Hotel History

The White Swan Inn is family owned and run. It has been in the ownership of the Buchanan family for 25 years, and the new Buchanan generation took over in 1996.

Originally built in 1532 as a four-room cottage, it was soon extended and pressed into service as a coaching inn for the York to Whitby stagecoach. Devious smugglers moving salt from Whitby via Saltersgate to York also used it.

Still visible today at the side of the old stone building are the joist stones that once supported an aerial walkway. It went from what is now bedroom 2 across the alley and into the small entrance next-door, also still visible.

According to the legend, when the Excise man came looking for salt and was busy searching the cellars, the smugglers used this route to transfer the salt next door. If only today's Excise man was as stupid!

The White Swan Inn has been open for business as an inn more or less ever since the 16th century. Two notable exceptions were when it served as the town's Court House for a brief spell, and during the last War when it served as Pickering Garrison's NCO Mess.

The Inn is in its twenty fifth year of ownership by the Buchanan Family. The latest generation arrived from London in 1996 and have continued to improve the business to much critical acclaim with the help of Alison Dunning who heads a young and dedicated management team and Darren Clemmit who leads the kitchen brigade.

Victor and Marion Buchanan are in the hotel most days but Victor also runs another company. They have three small children and Marion splits her time between them and the Inn.