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Bildeston King's Head
opening hours
- Mon-Tue: closed
- Wed-Thu: 1800-2300
- Fri: 1600-0000
- Sat: 1200-0000
- Sun: 1200-2200
food times
- Mon-Thu: closed
- Fri: 1700-2100
- Sat: 1200-1400, 1800-2100
- Sun: 1200-1500
guest beers
This pub serves 1 guest ale.
source: Local
listed building grade II
Local licensing authority for Bildeston is Babergh
CAMRA West Suffolk & Borders branch.
last updated Jun 4th, 2020.
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Bildeston King's Head
The pub has now reopened for drinks in the beer garden at weekends from 1200.
Real Ale is sold here.
132 High St, IP7 7ED
grid reference TL 992 495
Home of the King's Head brewery since 1996. A single bar with large cosy inglenook fireplace. The large carved timbers indicate its history as part of a larger complex dating from around 1530. A friendly drinking house atmosphere has evolved with food available at the weekend only. A fully enclosed rear garden with a covered patio area, lawns and play equipment. Late May bank holiday beer festival is established and popular.
It has a long established reputation for live music. Every Wednesday is busking night and there is live music most weekends.
Cyclists are welcome; please take your bike round the back of the pub.
The pub has a toilet for disabled customers.
Built in the 14th century as a wool warehouse, the building was converted into a pub in the 16th century.
Facilities
Accessible to disabled customers
Beer festivals
Beer garden or other outside drinking area
Beer served through handpumps
Bus stop nearby (see transport links for details)
Cider (real draught, not keg) available: Castlings Heath
Dogs welcome
Evening meals
Family friendly
Live music
Lunchtime meals (not just snacks)
Pub sells beer from local brewers
Real fire
Traditional pub games available
WiFi available
Gallery
Nearest railway station
Stowmarket: 8.6 miles (13.8km)Other nearby Suffolk pubs
Crown 0.08 mile
Red Lion 0.19 mile
Peacock 1.12 miles
Swan 2.0 milesHistorical interest
The pub can be seen on this old OS map from about 1902 (interactive map)
The marriage took place on the 27th November 1860 by the Rev. J Gedge, Mr Jabez Osborn, grocer and draper, to Emily daughter of Mr W Squirrell, of the Kings Head Inn, Bildeston.Ipswich Journal, December 1860**
A report in the Bury & Norfolk Post & Suffolk Herald*** on December 19th in 1885 makes reference to Charles RALPH, of the King's Head Inn, Bildeston whose bar window had been smashed.
Originally a three bar inn with a number of letting rooms. In 2007 many of the larger public spaces were closed - ie the lounge bar and pool room - to retain just a single public bar with all the other rooms now converted into separate private accommodation…
Landlords
(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)
(some old PO directory information courtesy of londonpublichouse.com)
(** historic newspaper information from Stuart Ansell)
(*** historic newspaper information from Bob Mitchell)
(**** Last Orders is a free local newsletter - published by Suffolk CAMRA members since 1978)
