android appPin Mill Butt & Oyster
opening hours
- Mon: 1100-2200
- Tue: 1200-2100
- Wed: 1000-2200
- Thu: 0900-2200
- Fri-Sat: 1100-2300
- Sun: 0900-2230
food times
- Mon-Fri: 1000-2100
- Sat-Sun: 0900-2100
regular cask ales
- Adnams --seasonal-- [G]
- Adnams Broadside [G]
- Adnams Ghost Ship [G]
- Adnams Southwold Bitter [G]
listed building grade II
Pin Mill is part of the Chelmondiston parish.
Local licensing authority for Pin Mill is Babergh
CAMRA Ipswich & East Suffolk branch.
last updated Jan 29th, 2024.
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Pin Mill Butt & Oyster
South West, 51.99642,1.21266
Cask Ale is sold here.
Pin Mill Rd, IP9 1JW
grid reference TM 206 379
bar / diner, opened about 1500
owner/operator: Adnams / Deben Inns
A traditional pub in a tiny hamlet on the bank of River Orwell, with three separate rooms and a connecting corridor with flag-stoned floors (in part). This famous pub retains some high backed settles and a large open fire in main bar area making it very cosy on cold winter days. The pub has a toilet for disabled customers.
It was first recorded as public house in 1553, though it may be older. (The Listed Buildings Register says the building's 17th century so presumably there was an earlier building?)
Often very busy in Summer and at weekends, it has long been renowned for a traditional food menu with a number of fish dishes.
The pub has featured in films and once in TV's Lovejoy (as 'The Three Ducks'!)
One of only eight Suffolk pubs which appeared in the first (1972) edition of CAMRA's Good Beer Guide, when it sold Tolly Cobbold Bitter & Mild, as well as Worthington - all direct from the cask. It was then described as "very widely recommended".
Facilities
Accessible to disabled customers
Beer garden or other outside drinking area
Beer served direct from the barrel by gravity
Beer served through handpumps
Bus stop nearby (see transport links for details)
Dogs welcome
Evening meals
Family friendly
Lunchtime meals (not just snacks)
Parking
Quiet pub - no electronic games, piped music or jukebox
Real fire
Restaurant or separate dining area
Separate bar
Traditional pub games available
WiFi available: Free access
Gallery
Nearest railway station
Ipswich: 6.8 miles (10.9km)Other nearby Suffolk pubs
Red Lion 0.54 mile
Ship 1.87 miles
Swallow 2.1 miles
Boot 2.3 miles
Raven 2.4 miles
Thrasher 2.4 milesHistorical interest
The pub is shown on this old OS map from about 1902 (interactive map)
Owner/operator: PubmasterA classic C17th pub of worldwide renown. Both bar and the side room off the corridor still retain flagstone floors and high backed wooden settles. A massive log fire blazes in the hearth during winter. The family room/dining area and the outside terracing have unbeatable views over the River Orwell. Despite its fame, (it is often packed in summer), it retains all the essential elements of the classic English pub: most importantly this includes excellent beer. It has appeared in every edition of the GBG to date and was voted CAMRA’s regional Pub of the Year in 1992.…
Landlords
Footnote
A butt was a large wine cask. Oysters could often be packed in wooden casks for transportation and were extensively harvested along the river Orwell in bygone times.
(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 book information from Bob Mitchell)
(**** Last Orders is a free local newsletter - published by Suffolk CAMRA memers since 1978)
