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Summary of reviewsThe 'White Horse & Griffin' is a beloved establishment in the heart of Whitby, consistently praised for its exceptional location, making it an ideal base for exploring the town's historic sites like the abbey steps and the harbor. The inn sits on a picturesque cobbled street within the old town, close to shops, restaurants and other amenities, providing convenience and an authentic Whitby experience.
Guests frequently commend the breakfast experience, highlighting the variety, quality ingredients and exceptional service. The full English breakfast is particularly favored and the cozy, dog-friendly dining room adds to the charm. Despite some minor suggestions for improvement, the general sentiment towards breakfast is overwhelmingly positive.
The dinner at White Horse & Griffin is also highly regarded for its superb, beautifully cooked meals and welcoming atmosphere. Dishes like oysters, mussels, sea bass and roast beef with Yorkshire pudding are often mentioned. Guests appreciate the fresh, local ingredients and the dog-friendly meal options, though occasional comments on high prices and inconsistent experiences do arise. Nonetheless, the majority of diners find the food impressive and the setting charming.
The rooms at the White Horse & Griffin offer a blend of historical charm and modern comfort. Many guests appreciate the spaciousness, cleanliness and Victorian decor, but there's a noted need for updates and redecoration in some areas. Despite this, the hotel's character and good location remain significant positives, making for a comfortable stay.
Cleanliness generally receives commendations with many guests finding their rooms clean and inviting, although occasional maintenance issues and a need for refreshment in some rooms have been noted. The overall sentiment leans towards satisfaction, despite a few areas requiring attention.
The staff at White Horse & Griffin are widely praised for their friendliness, helpfulness and attentive nature. The personalized care provided by individuals like Amy, Polly, Darren and Toby enhances the welcoming atmosphere, although some guests have reported occasional check-in issues. Overall, the staff's efforts significantly enhance the guest experience.
While the WiFi receives mixed reviews with some guests finding it reliable and others experiencing connectivity issues, especially on the higher floors, it is a minor quibble in an otherwise positive experience.
The inn is particularly family-friendly, offering spacious, comfortable rooms that cater well to guests with children and pets. The welcoming atmosphere extends to pets, especially dogs with designated pet-friendly dining areas and thoughtful touches from the staff.
Beds at White Horse & Griffin are generally considered comfortable with many guests praising them for being spacious and providing a restful sleep, despite a few mentions of personal discomfort.
As a three-star hotel, White Horse & Griffin blends historical charm with budget-friendly accommodations, offering a unique stay in an old pub setting. Guests appreciate the characterful rooms and exceptional food, enjoying a taste of history without the luxury price tag.
Lastly, the inn's historical ambiance is frequently highlighted as a unique aspect of the stay. Guests are enchanted by the 300-year-old coaching inn's authenticity and charm, making it an ideal destination for those eager to immerse themselves in history. The combination of historical character, comfortable rooms and excellent facilities makes the White Horse & Griffin a memorable and enchanting choice for visitors. Show more
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Categories
Hotel near Golf Courses
Historic Hotel
Hotel near The Beach
Family Friendly Hotel
Dog Friendly Hotel
Hotel with Free Wi-Fi
3-Star Hotel
Room Types
Bagatelle (Small Double) - Fourth FloorFeaturing free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. This double room has a tea and coffee maker, a carpeted floor, flat-screen TV, as well as wine/champagne for guests. The unit has 1 bed.
Mary Ann HepworthThe spacious double room features a tea and coffee maker, a carpeted floor, as well as a private bathroom boasting a bath and a shower. This double room has heating, flat-screen TV, an inner courtyard view, as well as wine/champagne for guests. The unit has 1 bed.
Discovery The spacious family room provides a tea and coffee maker, a seating area, as well as a private bathroom featuring a bath and a shower. The unit offers 3 beds.
Helga MariaProviding free toiletries, this twin/double room includes a private bathroom with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. This twin/double room features a tea and coffee maker, a carpeted floor, flat-screen TV, as well as wine/champagne for guests.
