Middle Earth Tavern

The Middle Earth Tavern is a historic pub in Whitby, a town in North Yorkshire, in England.

The building was constructed in the 17th century, and extended to the right in the 19th century.^[1] At some point it was converted into a pub, and named for J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle Earth, perhaps in reference to Tolkien having sketched nearby Whitby Abbey while a student.^[2] The building was grade II listed in 1972.^[1] While it became vacant in the early 21st century, it was reopened as a restaurant and bar.^[3] Following flooding, the internal ground floor walls were left as bare brick, but contained assorted bric a brac and various references to Tolkien's work.^[4]

The pub is rendered and has a pantile roof. There are two storeys and attics, and five bays. The central doorway has pilasters, a frieze and a cornice. The windows are double-hung sashes in architraves and there are two gabled dormers with bargeboards and finials.^[1] Inside, it has a lounge and pool room.^[4]