Whitby's tourist season is not merely an Easter to September occurance as suggested above, in reality there are only two weeks after new year when the town is truly devoid of tourists. As soon as some people get their monthly pay cheque in January tourism picks up, especially at weekend. Weekdays see numerous coach trips land in town, especially of the "Shearings" variety. True there are not the vast numbers normally seen July/August time but only a few shops close for the "closed season" as they used to.
As for the price of beers, many of the pubs have grossly inflated rents to pay and grossly inflated prices to pay for the products they retail, there are exceptions who could charge less but they are few and far between.
Just as a rider, is it my imagination or is folk week very quiet this year.