Scoresby (Small Double)Featuring free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. This double room has a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, flat-screen TV, as well as wine/champagne for guests. The unit has 1 bed.
ProviderProviding free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. This double room features a tea and coffee maker, a carpeted floor, flat-screen TV, as well as wine/champagne for guests. The unit offers 1 bed.
Resolution (Double & Single)The spacious double room features a tea and coffee maker, a carpeted floor, as well as a private bathroom boasting a bath and a shower. The double room provides heating and wine/champagne. The unit has 2 beds.
Wakeful (King Room)The spacious double room offers a tea and coffee maker, a seating area, as well as a private bathroom featuring a bath and a shower. The unit offers 1 bed.
Warrior QueenThe spacious twin/double room features a tea and coffee maker, a carpeted floor, as well as a private bathroom boasting a bath and a shower. This twin/double room has heating, flat-screen TV, an inner courtyard view, as well as wine/champagne for guests.
DickensOffering free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower, a bath and a hairdryer. This double room features a tea and coffee maker, flat-screen TV, an inner courtyard view, as well as wine/champagne for guests. The unit offers 1 bed.
Three-Bedroom HouseThis holiday home provides a fireplace. Featuring a private entrance, this holiday home comprises 1 living room, 3 separate bedrooms and 1 bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. Guests can make meals in the kitchen that comes with a stovetop, a refrigerator, a dishwasher and kitchenware. The holiday home features parquet floors, a seating area with a flat-screen TV, a washing machine, a tea and coffee maker, as well as a dining area. The unit offers 3 beds.
Guest Reviews
8.1
Very Good
Location
The 'White Horse & Griffin' is often praised for its exceptional location, right in the heart of Whitby. Guests repeatedly highlight its central position, making it an ideal base for exploring the town's historic sites, including the famed abbey steps and the harbor area. The charming old building brims with character and heritage, situated on a picturesque cobbled street within the old town, close to shops, restaurants and other amenities. The location offers easy access to all of Whitby’s attractions, making it perfect for those who prefer to stroll through the town's historic core. Overall, its prime location seems to be one of the property's greatest assets, providing convenience and immersion into the unique atmosphere of Whitby.
Breakfast
The breakfast experience at White Horse & Griffin has garnered overwhelmingly positive feedback from guests. Phrases like delicious, superb and amazing are commonly used to describe the quality of the breakfast. Guests appreciate the variety of breakfast choices available, noting that there is something to cater to everyone's taste. The full English breakfast, often highlighted as one of the best, is a popular mention with particular praise for the quality ingredients and exceptional taste.
Many reviews also commend the staff for their helpfulness and excellent service, contributing to a pleasant breakfast experience. The breakfast service is frequently described as quick and efficient with food ready almost immediately upon seating. Additionally, the fact that the breakfast is included in the room rate adds to the overall satisfaction.
The cozy and dog-friendly dining room where breakfast is served has also been well received. Guests enjoy the relaxing atmosphere and the characterful setting, which enhances their dining experience. Although a few comments suggest improvements such as larger portions or more variety, the general sentiment towards the breakfast menu remains highly positive.
In summary, guests at White Horse & Griffin can expect a delightful and hearty breakfast experience, characterized by high-quality ingredients, a good variety of options and exceptional service in a charming and welcoming environment.
Dinner
White Horse & Griffin offers an inviting dining experience for guests with many praising the restaurant's fantastic meals and welcoming atmosphere. The restaurant is celebrated for its superb and beautifully cooked dinners with standout mentions of oysters, mussels, sea bass and roast beef with Yorkshire pudding. A cozy setting rich with character enhances the overall dining experience.
The food quality is consistently described as exceptional, fresh and local, often hitting the mark with delicious and well-prepared dishes. Highlights include the exquisite evening meals and diverse yet reasonably priced menu items. Guests also appreciated the establishment's dog-friendly meal options.
Despite occasional comments on high prices and a few mentions of inconsistent experiences, the overwhelming majority of diners found the food impressive, often rating it highly. The bar and dining areas are noted for their comfort and charm, contributing to a pleasant dining environment.
