John Smith, a tramp, went into John Munnings beerhouse, in Holbrook, asked for a pint of beer and attempted to pay for it with a piece of metal resembling a half-sovereign. Munnings told him the coin was bad so he put down twopence in payment and picked up his piece of metal. Smith told a customer that if had got change he would have ‘a good old spree with the money’. Smith was later arrested in the Compasses and charged with attempting to tender piece of metal representing a half-sovereign for goods supplied, he was then committed for trial at the next assizes. Ipswich Journal, Dec 1880**

In 1937 the pub was listed in Kelly's Directory as one of 220 pubs that were retailing beer that they were brewing.