The Sole Bay Inn, Southwold, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Sole Bay Inn is a traditional pub on East Green in Southwold, Suffolk, a few steps from the town's lighthouse. It takes its name from the Battle of Sole Bay in 1672, a major naval clash fought just off this stretch of coast, and it is a good place to connect the town's seafaring past with the streets you walk today.

The story behind it

The pub's name looks back to 28 May 1672, when a Dutch fleet attacked the combined English and French ships anchored in Sole Bay, now usually called Southwold Bay. The fighting was fierce and the losses heavy on both sides, and each side later claimed the day as its own. The battle has stayed part of local identity ever since, and you will meet the name Sole Bay again around Southwold.

The pub also sits in a part of town shaped by an earlier disaster. A great fire in 1659 destroyed much of Southwold and left many people homeless. Help was gathered from beyond the town to rebuild it, and the new layout is said to have included small open greens that could act as firebreaks. East Green is one of several such spaces you will notice as you wander. Nearby stands Southwold Lighthouse, in operation since 1890, which rises unusually from among ordinary houses rather than on a remote headland.

What to look for

• The green in front of the pub, one of the open spaces that give Southwold its airy, uncluttered street plan.
• The white tower of Southwold Lighthouse close by, standing among the houses in a way few lighthouses do.
• The name Sole Bay on the pub sign, a reminder of the 1672 sea battle fought off the coast.
• The mix of brick and colourwashed cottages around East Green, many of them rebuilt after the fire of 1659.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 30 to 60 minutes if you want to stop for a drink or a meal and take in the green and lighthouse; check current opening hours before you go.
• The pub is in the heart of town, so it is easy to combine with the lighthouse, the seafront and the market place on foot.
• Late afternoon is a pleasant time, when the light on the lighthouse and the green is at its softest.
• The Adnams brewery is also in Southwold, so this is a natural stop if you want to taste the local beer.

See it on a quest

You can reach the Sole Bay Inn as one stop on History of Southwold, a self-guided walk through the town. The app leads you here on foot, tells you about the pub and its link to the 1672 battle as you arrive, and sets a puzzle based on what is in front of you. It suits anyone curious about Southwold's past. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like, with no guide and no set departure time.