Eat & Drink Like A Pirate

Did you know Robin Hood’s Bay had a sinister past of smuggling?

Do you love to delve into the past?

Do you love to try new things?

Then read on to find out more about Eating and Drinking like a Pirate in Robin Hood’s Bay.

Robin Hood’s Bay

Perched on the coast between the surrounding cliffs of Scarborough and Whitby sits a Bay. The backdrop of the Bay is an old Yorkshire fishing village. This is Robin Hood’s Bay, the gem on the picturesque coastal edge of the North York Moors National.

Built on a steep hill the old 17th Century village heads down to the Bay. Winding streets, steep steps and cobbled alleyways make up what was once called Baytown. A maze of a village it’s easy to get lost here in Robin Hood’s Bay. Just all part of the magic of what makes it so special.

Robin Hood’s Bay harbours a deep rooted history of smuggling. The Kings Beck, cottage cellars, secret passages and snickets all helped with the illicit activities. Smuggling of Rum, Tea, Silk and Tobacco. There wasn't a person in the village that didn't participate in the illegal activities. Be it the smuggling, hiding, transporting or protecting of the secret goings on.

Legend has it that contraband could leave the Bay and reach the top of the village without ever seeing daylight.You can still see evidence of Robin Hood’s Bay’s smuggling past to this day and you can learn more at the local museum.

Eat Like A Pirate

If truth be told you probably wouldn’t want to eat like a pirate really did back in the days of smuggling. Gruel and slop most likely the menu for the day.. But then there was the endless Rum instead of water. Fresh water was hard to come by when out at sea for months on end. With little in the way of fresh food pirates and sailors diets were very poor. Often food was off and rotting disguised with herbs and spices. 

Solomon Grundy

Solomon Grundy or Salmagundi, a hearty concoction of whatever you have to hand but was generally made up of:

Meat

Fish or Shellfish

Turtle (yep you read that right)

All marinated in a mixture of herbs, garlic, spices, oil and palm hearts then served up with boiled eggs, cabbage, olives, grapes and pickled onions.

Now we think you’ll be fresh out of Turtle but who’s tucking in?

Pirate Stew

Pirate Stew with hunks of crusty bread is a more satisfying and palate pleasing dish. Not so different from a stew you might make today. The only difference being back in the day the meat was probably off. 

You will find lots of recipes for Pirate Stew often with a Caribbean Twist such as Rum and or Pineapple Juice. Ingredients often include:

Meat

Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes

White Onion

Celery

Parsnips

Turnips

Herbs

Spices

Seasonings 

Drink Like A Pirate 

Beer was often a popular choice but didn’t last too long at sea, hence the rum. So, why not wash down your grub with a tankard or two of Bombo. A mixture of Rum, sugar, water and nutmeg. Or just crack open the Sherry or the Port.

Dine Out Like A Pirate

Now you could cheat a little and decide to hang out in one of the many old Smugglers haunts in Robin Hood’s Bay. The Pubs and Restaurants of the lower village. 

The obvious choice being Smugglers in the heart of the Dock. 

All those in favour say Arrr.

Stay

Sad to say there’s a few of the old haunts that have long gone. Once pubs but now cottages you could opt to stay in a smugglers old haunt instead. Both Fisherman’s Cottage and Little John House are former pubs of Robin Hood’s Bay. 

Relaxing Coastal Escapes in Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire.

Sam and Sian have been helping you make memories and relax on the coast since April 2017.

Baytown Holiday Cottages is a small North Yorkshire Booking Agency specialising in the Robin Hood’s Bay area of the North York Moors National Park.

Two locals who know the area and the cottages inside Out. Their home, their workplace and their playground. Helping you find your escape by the sea.

So, why not stay for a while in one of the Best Robin Hood’s Bay Holiday Cottages.

Smaller properties are available from 2 nights and the larger properties from 3 nights. All dependent on the time of year. All of our cottages are priced accordingly throughout the year. All of our properties feature in size order. Largest to smallest as you scroll down the Accommodation Page.

For a quick look at our availability at any given time you can use our All Availability feature. Just click the green and yellow Check Availability button on the Home page of our website.