The service, which was often described as lovely and welcoming, added to the positive dining experience. However, it's worth noting that at times organization and menu availability issues were experienced.
Overall, the restaurant at White Horse & Griffin consistently delivers on good food and a warm atmosphere, making it a noteworthy dining venue for guests.
Rooms
The White Horse & Griffin offers a blend of charm and history, reflected vividly in its rooms. Guests often highlight the hotel's unique, characterful nature, seeing it as an appealing aspect of their stay. Many rooms are spacious, clean and comfortable with facilities that meet guests' needs. The decor often carries a Victorian charm and some rooms are described as stylishly or tastefully decorated, adding to the old-world ambiance. Certain rooms, particularly those in the attic, provide a cozy and warm environment and several guests found the rooms exceptionally clean and well-maintained.
However, despite the general comfort and cleanliness, many reviews suggest that the rooms could benefit from updates and redecorations to refresh their tired look. Issues with room maintenance, such as dated bathrooms and occasional cleanliness concerns, were also noted. Rooms vary in size with some being notably spacious and others cramped, especially attic rooms. Noise and temperature control issues, including cold or noisy rooms, were occasionally mentioned, reflecting a need for better insulation and soundproofing.
Overall, while the White Horse & Griffin retains a lot of character and provides a comfortable stay, some attention to modernizing the rooms would enhance guest satisfaction. The hotel's historical charm and good location remain significant positives for many visitors.
Beds
The beds at White Horse & Griffin generally receive high marks for comfort with numerous guests praising them as comfy, clean and spacious. Many visitors highlight beds as being super comfortable or very comfortable with a few noting large or super-size options. The bedding experience is often enhanced by good duvets and a comfortable interior.
However, there are occasional mentions of issues. Some guests found the beds too firm, too low or too small and a few noted the beds as uncomfortable due to personal back injuries. There were a couple of critiques about the beds being dusty or too hard and a handful of guests could feel the springs in the mattress, suggesting the bedding could vary between rooms. Despite these outliers, the overarching sentiment leans towards a delightful and restful sleep experience.
Cleanliness
The White Horse & Griffin, renowned for its charming historic ambiance, generally receives commendations for cleanliness. Many guests found their rooms clean and inviting, underlining the attentiveness in maintaining tidiness. The daily room service, fresh milk and clean bedsheets received special mentions with some describing their rooms as immaculate, spacious and spotlessly clean.
However, not all feedback was consistently positive. Some visitors reported dust, cobwebs and occasional maintenance issues. A few rooms felt tired and in need of a refresh with specific remarks about mould in the bathrooms and chipped paint. The hotel’s older features added to its unique charm, though steep stairs and the occasional musty odor were noted.
The overall sentiment leaned towards satisfaction, especially when rooms were described as exceptionally clean and comfortable. Nonetheless, there were suggestions for a more rigorous cleaning regime and touch-ups to enhance the guests' experience fully.
Staff
The `White Horse & Griffin` boasts a commendable staff with the majority of reviews highlighting their friendliness, helpfulness and attentive nature. Guests often describe the staff as amazing, welcoming and exceptionally nice, which creates a warm and inviting atmosphere throughout the hotel. Specific mentions of individuals such as Amy, Polly, Darren and Toby reflect a high level of personalized care and excellent service, whether at check-in, during breakfast or within the housekeeping team.
During interactions, the staff generally exhibited a tactful demeanor and an impressive attention to detail, contributing to the hotel's relaxing ambiance. Many guests appreciated the efficient and prompt service with shout-outs to some staff members going above and beyond their duties to ensure a comfortable stay.
However, there were a few exceptions noted about the check-in process, where some guests experienced unfriendly reception and difficulties. Despite this occasional shortcoming, the overall sentiment remains positive with consistent remarks on the team’s accommodating and obliging nature.
In summary, the `White Horse & Griffin` benefits greatly from a team that is largely described as friendly, helpful and dedicated to providing excellent service. Their efforts significantly enhance the guest experience, making a stay at this establishment very enjoyable.
