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Felixstowe Dolphin
opening hours
- Mon-Sat: 1200-0000
- Sun: 1200-2300
Local licensing authority for Felixstowe is East Suffolk
CAMRA Ipswich & East Suffolk branch.
last updated Jun 5th, 2020.
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Felixstowe Dolphin
formerly Station Hotel
Real Ale is sold here.
41 Beach Station Rd, IP11 2EY
grid reference TM 292 334
traditional bar, opened 1883 (rebuilt 1959)
owner/operator: Star (Heineken UK)
A traditional bar with accommodation, located close to the former Felixstowe Beach railway station which once offered easy access to the ferry terminus for foot passengers. Live music on Friday evenings. Good value accommodation (12 rooms).
The Dolphin is Suffolk's most southerly pub.
Facilities
Accessible to disabled customers
Accommodation available
Beer garden or other outside drinking area
Beer served through handpumps
Bus stop nearby (see transport links for details)
Dogs welcome
Evening meals
Family friendly
Live music
Lunchtime meals (not just snacks)
Parking
Real fire
Restaurant or separate dining area
Separate bar
Traditional pub games available
Railway station about 1.5 miles away (see transport links for details)
Gallery
Nearest railway station
Felixstowe: 1.5 miles (2.4km)Other nearby Suffolk pubs
Copa's 0.17 mile
Felsto Arms 0.43 mile
Boardwalk 0.62 mile
One 29 0.85 mile
Cork Bar 0.86 mile
Dooley 0.94 mileHistorical interest
The original pub is shown (as the Station Hotel) on this old OS map from about 1902 (interactive map)
The 1904 Woodbridge licensing records show that the Station Hotel's license was issued in 1878. Whether this was when it was first licensed or when it got a full (ie not just beer) license isn't clear, though the latter seems more probable.
Beach Station Road was formerly called Station Road. The original Station Hotel building was slightly closer to the railway line than the current building.
This modern (1959) public house stands opposite the Beach Station, on a site formerly occupied by the Station Hotel. This was the first of Felixstowe's 3 railway stations to be opened - by Colonel Tomline, in 1877, when it stood at the end of a single line…
Landlords
Footnote
A dolphin is seen as a friendly animal that would help ancient mariners by twining itself round the anchor cable in a storm to prevent the anchor dragging. It also features in many coats of arms including the Fishmongers Company and the Company of Watermen. In France from the 14th cent. the eldest son of the king was known as "le dauphin".
Beach Station (opposite) was the first of Felixstowe's 3 railway stations to be opened - by Colonel Tomline, in 1877, when it stood at the end of a single line.
(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)
(** historic newspaper information from Stuart Ansell)
(*** historic book information from Bob Mitchell)
