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Southwold Harbour Inn
opening hours
- Mon-Sun: 1100-2300
food times
- Mon-Sun: 1200-2100
listed building grade II
Local licensing authority for Southwold is East Suffolk
CAMRA North-East Suffolk branch.
last updated Jun 7th, 2020.
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Southwold Harbour Inn
formerly Harbour of Refuge, Ship, Fishing Buss
Pub has reopened. Reservations are essential for indoor tables (outdoor tables cannot be reserved as the weather can't be guaranteed).
See the pub's website for more details.
Real Ale is sold here.
Black Shore, IP18 6TA
grid reference TM 496 755
This riverside pub is about a mile south of the town centre. Its location means that flooding can be an issue in winter months. A mark on the wall shows the level reached by flood waters in 1953. The split level interior is often dominated by diners during busy periods & a separate restaurant extension has helped to make the venue even more popular during weekends. Nearby, a foot ferry & footbridge provide access to Walberswick.
A large caravan and camp site located nearby is popular during the summer months.
The present building is thought to date from 1840, when the pub was rebuilt.
Facilities
Beer garden or other outside drinking area: terrace in front and rear + large garden
Dogs welcome: Well-behaved dogs are welcome in the bars
Evening meals
Family friendly
Function room available to hire
Lunchtime meals (not just snacks)
Parking
Pub sells beer from local brewers
Real fire
Restaurant or separate dining area
Separate bar
Gallery
Nearest railway station
Brampton: 8.9 miles (14.3km)Other nearby Suffolk pubs
Bell Inn 0.52 mile
Anchor 0.56 mile
Sail Loft 0.63 mile
Crown 0.80 mile
Red Lion 0.80 mile
Swan 0.81 mileHistorical interest
The pub is shown on this old OS map from about 1903 (interactive map)
The pub is listed as the Fishing Buss at Blackshore Quay between 1823 and 1874. It's also listed as the Harbour of Refuge in Black Lane between 1891 and 1900.
The late Jock Peasant ran this pub in the 1950s, with his wife, Bobbie. It has also been called the Harbour of Refuge, the Ship, the Fishing Buss and the Half-and-Halfer, after a type of fishing boat where the proceeds were shared between owner & crew…
Landlords
Footnote
A buss was a type of sea-going fishing vessel, typically used by Dutch herring fishermen in the 15th to early 19th centuries.
A Half-and-Halfer, was a type of fishing boat where the proceeds were shared between owner & crew.
(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)
