android appBeccles Bear & Bells
opening hours
- Mon-Sat: 1100-2300
- Sun: 1100-2200
food times
- Mon-Tue: closed
- Wed-Fri: 1200-1430, 1800-2100
- Sat: 1200-1500, 1800-2100
- Sun: 1200-1700
guest beers
This pub serves 3 guest ales.
source: National
up to 3 ales
listed building grade II
Local licensing authority for Beccles is East Suffolk
CAMRA North-East Suffolk branch.
last updated Nov 29th, 2023.
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Beccles Bear & Bells
formerly Bear
South, 52.45967,1.56326
Real Ale is sold here.
11 Old Market, NR34 9AP
grid reference TM 421 906
The pub is adjacent to bus station, close to town centre and near to the river Waveney, so it is handy for visitors to the Broads. Reopened under new management April 15th 2022. There is a central bar area and a side room and a separate dining area, which doubles as a function room. A paved garden is at the rear and tables are set out in front of the pub in warmer months.
This 17th century pub stands on a site which has supported licensed premises since 1620.
Facilities
Beer garden or other outside drinking area: rear terrace
Beer served through handpumps
Bus stop nearby (see transport links for details)
Dogs welcome: on leads
Evening meals
Family friendly
Function room available to hire: a function room is available for hire
Live music: monthly
Lunchtime meals (not just snacks)
Restaurant or separate dining area: bookings required for larger groups of diners
Separate bar
Smoking area: in garden and on patio in front of pub
WiFi available
Railway station about 0.3 miles away (see transport links for details)
Gallery
Nearest railway station
Beccles: 528 yards (482m)
Oakfired at Royal Oak 0.11 mile
Graze at the White Horse 0.14 mile
King's Head Hotel 0.14 mile
Wine Vaults 0.20 mile
Ingate 0.60 mileHistorical interest
The pub is shown on this old OS map from about 1903 (interactive map)
Owner/operator: free
Victorian pub located on a site which has supported licensed premises since at least the C16th. Enjoys a good reputation for its food. Note the large collection of Toby Jugs.
Beer: Adnams Bitter; Draught Bass; Greene King Abbot; guest beers.CAMRA's 1997 Suffolk Real Ale Guide
The Beccles Brewery was sold with a house, gardens, building plots, a hotel [Kings Head] and 32 public houses previously owned by Frederick William Farr, at the Kings Head in Beccles on 28 Apr 1852. See Suffolk Archives Ref: 559/1 - This sale included the Bear and Bells, Old Market Place, Beccles [landlord John Lay]
Called the Bear in 1865.
Landlords
Footnote
The odd name may indicate that there were originally two pubs on this site, one called the Bear, the other the Bell or Bells.
(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources credited)
(some old PO directory information courtesy of londonpublichouse.com)
(** historic newspaper information from Stuart Ansell)
