lovely place to meet and chat. Lovely beers great atmosphere.

Great traditional pub with delicous food and wonderful atmosphere! The breaded scampi and sticky toffy pudding were amazing! Loved the no phone policy and no TVs - a rare opportunity in nowadasy busy world to enjoy good conversation without distractions.

Quiet restaurant with excellent views, we stumbled across this restaurant by accident really as from the outside it doesn’t look like there is one but going inside I saw a sign for upstairs and the food was amazing, service amazing and a lot quieter than the other restaurants in Whitby. We had scamp, fish and cheese pie between us. All amazing

11 of us booked for Sunday lunch the food and service were amazing fresh home cooked veges/ yorkshire puds cauliflower cheese/ leeks broccoli carrots cabbage mash & roasties all piping hot and very tasty a good amount of roast beef too Definetley recommend and we will be going bk thankyou top food and excellent customer service x

Would give 0 stars if I could! Awful atmosphere, horrific treatment and just over all a negative vibe. Very few customers and felt very awkward. Definitely would not recommend to anyone looking for a decent pub experience!

Lovely little pub really peaceful but i did forget myself n got my phone out just out of habit n was nicely told by barman to put it away which i totally respect and i wasnt the only one that forgot the rule another lady did exactly the same as me

Good food at a reasonable price served in a harbour view dining room. Friendly staff and a prompt service. Drinks are ordered upon entry and the staff serve them at your table. Nice warm open fire and pleasant surroundings.

Ok has a pub but been Sam smiths don't like using media gear phones etc inside while seated

A nice old fashioned pub with an open fire to keep you warm after walking in the cold sea air. If you’re looking for any sort of atmosphere don’t go here. No music, very few customers, meaning you daren’t talk at a normal level. You aren’t allowed to use your phone, tablet, take photos or swear which meant there was little left for us to actually do. It’s similar to sitting in a library. Won’t be going back but understand this sort of pub will be perfect for some.

Such a waste of a cosy pub in a prime location. The chain this establishment belongs to has decided to ban phones, photos, tablets, etc etc. There’s no music or slot machines either, with the aim being to encourage conversation between human beings. Children aren’t...

Nice pub with a real fire and no TVs! They even stayed open when we were the only customers!

Sam Smiths pub right on the harbour front. Nice open fire on a cold night. Strick no phone policy

Awful experience rude staff never to be repeated

If you like Sam Smith's ales this is a great little pub. Refreshing to enjoy the quiet atmosphere and lovely coal fire. The old brewery bitter hand pull was excellent !!

Visited here for the Sunday lunch which was excellent. The upstairs dining room had lovely views of the harbour, and was cosy due to the real fire. The service and food was excellent, and very good value. However, be warned. You are nor allowed to...

Went for Sunday lunch absolutely Gorgeous. Lovely fresh vegetables, beautiful roast pork and crackling! Creamy mash, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding. Presented beautifully and red hot Lovely service and staff very friendly also price very reasonable 10 out of 10

Visited here on the off chance for Sunday roast as we saw it recommended on google (good job we didn't check TripAdvisor by looks of it). It's true. You're not allowed to use your phones or other devices. We found the whole thing quite funny...

Been in today for a Sunday Lunch, wow the food was fantastic, one dinner was enough for 2 people good portions, great staff , will be in again

About as mundane a pub as you could hope to find and dont dare get your mobile out!

Booked a table in the restaurant for 6.45pm last night. Arrived at 6.15 for a drink first and told the barman we were staying for a meal. At about 6.30 we asked were the restaurant was and we’re told it had closed and the chef...

Warm welcome quickly dashed when tried to use my phone, despite needing my phone was told to put it away

Miserable staff, atmosphere was none existent, local taddy lager lout holding the bar up. No use of mobile phones permitted (hope we don’t need to call an emergency service) Decor from “American werewolf “ The Grinch behind bar Ruining a lovely located establishment …keep away...

