Long Melford Bull
- previously known as Bull Tap
- Hall St
- CO10 9JG
- 01787 378494
- grid reference TL 864 458
- opened 1450
- owner Greene King
- hotel
Imposing 15th cent. 3* hotel with 25 rooms and used as an inn since at least 1580. The comfortable bar and lounge to rear of building (accessed from main entrance) overlook a coutyard and also welcomes non residents. It has featured in TV's Lovejoy and in Dec 1969 John Lenon and his wife Yoko Ono stayed at the inn whilst they were filming in Lavenham.
The hotel was extensively and sympathetically refurbished in 2003.
Food available 12-2.30 + 6.30-9.30
In 1648 the innkeeper, Richard Everard was killed in a brawl in the entrance hall. His body was said to have vanished before the burial.
(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)
(some old PO directory information courtesy of te londonpublichouse.com)
(*** historic newspaper information from Bob Mitchell)
Note
Name may be a sympathetic reference to a Papal bull - a lead seal attached to official religious edicts or documents - or a reference to Henry VIII who introduced a bulls head into his coat-of-arms after he defied a papal bull in 1538. Bull baiting was also quite widespread until it was banned in 1835.