Hare & Hounds, Hawsker

How many time have I driven past this place? Too many, it turns out. Turn off the Scarborough road as if to Robin Hood’s Bay and it’s there on the right, sat back. I don’t remember it being so smartly painted but that’s because it’s always been a blur. But my Staithes chum Jo said I should go, the food is good, and it’s a really relaxed place. She’s right! There are a couple of rooms; one where locals play dominoes and riff in a deadpan fashion and another pleasantly light, airy one for families. There are open fires, a bit of pale green tongue & groove and the obligatory black board telling you when quiz night is. (Tuesday)

Landlord Matt Boyes earned his stripes with Rob Green in Whitby so knows how to put a menu together – you’ll find all the classics (and the fish & chips is splendid, as you’d expect them to be – you can see the sea) but there’s also the likes of slow cooked shoulder of lamb and an Indonesian vegetable curry. Puds are along the lines of sticky toffee tart and chocolate brownie TOWER which involves cookie dough, so perhaps as well to have a walk sorted. Luckily there are lots of good footpaths from the door, and Trailways bike hire across the way. We can both vouch for the smashing Famous Five ride along the old railway track.

There’s Thwaites Wainwright and a couple of Theakstons on the pumps, a decent wine list and, impressively, an espresso machine dispensing a very good cuppa from beans supplied by Baytown Coffee Company, just down the road. Bar staff are friendly and smart: ‘you’re a reviewer, aren’t you?’ smiled one. And there was me thinking I was being discreet. Busted.