The Middle Earth Tavern is a historic pub on Church Street in Whitby, a town in North Yorkshire, England.
The building was constructed in the 17th century, and extended to the right in the 19th century. 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. The building was Grade II listed in 1972. While it became vacant in the early 21st century, it was reopened as a restaurant and bar. 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.
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. Inside, it has a lounge and pool room.
See also Listed buildings in Whitby (central area - east)
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