To get the best out of this site you need Javascript enabled. If you cannot enable Javascript, please use the menu at the page bottom to navigate around the site.
Ipswich Grand Hotel
Ipswich Grand Hotel
also traded as Bee Hive, Limmers
North, 52.0571,1.15409
Closed: post-1977
16 Buttermarket
grid reference TM 163 445
The Beehive is shown on this OS town plan of 1883 (interactive map).
The Grand Hotel is sometimes listed at "Old Buttermarket".
The Bee Hive Tap is listed next door until at least 1871.
The Bee Hive closed in 1893 and was demolished. A new pub of same name opened at Majors Corner in about 1900.
The Grand hotel had a resident orchestra and seems to have run from about 1900 onwards until eventually being converted into shops. Curiously, the 1909 Ipswich Rates book has it marked "late", implying that it closed some time in the subsequent couple of years.
During the 1920s and 30s, especially when being run by Bill Read, this was a popular venue for many off-duty airmen from nearby RAF Martlesham,. The Salutation was another popular venue during that time for these pioneering airman, who were engaged in a wide variety of aircraft and armaments testing.
Information from Gordon Kinsey book "Martlesham Heath" (pub. 1975)
It was then ran by a grocery company called Limmer & Pipe for some time. They also used part of the building as a restaurant. It isn't clear when it became Limmers bar, but this is remembered by local long-standing local residents who drank there in the 1970s.
According to the most up-to-date available from Ipswich licensing records, it was open at least as late as 1977.
Gallery
Historical interest
All persons having any claims or demands upon the estate of James Crisp, late of the Unicorn Inn, Ipswich, deceased, are requested to send an account of their respective claims to Mr Thomas Crisp, of the Bee Hive Inn, Ipswich, his Executor, to whom all persons standing indebted to the deceased, are required to pay the amount of their several debts, within one month.Ipswich Journal, June 1830**
A notice in the Ipswich Journal of December 1835 states: T Crisp, Wine and Spirit Merchant of the Bee Hive Inn, Ipswich, solicits the inspection of the public to his stock of spirits, but particularly to an article denominated Crisp's Champagne brandy. It is manufactured solely for TC in accordance with the system of an eminent Brandy distiller in France…
Landlords
(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)
(census information from Dudley Diaper)
(** information from Stuart Ansell)
Old OS map reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.