The Castle Inn, Earsham Street, Bungay. Formerly The White Lion.
"Now primarily a restaurant. The front entrance leads to the restaurant with a central bar serving two real ales behind which is a smaller area for drinking and eating, which can also be accessed via the rear entrance from the courtyard garden.
Historic Interest
A report in the Ipswich Journal in Oct 1850 states that: Was married on the 1st, at St. Mary's Church, Bungay, Mr Stephen Wright, of the White Lion Inn, to Jane, the younger daughter of William Smith, builder all of Bungay. Also listed in 1865 with a bowling green. A report in the Ipswich Journal on 10 Jul 1802 states that: An auction (at the Kings Head Inn, Bungay) on 15 Jul 1802 included Lot 8 - All that capital freehold Inn, called The White Lion in Bungay aforesaid, consisting of 2 spacious rooms, in front of the Earsham-street, 2 parlous backward, with good cellars & wine vaults, 5 bed chambers, 4 attics, wash-house, stabling for 14 horse & all other requisite buildings, brick & tile built with a large yard & garden thereto...The estates of Mrs Ann LANE, Widow, deceased."
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Opening Times -
Monday closed
Tuesday Midday - 3.00 pm
Wednesday Midday - 3.00 pm 6.00 pm - 10.00 pm
Thursday Midday - 3.00 pm 6.00 pm - 10.00 pm
Friday Midday - 10.00 pm
SaturdayMidday - 10.00 pm
Sunday Midday - 3.00 pm
Meal Times -
Closed Mon
12 - 2.30 Tue
12 - 2.30, 6 - 8.30 Wed - Sat
12 - 2.30 Sun
"The Inn was formerly known as The White Lion, and also Castles before being named The Castle Inn in July 2007.
1566 - Payment made for beer provided at the Ale Games held in the Castle yard, it is likely that the beer was from The White Lion.
1584 - Holy Trinity Parish records show Inn is under management of Rob Edwards, who provided the Archdeacon with a meal on his visit for 4s.
1614 - License issued to Francis Sheene for sale of wine at premises, the license was £3, today the same license costs over 20 times that.
1688 - Building sustained damage during the Great Fire but was rebuilt.
1750's - Beds are advertised for rent in the local paper, costing between £5 and 50 guineas, the advert claimed that the rooms had the latest designs in wallpaper!
1777 - Matthias Kerrison named as the owner of the brewhouse attached to the Inn, he was known locally as the 'Bungay Millionaire' having made money through the development of the Staithe navigation.
1828 - Following Matthias Kerrison's death in 1827 the Inn was sold to Harleston Brewery.
1853 - The Ipswich Journal reported that the Castle Bowling Green had re-opened for the season on 2nd May. The Bowling Green was attached to The White Lion which was by then owned by Lacons Brewery, and was known as one of the finest in the region until it finally closed just after the war in 1919.
1898 - Rated by the licensing trade at £23 per annum, in line with other pubs of a similar size in the town.
1940 - One of Clay's warehouses near to the Inn was damaged by bombs, but the Inn survived with only a few broken windows.
1999 - The White Lion was sold to Mike Wilkinson and Ian Hillyard and renovated and renamed Castles Hotel, Bar and Restaurant.
2000 - Castles received a 4 diamonds rating from the East of England Tourist Board in recognition of it's improved facilities.
2007 - Castles was sold by Ian Hillyard to Mark Hougham and Tanya Martin in July and renamed as The Castle Inn. Refurbishment of the bar and restaurant followed in November.
2008 - The Castle Inn reached the Finals of the Suffolk Food and Drink Awards in the Best Food Pub of the Year category. More renovation was carried out with three out of the four bedrooms being completed.
2009 - The fourth and final bedroom is refurbished. The Castle Inn is listed for the first time in the Michelin Guide. Mark and Tanya get married in September!
2010 - The Castle Inn continues to receive recognition both locally and nationally and is a runner up in the Observer Food Monthly Awards for Best Sunday Lunch.
2011 - Mark (and The Castle Inn) appear on Countryfile with John Craven for the BBC.
2012 - Hugo Treharne Hougham is born and becomes the youngest member of The Castle Inn team! Bungay hosts the first Waveney Valley Food Festival in the Castle Bailey and Mark entertained the crowds at the demonstration kitchen.
2013 - The Castle Inn is a regional finalist in the Observer Food Monthly Awards, in the Best Restaurant category.
2014 - We've been here 7 years and The Castle Inn is still standing! We've branched out and opened a second restaurant the Suffolk Stonehouse in the old Merchant's House on St Mary's Street. Who knows what else will happen this year?"
SOURCE - (
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