Our first impression of the George was negative. Our tour bus let us off at the door, and we went in to discover that there was no "front desk." Check in took place at the very crowded bar in the pub. Our group of 10 stood around in the very noisy bar with our suitcases, waiting up to 20 minutes to get up to the bar, to sign in and receive our keys.
From there it got worse. Even though a few in our group were in our 60's, there was no offer of help with bags. The girl at the bar just gave us our keys and pointed up the stairs!!! Our room was up FIVE flights of narrow stairs, through several narrow doorways, down a half-flight of stairs, through a corridor partially blocked by a crib stored in an alcove, and through another door. Some in our group were on an even higher floor!
Going down the narrow corridor to our room we passed a fire door, and noticed that it appeared to be NAILED SHUT! Posted instructions stated that, in case of fire, the only way out was back the way we came! No fire escape! No other exit route! If the George ever caught fire, no one above the second floor would survive. Anywhere in the US, the local fire marshals would shut the place down in an instant!!!

Just read other reviews, can't belive I've stayed in the same place!
Lively, fun and entertaining. What more can you ask for a weekend in Whitby. The rooms where clean and en-suit to a good standard, staff where helpful, food was great bufffet breakfast was excellent. Location was good because you are right in the center of town with no big hills to walk up.
If you are looking for a 5 star hotel then its not for you, and not priced that way! Can't wait for my next visit at the george!!!

I think firstly it is important to point out that if you are on a budget, and you only want to stay one night in Whitby - then really this hotel is your only choice. The vast majority of Hotels in Whitby are not at all interested in anyone wanting to stay one night at a weekend, unless it is very last minute and they haven't a chance of selling the room.

Also, The George is really only for either groups or for younger couples who don't mind a fair amount of noise late at night. Again it is probably the only hotel in the centre of Whitby which will accept groups.

Its horses for courses really - Don't go here if you want a high standard, quiet, romantic break.

If you are with your friends, want a good fun place that is central to all the pubs and restaurants, don't mind that your room needs refurbishing, that you are above a bar that stays open til 2pm, and that there isn't a 'hotel' really in the sense of the word - then its your ideal place.

So from the top (or rather the bottom) - there are two entrances - one at the back where once you have received your door (swipe) key, you can enter the hotel directly, or the one at the front through the bar.

There is no hotel reception, no baggage boy, nothing like a hotel at all. The staff behind the bar will sign you in, give you your swipe key, and take your payment and point you in the right direction.

If you have been canny beforehand, and read the reviews you will have booked your room as high up in the hotel as you can! Any rooms on the bottom two floors probably bounce with the music at night. You can vaguely hear the music on the top floor.

The top floor is made up of three twin rooms and one double room. All are non-ensuite - and there is a toilet with a sink, a 'bathroom with toilet, sink and shower, a separate shower and thats it., No bath. If you are in a group and have taken over the top floor then this isn't a problem. If you are all single bookings - then I imagine it is. But having said that, you pay less for these rooms.

The rest of the rooms in the hotel are en-suite and cost a little more.

The rooms are clean, but are old, need refurbishing, and are in dire need of a bedside light, but in general fulfil your needs if all you are there for is to sleep. The bedding is clean, fresh and the beds are comfy enough. There is a small television with good reception, small kettle with plenty of tea and coffee etc., and enough mirrors if you are sharing with your female mates. The windows open easily enough if it gets too warm (the central heating works overtime).

Breakfast is included in your room rate and this is taken at the bottom of the hotel in what I presume is the restaurant in the evening, and the nightclub late at night - I presume this because I walked on small pieces of broken glass when making my way from the buffet to the table.

Breakfast is adequate again if you are on a budget. Freshly made eggs, both fried and scambled, sausages, tomatoes, fresh mushrooms, beans. Vegetarian option if you ask - vegi sausages etc.. Plenty of thick slices of bread and two toasters for you to toast yourself, bran flakes and corn flakes, iced milk, grapefruit slices, plenty of nescafe and tea, and possibly the most foul 'orange juice' I have ever had. If you don't want to get up for breakfast you can have a price reduction on the room - but I imagine you have to mention this when you book in and before you pay.

As a guest of the hotel, you receive your first drinks on the house. If you are charged for them, mention it - some staff remember, some staff don't.

Rosie O-Gradies the pub (part of the hotel) is probably one of the busiest bars in Whitby for younger people - it is lively, loud and not awful - just a busy loud bar! Its open til 2pm but stops on the nose and doesn't keep going after.

If you are planning on drinking a lot, staying up late, then its ideal really - you don't have to queue to get in (use your hotel swipe card and come in the back way). Don't have to queue in the ladies toilets (again use your own) dump your jackets/bags in your room etc.,

In terms of location its just in the new town, slightly before you get to the old iron bridge which leads to Whitby old town. There is a small roundabout a little further on from the hotel and if you turn right at this and follow the road on, right to end after the boats and before you drive through the gate you will find a long stay car park on the right which charges £6 for 24 hours.

DONT park in the small carpark next to the co-op. It appears to be a privately owned carpark and the last time I was there, atleast two people had been clamped, thinking it was a free car park for shoppers of the co-op. it isn't - and it is a licence to make money - shocking! The car park only allows you to pay til midnight, and after that you have to go back out and pay again - and if you don't - get ready to get that cheque book out!!!! Didn't happen to us, but I know it happened to others.

All the bars and restaurants shops and things to see are totally walkable from The George, so you really are in a good position to see Whitby from here.

So, I say again - . Don't come here for a romantic quiet getaway - stay at the White Horse & Griffin or the Shephards Purse for that.

Do come here if you are on a budget, a group, a young couple, want one night away with your mates, and don't mind it not being a 'real hotel' just a pub/club with a lot of rooms.

As long as you know what you are getting in to - then there shouldn't be any problems.

As soon as we stepped into The George hotel "lobby" the fun started. There didn't seem to be any distinction between pub and hotel, which caused a bit of confusion and much trapsing up and down of stairs with baggage in hope of finding the reception. So where were the concierge staff to greet and assist their new guests? Too busy avoiding the arrivals.
Finally we persuaded a member of the bar staff to help us with signing in.
The rooms were filled with the overpowering scent of air freshner and dusty arrangements of 'silk' flowers. Many of the bathroom fittings were not attached and fell off every day, only to be replaced again by the chamber-staff (repeat to fade).
If you'd prefer a restful night in Whitby, this is not the place for you.
And just how hard is it to provide your guests with real orange juice for breakfast? Orange-coloured water will not do.