android appSouthwold Victoria
last updated Oct 18th, 2021.
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Southwold Victoria
also traded as Nag's Head, Star, BlueLighthouse, East Street Café Bar, Pilot Boat
West, 52.32602,1.68003
closed 2014
opened pre-1820
8 East St, IP18 6EH
grid reference TM 508 761
The Victoria was a long-established pub on a site where a pub has stood since at least 1820, when it was known as the Pilot Boat. The current building has stood since 1855 and in more recent years traded as the Blue Lighthouse, a café bar.
it's now closed and has been converted into a clothes shop.
Owner/operator: Phoenix Inns
[East Street Café]
Formerly the Victoria. Now a café bar, with predominantly food and wine trade.
Beers: Adnams BitterCAMRA's 1997 Suffolk Real Ale Guide
Gallery
Swan 0.03 mile
Lord Nelson 0.05 mile
Red Lion 0.07 mile
Crown 0.07 mile
Sole Bay Inn 0.09 mile
Blyth 0.38 mileHistorical interest
To be sold by auction, by Mr Cana, at the New Swan Inn, Southwold, Lot 5., the Pilot Boat which is copyhold, a substantially brick built public house, in excellent repair, possessing every convenience for carrying on extensive trade, and is subject to trifling outgoings. The tenant has notice to quit at Michaelmas.Ipswich Journal, in July 1820**
The Nag's Head was demolished on July 18th 1855 and had been rebuilt by May 22nd 1856. The sign was then altered to the Star and later to the Victoria Tavern.****
Its former name, the Pilot Boat, is commemorated in a nineteenth century rhymeThe Lion bit the Bear
And made the Old Swan fly
Turned the Pilot Boat upside down
And drank the Lord Nelson dry
The Bear Inn disappeared over one hundred years ago (1869)…
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 book information from Bob Mitchell)
(**** Reference to pub seen in Southwold Diary of James Maggs (1818-1876) published by Suffolk Records Society in 2007)
