The Magpie Cafe
Housed in our distinctive black and white building overlooking the harbour, the Magpie Café is in a prime position for you to enjoy the fabulous views of Whitby at the same time as sampling our wide selection of meals. Our specialities include dishes that use prime fresh fish, seafood and specially selected ingredients.
Please visit the menu and wine section of the site for more information about the range of mouth watering dishes we can prepare for you and your family. Group and party bookings are possible at certain times; please contact us to find out more.
Our Team
Ian Robson
Chef Proprietor
Ian has been involved with The Magpie since 1971, returning full time in 1980 and eventually taking over the business with Alison in 1990 on the retirement of Alison’s parents Ian and Sheila McKenzie. He remains actively involved in the day-to-day running of the restaurant.
Alison McKenzie Slater
Proprietor
The Magpie has been owned by Alison’s family since 1954 – first by her grandparents Clifford and Gladys Barker and then her parents Ian and Sheila McKenzie. She took the business over in 1990 in partnership with Ian Robson.
Paul Gildroy
Head Chef
Paul first came to The Magpie aged 12 for a weekend job buttering bread. After leaving school he went to catering college in Scarborough and after gaining experience in The Lake District returned to The Magpie in 1993.
Duncan Robson
Restaurant Manager
After finishing university with a degree in Economics and Business, Duncan returned home to help run the family business and is involved in both front-of-house and the kitchen. In 2007 he opened The Magpie’s Kitchen Cookware shop in Whitby.
Louise Middlemas
Sous Chef
After graduating from university in 2003 with a degree in Sports Science, Lou decided her true vocation lay in cooking and is now Paul’s right hand woman
David Barsby
Takeaway Manager
David, who is married to Ian and Alison’s daughter Kirsty, joined the family business in 2005 to take day-to-day responsibility for the operation of the new takeaway shop.
The Whitby Catch
You can now buy Magpie Quality Fish and Seafood online
