The seventh pub on the study tour that Julian and I took part in last week in Lowestoft was the Triangle Tavern. This is located on St. Peter’s Street, next to the Triangle Market and it’s also the brewery tap for the rather wonderful Green Jack brewery. The brewery was founded in 1993 by Tim Dunford and they moved to larger premises in the town in 2009.
The pub was trading from at least the 1860s, although I’ve struggled with the history of this venue and I think it’s something that I’ll have to return to. The pub isn’t marked on either of these maps from the 1880s and the road layout has changed here a bit, with Arnold Street not being cut off to build a road, Artillery Way, through the middle of the town. The pub is located just to the right of where ‘pump’ is mentioned on the lower map (the left hand one on the bottom map) and you’re welcome for that entirely useless cartographic lack of precision…..
The below article from 1909 isn’t about the pub, but about the Triangle Market located just in front of it, and I was amused that the council spent a fortune doing it all up and demanding everyone now pays a rent, only for stall holder to tell them “you do what you like, and I shall do as I like”, which evidently annoyed the town clerk.
“It will probably be remembered that some months ago Lowestoft Corporation decided to lay out the Triangle—which has been an eye-sore for some time—as a garden or open space. There was at once strong opposition, and sundry public meetings held to denounce the Corporation, and to suggest the conversion of the spot into a proper market place. A deputation of shopkeepers in the vicinity waited upon the Council, to urge their preference for a market, and in deference to the wishes expressed, the Triangle has since been paved and drained, at a cost of £180, properly prepared for a market, and stallage spaces marked out, with a reserve price upon each. For one 12-foot space next High Street, the reserve was 8s. for use two days a week.
On Wednesday night, at the Town Hall, Alderman Notley attempted to let by auction the stallage spaces and one or two advertising spaces on the hoarding which adjoin, but only received one bid, (£4) by Councillor E. Tuttle for one of the spaces on the hoarding. Certain conditions and stipulations as to the user of the Triangle, with a view of keeping off cheap-jacks and other “shows,” had been drawn up by the Council, and at the conclusion of the “letting” Mr. Notley remarked that it did not appear that the market was wanted very much. The Town Clerk remarked that it must be clearly understood that nobody would be allowed to go on the Triangle unless he hired stallages, under the conditions and stipulations laid down.—Mr. Mack (an old stall-holder) said he should be there on Saturday. The rules and regulations were made by the Town Council, but he had paid his way there for 20 years. “You do what you like, and I shall do as I like,” he added.—The Town Clerk: I have no doubt that if he goes on the Triangle, legal proceedings will be taken against him.”
Oooh, free books. And I liked the annotation of “where?”…..
The beer board and that’s a fine choice of beers from Green Jack with the pricing all being reasonable. I hadn’t actually realised that Green Jack did as much as keg beer either.
The bar area with the service being prompt, friendly and engaging. The pub accepts cash and cards, with the selection of bar snacks being reasonable. The general atmosphere was welcoming, the customers here always seem relaxed and calm (well, in the front bar) and it’s I think one of the best pubs in the town.
There was no doubt that I would have a half pint of the Ukraine, a 7% traditional ale that was brewed as a one-off to support the country. And the beer quality was high, one of the better real ales that I’ve ever had, there was a toffee flavour, it was malty, bitter and beautifully rounded. The ABV was rather hidden and there was a fruity element to the whole arrangement, a most marvellous beer.
One long bar and I was standing in the front bar to take this photo and this section of the pub used to be the Oddfellows. I’m unsure at the moment about this, it’s possible there were two pubs next to each other, that isn’t ultimately that rare, but I can’t find any source for this other than CAMRA and it might be something I have to investigate at a later date. Unfortunately, my ‘investigate later’ pile is quite substantial.
The back bar and this was the original part of the Triangle pub and I always think it’s a little more lively back here. There’s a pool table, as eagle-eyed readers would have noticed, with another seating area off to the left of this photo.
Overall, I have visited this pub rather a lot of times in the past and it’s a welcoming and warm environment, with two very distinctive bars. It is popular, well-used and frequently in the Good Beer Guide, just as it deserves to be.