Ipswich

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Reopened pubs

As pubs across the county are starting to reopen, we're trying to collate a comprehensive list of those that have reopened or are close to it. Our list can be found on this page.

Although the government has now allowed pubs to reopen, many are still unable to do so safely, while most if not all are only able to accommodate limited numbers of customers. Many of them are still reliant on providing takeaway food and/or drinks. Some offer deliveries, while others are selling from the premises. This page lists details of those we know about.

If you can give any of our pubs some support through these difficult times by buying some takeaway food or drink, please do so. Our pubs need as much support as possible if they're going to still be there for us when the crisis is over.

Introduction

expand 46 Pub(s) known to have reopened after lockdown (or close to reopening)

Please tell us if you know of any pubs which have reopened after lockdown that we don't list here.

Port, borough and county town of Suffolk. This is by far the largest settlement in the county and is built around the lowest crossing point of the tidal river Orwell (known as the river Gipping to the west of Stoke bridge). The modern town has expanded far beyond the medieval walled port settlement and today many large domestic housing and industrial estates surround the older central shopping and administrative areas.

It's often claimed that "Ipswich once had a pub for every day of the year". Sadly, this claim (which is probably made for every other similar-sized town) doesn't stand up. Borough police records show that the town's drinking estate peaked in 1870, when there were a total of 313 taverns and beerhouses. As the police records didn't differentiate between beerhouses with on and off licenses, the actual maximum number of drinking establishments was probably ten or twenty fewer than that.

In some parts of the modern town, especially for the casual observer, the boundaries with other local administrative areas are not well defined. These currently include Kesgrave, Pinewood, Rushmere St Andrew, Sprougton, Warren Heath, Wherstead and Whitton …

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Gallery

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Street-by-street pub list

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History

Before 1860

In 1553, Edward VI decided there were too many inns in the country and he decreed that their number be reduced. Whilst the City of London was permitted 40, Ipswich was allowed only four.

In 1689, there appear to have been a mere two dozen inns or taverns in Ipswich:

  • St Mary at the Tower Parish

    • Griffen
    • Chequers
    • Swan
    • King's Head
    • Castle
    • Three Cooneys
    • Queen's Head
    • Royal Oak
    • White Horse
    • Black Boy
    • Coffee House

  • St Margaret's Parish

    • Greyhound
    • Cock & Pye
    • Two Neck'd Swan
    • Buck (Running Buck)
    • Woolpack
    • Saracen's Head

  • Wykes Bishop hamlet

    • Cock

  • St Mary at the Quay

    • Angel
    • Bull

  • St Peter's

    • Gun
    • Rose
      • …
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