England 2025: One Great Night in Whitby

I Found the Buck Inn

After another beautiful North Yorkshire day of photography, walking,and making humorous videos to send to friends via WhatsApp, I opted to skip dinner at my pub and grab something light. After my fruit and nuts tea, at about 5 or 6pm, I sauntered down the road to find that many pubs were closed of a Monday...but not the Buck Inn. Inside was a nice mix of folks, women, men, younger and older—all drinking age. 

I grabbed a pint of Guinness and an open seat toward the back of the pub, to write up the details of my day. Within minutes the quiz-master arrived with answer sheets and asked if I was on a team. The older gent to my right, Dave, said join our team, ‘o go on then.’ I slid right, and we were quickly joined by two other older dudes, Edwin a retired educator, and Mark (aka Digger) a well traveled, heavily tattooed, animated older guy.

So, we played the quiz. Thanks to me, our team “Simone and the Lads” came in dead last, but we had a great time losing! Next, the entire pub played Bingo for a pound a page--the swopping made Dave lose out on his prize, by the way. Then came a more exciting Bingo game, for a pound a strip. Throughout the game, we went out and smoke a bit, and ordered a few more pints. The fells were absolutely great to hang with. As we played I learned more about each one, and got an impression that Whitby is where I belong.

1. Pub quiz answer sheet, 2. Digger Edwin me and Dave, and (3)my 3rd pint

After losing at the Bingo, the final game of the night was Deal or No Deal. I was out smoking one of Digger’s roll-ups, and when I returned, I learned that I was up next for Deal or No Deal. As a huge non risk-taker, I was offered 2o quid and a bottle of wine, and I took it. Round over. Me and the lads drank the 20 for the rest of the night.

The rest of the night game was exciting AF, Another Mark had a turn and blasted through the game by winning half of the £590 jackpot. After the win, I suggested that he buy a round for the bar. Fe admitted to me that at the start of the game, he said to his dad, “if I win the Jackpot, I’m buying the American girl a drink.’ So Mark got me a drink, we all had one last drink and smoke and the Buck Inn closed for the night.

Detail of Mark's hand, sa few pints, and my winnings from Deal or No Deal

Here is a list of four things:

• The owner and her partner just came back from a trip to NYC, and they are fun as heck. I advised them to stay in Brooklyn next time.
  
• Edwin also rents a room and a flat for holiday visitors…so if I return I may have another place to stay.
• Digger has been to and tattooed in places all over the world.
• I swapped numbers with several folks to keep in touch via WhatsApp.

I said my goodbyes, and grabbed Digger to walk me home. We chatted shite on the walk and he came in for the loo. In the course of the next 20 mins or so we talked some more and he sang me his favorite Karaoke song “I’t s alittle bit funny this feeling inside, but not one of those I can easily hide…” then took his leave.



This simple retelling does not do the night or the Buck Inn any justice. I loved the place and the people, and look forward to coming back to the Buck Inn, and buying a drink for my new friends, or possibly just doing a bit better on the Monday night quiz!

I love Whitby!