Lovely Sunday lunch amazing mash ! Good value for money … Great view over the harbour would definitely recommend .. See you again next time we are in Whitby …

Having a day out in Whitby thought we would pop in for a drink and lunch. My partner was at the bar and I sat down . I got my phone out to check for messages from home all I read was the word URGENT...

Great Sunday dinner , and lovely lunch on Saturday as well , well done to you all

As is usual on the last day of the holiday we find a proper pub. Now, if you're someone who likes loud music, fancy drinks and being glued to your phone this is not the pub for you but if you like a quiet drink,...

Not very jolly staff Beer garden just grey concrete not very inviting

A bit of a dull afternoon we stopped in at the Jolly Sailor's for a pint. Nice and peaceful, no pop music blaring, no folks zombie eyed on their phones, just folk sitting enjoying a fair priced pint. A Sam Smyths brewery, the selection is...

Great Sunday lunch friendly staff not sure why people are complaining about asking not to use their mobile phone many of the pubs around Whitby have signs around asking you not to use your mobiles if you want to sit on your phone stay at home and ignore people there instead of in a pub!

Food gorgeous and great price in an otherwise very expensive seaside town. Staff super friendly. Drinks lovely usual Sam Smith's. Love the Sam Smith's policy of no phones they're the worst things ever invented. Also love the no swearing policy. Look no further for a reasonably priced quality meal and drinks.

Visiting Whitby for a holiday we had been to several pubs in the area on a very busy goth weekend.. Fab Sunday lunch. In fact the best Sunday lunch we had had in a long while. Not sure about the reviews regarding mobile phones but...

The Mild is the finest pint in Whitby,int it Humphrey.

Miserable, soul-sucking place. Unrecognisable drinks, miserable barman, no music, no swearing, no mobile phones. Just grim. Avoid.

Sam Smiths Old Brewery Bitter in a wood cask. I don't come across it often, good job

We had a lovely meal and pudding there today, the meal was very well presented on the plate and cooked perfect and all at a reasonable price, would recommend it. Many thanks and will see you again

Enjoyed delicious roast dinner here today. All food piping hot and plenty of it. Staff very polite and friendly.

We visited as a family but after being told there was wasn’t enough fish for three of us and the chief complained that he was doing everything from cooking serving and the washing up, we waited for 1/2 an hour to get our food which...

Great food great value Nice staff

Love Sam Smiths old brewery bitter and my lads loved the Taddy lager. Had the best scampi in a long while and the meals were at a good price and good quality. Sat overlooking the harbour prob the best seat in town. Top job.

My friends and I visited the Jolly Sailors for Sunday lunch and can honestly say it was the best lunch we all have ever tasted. Excellent fresh food and lots of it. The service was excellent from the very friendly bar staff through to Alison...

Myself and my family visited this lovely pub again for our Sunday lunch I’ve just read a comment about a Sunday lunch saying it was crap ( his words) we were in the pub that day having our lunch the man got upset and very...

A traditional pub,decent beer and good service, mobile phones are banned, you pay with cash and no foul language, such a refreshing change to have a conversation without seeing a phone.

Went to the soul weekend last week, all the pubs were packed with people enjoying themselves, then we went to this miserable pub, there was four people in, we got a drink and I noticed a sign saying no swearing which I thought that was...

Very quiet. Phones not allowed. No facility to make hot drink for one of our party..

Absolutely Brilliant Pub, Well recommended, Cider and Old Brewery Bitter as well 🙂👍

Went here for Sunday dinner ,Didn't realise no mob phones we'll thats fine orderd Sunday dinner beef for me turkey for mrs asked us if we would like cheesy leeks free of charge then asked if we wanted cauliflower cheese for 2 at an xtra...

The Jolly Sailors has been closed for a while and news of its reopening seems to be travelling slowly. So we had a very comfortable, quiet spot right on the harbour in Whitby. There were four of us and we ate there. Three times in...

Real olde worlde pub with separate upstairs dinning only but with ace view over the harbour. Staff were friendly and genuine and fitted in to the old vibe we were looking for. Can’t complain much at £3 a pint in September 2022. Food was great...

Fantastic Sunday dinners can highly recommend. Great staff to 😀