Hessett Five Bells
listed building grade II
last updated Nov 28th, 2025.
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Hessett Five Bells
also traded as Bells?
East, 52.22031,0.833
Closed: about 2012.
Surveyed December 2025. Last known status Jan 2024 when its was being refurbished as a pub. No opening date given by owners.
last owner/operator: Greene King
The Street, IP30 9AX
grid reference TL 936 617
The pub can be seen on this old OS map from about 1903 (interactive map)
Closed - future uncertain.
Close to the A14 (Beyton junction) but off the beaten track, in the centre of this pretty village and opposite the Norman church, the heavily timbered Bells was a cosy pub. Two bars either side of the entrance lobby had log fires in large fireplaces. The massive Tudor brick post holding the sign above the entrance is said to be all that remains of the entry to a long demolished stately home. A record of landlords back to 1753 is framed in the bar.
Not only is the pub itself a Listed Building; the pub sign is also Grade II Listed. The building was constructed in several phases in the 16th & 17th centuries.
Message from Clive Roper "Greene King sold the pub many years ago to a private concern many years ago before the building work started."
Although reopening has been promised for some years now, there have been so many delays that the veracity of this promise has to be doubted.
Gallery
White Horse 0.93 mile
Bennet Arms 1.18 miles
Gardener's Arms 1.67 miles
Bull 2.3 miles
Fox & Hounds 2.3 miles
Victoria 2.4 milesHistorical interest
Owner/operator: Greene King
no real aleCAMRA's 1997 Suffolk Real Ale Guide
A reference appears in the Ipswich Journal*** on October 24th 1767 to the Six Bells in Hessett (should read Five Bells?)
Died on the 4 Jan 1885, Sophia, widow of William Hubbard, formerly of the Bells Inn, Hessett, aged 64. Ipswich Journal, Jan 1885**
Walter Manning was accused of stealing straw, stover (corn stalks) and chaff (corn husks) for the stable he used at the Five Bells. Found guilty he was sentenced to 10 days hard labour.Ipswich Journal, January 25th 1896** (when Henry Hubbard was the landlord)
Landlords
(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)
(1891 census information from Dudley Diaper)
(old PO directory information courtesy of londonpublichouse.com)
(** historic newspaper information from Stuart Ansell)
Old OS map reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.
