The Prospect of Whitby is a riverside tavern in the Wapping district of east London, believed to have been founded in 1520, making it one of the oldest surviving riverside pubs in the city. Perched just up the stairs from the site of London's infamous Execution Dock — where convicted pirates were hanged, their bodies sometimes left to be washed over by three tides — the pub offers a striking, atmospheric view of the Thames and, according to local tradition, even a noose suspended outside as a grim reminder of its history. Sailors, traders, and figures from London's maritime underworld are said to have frequented the establishment across the centuries. Gates visited the Prospect of Whitby in Season 12 to meet with piracy historian Colin Woodard, using the pub's deep connections to the golden age of piracy as the starting point for his investigation into the legendary buccaneer Henry Every (also spelled Henry Avery).
The Prospect of Whitby is believed to have been founded on the Wapping waterfront, according to the pub's own tradition and Gates' on-camera account.
Six members of Henry Every's crew were hanged at nearby Execution Dock, just below the pub, following their conviction for piracy.
Gates meets piracy historian Colin Woodard at the pub during filming of Expedition Unknown S12E04, "Riches of Spain's Pirate King."
Colin Woodard — an award-winning author and journalist specializing in maritime and pirate history, and a recurring expert collaborator on Expedition Unknown — frames Henry Every as a largely forgotten but historically pivotal figure. Sitting with Gates at the Prospect of Whitby, Woodard argues that Every's audacious attack on the Mughal treasure ship Ganj-i Sawai in 1695 set off what was arguably the first global manhunt in history, and that Every's legend directly inspired the next generation of pirates who defined the so-called golden age of piracy in the early 18th century.
The Prospect of Whitby itself serves less as an archaeological site and more as a living historical backdrop — a place where the atmosphere of 17th-century maritime London can still be felt. Its proximity to Execution Dock (where, as Gates notes, six of Every's own crewmen were hanged in 1696) makes it a genuinely evocative setting for a conversation about piracy's brutal realities. Historians broadly accept the pub's claimed founding date of around 1520, though as with many old London establishments, documentary evidence for the earliest decades is limited — visitors should treat origin stories with the same healthy skepticism Gates applies on camera.
What remains genuinely debated in the historical record is what happened to Henry Every himself after his disappearance following the Ganj-i Sawai raid. No confirmed account of his death or final whereabouts has been established, and the fate of his plunder remains unknown — which is precisely the thread Gates picks up and follows across the broader S12E04 investigation. The pub meeting with Woodard is framed as the opening chapter of that search, not its conclusion.
According to Gates and Colin Woodard on camera, the Prospect of Whitby was founded in 1520, placing it among the oldest riverside pubs in London.
The pub sits just above the site of Execution Dock, where six of Henry Every's crew members were hanged in 1696 following their piracy convictions.
Colin Woodard notes that Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet were reportedly inspired by the stories and myths surrounding Henry Every, making Every a kind of prototype for the golden-age pirate legend.
Henry Every is known to have gone by at least two spellings of his surname — 'Every' and 'Avery' — a detail Gates raises with Woodard during their meeting at the pub.
The Prospect of Whitby is generally open to the public as a working pub and is located along Wapping Wall on the north bank of the Thames. Visitors can explore the historic interior and enjoy riverside views; the exterior noose and flagstone floors contribute to the atmosphere. As a functioning licensed premises, hours are subject to change, so checking ahead before visiting is advisable.
Central London — the pub is located in Wapping, approximately 2 miles (3 km) east of the City of London.
The pub can be visited year-round, though the riverside terrace is most enjoyable in warmer months from late spring through early autumn. Weekday afternoons tend to be quieter than weekend evenings.
Whydah Pirate Museum, Yarmouth
The Whydah Pirate Museum in Yarmouth holds recovered artifacts from the golden age of piracy — the same era of Blackbeard and Every that Woodard and Gates discuss at the Prospect of Whitby.
Indian Ocean
Henry Every's most famous act of piracy — the attack on the Mughal treasure ship Ganj-i Sawai — took place in the Indian Ocean, the geographic heart of the broader S12E04 investigation that begins at this pub.
Coastal Louisiana
Coastal Louisiana has appeared in Expedition Unknown investigations tied to pirate lore and buried treasure narratives, thematically connecting it to the hunt for Every's missing plunder.