It was historically used for smuggling, as it is adjacent to the North Sea, and the building is now a grade II listed structure.

The bodies of those who had drowned and washed up on the beach were stored in the pub pending a post-mortem.

[8] Besides being known for smuggling, there is a path at the rear (landward) side of the pub which leads to the Saltburn to Whitby section of the Cleveland Way.

[9] The pub, and the beach in front of it (to the north), were both used in 2015 for some scenes in the ITV drama Dark Angel about Mary Ann Cotton.

[10] The pub re-opened in August 2023, with its own fish and chip stall and a renovated beer garden overlooking the North Sea.