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Butley Oyster
Local licensing authority for Butley is East Suffolk
CAMRA Ipswich & East Suffolk branch.
last updated Jun 5th, 2020.
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Butley Oyster
Shop on the premises has reopened to help the community through the crisis. The pub is also starting to do takeaway services for residents and is working with the Teapot Project in Woodbridge to offer school dinners all the way up to Ipswich.
Note: this was our information before the start of the current lockdown. If you have updated information, please let us know.
Currently closed - may reopen?
Woodbridge Rd, IP12 3NZ
grid reference TM 368 509
bar / diner, opened 1617 or earlier
Now fully refurbished. Traditional rural pub with lots of character. Lots of local photos & articles adorn the walls. An established menu offering home cooked food & regular folk sessions on Wednesday evenings.
In April 2020 it was reported that the pub is reopening, though at present only the shop is operating, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A further report in July told us that reopening had been deferred and it may be another six months before it reopens as a pub. The shop continues to operate as a lifeline for the villagers.
Apparently negotiations for a community takeover are underway.
According to A Survey of Suffolk Parish History, the Oyster was first recorded in 1732, though part of the interior dates back to the 16th century…
Facilities
Accessible to disabled customers
Beer garden or other outside drinking area
Beer served direct from the barrel by gravity
Bus stop nearby (see transport links for details)
Dogs welcome
Evening meals
Family friendly
Live music
Lunchtime meals (not just snacks)
Parking
Quiet pub - no electronic games, piped music or jukebox
Real fire
Separate bar
Traditional pub games available
Village shop or similar facility on-site
Gallery
Nearest railway station
Melton: 5.5 miles (8.9km)Other nearby Suffolk pubs
Boardwalk 2.4 miles
Tavern 2.5 miles
Green Man 2.6 miles
King's Head 3.4 miles
Jolly Sailor 3.6 miles
Ship 3.7 milesHistorical interest
A report in the Bury & Norwich Post** on Dec-26 in 1838 states that the pub was part of the sale of Samuel Alexander's Brewery, the Oyster selling at £820.
The Oyster Inn, Butley to be sold by auction. Mr John THURLOW, the Proprietor & his family have occupied this Inn for the last 25 years and he now only leaves in consequence of having engaged a farm.Ipswich Journal, June 25th 1853***
William Collings of Capel St Andrew, shoemaker, andWilliam Minter of Boyton, labourer were charged by Constable W Cooper of Butley with assault on the 14th April 1860. The constable said that he was at the Oyster, Butley, having been sent for by the landlord Mr Moss at about half past eleven o'clock at night…
Landlords
Footnote
Oyster beds in Butley Creek, where oysters were cultivated for centuries, once enjoyed a fine reputation until the trade died out in the late 19th century. Since 1950s the beds have been gradually restored by Richard Pinney, so that today the Butley Orford Oysterage is again an established local industry offering not just oysters but also cod, bass, sole, skate, lobster, crabs and various smoked foods.
(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)
(some old PO directory information courtesy of londonpublichouse.com)
(** historic newspaper information from Stuart Ansell)
(*** historic newspaper information from Bob Mitchell)
Old OS map reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.
