When looking around the various streets of Whitby UK there are signs of the cafe and restaurant owners busy renovating and and preparing their premises for the coming tourist season as well as the local population.
Popular on the menu of the local cafes and restaurants is the local caught produce i.e fish, seafood and shellfish. Mention ‘Whitby’ almost anywhere in this country and there is a huge association with fish and fishing.
Over the last few years there has been an abundance of varied types of eating establishments to suit every palate and occasion. Whether you are just walking around the town and are in need of a refreshing drink then there are numerous cafes serving delicious coffees and snacks. If perhaps you would like lunch then the choice is tremendous, from a simple snack to a full three course meal. There seems to be a number of new establishments setting up around the town also. We’ll have to wait and see what they develop into.
There are a number of restaurants which also cater to a wide variety of tastes, either English, Italian or practically whatever is a particular favourite. Fish and Chips are a hugely popular choice and there are many establishments catering solely for this local delicacy!
In addition to the Cafes and Restaurants there are a number of takeaway outlets and, of course, there are the Whitby Pubs serving both lunchtime and evening, meals and snacks.far removed from the Whitby many years ago. Most of Whitbys commerce and general day to day life revolved around Whitby harbour
From early days fishing has been the most important factor in the local economy and in fact the lifeline for many families. Because Whitby is set in a natural harbour it was ideally placed as the setting for the early whaling expeditions which then expanded into a larger commercial and economic industry. Whitby today has seen the larger fishing fleets now reduced to a handful of full time fishing boats. This and the current economic climate in addition to European rules and fuel price rises has culminated in the demise of the fish market with catches now being landed further north.
In the 1800s Whitby jet mining was a major factor both in economic and employment terms. The ever increasing popularity of this jewellery with the Victorians made the town of Whitby synonymous with jet. Whitby today however is still renowned for it’s jet jewellery but it is no longer mined in this area although there are a number of Whitby jet shops still carving jet sourced locally from the cliffs and further inland seams still remaining underground in the Cleveland area.