retiredmartin

May 2026. Whitby.

Dave “US Dave” turned up just as Stafford Paul were contemplating the merits of the pubs across Whitby harbour.

Slightly reduced merits these days in the Duke of York and the Board, as Whitby has gone full-on “small pub”.

But our Wednesday was very “proper”, four pubs outside the GBG, starting at a back street classic.

The reconnaissance party had confirmed the Star had Bass,

and, joyously, Bass is all it had.

As you’ll well know, one beer is plenty, sometimes more than enough.

This was a cool Bass with tight head in the Derby tradition that in truth was better than I expected (3.5), though I had to hide my disappointment in the lack of the rumoured “bankers”.

I loved the Star. It’s not ornate, but it’s comfy,

the sort of benched seating where you settle down to listen to Dave and Paul discuss their favourite micropub State-owned pubs.

The landlady had made great drama of it being hard to pull through, itself the mark of a top boozer.

Add to that locals popping in and out with their Heron Foods bags and a first playing of Kelly Marie since 1980, and I really did feel like I’m in love*.

*it’s a nice musical reference, I know