Whitby MicroPub wins Cleveland CAMRA cider pub of the year 2017
6 years ago
After just one year of trading, The Waiting Room MicroPub in Whitby Station has been given the coveted Cleveland CAMRA pub of the year award 2017 for their cider selection. Owners Rob and Sue Wildsmith hope that this is the first of many awards as the business develops and thrives in this beautiful seaside location.
In March 2016, Rob and Sue received the keys to what was the Station Gallery at Whitby Railway Station. A month later, the building re-opened as The Waiting Room Micropub. The Waiting Room follows closely the Micropub ethos of selling Real Ale, Cider and wine in an environment where there are no TVs, electronic games or music. The bar doesn’t stock any spirits or lager and there is no food other than crisps and nuts. People come in to talk, meet friends and escape from the noisy environment found in many pubs today.
Although beers are sourced from across the UK, there are many excellent breweries in the local area. The Waiting Room is working with their local CAMRA branch to become one the few LocAle accredited pubs which means that local breweries will always have their products on sale and pumps selling locally brewed beer will be clearly identified.
A thriving micropub based in the station at Whitby North Yorkshire.
The business was established in April 2016 by Rob and Sue Wildsmith when they decided that they needed a change in lifestyle and wanted to move permanently back to the North York Moors area and start a business together.
Rob’s background was in international organisations where he worked as the director responsible for systems and communications whereas Sue was a deputy head teacher in a special school.
Despite neither of these careers being customer facing or related to the hospitality industry, they opened the Waiting Room in April 2017 providing an alternative for beer, wine and cider lovers living and visiting Whitby.
Today, the Waiting Room offers an ever-changing range of local and predominantly Northern brewed beers together with an extensive list of draft ciders and a strong wine choice. In keeping with the micropub ethos, Rob and Sue do not stock lager or spirits, have TV’s or any form of electronic music. The interior of the bar is more light and airy than traditionally dark pubs with bright pictures of Whitby both past and present. To encourage mixing, the bar features a large (12 seat) table and deep leather settee which encourage people to talk and maybe meet new friends or look out at the harbour and Whitby Abbey.