We’re delighted to have advised on the purchase of The Star Inn the Harbour at Whitby, led by Helen Mellors, a partner in our York office.

Helen completed the 21 year lease of the restaurant – now open for business at the site of the former tourist information building on Whitby’s harbour side – on behalf of long-standing client Mike Green of York-based GEM Construction and his business partner, renowned Michelin-starred chef Andrew Pern.

Mike Green said: “We’re absolutely delighted to bring the Star to Whitby. The Yorkshire coast is thriving and we’re excited to be able to boost the local economy with new jobs and working with local suppliers.

“Helen and the Andrew Jackson team have provided me with trusted, commercially astute advice and solutions for many years. With Helen having previously provided an excellent service through our purchasing of both The Star in the City and Mr P’s Curious Tavern, we were in no doubt that we were in the safest of legal hands throughout this venture.

“We have aspirations of building on the success of the existing Star portfolio – the Michelin-awarded Star Inn at Harome and in York, the award-winning The Star Inn The City, Museum Street and the tapas-inspired Mr P’s Curious Tavern, which opened last year in Petergate.”

Michelin stared chef Andrew, who was born and brought up on a farm close to Whitby, said it was always his intention to open a restaurant in his home town: “The Star Inn the Harbour offers a wonderful mix of Star Inn the City and Star at Harome dishes, as well as new seafood dishes that promote the area. We’re right in the middle of the old part of Whitby, in the heart of its great fishing heritage, and we hope to attract local people and tourists alike, as a place to use regularly.”