android appGreat Blakenham Chequers
opening hours
- Mon-Tue: 1100-1500, 1700-2300
- Wed-Sat: 1100-2300
- Sun: 1130-2230
food times
- Mon-Tue: 1100-1500, 1700-2300
- Wed-Sat: 1100-2300
- Sun: 1130-2230
guest beers
This pub serves 2 guest ales.
Local licensing authority for Great Blakenham is Mid Suffolk
CAMRA Ipswich & East Suffolk branch.
last updated Feb 23rd, 2021.
Something we've got wrong about this establishment? Something more you think we should know about it? Please email us
Great Blakenham Chequers
Real Ale is sold here.
Current landlord (David Lang) has been here for 23 years. Pub has been significantly refurbished and expanded in 2017 with new function rooms added for weddings and parties etc. Mobile bar available for events, etc.
Beers usually selected from Woodforde Wherry, Greene King IPA and Adnams Ghost Ship.
Facilities
Beer garden or other outside drinking area
Bus stop nearby (see transport links for details)
Cash machine
Dogs welcome
Evening meals
Family friendly: Childrens Play Area
Function room available to hire: Upstairs Dining Area
Live music
Lunchtime meals (not just snacks)
Real fire
Restaurant or separate dining area
Traditional pub games available: Pool Table, Dart Room
WiFi available
Railway station about 3.2 miles away (see transport links for details)
Gallery
Nearest railway station
Needham Market: 3.2 miles (5.1km)Other nearby Suffolk pubs
Sorrel Horse 0.64 mile
Greyhound 1.02 miles
Crown 1.06 miles
Duke of Marlborough 2.4 miles
Lion 2.7 miles
Cock 2.8 milesHistorical interest
The pub is shown on this old OS map from about 1902 (interactive map)
A Main of Cocks at the Chequer, Blakenham.Ipswich Journal, January 24th 1747***
Cocking at Paul Perkin's, the Blakenham Chequer.Ipswich Journal, June 16th 1750***
Cocking at Paul Perkins', the Blakenham Chequer.Ipswich Journal, July 4th 1752***
A reference appears in the Ipswich Journal*** on April 1st 1769 to Mr. Samuel Turner, late of Great Blakenham, Innholder (name not given), deceased.
Died on the 9th April 1815, at Needham Market, aged 70, Mr Anthony Hunt, late of the Chequers at Blakenham, which house he kept for upwards of 53 years. Ipswich Journal, April 1815**
John Levitt was charged with being drunk and refusing to quit the Chequers…
Landlords
Footnote
The Chequers sign is an ancient sign probably brought to England by the Romans. Later the sign became associated with a money table e.g. an exchequer or type of chessboard. Some pubs displayed the sign to indicate that they would change money or acted as bankers in some way.
(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)
(census information from Dudley Diaper)
(** historic newspaper information from Stuart Ansell)
(*** historic newspaper information from Bob Mitchell)
(**** Last Orders is a free local newsletter - published by Suffolk CAMRA memers since 1978)
