The Lidgate Star is a listed building which was built as a hall house which would have had a large open hearth and no upstairs rooms. The Star was used for residential purposes until the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century, when it became a licensed premises. The right hand section of the building was formerly a private residence before becoming part of the pub, with a later extension at the rear. There is a blocked up doorway in the cellar which once went to an adjoining property.
John Lydgate, the English poet, wrote in the early fifteenth century:
‘I was born in Lydgate where Bachus licour doth ful scarsli fleete’.
A model of how the pub might have looked in the late sixteenth century. This beautiful model was made by the village historian Anthony Foreman.
1580s – The building was constructed as a hall house (it may have been as early as the early sixteenth century).
1800s – It is thought that the building became a beer house in the early 1800s.
1850 – The first recorded publican was a farmer, John Day and his son Robert.
1861 – The pub was first recorded as the Star Beer House, with John Parker pulling pints with his wife Charlotte for over twenty years. He served at the pub until 1883 when he was into his seventies. He came from Attleton Green, Wickhambrook, and was a bricklayer by trade. He is buried at the bottom chapel in Wickhambrook.
1891 – Samuel Banks, a widower from Barrow, was the publican.
1891 – The pub was purchased by the Greene King brewery.
1901 – William Leach from Kirtling moved in with his four daughters, Margaret, Dorothy, Winifred and Florence. He was also a farmer, carrier and employer in addition to his publican role. Army veteran William Crick also lived at the pub.
1927 – Fred and Connie Kitcat moved in as full-time publicans. Fred had worked as a groom at Ickworth House (now a National Trust property).
1955 – Albert Chambers and his wife took over.
1977 – John and Pat Stone took over at the pub and there were developments with more meals and a family friendly approach. John Ward took over the pub for a few months after the Stones left.
2000s – The pub became popular as a Spanish tapas restaurant run by Toni and Terri Axon.
2011 – There was a community buyout of the pub from Greene King.
2022 – The pub returned to private hands, but maintaining the same community values.
2023 – An extension was added to the building to provide accessibility facilities and also an additional cold store room on the ground floor.
2024 – The pub is now a drinks and community pub, with food served every evening. There are lots of events, including numerous history talks and tours. Please e-mail star@lidgatestar.co.uk to join the mailing list to get advance notice of them.
The pub is open from 16:00 to 23:00 on Mondays to Fridays and from 12:00 to 23:00 on Saturdays and Sundays.
Pizzas are served from 18:30 until 22:00 on Mondays to Fridays and from 17:00 until 22:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. Cold plates such as charcuterie boards and filled rolls are available on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. We are launching a new weekend menu in late 2024.
The Lidgate Star, The Street, Lidgate, Suffolk, CB8 9PP
star@lidgatestar.co.uk
01638 500275
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