Beccles Bear & Bells
opening hours
- Mon-Thu: 1200-2330
- Fri-Sat: 1200-2400
- Sun: 1200-2330
food times
- Mon: closed
- Tue-Fri: 1200-1400, 1700-2000
- Sat: 1200-2000
- Sun: 1200-1600
guest beers
This pub serves 2 guest ales.
source: National
listed building grade II
Local licensing authority for Beccles is East Suffolk
CAMRA North-East Suffolk branch.
last updated Mar 14th, 2026.
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Beccles Bear & Bells
formerly Bear
South, 52.45967,1.56326
Cask Ale is sold here.
11 Old Market, NR34 9AP
grid reference TM 421 906
owner/operator: Stonegate
Reopened 27th February 2026 with a new tenant. There has been a licensed premises at this site since 1620. 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. There is a central bar area and a function room. A paved patio is at the rear.
This 17th century pub stands on a site which has supported licensed premises since 1620.
Facilities
Beer garden or other outside drinking area: rear patio
Beer served through handpumps
Bus stop nearby (see transport links for details)
Evening meals
Function room available to hire
Live music
Lunchtime meals (not just snacks)
Smoking area: in garden and on patio in front of pub
Special events
Sport TV
Traditional pub games available: in function room
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
Old Tap 0.12 mile
Swan House 0.12 mile
King's Head Hotel 0.14 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)