Wi-Fi
The White Horse & Griffin has received mixed reviews regarding its WiFi. Many guests appreciated that the hotel offers free WiFi with some even noting that it worked well and stayed connected without any downtime. However, a significant portion of reviews indicated that the WiFi can be unreliable with some guests describing it as iffy, weak or even hopeless. Guests on the fourth floor, in particular, seemed to experience more difficulty with connectivity. It is mentioned that WiFi issues might be a broader problem in the east cliff area, not just at this hotel. Despite these concerns, some guests found the WiFi access to be easy and satisfactory for their needs.
Family
White Horse & Griffin stands out as an excellent family-friendly hotel with many guests highlighting their positive experiences during their stays. The hotel features spacious, clean and comfortable family rooms that cater perfectly to the needs of guests traveling with children. Many reviewers appreciated the family suites and mentioned specific rooms, such as 'Resolution,' which provided ample space and comfort. Overall, the hotel was frequently described as fantastic and an attractive choice for families looking for a base to explore the surrounding attractions. The welcoming atmosphere is not limited to just families; even pets, particularly dogs, are greeted warmly. All in all, White Horse & Griffin offers a memorable and comfortable stay for families.
3 Star
Nestled in a historically themed old pub, White Horse & Griffin offers three-star accommodations that blend historical charm with a touch of modern comfort. This budget hotel provides clean rooms that exude character, despite some areas needing redecoration. The steep stairs may be a challenge for some, but the exceptional food, particularly the breakfast, adds a delightful aspect to the stay. Priced as a budget hotel, it is a comfortable choice for those seeking a non-luxury experience with a taste of history. Many guests found their time enjoyable and plan to return, appreciating the unique atmosphere and value for money.
Historic
Nestled in the heart of Whitby, 'White Horse & Griffin' is a stunning historical gem that has captured the hearts of many. This 300-year-old coaching inn is full of character and charm, offering a unique stay steeped in history. Guests are consistently enchanted by the hotel's authentic old England ambiance and its well-maintained, quirky features. The building itself is a beautifully preserved piece of history, filled with fascinating references and historical significance around every corner.
Visitors are equally impressed by the themed rooms, each offering a direct link to local history, enhancing the overall experience. The quaint and atmospheric setting of the inn adds to its allure with many noting the brilliant combination of old-fashioned style and modern comfort. The hotel's exceptional location, coupled with its historical bar and restaurant, provides an ideal backdrop for those eager to immerse themselves in a rich historical environment.
Moreover, the friendly staff, excellent facilities and top-notch food further elevate the experience, making the 'White Horse & Griffin' not just a place to stay but a memorable journey through time. This charming property with its historical character, comfortable rooms and gorgeous old-world charm truly stands out as a unique and enchanting destination.
Dog Friendly
White Horse & Griffin has earned a reputation as a fantastically dog-friendly establishment, consistently welcoming both pets and their owners with open arms. Guests noted feeling particularly welcome with their furry companions, whether they were staying in dog-friendly rooms or enjoying meals in designated pet-friendly dining areas. The hotel ensures a comprehensive dog-friendly environment, from the dining room to specific breakfast facilities tailored for guests with dogs. Pet owners appreciated the small touches, like the staff remembering their dogs' names, enhancing the overall personalized experience.
While dogs are generally not allowed in the main breakfast area, the hotel has thoughtfully provided a separate breakfast room for guests accompanied by their pets, ensuring that all guests' needs are met. The hotel's location and its historic ambiance were also praised, making it an ideal spot for a comfortable and welcoming break with a dog.
However, it's worth noting that some guests mentioned minor issues, such as a faint smell of dogs in the bar area and rooms beginning to show signs of wear. Nevertheless, the exceptional breakfast and dog-friendly policies more than compensate for these quibbles, making White Horse & Griffin a top choice for pet owners.
No, White Horse & Griffin doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at White Horse & Griffin.
Yes, White Horse & Griffin welcomes dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at White Horse & Griffin.