Humble Pie & Mash

We had lunch in this quirky little restaurant. There are few tables and a limited menu, but the real fire 🔥 and the vintage Christmas music 🎶 playing in the background gives the place a great atmosphere.

The menu is simply a range of homemade pies (Mark had steak and kidney, and I had minced beef and onion) served with mashed potatoes, peas, and gravy. They offer traditional puddings like Jam Roly Poly and Spotted Dick for dessert if you have room (we didn’t!). The restaurant isn't licensed, so the beverage options are hot drinks or a selection of nostalgic soft drinks such as dandelion and burdock, which took me hurtling straight back to my childhood!!

The restaurant is housed in a historic building on Grape Lane. The first written deeds on the property state that the lease was bought by John Sneaton of Sneaton, a shoemaker, in the 13th year of the reign of King Charles I (1638) from Hugh Cholmley, a Knight of Whitby. The building definitely dates from long before this, though. The back of the property is timber framed. Some parts are thought to be medieval.

Details of many of the inhabitants of the building have been lost over time, but it is known that the Sleighthome family lived and worked there in Victorian times, running the shop as a bakery and confectioners. Members of the family continued to run the business until the 1960s, adding a tearoom along the way.

The current owners didn't know about the bakery connection when they opened Humble Pie and Mash. During renovations, they found lots of items from the building's history, including shoe 👞 buckles, rings 💍, coins 🪙, buttons, hairpins, clay pipes, keys 🔑, bone combs, a quill pen ✒️, and handwritten notes. These are all displayed in the shop now, along with old advertising signs, newspapers 📰, and other memorabilia.

We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch, especially the Henderson's Relish (Strong and Northern!) on every table. We will be back 😀.Read more